11 Best Shampoos for Gray Hair, According to Experts
These formulas are made to enhance your natural hue.
Reviewed by Sabina WizemannBeauty Lab Director
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All hair colors can benefit from using color-specific shampoos, including (and maybe especially) those with gray and silver hair. Since gray hair lacks pigment, it tends to be coarser and needs a little extra TLC to keep it shiny and healthy. "Gray hair typically has a yellow hue to it, so adding a cool color (like purple) can make it look whiter and brighter," explains Michael Dueñas, celebrity hair stylist and founder of Veluer Creative. He advises using a shampoo with a violet or purple tint to keep gray hair color vibrant and fresh. "It doesn't need to be a daily wash, but using it once a week will cut brassiness and give you spectacular shine."
Avoid using any shampoos that add warmth to gray hair, as cool-toned shampoos will help hair better reflect light. Since gray hair tends to be drier and prone to frizz, Dueñas also recommends avoiding harsh shampoos, as "it's important to leave as much moisture in the hair as possible."
Keep reading for more details on how to properly care for silver strands and our picks for the best shampoos for gray and silver hair colors, including Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab tested and expert picks and professional colorist and stylist-recommended formulas.
Pros
- Illuminates gray
- Softens hair
- Clean scent
Cons
- Not a great lather
This shampoo from Oribe is an all-time favorite of Sienree Du, a celebrity hairstylist for Mane Addicts in Los Angeles. It "brightens grays and leaves hair super soft, shiny and lush," she says. The formula contains keratin and antioxidants to strengthen and protect strands from damage. Plus, "it smells absolutely stunning," Du raves. The only complaint: a few reviewers felt it doesn't lather enough.
Key ingredients: Keratin, antioxidants | Best for: Color-treated, damaged and normal hair | Size: 8.5 oz.
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Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo Blonde & Silver
Pros
- Immediate brightening effects
- Good value
- Adds shine
Cons
- Could be drying
Clairol's classic purple shampoo formula was created specifically to boost silver strands. "Not only is this shampoo super affordable and easy to find, it instantly brightens and tones, as in right before your eyes," Du says. She loves that it leaves hair shiny without any residue. "I even like using this on blondes when they need a quick icy tone." Du recommends using it in rotation with a moisturizing shampoo or "when you feel like you need to enhance your color" to prevent drying out hair.
Key ingredients: Protein, purple pigments | Best for: All hair colors (can brighten/enhance every shade), most hair types aside from dry | Size: 16 oz.
Olaplex Nº.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo
Pros
- Instant results
- Softens hair
- Sulfate-free
Cons
- Pricey
While Olaplex's purple shampoo is definitely a splurge, "it boosts my gray hair's brightness even after just one wash," says Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann.
Coming from a brand known for its transformative hair treatments, this one is sulfate-free and gentle on gray hair as it removes yellow and brassy tones. "While the deep purple color is intimidating, it rinses out well and doesn’t stain the tub," she adds. "My hair was soft to the touch after blow-drying, which is a nice change considering that my hair tends to get coarse if I don't condition it enough."
Key ingredients: OLAPLEX Bond Building Technology | Best for: All hair types | Size: 8.5 oz.
RELATED: Best Sulfate-Free Shampoos
Celeb Luxury Gem Lites Colorwash
Pros
- Helps blend grays
- Comes in multiple shades
Cons
- Doesn't give full coverage
Looking for a formula that helps cover your grays? Celeb Luxury's shampoo comes in a variety of color options to match your desired hue. Du loves the gray shade, which allows you to "blend in those sparkly gray strands a bit without having to go full hair dye." While it doesn't provide full coverage, it can turn your grays into more of a highlighted look, she says.
Key ingredients: Plant-based palm and coconut | Best for: Natural gray, bleached and color-treated blonde hair and all textures | Size: 8.5 oz.
Rene Furterer Okara Silver Toning Shampoo
Pros
- Lightly neutralizes brassiness
- Softens and strengthens hair
Cons
- Some found it gave hair a purple hue
Rene Furterer's violet-tinted shampoo provides a softer alternative to bright purple formulas. "With a perfect shade of violet pigment, this shampoo neutralizes color instantly without leaving too cool of a look on the hair," Dueñas says. "It provides the perfect tone to gray hair." Plus, vitamins B5 and E help strengthen damaged strands. You may want to do a strand test first; a few reviewers found that it left hair with a purple tint.
