If you have dark hair and want to add a vibrant pop of color, purple is a fantastic choice. Achieving a purple hue on dark hair can be a bit challenging, but fear not! There are methods available both with and without bleaching that can help you achieve your desired look. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the steps and provide expert advice on how to dye your dark hair purple, ensuring stunning results regardless of whether you choose to bleach or not.

Key Takeaways
- Dyeing dark hair purple can be achieved with or without bleaching. Before dying your hair purple, you should determine your current hair type, natural hair colors, skin tones as well as your hair health to choose the right dye methods.
- Preparing your hair and selecting the right dye are essential for successful color application.
- Bleaching is recommended for vibrant and long-lasting results when dyeing dark hair purple. It lightens the hair and allows the purple dye to show up more vividly. However, bleaching can cause damage to the hair if not done correctly or if the hair is already damaged.
- Non-bleach methods, using semi-permanent dyes formulated for dark hair, can provide noticeable purple tones without the need for bleaching. This is a gentler option that minimizes hair damage but may result in a more subtle color.
- When using bleach, it’s important to follow the instructions carefully and monitor the lightening process. Rinse the bleach out as soon as your hair reaches the desired lightness level to avoid overprocessing and excessive damage.
- Apply the dye evenly, ensuring that all bleached sections are thoroughly covered. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding processing time and rinsing.
- Choosing the dye method without bleaching is better and safer for your hair than the dye method with bleach.
- Proper aftercare is crucial for maintaining the color and health of your hair. Use color-safe shampoo and conditioner to minimize color fading. Avoid excessive heat styling and protect your hair from sun exposure, as these can cause the color to fade faster.
- Regular touch-ups may be necessary to keep your purple hair looking vibrant and fresh. The frequency of touch-ups will depend on how quickly your hair grows and how well you maintain the color.
Determine Your Current Hair Type To Choose Right Products

The type of your hair refers to how fine or coarse the individual strands are. To determine your hair’s type, take a single strand between your fingers and assess its thickness. If it feels thin and barely noticeable, you have fine hair. On the other hand, if the strand feels sturdy and substantial, you likely have coarse hair. Understanding your hair’s type allows you to choose products and styling techniques that work best for your unique strands.
The curl pattern of your hair is one of the defining characteristics of your hair type. To determine your curl pattern, observe how your hair naturally forms curls or waves when it is in its natural, untouched state. Identifying your curl pattern helps you choose appropriate styling techniques and products that enhance and define your natural curls.
Determine Your Natural Hair Colors To Know The Results

Determining your natural hair color can be an exciting and empowering journey. It’s important to understand that your natural hair color Influences the result. If your hair is naturally dark brown, you may need to pre-lighten it to create a suitable base for the purple color to show up vividly. When choosing a purple hair dye, it’s also important to consider your hair’s current colors. If you have dark hair, keep in mind that achieving a vibrant purple shade may require bleaching or pre-lightening your hair.
Brown Hair

Brown hair provides a versatile and beautiful base for achieving a vibrant purple shade. The existing undertones in brown hair, whether warm, cool, or neutral, can interact with the purple dye to produce stunning and multi-dimensional results. The combination of brown and purple creates a visually striking contrast that adds depth and visual interest to your overall appearance.
Medium Brown Hair

Medium brown hair provides an excellent base for achieving a beautiful purple hue. The existing warm undertones in medium brown hair can create a harmonious blend with certain shades of purple, resulting in a captivating and multi-dimensional color.The purple dye will interact with the underlying pigments of your medium brown hair, producing unique and eye-catching tones that add depth and intrigue to your overall look.
Dark Brown Hair

Dark brown hair provides a rich and deep base for achieving a captivating purple hue. The natural undertones in dark brown hair, often warm or neutral, can interact with the purple dye to produce unique and dynamic results. The combination of the dark brown base and the purple color creates a striking contrast that adds depth and complexity to your overall look.
Black Hair

Black hair provides a deep and intense base for achieving a bold purple hue. The richness of black hair can create a striking contrast with the vibrant purple color, resulting in a visually stunning and eye-catching look. The depth of the black base enhances the intensity and saturation of the purple shade, allowing it to truly pop and command attention.
Determine Your Skin Tones To Choose The Right Colors

Finding the perfect shade of purple can enhance your natural beauty and make you feel confident and fabulous. When it comes to selecting the right color, understanding your skin tone is crucial, as it can greatly impact how the purple hue complements your overall appearance. These colors will not only bring out the coolness in your skin tone but also create a striking contrast.
Dark skin tone

Dark skin tones generally have warm undertones, which can range from golden to reddish-brown. These undertones serve as a valuable guide when choosing the ideal purple hair color, as they help determine whether a cool-toned or warm-toned shade will harmonize best with your complexion.
Medium skin tone

With medium skin tone, you have the perfect canvas to experiment with various shades of purple that will complement your complexion beautifully. The colors that match this tone are royal purple, lilac delight and plum passion.
Light skin tone

