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.”
1
Best Overall
Oribe Silverati Shampoo
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.
2
Best Value
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.
3
Best Sulfate-Free
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.
4
Best Color Depositing
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.
5
Best for Gray Hair Turning Yellow
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.
6
Best for Dry, Gray 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.
7
Best Purple Shampoo for Gray 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.
8
Best Purple Shampoo for Natural Gray Hair
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.
9
Best Non-Purple Shampoo for Gray Hair
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
10
Best Shampoo and Conditioner for Gray Hair
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)
11
Best Softening Shampoo for Gray Hair
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.
