You dyed your hair "espresso" or maybe a deep, moody "midnight forest," but three weeks later, you're looking in the bathroom mirror and seeing... rust. It’s that stubborn, muddy red-orange cast that creeps into dark brown and black hair the second your toner starts to give up the ghost. Most people reach for purple shampoo. Don't do that. Honestly, it won’t do a single thing for you. Purple cancels out yellow. If you have dark hair with red undertones, you need the opposite of red on the color wheel. You need green. Specifically, you need Dark Envy green shampoo.
It looks intimidating. When you squeeze it out of the bottle, it’s a deep, inky emerald that looks like it belongs in a sci-fi movie or a swamp. But for levels 1 through 4—we’re talking deep brunettes to jet black—it is the holy grail of color correction.
The Science Of Why Green Beats Red
Color theory isn't just for painters; it’s the backbone of every decent hair appointment you've ever had. If you look at a standard color wheel, green sits directly across from red. They are complementary. When they mix, they neutralize each other.
Most brunette shampoos on the market are blue. Blue is great for brassy orange. But if your hair is truly dark, the underlying pigment is almost always red. Matrix formulated the Total Results Dark Envy line specifically to hit those red undertones that blue shampoo simply misses. Think of it like this: if your hair looks like a copper penny, use blue. If it looks like a brick, use Dark Envy green shampoo.
It’s about depth. Levels 1 (Black), 2 (Very Dark Brown), 3 (Dark Brown), and 4 (Medium Brown) have the highest concentration of pheomelanin and eumelanin. When the sun, hard water, or heat styling strips away the cool-toned dye molecules, that raw red pigment is what’s left behind.
How To Actually Use This Without Staining Your Shower
This isn't your average "lather, rinse, repeat" situation. Because the pigment density in Dark Envy is so high, it can be a bit messy.
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First, wear gloves. Seriously. Unless you want your cuticles to have a slight swamp-thing tint for the next forty-eight hours, grab some cheap latex or vinyl gloves. Start by wetting your hair thoroughly. Apply the shampoo and work it into a rich, green lather.
Here is where most people mess up: they rinse it off immediately. To get the neutralization benefits, you need to let it sit. For a subtle refresh, leave it for three minutes. If you’re fighting some serious "accidental ginger" vibes, go for the full five minutes. Any longer than that and you risk over-depositing, which can make your hair look a bit dull or unnaturally flat.
Real Results vs. Marketing Hype
I've seen people try to use this on blonde hair or even light brown hair (level 6 and up). Do not do this. If you put green pigment on yellow hair, you get—surprise—green hair. This product is a specialist tool. It’s not a general-purpose brunette shampoo. Brands like Matrix are very clear that this is for the darkest depths of the hair color spectrum.
Wait, what about the scent? Surprisingly, it doesn't smell like chemicals. It has this crisp, leafy fragrance with notes of jasmine and cedarwood. It feels "high-end salon" rather than "drugstore fix."
The Moisturizing Factor
A common complaint with toning shampoos—especially the "blue" ones—is that they leave hair feeling like literal straw. They are often high in pH to open the cuticle and deposit color, which can be drying.
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The Dark Envy formula is surprisingly creamy. It’s designed to add shine, which is crucial for dark hair. Dark hair only looks good when it reflects light. If it’s matte and frizzy, the color looks muddy regardless of whether it's red or cool-toned. This shampoo helps smooth the cuticle back down so you get that "glass hair" finish that’s been trending for years.
Comparing The Heavy Hitters
While Matrix is the big name here, you might see other brands like Fanola or Joico.
Fanola is famous for "No Orange" (blue) and "No Yellow" (purple). They are incredibly strong, but they don't have a dedicated green for the level 1-4 crowd that rivals the Dark Envy intensity. Joico’s Color Balance Blue is a classic, but again, it’s targeting orange, not red.
If you are a level 3 brunette, and you use a blue shampoo, you’re going to be disappointed. You’ll still see that reddish glow in the sunlight. That’s why Dark Envy has carved out such a specific niche. It’s the "fixer" for the deepest brunettes.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Using it every day: This isn't a daily shampoo. If you use it every time you wash, your hair will eventually lose its luster and look "inky" in a bad way. Use it once or twice a week.
- Skipping the conditioner: Toning is a chemical process. Always follow up with a hydrating conditioner—ideally the matching Dark Envy Conditioner, which is non-color depositing but helps seal the work the shampoo did.
- Ignoring your scalp: Focus the product on the mid-lengths and ends where the red is most visible, but don't forget to actually clean your scalp.
- White towels: Just... don't. Use an old towel or a dark one for the first rinse.
Maintenance Beyond The Bottle
Using Dark Envy green shampoo is only half the battle. If you want to keep those red tones at bay, you have to look at your lifestyle.
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Sun exposure is the biggest culprit. UV rays break down the large blue and green dye molecules faster than the tiny red ones. If you’re spending a day at the beach, wear a hat or use a UV protectant spray.
Hard water is another silent killer. The minerals in your shower water can react with your hair dye, causing it to oxidize and turn red faster. If you notice your hair turning red within a week of a salon visit, it might be time to look into a shower head filter. It’s a $30 investment that can save you $200 in corrective color.
Is It Safe For All Hair Types?
Whether you have curly (3C/4C) hair, pin-straight hair, or something in between, this shampoo is generally safe. It is a "Total Results" product, meaning it's balanced for professional use. However, if your hair is extremely porous—perhaps because it was previously bleached and then dyed back to dark—be careful. Porous hair drinks up pigment like a sponge. You might find that the green takes hold much faster than expected. In that case, do a strand test on a hidden piece of hair near the nape of your neck before doing your whole head.
Actionable Next Steps For Your Coolest Brunette Yet
- Identify your level. Look at a professional hair color chart online. If you are a level 5 or higher (lighter brown), put the green shampoo down. This is for levels 1-4 only.
- Prep your space. Move your white bath mat. Get your gloves ready. Ensure you have a dark towel nearby.
- The First Wash. Apply to damp hair. Lather it up and leave it for exactly three minutes. Rinse with cool water to help seal the cuticle.
- Observe in natural light. Check your hair by a window the next morning. If the red is gone, stick to a once-a-week schedule. If you still see red, bump your leave-in time to five minutes for the next wash.
- Balance your routine. Use a color-safe, sulfate-free shampoo for your other washes during the week to prevent premature fading. This ensures you aren't stripping the green pigment you just worked so hard to deposit.