For those with light skin, cooler-toned purples tend to work exceptionally well.If you’re looking to make a bolder statement, opt for deeper shades of purple with cool undertones. Rich plum, deep violet, or amethyst can create a striking contrast against light skin, making your hair color pop with intensity. These vibrant shades add an edginess and sophistication to your overall look, exuding confidence and charisma.
Analyze Your Hair Health

Understanding the condition of your hair will not only help you achieve the desired color outcome but also ensure that the dyeing process doesn’t cause any unnecessary damage.
Start by evaluating the texture of your hair. Smooth and silky hair typically indicates good overall hair health, while rough and brittle hair may suggest damage or excessive dryness. If your hair falls into the latter category, it’s important to address these issues before dyeing. Incorporate deep conditioning treatments and hair masks into your routine to restore moisture and strength, creating a solid foundation for the dyeing process.
Choose The Right Methods of Dying Hair Purple
Method of Dying With Bleach

Things to prepare for bleach via Youtube
Step 1: Prepare the bleaching powder which contains argan oil and the 6 volume developer. The mixing formula is one to two – One for the developer and two for powder.

The powder bleaching via Youtube
Step 2: Start with the powder bleaching. Add two spoons of the powder bleaching into the mixing cup. No need to add water into this step and be careful when you add the powder, it’s easy to pour into your floor.

The 6 volume developer via Youtube
Step 3: Add very little developer. We do this because we need real consistency and see how it works. Mix the mixture of the bleach powder and the 6 volume developer.

Apply the mixture of bleach into your back hair via Youtube
Step 4: Start bleaching at the back of the head because it’s longer to get blonde than the other parts. Try to apply the mixture into your root to make sure that it is blonde too.

Apply the cream mixture into your front hair and the top via Youtube
Step 5: Continue bleaching with the front hair and the top by using the foiling kind of technique. This makes the front hair and the top get blonde in a faster time. Be careful with your hair root, please make sure that it is blond too.

See and wait for your hair to get blond after a few minutes via Youtube
Step 6: Wait and consider your current hair color to make sure that it gets blond enough. Then wash your hair with shampoo and use the dryer to make your hair dry.

The mixture of dying via Youtube
Step 1: Create the mixture of dying purple with the direction, color plum and color vita washout ocean hair blue. Mix them together until the mixture is consistent.

Apply the mixture of dying into your hair via Youtube
Step 2: Divide your hair into sections and then start with the back of the head. Then apply it to the front hair and the top as well. After that, you leave it 45 minutes and see what you look like.

Your final look with the purple hair via Youtube
Step 3: Wash and dry your hair. Remember to style your hair as you wish. Now, look in the mirror, you will see your beautiful purple hair. It is very easy to achieve the final look with purple hair by using the dying technique with bleach.
Method of Dying Without Bleach

The mixture of the dying via Youtube
Step 1: Create the mixture of the developer and the color brilliance. Mix it well until the mixture reaches consistency.

Apply the dye in the hair back via Youtube
Step 2: Apply the dying mixture into your hair back and the lower part first. Make sure that the cream mixture covers all your hair parts.

Apply the dye in your front hair and the hair root via Youtube
Step 3: Put down the next layer of your hair and continue to spread the dye in your front hair and the hair root. Try to make it cover all your hair as well.

Cover your hair and wait via Youtube
Step 4: Cover your hair with a plastic bag and wait about 20 minutes before you get your hair purple as you wish. During the waiting time, you can read books or watch TV or even cook a simple meal.

Final look with the purple dying technique without bleach via Youtube
Step 5: After 20 minutes of waiting, you wash the hair with a shampoo and dry it as well style the hair as you wish. Now, you achieve purple hair without bleaching yourself at home.
Comparison of Dying Hair With And Without Bleach
Dying purple hair | With bleach | Without bleach |
Pros | Vivid and Vibrant Color: Using bleach as a pre-lightening agent allows the purple dye to show up more prominently and vividly on your hair Versatility: By adjusting the intensity of the bleach and the shade of purple dye used, you can create a customized look that suits your personal style and preferences. Fade-resistant: Bleaching your hair before applying the purple dye can help the color to last longer. | Gentler on the Hair: Your hair will experience less damage. you can maintain healthier strands while still achieving a beautiful purple hue. Less Maintenance: Unlike bleached hair, color-treated hair without bleach generally requires less maintenance. Ease of Application: Dying your hair without bleach is often a simpler and less time-consuming process. This makes it easier for you to achieve a purple shade at home, saving you time and effort |
Cons | Hair damage: Bleaching can be harsh on your hair, as it strips away the natural pigment and moisture. This can lead to dryness, breakage, and frizz. Maintenance: Vibrant colors like purple tend to require regular touch-ups and maintenance to keep the color looking fresh and vibrant. Allergic Reactions: It’s important to note that some individuals may be allergic to the chemicals found in bleach or hair dyes. | Limited Color Intensity: Without the bleaching process, the color may fade more quickly, requiring more frequent touch-ups to maintain the desired look. Pre-existing Hair Color Influences: The natural color of your hair will impact the final result when dying without bleach. Limited Color Options: dying hair without bleach may limit your color choices. |
Which Method Should I Get For The Best Result?

