If You Have Gray Hair, You Might Need One Of These Strand-Saving Shampoos

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Maybe you’ve embraced your roots, literally, and let your gray grow in during the pandemic. Or perhaps you were inspired to bleach and dye your hair Targaryen Silver after seeing “House of the Dragon” last winter. However you’ve arrived at your beautiful head of silver, white, or salt-and-pepper gray, you probably want it looking as good as it can. Just as blondes, brunettes, redheads, and even bolder, jewel-toned hair hues can sometimes be better served by color-specific shampoos, so, too, can gray hair.

Meet Our Experts: Christopher Naselli, celebrity hairstylists and owner of Naselli & Co. salon, Guy Tang, celebrity colorist and founder of #myidentity, Clariss Rubenstein, hairstylist and Nexxus ambassador

In some ways, gray hair might actually benefit more from something formulated precisely for it because it can be a little finicky. “Going gray is tricky: it’s the amount of gray, the tone of the gray, and the texture it becomes,” says celebrity hairstylist Christopher Naselli, owner of the Naselli & Co. salon. “The approach is different, and your ‘new’ locks need a bit more love to keep things looking healthy and shiny.”

Why Does Hair Go Gray?

You may be wondering why exactly that’s the case. It’s due, in part, to two big changes that take place when you go gray. “Hair loses pigment (melanin), and the hair follicles slow down the production of sebum, which makes the hair feel coarse and dry,” says Naselli. "That’s why it’s important to use products that will hydrate and keep your silver hair looking its best.” And if you’ve gone gray prematurely by dyeing it on purpose, your hair will likely have been stripped of its melanin as part of that process, which makes it just as prone to needing extra TLC—and equally susceptible to environmental damage, too. “All gray and silver colors are fragile, meaning they can fade or the tone can shift quickly from the sun, washing, and heat styling,” says celebrity colorist Guy Tang, founder of the #myidentity hair products brand.

How Do You Keep Gray Hair Looking Silver?

Then, to Tang’s point, there’s the challenge of keeping that hue of silver, looking, well, silver, since, like blonde shades, gray hair has a tendency to yellow and look a little dull over time. For that reason, Clariss Rubenstein, a hairstylist who works with Nexxus, suggests relying on the color wheel to keep your gray bright and vibrant. “What’s on the exact opposite side of yellow? Purple!” says Rubenstein. Investing in a violet- or purple-toned shampoo can cut brassiness, but finding balance here is key, as Rubenstein suggests alternating a purple shampoo and conditioner with formulas that hydrate, strengthen, or target another need your hair might have. Some stylists even suggest using purple products on a weekly or bi-weekly to monthly basis—it’s all about the amount of pigment in a given product and how your hair reacts to it. The only things to potentially avoid? Chamomile, which Rubenstein says enhances golden tones, and foaming agents like sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). “These can be harsh on the hair and scalp, leading to dryness and potential color fading,” says Tang.

Ready to hear about some of the best options on the market for gray hair? Here, you’ll find a mixture of stylist-recommended and top-reviewed shampoos worth giving a go, so you can hone in on your ideal formula and keep your grays looking gorgeous.

Silver Shampoo

If you’re looking for a product that’ll cleanse, brighten, tone, soften and shield your gray tresses from the sun, Sachajuan Silver Shampoo is where it’s at. Because it’s meant for gray, silver, and white hair—versus being formulated for blonde hair, too—the purple pigmentation is super-dark. For that reason, you’ll likely only need to use it every two to three weeks in your rotation (though strand testing in an inconspicuous place is a great idea to see how much pigment your hair actually absorbs and how long you need to leave it on). Hero ingredients include the color, of course, which goes to work on brassiness, as well as the brand’s proprietary algae blend, which turns straw-like silver strands into silky ones.

Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo

You’ll be hard-pressed to find an under $10 shampoo that’s fit for gray hair, but under $12 is doable with Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo, a 4.5 star-rated purple formula enriched with proteins to strengthen as it tones and brightens. “I am totally gray but use the purple shampoo product to keep my gray toned,” writes one reviewer. “The shampoo is thick and lathers up well. I've tried many others but by far this is the best.”

Blondage Color Depositing Purple Shampoo

“Purple shampoos are a good at-home solution in between services, but use with caution,” says Naselli. “Once a week is all you need to combat the brass; overuse can leave a purple hue, and that isn’t a good look.” He recommends this one, which is formulated with citric acid for strengthening. “Its purple pigment is designed to remove any unwanted brassiness, leaving the hair shiny and bright with no yellow undertones,” Naselli adds.

Users agree. “I've been using this shampoo for over a year now and it's great at keeping my hair that ash color they got at the salon,” says one Amazon reviewer.

