This lightly pigmented purple shampoo and conditioner keeps my blonde highlights bright in between salon appointments — here's how it works

• After four months without a professional touchup, R+Co's Blonde Sunset Blvd Shampoo and conditioner brought my dull, brassy highlights back to life in just a few days.
• At $29 a bottle, this stuff is expensive, but I've been impressed by how bright my blonde hue has remained and how healthy my hair looks. See my before and after photos, below.

I recently had my hair dyed blonde for the first time. To try to maintain my just-from-the-salon-color between appointments, I began using a shampoo and conditioner for color-treated hair that seemed promising. Turns out, it didn't work. My hair quickly started to look faded, dull, and brassy, so it was time to switch it up.

Enter: R+Co's Blonde Sunset Blvd Shampoo and Conditioner, which uses light purple pigment to balance out brassy yellow tones in blonde hair. If you think back to the color wheels you used in art class, it makes sense — as opposites on the wheel, the two colors cancel each other out, which is why most shampoo for blonde hair is purple. Though the formulas aren't a deep violet hue like most purple shampoos, they do contain a small amount of purple mineral pigment, which is good for more frequent use. Richly purple shampoos and conditioners are really meant more as occasional treatments.

Below, I break down my experience with the duo and talk to an expert hairstylist about alternative products and how to extend the life of your hair color.

My experience using R+Co's Blonde Sunset Blvd Shampoo and Conditioner

R+Co's Sunset Blvd line is formulated for blonde hair and promises to eliminate brassiness, brighten blonde tones, and improve the health of hair.

While the purple tone of R+Co's shampoo and conditioner is very subtle and light, my colorist Lindsey Marino said that with regular use, the set works to continuously neutralize orange and yellow hues. She explained that products with much deeper and more pigmented purple coloring aren't meant for daily use. "Though it might seem like they'd be more effective at eliminating brassiness, they can actually alter the color of your hair instead of maintaining it and when used too often, they can make your hair color look like a funky dye job you did at home," she said. So when it comes to using deep purple products, Marino says they should be used as more of a pick-me-up a few times a month in addition to a lightly pigmented set like the one from R+Co.

The R+Co conditioner's star ingredient, besides the purple mineral pigment, is sunflower sprout extract, which protects hair from the sun, nourishes, and enriches it with vitamins.

Since I began using the line's shampoo and conditioner, I can honestly say it makes good on its promise to maintain blonde hues and prevent brassiness, as you can see above. I'm not exaggerating when I say that within a few days of using the formulas, my hair color looked a lot brighter, healthier, and much closer to the blonde color I had when leaving the salon.

Alternative options

To find some alternatives talked to Millie Morales, a celebrity hairstylist and makeup artist. She says that ideal formulas for daily use should contain at least a small amount of purple pigment to neutralize yellow tones and agrees with Marino that it's best to use dark purple products as needed when the color starts to look faded and dull. She also said to look for a color-safe label so you can be sure they don't contain any harsh chemicals or detergents, including sulfates, which can cause your color to fade.

If you're looking for affordable options that fit Morales' criteria, I recommend John Frieda's Violet Crush Purple Shampoo and Conditioner ($9.97 each). Due to its rich purple color, it should only be used once a week, but the much lighter and less pigmented conditioner can be used regularly along with your favorite shampoo. Another great option is Marc Anthony True Professional's Complete Color Care For Blondes & Highlights Shampoo and Conditioner ($8.99 each), both of which can be used pretty frequently.

Extending the life of your hair color

In the words of celebrity hair colorist Nikki Lee, "Please do not try to bleach your hair at home. I know it's tempting when you see the root regrowth," but bleaching your hair at home can cause more harm than good.

Instead, she recommends safe at-home alternatives like touch-up spray or hair powder for a temporary fix until your next appointment. I'm a fan of Rita Hazan's Root Concealer Touch Up Spray in Blonde ($25) because just a spritz or two does the trick to lessen the appearance of grown-out roots. I also love Color Wow's Root Cover Up ($34.99) for more targeted coverage. It comes with a double-sided powder brush so it can be applied exactly where you want it.

Extending the life of color-treated hair can also be achieved by making subtle lifestyle changes. "You should stay away from washing your hair every day or every other day," says Morales. To cut back on washes, just use dry shampoo. Two of my favorites are Euphora Fresh Effect Dry Shampoo ($16.83) and Garnier Fructis Style Invisible Dry Shampoo in Cool Colada ($4.94). Both go on clear, are color-safe, and soak up oil without drying out hair.

Speaking of, Lee and Moreles both stress the importance of keeping hair hydrated and healthy if you want your color to look its best. The best way to do this is by limiting the use of hair tools and adding moisturizing products to your hair care routine.

I've personally seen great results with Garnier Nutrisse's Color Reviver in Cool Blonde ($7.99). Just apply the deep purple mask once every two weeks for five to ten minutes to amp up your color and deeply hydrate your hair. Another one of my favorite hair moisturizers is Alterna's Caviar Anti-Aging Infinite Color Hold Dual-Use Serum ($34). It's formulated to maintain color, hydrate, and protect hair from styling tools up to 450 degrees. It also makes my hair shiny and dead ends seem less visible.

Cons to consider

While highly effective, Sunset Blvd Shampoo and Conditioner are on the pricey side at $29 for each 8.5-ounce bottle.

However, my hair is medium length and after regular use for three months, I still have over half a bottle of the shampoo (a little goes a long way). The conditioner is particularly thick, so I require more of it to fully coat my hair. That being said, I still have close to half a bottle, but I definitely use the conditioner at a faster rate. To get the most bang for your buck I recommend using it as an overnight mask once or twice a week.

The other downside is that the duo won't leave hair looking perfectly sleek and shiny, so you may need to supplement with other products like hair masks or styling products.

The bottom line

When I started using R+Co's Sunset Blvd Shampoo and Conditioner my hair was dull and brassy. It only took a few days of use to see visible improvement in my hair color. Combined with a color-safe hair care routine, Sunset Blvd Shampoo and Conditioner has greatly extended the life of my hair color by giving it more depth and vibrance. It's been four months since I've seen a professional and I'm still happy with how it looks. That being said, it's probably time to head to the salon, but I'm not in a rush.