A color-specific shampoo will help you keep your hair looking vibrant and healthy, regardless of whether you’re starting to see grays or you’re flaunting silver strands.
According to Olya Iudina, a hairstylist at IGK in New York, gray hair is more likely to be drier and more textured, and it is more likely to develop yellow or brassy tones. To counteract these tones and restore brightness, use a purple shampoo to give gray hair a glowing appearance.
I spoke with hair professionals about what to look for in a high-quality recipe and included their recommendations for the finest shampoos to buy in order to assist you locate the best one for gray hair.
GO Ahead and SkipWhy Trust NBC Select? The Best Shampoos for Gray Hair in 2025 | What Causes Gray Hair? | How to Shop for Gray Hair Shampoos | How to Use Purple Shampoo on Gray Hair Correctly?
Selected.
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Best for dry hairR+Co Sunset Blvd Blonde Shampoo
$undefined$34.00R+Co
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Best for color-treated hairKevin.Murphy Blonde.Angel
$undefined$45.00Kevin.Murphy
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Best overall/editor’s pickKerastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra Violet Shampoo
$undefined$44.00Kerastase
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How we picked the best shampoos for gray hair
According to our specialists, a gray hair shampoo should enhance white strands, balance brassy tones, and increase hydration. They advise me to consider the following elements when compiling this list:
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Hair needs:
Gray hair will benefit from using a purple-tinted shampoo, as violet and purple pigments can help neutralize yellow or brassy tones that often come with graying. Additionally, you should consider what your general hair needs are. If your hair is color-treated or bleached, you ll want to look for formula that won t fade or strip your color. Ifyour hair lacks moisture
, a shampoo with hydrating ingredients will help condition, making your hair appear healthier overall. Finally, if your hair is dull or flat, a shine-inducing, volumizing shampoo with strengthening ingredients like keratin or biotin can help.
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Ingredients:
According to Dr. Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, a board-certified dermatologist atDermatology Circle
in New York, gray hair is naturally drier and more prone to damage due to reduced oil production. For this reason, it s best to avoid shampoos with harsh ingredients like sulfates, as they can strip the hair of its natural oils and exacerbate dryness. Instead, opt for ingredients that help combat dryness, such as humectants to attract moisture and emollients to lock it in.
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The best shampoos for gray hair in 2025
Oribe Silverati Shampoo
Oribe Silverati Shampoo
- Softens the hair
- Safe for all hair types
- Improves elasticity
- One size
According to Christine Bellemare, co-founder, owner, and head stylist at Maven A Collect, she loves this Oribe shampoo because it combats dullness, increases moisture, brightens, and shields the skin from the elements. The formula’s blue and silver pigments brighten grays, counteract yellow tones, and prevent deterioration. According to the manufacturer, it also shields hair from environmental harm brought on by pollutants and UV radiation.
Dimensions: 8.5 oz.Important components: silver and blue pigments
Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Shampoo
Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Strength Repair Shampoo
- Repairs damage
- Hydrates the hair
- Prevents breakage
- Can cause buildup
Amika’s shampoo is a fantastic choice if you have damaged hair and graying hair. Iudina claims that it not only hydrates the hair but also tones any brassiness. According to the makers, it’s perfect for people who heat style or color treat their hair since it contains hydrating plant butters and bond-building technology that aids in breakage prevention and repair.
Dimensions: 9.2 and 16.9 ouncesImportant components: vegan proteins and ultraviolet pigments
Better Not Younger Silver Lining Purple Brightening Shampoo For Gray & White Hair
Better Not Younger Silver Lining Purple Brightening Shampoo For Gray & White Hair
- Adds volume
- Improves color
- Eliminates brassiness
- Strong fragrance
According to Bellemare, this shampoo brightens hair and restores cool tones by using color enhancers. Additionally, because gray hair tends to be coarser, it has extra oils and butters to condition and make your hair soft and smooth. This product is particularly beneficial for people with fine or flat hair because it helps lift, volumize, and add fullness.
Dimensions: 8.4 oz.Important components: violet pigments and biotin
R+Co Sunset Blvd Blonde Shampoo
R+Co Sunset Blvd Blonde Shampoo
- Brightens the hair
- Smells pleasant
- Comes in multiple sizes
- Not great for oily hair
Silver strands are successfully brightened by the subtle purple tint of R+Co’s Sunset Blvd Blonde Shampoo. According to the brand, it is made with glycerin, a humectant that helps hair hold onto moisture, and sunflower sprout extract, an emollient that hydrates hair and shields it from UV rays. Additionally, it comes in a set with the matching conditioner and in a variety of sizes.
Dimensions: 8.5 oz., 33.8 oz.Important components: sunflower sprout extract and glycerin
Kevin.Murphy Blonde.Angel
Kevin.Murphy Blonde.Angel
- Nourishing formula
- For blonde, gray, silver hair
- Reduces yellow tones
- Pricey
Iudina suggests this treatment because it contains deep moisturizers like olive oil, lavender, and jojoba seed oils, in addition to its vibrant purple pigment that helps balance out brassiness and yellow tones in blonde, gray, and silver hair. Furthermore, it won’t result in fading or stripping for people with bleached or color-treated hair. Apply to freshly washed hair, let sit for 1 to 2 minutes, and then rinse.
Dimensions: 40, 250, and 1000 millilitersImportant components: jojoba seed oil, olive oil extract, and sunflower seed extract
Kerastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra Violet Shampoo
Kerastase Blond Absolu Bain Ultra Violet Shampoo
- Treats split ends
- Hydrates the hair
- Protects hair from damage
- Doesn’t lather well
According to Bellemare, this is a fantastic purple shampoo choice that neutralizes yellow tones by combining hyaluronic acid with violet pigments, leaving hair feeling bouncy and silky. According to Kerastase, it cools and brightens silver and blonde hair and, because it contains antioxidant-rich edelweiss flowers, it will help shield the hair from environmental harm.