Strength Cure Shampoo

Going gray can be a stressor on your strands, at least, until you learn how to care for it properly. That’s where a strengthening shampoo like this one comes in. While it won’t address fading or yellowing, per se, it can help shore up dry or coarse strands in between your pick for color maintenance. “This is the shampoo I use when my hair needs some love,” writes one reviewer. “Very balanced and feels like a restart.”

No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo

“Shampoos that are specifically formulated for color-treated hair will also work for gray hair,” says Tang. “These shampoos are designed to be gentle and prevent color fading or brassiness.” To that end, your gray can’t go wrong with this cult-classic. This cleanser is formulated with Olaplex’s patented bond-repairing ingredient, bis-aminopropyl diglycol dimaleate, which promotes thicker, fuller strands. For best results, stick to about three washes a week with this kind of shampoo, using cool water when possible.

Iles Formula Shampoo

Though this is one of the priciest picks in terms of its cost per ounce, it's chock full of nourishing ingredients to keep gray hair—whether colored or chemically untreated—looking soft, shiny, and voluminous. That’s thanks to the combo of vitamin b5 and pantotenic acid, which together go to work on penetrating strands to moisturize and smooth them. The formula also contains a special root extract to cut yellow tones, making it particularly suitable for silver strands.

Blonde Assure Shampoo for Color Treated or Natural Blondes

If you want to pick up your shampoo on your next Target run—or big online order— Nexxus offers a solid, under $25 purple-toned, protein-packed option that’s perfect for preventing gray hair from appearing dull. “I love Nexxus Blonde Assure Shampoo and conditioner,” says Rubenstein. “Although many brass-cutting shampoos appear to be geared towards blondes, the purple is essential for cutting the yellow out of gray hair.” Use it once to twice weekly, leaving it on for one to five minutes before rinsing it out.

Wash Shampoo

Admittedly, this shampoo is a little different from the rest of these honorees—and a few other things on the market. Described as “the wrinkle cream of haircare,” this gentle, special peptide-containing shampoo is designed to delay the growth of gray hair by stimulating cell production and potentially can even re-pigment strands in the early stages of losing their melanin. Results, of course, vary, but if you’ve gone a little gray and would like to maybe delay the process a bit, this one’s for you.

Pure Blonde/Silver Shampoo

UK-based brand Philip Kingsley is known for their science-backed approach to hair and the scalp, particularly for treating concerns like hair thinning. If you’ve gone gray and want to shore up any hair loss—or just counteract limpness on the whole—this just might be your best match. “A true hair hero for all of my natural and dyed hair!” says one reviewer. The key here? This formula doesn’t leave any pigment behind on the hair, so you can use it daily, and in lieu of sulfates and parabens, it contains ethylhexylglycerin, a humectant that moisturizes and softens.

No.3 Hair Perfector

“Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector Treatment is amazing to apply and leave on overnight then rinse out in the morning,” says Tang. “I would recommend this to someone that is looking for frizz reduction and additional softness or moisture.” Work this into your weekly self-care routine to soften gray locks that might need an extra moisture boost.

Silverati Illuminating Treatment Masque

While stylists and gray haired gals already in the know all wait with baited breath to see if the holy grail of gray shampoos, Oribe’s Silverati, will ever be restocked (it’d have surely made the list if available anywhere right now), the Silverati Illuminating Treatment Masque will have to get everyone by in the meantime. Tame wiry, aging silver strands with this best-selling mask, which touts arctic root extract to target elasticity, snow mushroom extract for moisture, argan oil to prevent breakage as well as a ceramide complex and celery seed extract to soothe and moisturize the scalp—among other things.

Ultra Moisturizing Shampoo

According to Naselli, coarse or dehydrated gray hair is best served by shampoos that will allow the hair shaft to absorb as much moisture as possible (at least, when you’re not doing your weekly wash with a purple shampoo). His personal pick? Biotera Ultra Moisturizing Shampoo. “It’s affordable and is most importantly alcohol-free,” he says, so the formula is anything but drying for parched silver strands.

MyRefresh Color Depositing Conditioner

While this list is *officially* geared toward shampoo options, gray hair can also benefit from a purple conditioner, too, and Tang, unsurprisingly, recommends the one he helped formulate specifically for blonde and gray hair. “MyRefresh Silver Pearl Conditioner is amazing for preserving and prolonging your gray/silver color longevity at home—whether you want to add a silvertone or cancel out yellow tones,” he says.

Serie Expert Silver Purple Shampoo

Sometimes you just want a salon-trusted product at home. Formulated specifically for gray and snowy white locks, this shampoo earns high marks for its ability to neutralize unwanted golden tones while adding hydration and glossiness in the process. Fortified with magnesium and tiny purple pigments, use it once or twice a week to keep your tone looking fresh-from-the salon cool. “I love this shampoo!” writes one reviewer. “I've tried many other purple shampoos, this one takes the cake! Beautiful results that leave the hair feeling soft and shiny. Does not dry the hair out like other silver shampoos on the market.”

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