Key ingredients: Okara extract, purple toning pigments, vitamins B5 and E | Best for: Blonde, white, gray, silver, pastel hair colors | Size: 6.7 oz.
RELATED: How to Fix Damaged Hair
Moroccanoil Blonde Perfecting Purple Shampoo
Pros
- Cancels brassy tones
- Softens strands
Cons
- Can dye skin purple
With over 3,000 reviews, Moroccanoil's shampoo is top-rated for its ability to remove brassy color in gray, light brown and blonde hair. Reviewers called it a "game changer," "the best purple shampoo" and "amazing for silver hair." Plus, it's made with strong softening ingredients like argan and castor oils to leave hair silky. One thing to keep an eye out for: a few reviewers commented that it dyed their skin and scalp purple.
Key ingredients: Argan oil, castor oil, violet pigments | Best for: All hair types and textures | Size: 6.7 oz.
RELATED: The Best Shampoos for Dry Hair
Unite Hair Blonda Shampoo
Pros
- Cancels yellow tones in silver hair
- Immediate effects
Cons
- Fruity scent may be polarizing
Du appreciates that Unite's super powerful violet-tinted shampoo delivers instant results on gray strands. It "boosts blondes and grays quickly and neutralizes unwanted yellow tones." Use this once a week instead of your regular shampoo to cleanse, purify and tone hair.
Key ingredients: Coconut, hydrolyzed rice protein | Best for: Blonde and gray hair color that is getting brassy | Size: 8 oz.
RELATED: Best Purple Shampoos
R+Co SUNSET BLVD Daily Blonde Shampoo
Pros
- Can be used daily without residue
- Leaves hair shiny
Cons
- May be too drying for some hair types
While many purple shampoos are meant to be used once or twice weekly, "this unique product from R+Co can be used daily and will not make the hair have a violet hue," Dueñas explains. "The pigment in this shampoo is light, allowing for daily application if need be." It has a top-notch ingredient blend, too: glycerin, sunflower extract and pearl extract nourish hair and add shine. While many found the formula to be hydrating, a few reviewers noted that it felt drying.
Key ingredients: Glycerin, sunflower extract, pearl extract | Best for: All types and textures of blonde and gray hair | Size: 8.5 oz.
L'Oréal Paris EverPure Silver Care Shampoo for Gray Hair
Pros
- Brightens gray color
- Leaves hair soft and smooth
- Adds volume
- Increases shine
Cons
- Floral scent may not be for everyone
This shampoo from L'Oréal Paris received top marks in Lab testing across a variety of categories: brightening gray hair, ease of combing, making hair feel soft and smooth, adding volume and providing shine. Our consumer testing (which included 12 testers with gray hair) rated it the highest shampoo tested for overall performance. While it rated second best for scent, a few testers didn't love the floral fragrance. "The shampoo was a delight to use and my hair felt soft, silky and clean after," one shared.
Key ingredients: Peptides | Best for: Fine to normal gray and silver hair | Size: 8.5 oz
Hair Biology Silver Shampoo and Conditioner Set
Pros
- Shampoo and conditioner work together to brighten and nourish
- Good value
- Contains biotin to strengthen hair
Cons
- Can make scalp itchy
Keep hair healthy, soft and smooth with this biotin-infused shampoo and conditioner set from Hair Biology. It reduces brassiness and yellow tones, while simultaneously softening hair. GH Beauty Director April Franzino, who is a big fan of the line's thickening spray, loves that "the brand was created to address the needs of mature hair, including grays." The products may not be ideal for those with a sensitive scalp; a few reviewers said that it made their scalp itchy.
Key ingredients: Biotin | Best for: Mature/aging hair | Size: 12.8 oz. (each)
RELATED: Best Biotin Shampoos
Schwarzkopf BLONDME All Blondes Rich Shampoo
Pros
- Very hydrating
- Works well on gray hair and blondes
Cons
- Not ideal for oily hair
Help counteract parched, wiry silver strands and enhance your color at the same time with Schwarzkopf's shampoo. "Don't let the name fool you — it will take your gray from dull to spectacular," says Dueñas. "This shampoo makes your hair so unbelievably soft while removing brassiness and restoring it to a perfect shade of gray," he adds. While the shampoo is a great option for dry and coarse hair types, it may be too heavy for fine or oily hair.
