Blondes, highlighted or lightened hair and natural grey or silver hair that turns yellow or brassy between salon visits. The label targets brassy and yellow tones in blonde or grey hair specifically.

It is a retail take-home shampoo from a professional brand, simple enough for anyone to use at home. Brunettes fighting orange tones will get more from the Color Balance Blue formula.

Most blondes fight the same slow drift toward yellow as the toner from their last salon visit fades. This shampoo corrects that on the spot with violet pigment, and Joico pairs the toning with its SmartRelease conditioning system, so you are not trading a cooler colour for drier, weaker hair. Used two or three times a week, it keeps blonde and grey hair looking freshly toned between appointments.

Apply to wet hair and work into a lather.

Leave on for 1 to 3 minutes, then rinse. Start at the shorter time on very light or porous hair and increase if needed.

Use 2 to 3 times a week, alternating with your daily shampoo. Follow with Color Balance Purple Conditioner for best results.

Pros

• Violet pigment tones out yellow in one wash, and Joico rates the result as lasting through 12 washes
• SmartRelease keeps delivering rosehip oil, arginine and keratin, which helps lightened hair that is prone to breakage
• Adds shine and cuts static, so it can replace a regular shampoo on toning days

Cons

• It cleanses with a sulfate (sodium laureth sulfate), so it is not an option for anyone keeping a sulfate-free routine
• Leaving it on too long on very pale or porous hair can leave a lilac cast, which is why Joico caps it at 1 to 3 minutes
• Won't fix orange brassiness on darker lightened hair; that needs a blue-based toner