7 Blue & Purple Hair Ideas For a Mesmerizing Mane
From splashes of cobalt and ribbons of violet to swathes of sky blue that melt into soft lilac; blue and purple hair is one of the dreamiest color combinations to paint. What's more, it's versatile, letting you and your client experiment with vivid colors or ethereal pastels, plus a range of techniques, from ombre to balayage to rainbow highlights.
So, let's explore everything you need to know about creating purple and blue hair, including shade inspiration, formula ideas and the maintenance tips that lock blue and purple colors down for longer...
Blue and Purple Hair Color Formulas
Blue-Purple Hair
Image Credit: @mathieuchris
Instead of sweeping dark blues and deep purples side by side, you could also try fusing the hues for an eye-catching indigo. This shade leans slightly more purple, but there's enough blue to give the look a sapphire twist. Want in? Start with a dark brown or black hair base, pre-lighten sections with Blondor Freelights for easy-going balayage, and then tone with a Color Fresh CREATE mix of Next Red + Pure Violet + Ultra Purple.
Violet Curls With a Blue Color Block
Image Credit: @leonidromanovhair
The Wella color blocking hair trend isn't going anywhere. Want proof? Then take a look at this show-stopping blend of colors, featuring a bolt of electric blue through full-bodied magenta curls. To get the purple, mix Color Fresh CREATE Ultra Purple + Pure Violet + High Magenta, and saturate strands. Then section off part of the face frame, and paint it in New Blue + Purple Violet for a Gemini hair vibe. Stunning.
Purple and Blue Highlights
Image Credit: @chiriac.ionela
How dreamy is this two-tone look? Inspired by the split dye trend that’s blowing up on TikTok, it teams ocean blue with mermaid mauve for a bold color spectacle. Create the look with a SHINEFINITY Color Glaze. While the 00/89 Blue Booster and 00/66 Violet Booster are great for mixing into other tones to create varying blue and purple shades, they can also be painted on pure to get this level of flawlessness. Just make sure you pre-lighten hair first to allow the pigment to pop. Try BlondorPlex, our bond-strengthening lightener that teams up to nine levels of lift with 97% less breakage*.
Pastel Purple and Blue Hair
Image Credit: @jhair_stylist
We can always rely on Wella Professionals Global Ambassador James Earnshaw to bring us pastels with a punchy twist, and this dimensional denim look seriously delivers. SHINEFINITY is your hero hair product here, so if you want to try recreating it on a blonde hair base, reach for shades like 08/8 Blue Pearl and 010/6 Lavender Flash, and pastelize the 00/89 Blue Booster and 00/66 Violet Booster with 00/00 Crystal Clear. This is a 'more is more' mane, where you can work in as many purple and blue tones as your client craves, resulting in an ethereal blend that's begging for a place on your salon's Instagram.
Blue-Violet Ombre
Image Credit: @mgray153
This isn't your average dark purple to blue ombre (if there is such a thing?!). Fading platinum through the mid-section, it's the alluring mermaid hair creation that every bold client wants in summer. So, how do you create it? First, use our bestselling permanent color, Koleston Perfect, in Special Blonde shade 12/96 to highlight your client’s hair. All of the hues that begin with 12 are high-lift hair colors that give you bleach-free lightening and toning in a single step. Then, once that formula has been rinsed and neutralized, it's Color Fresh CREATE's bright color palette you need, with Ultra Purple drenching the roots in a violet haze and New Blue submerging the ends in a head-turning cobalt.
Aqua and Amethyst Hair
Image Credit: @hairbyroni_
With the subtlest gray-blonde roots, a blend of lilac ribbons and pops of bright aquamarine shades through the mid-lengths, it's hard to believe a colorful hair look this impactful could be created with a conditioner. But the Color Fresh Mask says otherwise, with the shades Pearl Blonde (for the roots) Lilac Frost (for the purple) and Blue (for the aqua) creating a beautiful blend that feels edgy and soft all at once. You'll need to work with a light base to help these dream shades stand out, so you may need to pre-lighten your client's hair first. Use BlondorPlex to lift and perfect your canvas, and then apply the masks for 10 minutes on each section, before rinsing thoroughly.
