you get that purplish tone when you start up an hps as the ignitor inside starts to warm then it fires and the light gets they distinctive orange red color.Tell him dont stare at it you can do damge to your eyes
yep actually it actually took my buddys lamp 30 mins or so b4 it really fired up. he said it was a dim purple then it turned to a dim blueish color (only looking at it for a sec) then it fired up after a total or 30 mins later. he said it could have been less than 30 mins because he wasnt in the room the whole time. ohh ya and he only looked at it for a couple secs i guess. he said it was really dim till it kicked it, i guess thats what happens with some new bulbs.
now if your in your room and your not looking directly into the bulb because they are below eye level you should be all set ,and not have to wear shades, right?
thanks for your advice guys, much obliged. God bless everyone