The color I wanted the most was purple.

I had been obsessing over the idea of purple hair for a while. I wanted to dye my hair dark, but not black (I’m more of a brown-eyed brunette). And when I saw that purple was the most popular color in 2017, I decided it was time.

The first thing people say when they see my hair is: “Wow! That’s some crazy stuff going on there.” It’s true; purple is an uncommon color choice in terms of hairstyles. But when someone says this to me, I think they’re referring to something other than just the hue itself—I think they’re saying that it looks wild and maybe even unkempt or messy. But if you ask me, my hairstyle feels special because it makes me feel like myself—and no one else can copy what makes me unique because no two people have identical DNA!

Purple is also just so fun! When I go out wearing my new look, people often tell me how much they love it (in fact one girl even asked where she could get her own dye job done but unfortunately we didn’t have any salons nearby).

I did a lot of research online to find my perfect purple.

I spent a lot of time reading reviews, watching YouTube videos and asking friends about their experiences with various purple hair color brands. The main things I was looking for were:

• A brand that wouldn’t fade after a few weeks (as I have had happen before)
• Something that didn’t make my hair feel dry, brittle or damaged
• A product that was easy to use at home

Manic Panic is the OG of at-home hair dye color.

Manic Panic is the OG of at-home hair dye color. It’s been around since the ’70s and has become a cult-favorite for its wide selection of shades, affordability, and cruelty-free status. The company also makes vegan paints and cosmetics that have been used backstage at runway shows by designers like Marc Jacobs, Jeremy Scott, and Alexander Wang. Some of our favorite celebs who’ve dyed their locks purple with Manic Panic include Heidi Klum (who looks amazing with her lilac locks) and Lady Gaga, who has worn a variety of shades ranging from lavender to mauve over the years.

But what about real people? What happens when someone dyes their hair purple at home? How long does it last? And how do you keep your hair healthy while you’re busy living in an unnatural state of beauty? Let’s take a look!

This is how long most wash-out hair dyes last.

If you’re going to dye your hair, chances are that you want it to last. But how long can a wash-out hair dye actually last? Well, the answer depends on what type of dye you use and how well it matches your natural color.

If you want to get rid of any evidence that you once had purple hair in an emergency situation (say, like if your boss comes over for dinner and finds out), here’s what we recommend:

• Use dry shampoo on top of the dye. This will help it fade less quickly than just washing as usual would. It may even last through one wash cycle before fading away!

Here’s what happens the first time you dye your hair purple.

If you’re planning to dye your hair purple for the first time, here’s what will happen:

• You’ll need to pre-lighten your hair with a bleach kit.
• Then, use a toner like Manic Panic Dreamtone Purple Haze Kit ($25; amazon.com) or Department of Dyed Hair Care Toner ($17; departmentofhaircare.com) to make sure it stays that way and doesn’t turn green or blue (which happens sometimes). Make sure not to get this stuff on your skin though—it can be pretty harsh on sensitive skin!

Do you have to bleach your hair first?

You don’t have to bleach your hair first, but the color will be a lot more vibrant if you do. Light brown or highlights are best for getting purple without bleaching. If you have dark brown hair, you may have to settle for a more muted purple (or just get some tips). Don’t worry though: there are plenty of other ways to experiment with different shades of purple at home!

Some people use toner to get their hair more purple.

When you’re dying your hair purple, the color you want to achieve is a result of two things: how much dye you use and how long you leave it on your hair. If you don’t use a toner, your color will be more pastel in tone and may not be as vibrant as desired.

Toner is basically extra pigment that helps achieve a deeper and more intense result. It can also help cover up any brassy tones that were revealed by washing out the dye. Toners are available at most drug stores and in beauty supply stores like Sally Beauty Supply, where I purchased mine from for about $10-$15 USD per bottle (but they’re usually cheaper online). Some popular brands include Manic Panic or Splat!

What would happen if I put toner on top of my vivid purple?

This is a question a lot of people ask when they are considering changing their hair color. You see, toners are meant to darken your existing hair color, but they are not all created equal. The best way to use them is to apply the toner before you shampoo and conditioning your hair. This will ensure that it doesn’t get washed off prematurely (especially if you have dark or coarse hair).

If you’re not sure how much purple toner to use, always err on the side of caution and start with less rather than more—you can always add more later if needed! Purple will only take as much as it needs from your natural base so don’t worry about overdoing it with this product!

The toner didn’t totally eliminate the vibrant lavender, but it definitely turned it into a more muted shade.

You can also use a hair toner to tone down the color of your purple dye. Purple dyes are notorious for fading quickly, so if you want to keep that vibrant lavender shade, try using a toner on top of it. The effect will depend on how long you leave the toner in as well as what type of dye you’re using (some brands’ purple pigments aren’t great at staying bright). I used L’Oréal Preference Creme Gloss in Violet Vibes for my first attempt and loved the result! It helped tame some of that intense pinkish-red hue without completely washing out my hair color or turning me into a pastel-haired alien from outer space.

If your goal is to go darker but still have some hints of purple showing through, consider using an even darker shade like Manic Panic’s Amethyst Matte . Or if going lighter sounds better to ya than “dull lavender,” try adding Manic Panic’s Vampire Red instead! The possibilities are endless!

I wouldn’t recommend this, but in case you tried it, here’s what happens when you try to dye brown hair purple without bleaching first!

If you want to dye your hair purple without bleaching, be prepared for some disappointment. While it’s true that there are semi-permanent dyes out there that can get you a pretty deep shade of violet, they won’t give the same striking results as a dye job gone wrong. Using them will result in a muddy brown color that looks more “I tried to dye my hair but I didn’t leave it on long enough” than “this is exactly what I was going for.”

If you’re looking to go full-on purple with no commitment whatsoever or have an itch to try something new and different (and cheap), then by all means go ahead and use those products—but if you want the real deal, go see your stylist ASAP!

Purple hair doesn’t have to be intimidating, and it’s sometimes less damaging than getting highlights!

I recently got some purple highlights, and while they were fun, I was also nervous about how damaging they would be. My hair is naturally dark brown, so getting a dye job in this color would mean bleaching it first—and it’s no secret that bleaching can be very damaging to your hair.

However, when I thought about the alternatives to getting purple highlights (like going full-on blonde), it occurred to me that sometimes less damage is actually better than more. For example:

• Purple hair doesn’t have to be intimidating! There are lots of different shades of purple out there—and each one will look different on different skin tones. You could go for a lighter shade if you want something subtle or darker if you’re feeling bolder.
• If you’re looking for an edgy look but don’t want anything too extreme, DIY dyeing might be your best bet! Colored dyes like Manic Panic come with instructions on how long each type should sit before being rinsed off; just follow these instructions carefully and use gloves when applying them (especially if you’re doing this at home).