Dimensions: 8.5 oz.Important components: hyaluronic acid
Shu Uemura Yubi Blonde Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo
Shu Uemura Yubi Blonde Anti-Brass Purple Shampoo
- Adds shine
- Smooths hair
- Suitable for all hair types
- Can stain
Iudina loves Shu Uemura’s anti-brass shampoo because, despite its high pigment content, it’s kind to hair, moisturizes it, and gives a lot of shine, she says, owing to Japanese white peony. According to the manufacturer, the mixture works for all hair types, including coily, curly, wavy, and straight hair, and it also softens hair and keeps color from fading.
Dimensions: 10 oz.Important components: violet dyes and Japanese white peonies
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What causes gray hair?
Gray hair is a normal aspect of aging. According to Kazlouskaya, pigment is produced by specialized cells in the hair bulb called melanocytes, however this process ends at a specific age that differs for each individual. Graying is mostly genetically regulated, but there are many other causes of early graying as well, such as lifestyle choices like smoking, vitamin or mineral deficiencies, and chronic illnesses like thyroid disease or anemia.
Although gray hairs can appear at any age, Kazlouskaya generally uses the 50-50-50 guideline to explain hair graying. According to her, this indicates that roughly 50% of people will have 50% gray hair by the time they are 50.
Remember that white hair may indicate vitiligo or alopecia areata if you see a patch of it instead of a more scattered distribution. According to Kazlouskaya, vitiligo is characterized by gray hair and white patches on the skin caused by the immune system attacking pigment cells in the skin and hair. When the hair grows back, it may appear gray because the immune system attacks the pigment cells in the hair shaft in alopecia areata.
How to shop for shampoos for gray hair
Shampoos frequently contain sulfates to help create a rich lather, but these cleansing chemicals can also strip the scalp of its natural oils, leaving hair feeling parched. A shampoo free of sulfates will guarantee that your gray hair keeps its moisture content and provide a gentler cleansing for your sensitive hair. Bellemare advises avoiding silicones in your shampoo as well as sulfates because they can eventually cause buildup and undesired yellow tones. She advises looking for products free of silicone and sulfates to maintain the health and radiance of gray hair.
Bellemare claims that because purple shampoo can help balance out yellow tones, it’s a fantastic choice for people with gray hair. According to Bellemare, environmental variables like pollution, UV rays, hard water, heat style, and product buildup can all contribute to this brassiness. Adding a purple shampoo to your routine will make gray hair look more vibrant, cooler, and brighter, bringing out its inherent sheen.
Additionally, purple shampoo can help people who color their hair—especially those going blonde or light brown—neutralize undesirable yellow or orange tones. Violet pigments in a purple shampoo work to counteract the warm hues that can appear over time, helping to maintain a cooler, brighter color while extending the life of your salon treatment, says Bellemare.
How to properly use purple shampoo on gray hair
Iudina advises speaking with your colorist to find out how often you should use purple shampoo as part of your hair wash regimen because they vary in strength and pigment. Generally speaking, you should refrain from using purple shampoo every time because excessive use might result in an ashy tone. For a well-rounded hair care regimen, use it once a week and alternate purple shampoo with a non-tinted shampoo.
The usual rule of thumb, according to Bellemare, is to use a purple shampoo on damp hair, being careful to distribute it evenly throughout. After that, rinse it out completely after letting it stay for three to five minutes to give the solution time to tone the hair. According to Bellemare, it’s crucial to use a conditioner or hydrating mask after using purple shampoo in order to replenish moisture and equilibrium.
How do you make gray hair soft and shiny?
Because gray hair generates less sebum, the natural oil that keeps hair hydrated, it is frequently coarser and drier, according to Bellemare. Therefore, seek out shampoos that emphasize the usage of moisturizing components.
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Glycerin:
Glycerin is widely used in hair care products because of its moisturizing and protective properties, says Iudina. It also creates a protective barrier around hair strands, which shields them from heat and pollution, two factors that can be responsible for yellow tint in gray hair. -
Keratin:
As we age, our bodies produce less keratin, a natural protein in our hair that helps maintain strength and elasticity. Iudina recommends keratin-infused shampoos to help strengthen and smooth the hair shaft. -
Argan oil:
Rich in fatty acids and vitamins, argan oil is a deeply nourishing ingredient that can help hair retain moisture as well as soften coarseness, says Kazlouskaya. It can also help tame frizz and flyaways, leaving hair more manageable and easy to style. -
Squalane:
Like glycerin,squalane
is known for how moisturizing it can be for the hair. Squalane works as a deep conditioner, locking in moisture and helping to control frizz, says Iudina. It also works as a protective barrier against heat and pollution, which means gray hair will be protected from going yellow.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we collaborate with professionals that possess specific expertise and power derived from pertinent education and/or job experience. Additionally, we take precautions to guarantee that all professional counsel and suggestions are given impartially and free from unreported financial conflicts of interest.
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Olya Iudina
is a hairstylist at IGK in New York.
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Dr. Viktoryia Kazlouskaya
, MD, PhD, is a dermatologist at Dermatology Circle in New York. Her areas of expertise include hair loss (alopecia), acne and acne scar treatment, skin cancer prevention, skin surgery and cosmetic dermatology.
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Christine Bellemare
is the co-founder, owner and lead stylist atMaven A Collect
.
Why trust NBC Select?
Michelle Rostamian has been writing about skin care and beauty for over ten years. Hair experts, including a board-certified dermatologist and hairstylists, were consulted for this story by Rostamian, who incorporated their direct product suggestions and advice.
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