Honestly, most people walk into a salon asking for burgundy with purple hair thinking it’s a single, simple box of dye they can just slap on and call it a day. It isn't. Not even close. If you’ve ever seen someone whose hair looks like a dimensional, velvety glass of Merlot under the sun, but then shifts into a deep, electric amethyst in the shade, you’re looking at a very specific color chemistry that many stylists actually struggle to nail.
It’s moody. It’s loud. It’s surprisingly professional if you do it right, but it can look like a DIY disaster if you don't respect the undertones.
The reality is that "burgundy" is a broad spectrum. You’ve got your brownish-reds, your true berry tones, and your deep oxbloods. When you mix that with purple—whether through balayage, highlights, or a melt—you’re playing with two of the most volatile pigments in the hair color world. Red molecules are huge and fall out of the hair shaft fast. Purple, depending on if it’s blue-based or pink-based, can fade into a muddy gray or a weird swampy green if the underlying pigment isn't lifted correctly.
Why the "Base" is Actually Everything
Stop thinking about the dye for a second. Think about the canvas.
Most people starting with dark brown or black hair think they can just put a high-lift burgundy over it and get that purple pop. You can't. You’ll get a tint. To get that glowing, internal light look that defines the best burgundy with purple hair styles, you usually need a "low and slow" lightening process first.
If your hair is a level 3 (darkest brown), and you want that violet-burgundy shine, your stylist needs to lift you to at least a level 7 or 8. But here’s the kicker: if they lift you and leave too much orange behind, your purple will look brown. If they lift you too far and you become a pale blonde, the burgundy will look like neon pink. It's a delicate dance of keeping enough "warmth" to support the red but enough "coolness" to let the purple breathe.
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The Science of the "Cool-Toned Red"
Technically, burgundy is a mix of red and blue. That’s what makes it different from "auburn," which is red and orange (brown).
When we talk about adding purple to the mix, we are essentially leaning into the blue side of the spectrum. This is why burgundy with purple hair looks so incredible on people with cool or neutral skin undertones. If you have very warm, golden skin, a heavy purple-burgundy might actually make you look a bit washed out or even sallow. In that case, an expert colorist—someone like Guy Tang or Sophia Hilton—would tell you to keep the burgundy "true red" near the face and save the deep purple for the mid-lengths and ends.
It's about contrast.
Real Examples: The Styles That Actually Work
Let's look at how this looks in the real world. You aren't limited to one look.
- The "Black Cherry" Melt: This is for the person who wants to stay dark. It starts with a deep, almost-black burgundy at the roots that melts into a vivid violet-purple. It’s low maintenance because as your natural dark hair grows in, the transition isn't jarring.
- Ribbon Highlights: Instead of a gradient, you take thin slices of "Pulp Riot" Velvet or "Joico" Intensity Amethyst and weave them through a base of mahogany. This creates movement. When you curl your hair, the purple "ribbons" catch the light and make the burgundy look deeper.
- The Inverse Peek-a-Boo: A solid burgundy top layer with a hidden panel of bright purple underneath. It’s a "business in the front, party in the back" vibe that works for office environments where you still want a bit of an edge.
The Maintenance Nightmare (And How to Fix It)
Purple and red are notorious for fading. You’ll wash your hair once and see the "money" go down the drain. Literally.
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The reason? These pigments don't penetrate as deeply as others. To keep burgundy with purple hair looking fresh, you have to change how you live. Hot water is your enemy. It opens the cuticle and lets the color escape. You need to wash with water so cold it makes your scalp ache.
Also, skip the drugstore shampoo. You need something sulfate-free and pH-balanced. Brands like Pureology or Matrix Biolage are staples for a reason—they keep the cuticle shut. But the real pro tip? Color-depositing conditioners. Viral or Celeb Luxury makes "Colorditioner" in shades like Ruby and Purple. Mixing them in your palm before applying can keep your hair looking like you just stepped out of the salon for six weeks instead of two.
What Most People Get Wrong About "DIY"
Don't do it.
Just don't.
I know the box at the store says "Deep Burgundy" and has a picture of a girl with glowing purple-tinted hair. That box contains a high-volume developer designed to work on "average" hair. If your roots are virgin but your ends have old color, the box dye will turn your roots bright hot pink (hot roots) and won't touch your ends at all. You’ll end up with a splotchy mess that will cost $400 in a "color correction" session to fix.
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Professional colorists use "zonal toning." They might use a 20-volume developer on your mid-shaft and a 10-volume on your porous ends to ensure the burgundy with purple hair look is even from top to bottom. You can't get that precision from a $12 box.
The Makeup and Wardrobe Shift
When you change your hair to something as saturated as burgundy and purple, your current makeup palette might suddenly feel "off."
If you usually wear orange-based lipsticks or bronzer, the purple tones in your hair are going to clash. Hard. You’ll want to move toward berry-toned blushes and neutral-to-cool eyeshadows. Gray, navy, and forest green clothes look absolutely stunning against this hair color. Yellow? Not so much. It’s a total lifestyle shift, not just a hair change.
Is It Worth the Damage?
Actually, this is one of the "healthier" fashion colors. Since you aren't usually bleaching the hair to a "platinum" level (you only need to get to a medium copper/gold), your hair retains more of its structural integrity. You aren't stripping the hair to its core.
However, the constant re-toning can lead to some dryness. Weekly moisture masks are non-negotiable. Look for products containing keratin or silk proteins to keep the "glass" shine that makes the color look expensive.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Hair Journey
If you’re ready to take the plunge into the world of burgundy with purple hair, don't just wing it. Follow this checklist to ensure you don't end up with a muddy mess:
- Check your closet. If you love wearing neon orange and mustard yellow, this hair color will fight your wardrobe every single day.
- Consultation is king. Book a 15-minute consult. Ask the stylist: "Do you use a bond builder like Olaplex?" and "What level do you need to lift my hair to for this specific purple to show?"
- Buy a silk pillowcase. Seriously. Friction from cotton can roughen the cuticle, making your color look duller faster.
- Prepare for the cold. Start practicing washing your hair in the sink with cool water so you don't have to suffer through freezing showers.
- Get the right products first. Don't wait until the color is fading to buy a color-depositing conditioner. Have it on your shelf before you even go to the salon.
The transition to burgundy with purple hair is a commitment to a specific aesthetic. It’s for the person who wants to look sophisticated but has a bit of a rebellious streak. It’s a high-impact, high-reward color that, when done with the right technical skill, is easily one of the most flattering "unnatural" shades in the game.