You can make an informed decision about dyeing your hair without bleach. It provides a low-maintenance and accessible option that minimizes hair damage, offers natural-looking results, and allows for temporary transformations. Dying purple hair without bleach offers a gentler approach that minimizes damage and maintenance compared to bleaching. It allows for easier application and temporary options for those seeking a temporary change.
Care Tips For Your Dyed Hair
Maintaining the health of your hair after dyeing is crucial to keep it looking vibrant and beautiful. Here are some essential steps you can take to ensure your hair stays healthy and well-nourished:
1. Use Color-Safe Products

Switch to color-safe shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for color-treated hair. These products are formulated to be gentle and help preserve the vibrancy of your hair color. Look for sulfate-free options that won’t strip away the color or moisture from your hair.
2. Limit Heat Styling

Excessive heat styling can cause damage and color fading. Minimize the use of heat styling tools like flat irons, curling irons, and blow dryers. If you must use heat, apply a heat protectant spray before styling to create a barrier between your hair and the heat source.
3. Protect from UV Rays

The sun’s UV rays can lead to color fading and dryness. Protect your hair by wearing a hat or using hair products that contain UV filters. This will help shield your hair from the damaging effects of the sun and maintain the longevity of your hair color.
4. Deep Condition Regularly

Incorporate deep conditioning treatments into your hair care routine. These treatments provide intense hydration and nourishment to keep your hair healthy and moisturized. Look for deep conditioners specifically formulated for color-treated hair to help lock in the color and restore any lost moisture.
5. Minimize Washing Frequency

Washing your hair too frequently can strip away the natural oils and color. Try to extend the time between washes by using dry shampoos or opting for gentle cleansing methods like co-washing. When you do wash your hair, use lukewarm water instead of hot water, as hot water can cause color fading.
6. Avoid Chlorinated Water

Chlorinated water from swimming pools can have a detrimental effect on colored hair. Before swimming, wet your hair with clean water and apply a leave-in conditioner or hair oil to create a barrier between your hair and the chlorinated water. After swimming, rinse your hair thoroughly to remove any residual chlorine.
7. Be Gentle With Brushing

After dyeing, your hair may be more prone to breakage, so it’s important to be gentle when brushing or detangling. Use a wide-toothed comb or a brush with soft bristles to minimize damage. Start from the ends and work your way up to avoid tugging or pulling on your hair.
FAQs
Is it possible to achieve a vibrant purple color on dark hair without bleaching?
While it is challenging, it is possible to achieve noticeable purple tones on dark hair without bleaching by using a semi-permanent dye formulated for dark hair. However, for truly vibrant and long-lasting results, bleaching is recommended.
Can I use regular hair dye instead of a dye formulated for dark hair?
It is best to use a hair dye specifically formulated for dark hair, as these dyes contain higher concentrations of pigment that can better penetrate and show up on dark hair.
How long does the color typically last when dyeing dark hair purple without bleaching?
The longevity of the color will depend on several factors, such as the quality of the dye, how well it is applied, and how you care for your hair afterward. Generally, the color may last for a few weeks to a couple of months.
Can I bleach only certain sections of my hair to create highlights or an ombre effect?
Yes, you can bleach specific sections of your hair to create highlights or an ombre effect. This technique allows for more creative and personalized looks while minimizing damage to the entire hair.
How often should I touch up my purple hair if I’ve bleached it?
Touch-ups will depend on how quickly your hair grows and how well you maintain the color. On average, touch-ups every 4-6 weeks are recommended to keep your purple hair looking vibrant.
Can I dye my hair purple if I have previously dyed it with a different color?
Yes, you can dye your hair purple even if you have previously dyed it with a different color. However, it’s important to consider the previous color and its undertones, as they can affect the final result. If necessary, you may need to remove the previous color or choose a shade that works well with it.
Should I use heat styling tools before or after dyeing my hair purple?
It is advisable to minimize the use of heat styling tools both before and after dyeing your hair purple, as excessive heat can cause color fading. If you must use heat styling tools, make sure to apply a heat protectant spray beforehand.
Can I dye my hair purple if I have naturally dark, almost black hair?
Yes, it is possible to dye naturally dark hair purple. However, achieving a vibrant purple shade on very dark hair without bleaching may be more challenging, and the results may appear more subtle. Bleaching is typically recommended for achieving a bold and noticeable purple hue on naturally dark hair.
Can I dye my hair purple if I have previously chemically treated or damaged hair?
It is generally possible to dye chemically treated or damaged hair purple. However, it is crucial to assess the condition of your hair and consult a professional stylist if you have concerns. Proper hair care, such as deep conditioning treatments, is essential to maintain healthy and vibrant purple hair.
Are there any specific precautions I should take after dying my hair purple?
After dyeing your hair purple, it is essential to avoid excessive heat, such as hot showers or heat styling tools, as they can cause color fading. Additionally, using color-safe shampoo and conditioner, along with regular deep conditioning treatments, will help maintain the vibrancy of your purple hair.