Best Purple Hair Dye Kits: 6 Real Picks for a Bold, Vivid Color

Who this guide is for

If you searched for purple hair color and just want a shade that actually shows up true-to-swatch on real hair -- not a wall of confusing box art -- this guide is for you. We pulled together six real, currently available purple hair dye kits that span permanent and semi-permanent formulas, drugstore and specialty brands, and bright jewel tones down to deep plum, so you can match the pick to your hair's starting color and how long you want the shade to last.

Comparison table

The picks

got2b Metallics Permanent Hair Dye, Amethyst Chrome M69

Pros

• Permanent metallic-amethyst tone with real gray coverage
• Up to 30 washes of vibrancy before fading toward a cool undertone
• Widely available and easy to find in stores as a backup

Cons

• Metallic dyes can build up on hair over repeated applications
• Best on hair that isn't already heavily color-treated

Who should skip it: Skip it if you've had multiple metallic-dye applications already, since layering metallics can cause uneven results on a future colorist visit.

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L'Oreal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color, 521 Cool Amethyst

Pros

• Multi-tonal shimmer gives depth instead of a flat, one-note purple
• Permanent formula holds color and covers gray longer than semi-permanent options
• Comes as a complete kit with conditioning treatment

Cons

• Permanent dye means a full salon color-correction if you don't like the result
• Requires developer mixing, so it's less forgiving for total beginners

Who should skip it: Skip it if you only want a temporary trial run before committing to purple long-term.

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Clairol Bold & Bright Permanent Hair Dye, V3 Intense Violet

Pros

• Saturated, intense violet with strong pigment payoff
• Budget-friendly permanent option from a trusted drugstore brand
• Good gray coverage for a fashion shade

Cons

• Intense violet can look very purple in bright light, so it's not a subtle option
• Permanent formula needs a full re-dye to remove or soften

Who should skip it: Skip it if you want a muted, pastel-lavender look rather than a bold statement violet.

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Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Color, Purple

Pros

• Vegan and cruelty-free semi-permanent formula that fades gently instead of oxidizing brassy
• No developer or ammonia needed, so it's gentler on hair health
• Highly rated with a large, consistent review base

Cons

• Semi-permanent means more frequent reapplication to stay vivid
• Works best on pre-lightened or naturally light hair for a true-to-swatch purple

Who should skip it: Skip it if your hair is dark and unbleached, since the purple will show as only a faint tint.

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Splat Midnight Plum Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Box Kit

Pros

• Deep plum-purple that reads darker and more wearable for everyday settings
• Includes gloves and application tools in one box
• Semi-permanent, so it fades out over several weeks rather than growing out sharply

Cons

• Darker plum tones are less vivid than true bright-purple shades
• Splat dyes can stain skin and towels if not applied carefully

Who should skip it: Skip it if you specifically want a bright, saturated purple rather than a dark plum undertone.

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Splat Midnight Tanzanite Semi-Permanent Hair Dye Kit

Pros

• Cool-toned purple-blue shade for a moodier, jewel-tone finish
• One-application kit with bleach steps included for a full at-home process
• Popular, well-reviewed pick within the Splat lineup

Cons

• The blue undertone means it's less of a pure purple and more of a purple-blue hybrid
• Requires a bleaching step first for the color to show true on darker hair

Who should skip it: Skip it if you want a warm, true-purple shade rather than a cooler purple-blue jewel tone.

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How we chose these picks

We looked at real Amazon listings for purple and violet hair dye kits and narrowed the field to products with a meaningful volume of customer reviews, a rating that held up at scale (not just a handful of five-star outliers), and clear labeling around whether the formula is permanent or semi-permanent. We also made sure the lineup covered a spread of purple tones -- true violet, cool amethyst, jewel-toned purple-blue, and deep plum -- since "purple hair dye" means different things depending on the look you're going for. We did not include any product whose title or listing didn't clearly identify it as a purple or violet shade.

What to know before you dye your hair purple

Bright, vivid purples like the Arctic Fox and Clairol V3 shades typically show truest on hair that's already light or pre-lightened; on dark, unbleached hair, expect a more subtle tint rather than a bold color shift. Permanent formulas (got2b, L'Oreal Feria, Clairol) last longer and cover gray, but require a real color-removal or grow-out process if you change your mind. Semi-permanent options (Arctic Fox, Splat) are gentler and fade out gradually, making them a lower-commitment way to test purple before going permanent. Whichever you choose, a strand test and a clarifying shampoo beforehand will make the color grab more evenly.

Final verdict

For most people who want a genuine, vivid purple that photographs well, the Arctic Fox Purple semi-permanent formula is the safest starting point since it's gentle, vegan, and doesn't require a developer. If you want the color to last through more washes and don't mind mixing a permanent dye, the got2b Amethyst Chrome or L'Oreal Feria Cool Amethyst are both dependable, widely reviewed choices. For a deeper, moodier plum instead of a bright violet, the Splat Midnight Plum kit is the better fit.