If the rise of social media accounts dedicated to showcasing gray hair are any indication, plenty of people are perfectly content to allow their natural color to show through. Those who want to keep their gray hair as bright, soft and shiny as possible can rely on products and treatments for maintenance.
Low-maintenance color treatments that enhance—not hide—gray hair are one route. “There are those women who prefer to work with their grays and have lowlights,” says Sharon Dorram, celebrity colorist and owner of Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger Salon. “This is a way to allow some gray to show and look natural ‘salt and pepper.’ For those women who want the lowest level hair color to maintain and yet still improve their looks, I suggest simply highlighting the ‘pepper’ super light to blend with the existing ‘salt,’ white hair.”
Whether your gray hair is color-enhanced or all natural, it’s also helpful to choose suitable hair products, including shampoo. Redken ambassador and hair educator Adrienne Dara considers purple shampoos—which deposit purple pigment to neutralize yellow tones—a “must” for her clients with gray hair.
“Essentially, when we have gray, white or silver hair, we are missing pigment, which means that our hair color can be even more affected by sun and pollution,” says Dara. “Both of these components can contribute to shifting the tone of the hair, oftentimes leading to a yellow tint. By using purple shampoo, you will help control that shift.”
Additionally, your scalp will likely start producing less sebum (oil) with age, says Dara. “Lack of pigment and sebum adds up to a coarser texture, or dryer texture of hair.” If that resonates, moisturizing shampoos and leave-in treatments can help counteract the dryness.
There’s no shortage of products on the market that cater to the specific needs of gray hair. If you’d like to start out by browsing the best shampoo options, here are our top picks.
Featured experts
- Sharon Dorram is a celebrity colorist
- Adrienne Dara is a hair educator an Redken ambassador
- Cassie Siskovic is the artistic director at Moroccanoil
- Shvonne Perkins is a master colorist and lead educator at Madison Reed
- Bianca Hillier is a colorist and Olaplex ambassador
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Best for Damaged Hair: Oribe Silverati Shampoo ($49)
This shampoo is specifically made for gray or white hair, with blue and silver pigments to neutralize yellow tones. The formula also contains hydrolyzed keratin protein to reinforce damaged hair.
Key ingredients: Blue and silver pigments, hydrolyzed keratin protein
BUY ON ORIBE - $49
BUY ON NORDSTROM - $49
Photo Credits: Oribe
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Best for Fine Hair: Philip B Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo ($160)
Doram likes to tailor her shampoo recommendations based on hair type. For those with fine hair, she likes Philip B Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo. “It leaves hair shiny and full of volume,” she says. The product is intended to strengthen and moisturize hair without weighing it down.
Key ingredients: Shea butter, amino acids
BUY ON AMAZON - $160
BUY ON DERMSTORE - $160
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Best for Damaged Hair: dpHUE cool blonde shampoo ($28)
This shampoo is designed to keep blonde, platinum or gray hair looking cool and not brassy or orange. The brand recommends leaving it on for one to three minutes before rinsing or up to five minutes for more intense results. You can also apply it on dry hair, leaving it on for up to 10 minutes to further protect against brassiness.
Key ingredients: Purple pigment, silk amino acids
BUY ON DPHUE - $28
BUY ON NORDSTROM - $28
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Best for Coarse Hair: VIRTUE Recovery Shampoo ($42)
If you’re aiming to restore softness and aren’t so concerned with color correction, consider VIRTUE Recovery Shampoo. It’s Dorram’s top pick for gray hair that’s on the more coarse side. “It has natural keratin, which helps improve the texture from dry, coarse hair to smooth, healthy hair,” she says.
Key ingredients: Hydrolyzed quinoa, baobab seed oil
BUY ON VIRTUE - $42
BUY ON AMAZON - $42
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Best for Discolored Hair: AG Care Sterling Silver Toning Shampoo ($26)
The brand suggests using this tone-correcting shampoo one to two times per week—or more frequently if you have stubborn discoloration. It’s available in a 10-ounce bottle or a more cost-effective one-liter refill pouch.
Key ingredients: Blue and purple pigments, castor oil
BUY ON AMAZON - $26
BUY ON ULTA - $26
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Best for Damaged Hair: Crown Affair Ritual Shampoo ($36)
If you have damaged hair, Dorram suggests using Crown Affair Ritual Shampoo, a vegan formula that meets the standards for the Clean at Sephora seal. To make your hair look super healthy, she suggests following up with the brand’s leave-in conditioner ($48). “The product is a game-changer, and I use it every time I blow dry my hair,” she says.
Key ingredients: Tsubaki Seed Oil, hydrolyzed wheat protein
BUY ON VIOLET GREY - $36
BUY ON SEPHORA - $36
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Best for Dry Hair: Madison Reed Blonde Frizz Away Shampoo ($29)
This moisturizing shampoo comes in four variations, including a formula for blonde or gray hair that contains blue and purple pigment. It’s “amazing for gray hair that needs tone plus extra moisture,” says Shvonne Perkins, master colorist and lead educator for the brand. “I also recommend throwing a clarifying shampoo in the mix occasionally to remove build-up that is affecting the shade of your gray. That just keeps the canvas clean."
Key ingredients: Argan oil, blue and purple pigments
BUY NOW - $29
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Best for Frizz: Arctic Fox Resurrected Shampoo ($17)
This shampoo is formulated to strengthen hair that’s been damaged from styling measures like color treatments and heat application. It contains moisturizing argan and macadamia nut oils and a blend of amino acids to bolster damaged hair.
Key ingredients: Argan oil, panthenol
BUY NOW - $17
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Best for Oily Scalps: Redken Blondage Purple Toning Shampoo ($26)
Don’t be fooled by the name—Redken Blondage Purple Toning Shampoo is ideal for gray hair in addition to blonde shades, according to Dara. The shampoo has garnered an average of 4.6 stars from more than 13,000 ratings on Amazon.
Key ingredients: Purple pigment, salicylic acid
BUY ON REDKEN - $26
BUY ON AMAZON - $26
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Best for Budget-Conscious Shoppers: Nexxus Blonde Assure Purple Shampoo ($15)
Nexxus Blonde Assure Purple Shampoo is meant for those with blonde, platinum or silver hair with unwanted brassiness. It combines purple pigment and keratin to simultaneously tone and strengthen hair and is relatively inexpensive.
Key ingredients: Purple pigment, hydrolyzed keratin
BUY ON AMAZON - $15
BUY ON TARGET - $19
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Best for Fans of Plant-Based Hair Care: Virtue ColorKick De-Brassing Shampoo ($44)
If you want to improve the tone of your hair but prefer to steer clear of synthetic colorants, you can opt for Virtue ColorKick De-Brassing Shampoo. It counteracts yellow and orange tones strictly with plant-derived ingredients like sweet violet and lavender extracts.
Key ingredients: Lavender extract, salicylic acid
BUY ON VIRTUE - $44
BUY ON AMAZON - $44
Award Photo: ColorKick De-Brassing Shampoo
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Best for Oily Scalps: Matrix So Silver Purple Shampoo ($20)
Leave this violet-colored shampoo on gray or white hair for three to five minutes, two to three times a week, to help minimize yellow tones as well as brassiness. Customer reviewers report that it’s very effective for tone correction.
Key ingredients: Purple pigment, salicylic acid
BUY ON AMAZON - $20
BUY ON ULTA - $20
