Whiter Than White: Our Purple Shampoo Guide
Last week’s Blokes guide to grey-horse washing demonstration ( Thanks Ben10@Checkout for the doing the dirty work for us) confirmed something most grey-horse owners already know: getting the dirt out is only half the job.
Missed it? Find it HERE.
The real challenge is shifting those stubborn yellow and brassy tones from grey coats, white markings, manes and tails and getting them bright without scrubbing the hair off (eeekkk) or accidentally producing a lilac horse.
Luckily, we have a serious stash of purple products for exactly that job.
Why purple?
Purple shampoos and toners help counteract the yellow and brassy tones that make white coats, socks, manes and tails look less than dazzling. The right product can take whites from technically clean to crisp, bright and show-ring ready.
The important bit: choose the product that suits the job. This is not a challenge to apply every purple thing in the tack room at once.
Always follow the directions on the product, patch-test if needed and rinse thoroughly. Strong purple products can tone quickly, so start cautiously—unless a lilac horse is part of your personal brand.
For serious whitening power
For those who love Hairy Pony Double Strength Purple Shampoo but know it can be frustratingly difficult to get hold of when Australian supply is tight, we are very pleased to report that there is a brilliant New Zealand-made alternative.
Eco Horse Triple Purple Power Shampoo is made for the jobs that need extra whitening oomph: grey coats, white markings, feathered legs, stained tails and the sort of mysterious grime only a horse can manufacture immediately before an important outing.
It is highly pigmented, so use it carefully and follow the label timing especially on your first attempt.
The showing-pro secret weapon
Judge’s Choice Brilliant Blue Shampoo is formulated to brighten greys, whites and dual-coloured coats while adding definition and lustre to darker colours too.
It is also the not-so-secret weapon of some serious showing pros on both sides of the Tasman. And frankly, if it is good enough to get you to the Grand National, it is most definitely good enough for us.
Reach for this one when you want the whole horse clean, bright and ready to be seen—not just the white bits.
For the mud monster
NTR Eziwash Purple Haze Shampoo is concentrated, moisturising and easy to rinse out. It is a great choice for grey, white and patchy ponies, stockings and socks, quick washbay wash-ups on show mornings and horses with a special commitment to mud, poo and dirt.
It gives that brighter, silvery finish without making bath day harder than it already is.
For targeted scrubbing and travel
The Hairy Pony Eco-Friendly Purple Toner Shampoo Bar is a tidy little weapon for socks, stains and targeted areas.
It is spill-proof, plastic-free and comes with its own reusable scrub bag, making it particularly useful in the wash bay, float or show kit when you do not want a bottle of purple shampoo redecorating everything you own.
The hard-to-get favourite
Hairy Pony Double Strength Purple Shampoo has plenty of devoted converts for good reason: it cleans and brightens white coats, manes and tails while leaving the hair soft.
It is currently sold out, which is exactly why we are so pleased to have the Eco Horse Triple Purple Power option on the shelf. Hairy Pony fans can still keep the favourite bookmarked for its return - get in touch if you would like to raincheck it.
Got a manky mare tail?
Sometimes shampoo gets the dirt out, but the tail is still hanging onto yellow or brassy tones. This is where a toner can earn its place in the kit.
HSE HiTone Silver Mane & Tail Whitener is a concentrated toner for white, grey and blonde hair. It can be used on manes, tails, white socks and feathers, or added to a favourite shampoo or conditioner.
Do not forget the conditioner
Repeated washing, weather and enthusiastic tail-scrubbing can leave manes and tails dry, rough and prone to damage.
Hairy Pony Purple Hair Repair Conditioner follows the whitening step with a deep conditioning treatment. It helps brighten white manes and tails while leaving the hair smoother, softer and easier to manage.
Because a clean tail is excellent. A clean tail that still has hair attached is better.
The TCH grey-horse game plan
- Wet the coat thoroughly and loosen the obvious mud and grime.
- Choose one purple shampoo suited to the job whole horse, stubborn stains or targeted white areas.
- Follow the label directions and start cautiously with highly pigmented products.
- Rinse extremely well.
- Use a toner on stubborn yellowing in manes, tails or white markings if needed.
- Follow with a conditioner on manes and tails to restore softness and help protect the hair.
- Dry properly and protect the finished result before the horse remembers the location of the nearest mud patch.
Getting whites properly white may never be completely effortless, but the right purple product makes the job a whole lot easier.
Pick your purple. Lose the yellow.
No gatekeeping. No high horses. Just very clean grey ones.