5 blue shampoos that keep my lightened brown hair from looking brassy

Insider Picks writes about products and services to help you navigate when shopping online. Insider, Inc. receives a commission from our affiliate partners when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.Blue shampoos can help keep brassy tones out of dark hair that's been lightened to various shades of brown. It acts as a toner to cool down the warm hues that pop up naturally after lightening your hair.I've dyed my hair several shades of brown (and blonde!), and have found that Fanola No Orange Shampoo has one of the strongest formulas, banishing brassiness on the spot and keeping my brunette hair looking cool both literally and figuratively.Here's why I love it, along with some others I've used and would still recommend. Blondes have been swearing up and down about the miracle of purple shampoo to keep brassiness at bay. Now, brunettes finally have a miracle product to call their own — blue shampoo. First, the basics — what is blue shampoo？ “Blue shampoo contains blue-violet pigments that are deposited into the hair when you shampoo,” explains Jamielynn De Leon, owner of Rogue House Salon in the East Village. “It neutralizes the brassy tones that occur when lightened hair oxidizes.” In layman's terms, it keeps your lightened brown hair from turning that pesky orange-red hue.While blue shampoo is recommended for color-treated brown hair, natural brunettes can also benefit from its unique formula. “A natural brunette can use a blue shampoo even if their hair isn't [dyed],” says De Leon. “If their hair picks up natural pigment from the [sun's rays], it can turn their hair brassy as well. It's a good idea to balance everything out with a blue shampoo.” As someone who's dyed her hair brown (and blonde) multiple times, I've tried my fair share of blue shampoos to find the one that suits my needs, hair type, and budget. Here are five that I've tried and would recommend.