Key ingredients: 3D bond creation technology, cashmere protein complex | Best for: Normal to coarse and dry hair types | Size: 10 oz.
How we choose the best shampoos for gray hair
The Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab regularly tests both shampoos and hair color-related products. In the Lab, instruments like the Instron machine are used to measure conditioning properties and factors like hair color enhancement and fade resistance are gauged. Products are also label-masked and distributed to testers around the country, who use them in their routines and evaluate them on factors like ease of use, scent, texture and effects on the look and feel of hair.
One of our Lab scientists shares before and after photos during testing.
What to look for when shopping for the best shampoos for gray hair
Start by looking for "a purple pigmented shampoo made specifically to brighten yellow blondes or grays," Du recommends. This will help counteract any brassiness (unwanted orange undertones), common from hard water or product deposits, and keep your hair color vibrant. "Going back to the color wheel, purple neutralizes yellow and orange," she explains.
If you prefer non-tinted formulas, seek out shampoos labeled specifically for gray or silver hair, which can be made with other types of ingredients like pigments that enhance your natural hair shade and shine without depositing color.
How do you make gray hair soft and shiny?
"It is all about adding moisture," Dueñas notes. You want to use a shampoo and a conditioner that imparts rich hydration to prevent hair from becoming dull and straw-like. He advises using a smoothing shampoo and conditioner, along with a deep conditioning treatment once a week to "transform your gray from frizzy and dry to shiny and bouncy."
How often should you use purple shampoo on gray hair?
"The Lab recommends starting with once a week to maintain the brightness of gray hair without over-toning," says Wizemann. "If the gray is particularly prone to yellowing, you can use it more frequently, such as every other wash." If your hair starts to take on a purple tint or becomes too ashy, she suggests reducing the usage to every other week.
Celebrity colorist Christopher Naselli agrees with Wizemann with once weekly usage as the baseline for most people. "Gray hair, like blonde or light-colored hair, can become yellow or brassy and the frequency of using purple shampoo on gray hair can vary based on individual hair type, condition and desired outcome," he says. "It’s important to monitor your hair’s response and adjust usage from there." He suggests alternating between purple shampoo and a regular, moisturizing shampoo to prevent overuse and keep hair hydrated.
Is purple or blue shampoo better for gray hair?
"Purple shampoo is generally better for gray hair than blue shampoo, but both can be used depending on your hair's undertones," says Naselli. "Purple shampoo can help cancel out brassy yellow tones that can appear in gray hair, while blue shampoo can help gray hair shine and eliminate brassy tones." One of his favorite purple collections is AGEbeautiful Ultra Bond Care Purple Shampoo and Conditioner, as "it's a great duo to neutralize any unwanted brassy tones while keeping your gray shiny and healthy."
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Dori Price originally wrote and updated this article with new picks and information about the shampoos. She has over 15 years of experience researching and writing haircare and hairstyling stories and is an expert in all hair product categories, from shampoos, conditioners, treatments, styling products and tools to hair color, professional services and more. For this story, she worked with GH Beauty Lab scientists and top hair professionals to curate top product picks and expert advice.
GH Beauty Lab Director Sabina Wizemann shared her knowledge on shampoos for gray hair and both her personal and Lab tested top picks. Over her years in the Health, Beauty and Sustainability Lab, she has fashioned lab and consumer studies on at-home hair dyes, shampoos and conditioners, hair serums, hair volumizers, dry shampoos and more. She also tests hairstyling tools like hairdryers and curling irons while continuously checking for the latest innovations in hairstyling.
Dori Price is a New York City-based freelance writer and editor and beauty, style and wellness expert who was the Beauty & Fashion Director at Family Circle for 13 years before she joined Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman’s Day as a freelance beauty editor. She has also written for WomensHealthMag.com, Elle.com and HealthCentral.com.
Sabina (she/her) is the director of the Beauty, Health & Sustainability Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she has overseen skincare, haircare and makeup testing since 2012. She also reviews applications, substantiates claims and evaluates products for the GH Seal and the Beauty Awards and Sustainability Awards programs. She has a B.S. in chemistry from Ithaca College and more than 16 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical and personal care industries.
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