Gray or white hair can be stunning, but it needs special care. Because gray and white hair lack pigment, strands reflect what clings to them day in and day out — think chlorine, pollution, smoke, minerals from water, and even certain hair care product debris. These outside forces work to dull even the most vibrant hair colors, but their lackluster effects on white and gray hair are much more noticeable and can appear as a yellow cast.
What’s more: Natural pigment acts as a shield, helping protect hair from environmental stressors like UV rays. Once these pigments decrease, your hair loses some of its natural defense against oxidation and, therefore, yellowing.
To counteract the dingy yellow that often plagues gray and white hair, try a color-depositing shampoo. The silver, blue, or violet pigments in these shampoos temporarily neutralize yellow and orange tones, returning hair to a vibrant gray, silver, or white.
11 Best Shampoos for Gray Hair
Here we run down our favorite shampoos created specifically for gray hair.
OLAPLEX No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo, $30
This Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo cleanses, tones, and repairs while keeping hair hydrated from roots to ends. This highly-concentrated, sulfate-free shampoo forms a rich lather to neutralize brassiness and boost brightness after one use.
Better Not Younger Silver Lining Shampoo, $29
The Silver Lining Purple Brightening Shampoo is a sulfate-free, proprietary blend of ingredients that eliminate brassiness and yellowing in cool blonde, platinum, silver, or gray tones while hydrating and strengthening hair and adding extra lift and volume. Use this as part of a 2-step regimen with the Silver Lining Purple Butter Masque for soft, silky, luxurious hair.
Dry Bar Blonde Ale Brightening Shampoo, $29
Blonde Ale contains deep purple pigments that neutralize brassiness in blonde, gray, white, and highlighted hair. It gently cleanses without drying out strands and has keratin that reinforces the structure of the hair and helps prevent damage.
Heart of Glass Silkening Shampoo, $38
This silkening shampoo is especially ideal for bleached or lightened hair, as well as weakened strands exposed to external factors such as heat styling and UV rays. This haircare line expertly combines cutting-edge ingredients with innovative, natural raw materials to maintain and enhance blonde color, promote hair health, and help to repair previous damage while preventing future damage.
Madison Reed ColorSolve Customizable Frizz Away Shampoo, $22
Frizz Away Shampoo is designed to tame unwanted frizz and add intense hydration. It contains black spruce extract to protect against the top four elements that cause hair color to fade: sun, water, heat, and harsh detergents.
Kérastase Blond Absolu Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo, $40
Blond Absolu is an ultra-violet, anti-brass purple shampoo that instantly neutralizes brassy undertones in lightened, cool blonde, bleached, or gray hair while also strengthening hair with hyaluronic acid.
Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo with Centaury, $22
This plant-based purple shampoo gently cleanses and neutralizes unwanted yellow and copper tones while maintaining brightness and vibrancy in blonde, platinum, silver, or gray hair.
BondiBoost Blonde Baby Hydrating Toning Purple Shampoo, $29.95
Blonde Baby is a vegan shampoo that utilizes purple pigments and nutrient-rich oils to remove brassiness and leave hair feeling softer and hydrated.
L’Oréal EverPure Sulfate-Free Purple Shampoo, $9.99
EverPure Sulfate-Free Purple Shampoo offers color protection, plus it neutralizes brassy and orange tones for color-treated, blonde, bleached, and silver hair.
Matrix Total Results So Silver Shampoo
This shampoo deposits violet pigments uniformly to provide a seamless, even-toned neutralization of unwanted yellow as it gently clarifies hair of what’s dulling it. For best results, try this with the Total Results So Silver Conditioner. Available at ulta.com or on Amazon.
Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo
For the eco-minded, this shampoo derives its blue pigment from the blue Malva flowering herb, which also soothes scalp conditions, moisturizes, and acts as a mild clarifier. For best results, consider pairing this with the accompanying conditioner to help impart wanted moisture and brightness. Available at aveda.com or on Amazon.
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