Meet the Best Shampoos for Gray Hair Adored by Hair Experts, Including a Harvard-Trained Derm

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Color-treated hair needs a special shampoo that won't strip the strands of dye or gloss. For those rocking gray strands through color treatment or aging, it's especially important to use the best shampoo for gray hair to ensure strands remain strong, healthy, and vibrant.

If you're wondering what causes gray hair, and why gray hair requires special attention, we tapped an expert to explain. “Gray hair is missing melanin, which is what gives hair not only its color but is also what helps keep hair smooth and hydrated," says Mane Addicts hairstylist Shelley Gregory. "Without melanin, we need to take extra care of gray hair and give it that extra moisture boost with hair care."

To help you select the best shampoo for gray hair, I consulted celebrity hairstylists about all things gray hair shampoo. These experts revealed their fave picks, which, surprisingly, all cost $49 or less. For added reassurance, these shampoos also boast glowing online reviews across reader-favorite retailers, including Amazon, Ulta, and Sephora.

The Best Shampoos for Gray Hair

• Best Overall: Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Shampoo

• Best Budget: EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo

• Most Amazon Reviews: L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo

• For Immediate Shine: Davines Heart of Glass Silkening Shampoo

• For an Award Winning Formula: Madison Reed ColorSolve Customizable Daily Moisture Shampoo

What to Consider

Purple and Blue Shampoo

What's most unique about the best shampoos for gray hair is that they're colorful. Celebrity hairstylist Peter Butler says violet- and purple-based shampoos, such as Kérastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Shampoo and L'Oréal EverPure Sulfate Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo, are super helpful in keeping gray, silver, white, and blonde hair bright and manageable.

Butler, who works with Hollywood actresses Sydney Sweeney and Ana de Armas, notes the shade of purple is a personal preference for each haircare company. “Some brands have more intense pigments in their formulas," he says. "Don’t be alarmed. They all work for the same result: keeping the brassiness away and your hair healthy and shiny."

Shvonne Perkins, Manager of Training at Madison Reed, adds, “Some purples have a bit more blue in them, which can be really beneficial for hair that has orange hints as well as yellowing — often referred to as brassy.” For example, Davines Heart of Glass Silkening Shampoo gets its indigo-blue color from Colombian jagua fruit extract.

Hair Care Needs

Perkins says users can customize their wash day routine by using a shampoo that focuses on moisture, anti-breakage, or volume as their base, and work in a new shampoo for gray hair as needed. “Don’t neglect hair health just for the tonal benefits — alternate products to get the right balance,” she says.

Gregory suggests evaluating someone's lifestyle before shopping for a new shampoo for gray hair — for example, how often they shampoo, how much heat and sun exposure is happening, and whether they need some color care to counteract unwanted yellowing, also called brassiness. Some of the best shampoos for gray hair, including Madison Reed ColorSolve Customizable Daily Moisture Shampoo, can be used daily, while others are best suited for less frequent use. Overall, someone simply can't go wrong with any of these expert-approved picks.

How We Chose

Butler says, “Healthy hair at every age and color is what it’s all about.” So if you (and your favorite gray-haired loved one) are ready to finally nourish their strands and enhance the vibrancy of their beautiful gray hair, then be sure to add one of these best shampoos for gray hair to your online shopping cart.

Since I don't have gray hair, and neither do my fellow editors at Best Products, I asked the experts for their all-time favorite shampoos for gray hair and was delighted that everything was somehow affordable. Although the vibrancy of each purple shampoo for gray hair varies by brand, experts assure that they're all fantastic for anyone looking to volumize, illuminate, and nourish their strands without splurging.

Blond Absolu Bain Ultra-Violet Shampoo

Kérastase earned major snaps from Gregory, who considers it the best shampoo for gray locks. And with a moderate price point and an impressive ingredient list, I agree this is the best overall pick.

Brassy, aka the warm yellowing of hair, is the enemy of icy-cool gray strands, and this ultra-violet shampoo delivers a fantastic solution. Gregory calls it her top pick for anyone with gray, white, or bright platinum-blonde strands. She says, “It has a great neutralizing tone that doesn’t over-deposit while keeping the hair in great health, conditioning your hair along the way.”

I'm also impressed that Blond Absolu contains hyaluronic acid, which experts previously told me is one of the most underrated hair ingredients. In my guide to hyaluronic acid for hair, every hairstylist and dermatologist I spoke with commended the ingredient because it eliminates frizz, calms inflammation, and strengthens all hair types.

Related: 25 Refillable Beauty Products

EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo

Gregory is also a fan of L’Oréal’s professional hair care line, but, we’re unable to purchase it from a legit retailer as regular folks (professional is in the name after all). Luckily, the main L’Oréal line we all know and love sells an impressive purple shampoo designed with gray hair in mind. And with more a budget-friendly price tag, I knew this product deserved a spot on this list.

Whether rocking a head full of gray hair or sporting a salt-and-pepper look, this cheap shampoo has users covered with toning gray tresses.

And get this: Whenever someone decides to switch up their current hair color, they won't have to push this shampoo to the back of their shower caddy. Its formulation is also compatible with brown, blonde, silver, and bleached hair.

Senior Editor Summer Cartwright uses this shampoo for her bright blonde locks when she needs a refresh that'll minimize bronzy tones. "It's powerful and makes a major difference after one wash," she explained. "It's my favorite shampoo and my secret for achieving a great shimmering platinum blonde finish."

