Brass Off is made for people with brunette, brown, or dark-blonde hair that's been lightened, highlighted, or color-treated and is developing warm, orange, or brassy tones between salon visits. It's not intended for blonde or pale-lightened hair, where a purple (rather than blue-violet) toning shampoo is the more common choice.

The reason to pick this over a plain moisturizing shampoo is the color-correcting pigment: it's formulated to counteract the warm tones that develop naturally as brunette hair color fades or lightens, extending the look of a fresh color service between salon visits.

• Wearing gloves, apply to wet hair and lather.
• Leave on for 3-5 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
• Follow with Brass Off Conditioner.
• Use every other wash to maintain tone without over-toning.

Pros

• Violet pigment directly neutralizes the orange/brass tones common in lightened brunette hair, without a separate toning step.
• Soybean oil in the formula is meant to add shine and offset dryness from the sulfate cleansing base.
• Simple wet-hair application that fits into a normal wash routine.

Cons

• Contains two sulfates (sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate), which can be more drying with frequent use than a sulfate-free toning shampoo.
• Violet pigment can leave a cool, slightly ashy cast if left on too long or overused, especially on lighter-brown or previously lightened strands.
• Fragrance blend includes several recognized allergens (linalool, limonene, benzyl salicylate, hexyl cinnamal), which may irritate sensitive scalps.