We may earn commission from links on this page. Each product featured has been vetted and chosen by our editors.
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
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
“It’s important to use products that have the right amount of purple in them to ensure it’s not over-depositing on the hair,” says Moroccanoil artistic director Cassie Siskovic. The brand’s Perfect Purple Shampoo fits the bill, she says. In addition to deep violet pigment, it has argan oil in microcapsules designed to deeply penetrate strands, effectively moisturizing hair.
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.
Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo with Centaury combines the power of purple pigment and Centaurea cyanus (aka cornflower) flowers, which have a natural blue pigment. Even better, the product is vegan and packaged in 100 percent recycled bottles.
Key ingredients: Purple pigment, Centaurea cyanus flower water
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.
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.
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
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
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
This purple shampoo contains bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate to repair broken bonds in color-treated hair. Colorist and Olaplex ambassador Bianca Hillier recommends it for those who want more of an icy gray color. “It helps with busting brass and keeping things white,” she says. “I use this on clients who have damaged, brittle hair that needs both hydration and a bit of a brightening boost.”
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.
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.
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.
If you wash your hair frequently, you’ll appreciate that this shampoo was formulated to be gentle enough for daily use. The formula is both vegan and Leaping Bunny-certified cruelty-free.
L’Oréal Professionnel Silver Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo is made for color-treated and natural gray, white or blonde hair. The shampoo contains ingredients for tone correction and strengthening benefits and is scented with base notes of sandalwood, patchouli and amber.
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.
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.
NewBeauty uses cookies for various reasons, including to analyze and improve its content and advertising. Please review our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use for more about how we use this data. By continuing to use this site, you agree to these policies.