Lilac Hair With a Blue Face Frame
Image Credit: @dimozlatarov
Take face-framing highlights to the next level with what can only be described as blue-purple hair art. This orchid mane with a frosted blue shade through the front has year-round appeal, looking fresh in spring and cozy in autumn. Plus, the great thing about a face frame is that it works with all hair types, whether your client is working sleek, straight lengths or glossy curls and coils. So, let's get to the formula: for bleach-free lightening, use Koleston Perfect Special Blonde 12/89 + 12/81 + 12%. Then, after rinsing and neutralizing, apply SHINEFINITY 09/61 + 09/65 + 00/66 to the lengths of hair, and 08/98 + 00/89 + 00/00 through the front section. This is a two-tone mane at its dreamiest.
How to Maintain Blue and Purple Hair
1. Paint Pastel Shades Brighter
If your client is asking for pastel shades of purple and blue, maintenance starts before you apply the color. The best way to keep their shades vibrant for longer is to go brighter than their choice of hair color, so it takes longer to fade. You'll need to check they're happy with this technique first, but once they realize the long-term benefits, they're bound to be sold.
2. Wash With Color-Care Shampoo and Conditioner
If they're not using color-friendly formulas, your client's daily shampoo routine needs an upgrade. The good news is that many of our bestselling care products are designed to give your client's colored hair extra mileage. Here's how to help them choose the right shampoo and conditioner:
For Long-Lasting Shine: INVIGO Brilliance
Packed with Lime Caviar in low-pH formulas, INVIGO Brilliance Color Protection Shampoo and Vibrant Color Conditioner are designed to close the hair cuticle after coloring, so the shade is locked in. Plus, because they're brimming with antioxidants, they veil locks in the most brilliant shine (hence the name), so those purple and blue hair colors shimmer from root to tip.
For Extra Nourishment: ColorMotion+
If your client's hair craves added moisture, ColorMotion+ Color Protection Shampoo is their new go-to. Teamed with the Moisturizing Color Reflection Conditioner, it offers up to 8 weeks of color protection** while making strands look extra smooth and shiny. Want even more nourishment? Introduce them to the Structure+ Mask as a weekly, bond-strengthening treat.
For Damage Repair: ULTIMATE REPAIR
Damage doesn't have to stand in the way of your client's blue and purple transformation, but they will need the hardest-working, most effective hair care to keep strands healthy in between salon appointments. For this, we always recommend ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo and ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner. The two are infused with a skincare-inspired blend of AHA and Omega-9 to replenish fragile strands from the inside out. Plus. when you combine them with ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue – a post-shampoo, leave-in treatment – you can repair hair damage in 90 seconds*** and achieve 12x smoother hair**** with 99% less breakage*****.
3. Shield Strands Before Styling
Whether your client is styling slick hair, loose waves or bountiful curls, heat protection is a must to prevent shade fade, brassy tones and dullness. So, before they use any kind of hot tool – hair dryers included – remind them to apply ULTIMATE REPAIR Protective Leave-In first. It's a delicate cream that shields strands against the top five hair concerns: UV damage, frizz, physical stress, breakage and, of course, heat damage. It's also ultra-lightweight, so even finer hair types can keep their purple and blue blends fresh. The dose of nourishment is a bonus.
4. Top Up the Tone at Home
Color Fresh Mask is the perfect conditioner for color-treated hair, because not only does it lightly nourish, but it also tops up the tone in between salon appointments. The Blue, Lilac Frost and Purple shades are ideal for clients to take home, helping your masterpiece make a lasting impression while defying brassiness. And it takes almost no time to apply. All your client has to do is smooth their chosen hues through clean, damp hair, allow them to develop for 10 minutes, and then rinse thoroughly. Their vibrant blend of colors will appear instantly revived.
Now you've got all the purple and blue hair ideas you need to inspire your next creation, go ahead and start mixing. Don't forget to share your looks with us on Instagram by tagging @WellaHairUSA.
* When using Wellaplex N°2 with Blondorplex, versus Blondorplex alone.
** When using Structure+ Mask.
*** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.
**** Vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.
***** When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue instrumental test vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.
