Beauty Matrix So Silver vs Brass Off: Toning Shampoos Compared
The Matrix Total Results So Silver Purple Shampoo fights yellow brass. The Matrix Total Results Brass Off Blue Shampoo fights orange brass.. One is purple for yellow brass, the other is blue for orange brass. We compared toning color, brass target, hair type fit, and value.
| Factor | Matrix Total Results So Silver Purple Sh | Matrix Total Results So Silver Purple Sh |
|---|---|---|
| Product | Matrix So Silver Purple Shampoo, 10.1 Fl Oz | Matrix Brass Off Toning Blue Shampoo, 10.1 Fl Oz |
| Toning color | Purple violet pigment | Blue-violet pigment |
| Targets | Yellow brass | Orange brass |
| Best hair | Light blonde, platinum, gray, silver | Dark blonde, lightened brunette |
| Timing | 3 to 5 minutes | 3 to 5 minutes |
| Formula | Color depositing, vegan | Color depositing with vitamin oil |
| Price tier | Mid, salon professional | Mid, salon professional |
| Our pick | Winner for yellow brass | Winner for orange brass |
Our Verdict
Pick So Silver if your brass looks yellow and your hair is light blonde, platinum, or gray. Pick Brass Off if your brass looks orange and your hair is dark blonde or lightened brunette. Using the right color for your brass matters more than brand loyalty.
More Top Picks in This Category
Not sold on either of these two? Here are more bestselling options worth considering.
Best for: orange brass in darker hair
Matrix Total Results Brass Off Toning Blue Shampoo, 10.1 Fl Oz
- Blue-violet toning pigment
- Neutralizes orange brass
- For dark blonde and brunette
Pros
- Fixes orange brass fast
- Vitamin oil nourishment
Cons
- Wrong pick for yellow brass
- Can tint porous hair blue
The Bronde Zone: When Neither Purple Nor Blue Is Obvious
The comparison above makes the choice sound simple: yellow brass gets purple, orange brass gets blue. That works at the extremes. In the middle sits bronde and dark blonde hair, around level 7 to 8, where the brass is neither clearly yellow nor clearly orange but an in-between gold. This is the zone where buyers guess wrong most often, and the wrong choice either does nothing or tints the hair.
Here is how to test. Look at your hair in natural daylight, not bathroom lighting, and compare the brassy sections to a color wheel: if the unwanted tone leans yellow-gold, So Silver's purple pigment is your match. If it leans copper-orange, Brass Off's blue pigment wins. If you genuinely cannot tell, start with the purple, since purple is the safer mistake; blue pigment on hair that did not need it leaves a visible blue-gray cast that takes washes to remove, while purple over-toning fades faster. Strand-test on a hidden section with a three-minute contact time before committing the whole head.
A final buying tip: travel sizes exist for most salon toning shampoos, and a small bottle is the cheapest way to test pigment strength on your hair before committing to a full-size bottle that might over-tone.
Reading Pigment Strength Before You Buy
Not all purple shampoos tone equally, and the bottle tells you more than the marketing does. Squeeze a drop and look at the formula color: a deep, almost black-purple liquid carries far more pigment than a light lavender one. Then check the ingredient list for Acid Violet 43 or similar violet dyes. The higher it appears, the stronger the toning. A violet dye in the top half of the list means a potent formula; buried near the fragrance at the bottom means gentle maintenance toning.
Why this matters: strong pigment on porous, platinum, or gray hair can over-tone in a single wash, leaving a lilac cast. Gentle pigment on resistant brass does nothing and wastes your money. Match the strength to your situation: fresh bleach and platinum need gentle formulas or diluted application, while stubborn brass on healthy hair needs the strong stuff. If you are building a full toning routine, our blonde toning mask guide covers when a mask does the job better than a shampoo.
When Toning Stops Working: The Real Diagnosis
Purple shampoo works until it does not, and the usual response, buying a stronger purple shampoo, is usually wrong. Brass that resists toning has one of three causes, and each needs a different fix. First, mineral buildup: hard water deposits iron and copper on the hair that no purple pigment can cover, because the problem is under the tone, not in it. If your water is hard and toning suddenly stopped working, a chelating shampoo is the fix, not a stronger toner.
Second, the underlying level shifted. Hair lightened months ago continues to fade and oxidize, and brass that was yellow at level 10 reads orange at level 8, which needs blue, not purple. If your brass changed color over time, switch formulas rather than doubling down. Third, the hair genuinely needs a salon glaze: when porosity is uneven from root to ends, no shampoo tones evenly, and a professional toner resets the canvas. Learn which problem you have before spending: chelate for minerals, switch color for shifted brass, glaze for uneven porosity. Our best purple shampoo guide walks through the full toning routine, and the Aussie blonde care guide covers keeping blonde healthy between toning sessions.
Want the Full Picture?
Shampoo Technique Matters More Than You Think
The Matrix Total Results Brass Off Toning Blue Shampoo, 10.1 Fl Oz and the other picks in this roundup on this page both work best when the technique is right, so a few small adjustments to your wash routine can make a visible difference. Lukewarm water cleans just as well as hot water and is kinder to both color and the scalp, so save the coldest rinse for the very end if you want extra shine.