It's normally used to tone down brassy hair, but Saskia Ward claims that the purple shampoo she lathers all over her teeth most nights before bedtime leaves her with a gleaming smile by the time she wakes up.
The 24-year-old nail technician says she regularly gets compliments on her sparkling teeth and claims that even her dentist was left impressed during a recent check-up.
A TikTok video that sees Saskia sharing her tip has clocked up more than 100,000 views, with some wowed fans keen to try it for themselves.
However, an expert has warned that this hack could "do more harm than good", and has urged others not to take dental advice from people on social media.
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After seeing an ad for purple toothpaste, Saskia refused to accept that it wasn’t made of the exact same stuff as her purple shampoo, thus prompting her unusual beauty experiment.
Saskia said: “I put a tiny bit on my toothbrush and prayed my teeth wouldn't turn purple. I went to my dentist for a check-up recently and he gave me nothing but praise for how amazing my teeth looked.
“I get loads of comments on nights out about how white they are. Purple shampoo doesn’t taste great but beauty leads you to do some wild things and I’m up for anything.”
Purple shampoo is usually used as a way to tone blonde hair and contains crushed violet pigments to help neutralise brassy or yellow tones.
Saskia has composite veneers on top of her actual teeth but believes the hack would work for natural teeth as well.
Dr Khaled Kasem, Chief Orthodontist at Impress dental services, has cautioned others against following Saskia's example, warning that "shampoo should not be coming anywhere near your mouth".
Speaking with The Mirror, Dr Kasem advised: "The internet is filled with extreme ways to whiten your teeth at home, with some stating that purple shampoo is the way forward.
"The idea behind it is that the violet hue cancels yellow tones found in your teeth, creating an instant but temporary whitening effect. It should come as no surprise when we say shampoo should not be coming anywhere near your mouth.
Not only can ingesting shampoo have serious implications for your health, but it also doesn’t have the desired effects so becomes pointless!"
He continued: "The ingredients in shampoo will not remove any deep-set stains that are causing your teeth to yellow in appearance and will do more harm than good.
"Just like regular health, you shouldn’t take dental advice from anyone on social media that isn’t qualified to provide it. DIY tricks can be dangerous and cause damage to your tooth enamel, something which unfortunately can’t be undone.
"If you’re hoping to achieve a brighter, whiter smile, it’s best to consult a dental professional as not only will it be much more effective, it will also be safer, too."
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