Violet Shampoo, $16.95
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Hot Hed Violet, $19.95
It takes commitment and courage to pour a dollop of dark-purple shampoo into one's hand and apply it to over-processed and over-bleached hair.
But Fudge's latest product Clean Blonde Violet Toning Shampoo promises to make blonde hair look a whole lot better by taking out any brassy overtones.
I was not convinced the whole experiment might not end in tears when I took the plunge. When I say purple, I mean inky black, gentian-violet type intensity. What if I emerged from the shower looking like a member of the blue rinse brigade - or worse, Kelly Osbourne?
I shut my eyes to the rivers of purple suds floating down the drain and emerged with clean, still-blonde hair minutes later.
But I must admit, the colour tone was, as promised, less brassy, more ashy, and even after one application I could notice a difference.
Fudge is supposed to be used "every other wash" and a week later I am honestly quite sold on it. My hair colour looks more like I just left the salon rather than a couple of weeks out from needing new highlights. My is hair is a lot shinier than usual - a bit of a miracle when most days it has to endure a hot blow-dryer and concerted application of a GHD hair straightener to take away the endless curl I was cursed with.
Fudge has also engineered a delicious looking mousse Hot Hed Violet, which looks like whipped cream with a lavender twist. The colour disappears when you disperse the mousse into wet hair.
It makes styling a lot easier and probably has a bit to do with all this new-found shine.
I doubt I would have bought these products had I not been targeted by the beauty editor as the closest blonde in the newsroom, but after two weeks I am a convert. Now, if someone would just make a shampoo to make brown hair blonde without the high maintenance my current colour choice requires …