Heart of Glass Silkening Shampoo

Lifeless hair got your loved one down? Then, surprise them with this popular shampoo for gray hair. Davines Heart of Glass is one of Gregory's favorite options because it provides a more subtle deposit of pigment that can be used every time someone shampoos — and it smells delicious.

Davines Heart of Glass Silkening Shampoo also deserves its namesake because it is chock-full of nourishing ingredients that immediately illuminate the hair. Notably, it gets the unique indigo-blue tint from a single ingredient: Colombian jagua fruit extract, which enhances cool- and warm-toned shades of gray and blonde.

Pro tip from Gregory: If someone has a very active lifestyle but only wash their hair a couple of times a week, first use a regular shampoo, such as a clarifying shampoo, to remove any dirt or product buildup.

ColorSolve Customizable Daily Moisture Shampoo

Perkins works for Madison Reed and naturally, she’s a fan of the brand's Daily Moisture Shampoo. That said, this anti-frizz shampoo is still an impressive option for anyone with gray hair because the included purple color shot benefits gray hair in need of toning, plus it also has extra moisture from argan oil.

We’re also impressed that it contains a blend of keratin, black spruce extract, and ginseng root extract to guard your giftee's stunning gray hair against harsh detergents and prevent color from fading. Overall, this is a nice, sulfate-free shampoo that provides intense hydration and minimizes frizz.

Silver Lining Purple Shampoo

Butler, who counts Claire Danes and Kate Upton as clients, adores Better Not Younger's entire haircare line and suggests cleansing with their Silver Lining Purple Shampoo. He loves the texture and that the shampoo (and matching hair mask) are super moisturizing without being too heavy. Notably, he's impressed that after using this product, the final hair tone is cool, bright, and overall just perfect.

The sulfate-free shampoo was designed with gray and white hair in mind. Not only does it contain biotin, an MVP ingredient for fine hair, but there's nourishing burdock root, naturally moisturizing hops to smooth hair, and sage to rebalance congested hair follicles.

A bonus: This violet shampoo helps brighten and boost the hair's vibrancy while preventing brassiness.

Strength Cure Blonde Shampoo

Pureology is one of the most-loved haircare brands on the market, earning snaps from multiple hairstylists throughout our beauty content. For those with gray hair, look no further than this popular shampoo.

"Pureology Purple Shampoo leaves an immaculate shine that sparkles from within. The formula is good for all hair types because of its balanced color pigments, allowing a personalized color infusion," says Robin Groover, the chief jair officer for Myavana.

Silverati Shampoo

Hairstylist Raven Hurtado of Maxine Salon in Chicago is a huge fan of Oribe's Silverati shampoo and conditioner.

"Not only does it protect and strengthen weak hair, it illuminates gray hair and decreases yellow tones and dull hair to make the hair appear brighter and vibrant. This is great for all hair types especially for fine hair," she explains.

Thanks to the Oribe Signature Complex of watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower, it smells sublime and helps protect gray hair from keratin deterioration, oxidative stress, and photoaging.

BLEU Blonded Brightening Shampoo

R+Co is a must-have haircare brand adored by celebrities like Kiernan Shipka and Rachel Brosnahan. I taped Adam Federico, the brand's VP of technical education, about all things shampoos for gray hair.

"For grey or silver strands, I like to use a shampoo that brings out the brilliance of the natural color. Silver hair can be beautiful when worn correctly, but it has to be cared for in a particular way. I find that it can be prone to yellow tones (just like bright blondes), and it's also prone to dehydration," he explains. Given that reasoning, he suggests using R+Co BLEU Blonded Brightening Shampoo.

"It contains ultra-nourishing ingredients like lilac flower stem cells and Shea Butter for hydration and shine, and violet flower derived pigments to gently tone and remove any brassy tones, leaving hair vibrant and icy. I find that this product works well for all hair types and textures, which makes it an all-around favorite for myself and my R+Co Edu team," he adds.

Brilliant Blonde Purple Shampoo

Hairstylist Devin Graciano says those with gray hair usually have an undertone pigment with more yellow, so a good purple shampoo should visibly brighten gray tresses.

"To support the health and luster of your hair it is also important to ensure your purple shampoo is leaving behind hydrating ingredients that won’t weigh your hair down," she says.

Graciano, the head of product development at Goldie Locks, is unsurprisingly a huge fan of the brand's Brilliant Blonde Purple Shampoo. She appreciates that it is made with sunflower, avocado oil, and glycerin, which is a great humectant that draws in moisture and keeps hair hydrated throughout the day. It's also made with the brand's Brightening Complex, which uses violet pigment to keep brassy strands at bay.

Shampoo

Wait, shampoo for gray hair can be a traditional color? Yes, but it means users will forgo adding brightening ingredients. However, what they gain in return is a gentle shampoo that's safe for everyone, including those with icy gray hair, eczema, and scalp acne. SEEN Shampoo is also the creation of board-certified dermatologist Dr. Iris Rubin, M.D., so rest easy that it won't hurt your tresses or delicate scalp.

"SEEN Shampoo is great for gray hair because it's sulfate-free and offers the lightweight hydration, smoothing, and protection it needs while being gentle on the skin," says Rubin, who is a Harvard-trained medical doctor. "Since gray hair tends to be drier and wirier, moisture is essential for keeping it smooth and soft."

This shampoo was developed with squalane, hemisqualane (a plant-derived, frizz-fighting silicone alternative), and moringa oleifera to meet the needs of all types of hair. "But this unique combination (and the exclusion of sulfates) make the formulas well-suited for gray hair," she adds.

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