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If you’re searching for the best shampoos and conditioners for gray hair, it helps to know why going gray often calls for a totally different routine in the first place. “Think of your hair like your skin,” says New York City-based stylist Julie Dickson. “Just as our skin loses elasticity and plumpness, so does our hair.” As melanin production slows, gray hair typically becomes drier, more coarse, and less elastic—meaning the products that once worked can suddenly fall short.
There’s also the color factor. Environmental stressors, mineral-heavy water, and even rust in pipes can leave gray hair looking yellow or dull over time. “Hair is made of protein and moisture and aging gray hair needs to be replenished,” says Dickson. According to Marla Haislip, a stylist based in Santee, California, gray hair also loses natural oils that help keep strands soft, which is why it often develops a wiry texture.
Our Top Shampoos and Conditioners for Gray Hair
- Best Overall: Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo and No. 5P Blonde Enhancer Toning Conditioner, $60
- Best for Thick Hair: Redken All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner, $58
- Best for Thinning Hair: Sachajuan Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner, $63
- Best for Brittle Hair: Matrix So Silver Purple Shampoo and Conditioner, $44
- Best for Curly Hair: Pureology Strength Cure Blonde Purple Shampoo and Conditioner, $76
- Best Drugstore: Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo and Conditioner, $26
- Best for Dry Hair: Oribe Silverati Shampoo and Conditioner, $101
- Best for Product Buildup: Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo and Conditioner, $23 each
The best formulas for gray hair address both issues at once: hydration and strength, plus color correction when needed. Look for ingredients like proteins to rebuild structure, oils and humectants to restore moisture, ceramides to smooth the cuticle, and violet pigments to counter yellowing. Ahead, the shampoos and conditioners our experts swear by for gray strands.
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- What type of shampoo is best for gray hair?
- Tips for maintaining gray hair
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Overall: Olaplex No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo and No. 5P Blonde Enhancer Toning Conditioner
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Olaplex
No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo and No. 5P Blonde Enhancer Toning Conditioner
Dermstore
Olaplex
Why it's worth it: If you have a full head of grays—or you’re blonde going gray—Olaplex’s No. 4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo and No. 5P Blonde Enhancer Toning Conditioner are the perfect tag team. (P.S. Purple formulas like these won’t do much for dark hair that isn’t fully gray yet—except on the actual silver strands—since there’s no underlying yellow to neutralize.) No. 4P uses ultra-concentrated violet pigments to cancel brass and yellow tones while Olaplex’s bond-repair tech helps improve elasticity and reduce brittleness—key for wirier gray hair. The gentle, coconut-oil surfactants make it “great for people with dry or coarse hair because it adds moisture while repairing bonds, keeping gray and silver tones bright,” says Haislip. Follow with No. 5P, which uses shea butter to boost softness and add slip, so grays look brighter, smoother, and healthier from root to end.
More to know
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- Shampoo key ingredients: coconut oil surfactants, violet toning agents
- Sulfate-free: yes
- Conditioner key ingredients: shea butter, violet toning agents
- Who it's for: people who have all-gray hair or blondes going gray
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Thick Hair: Redken All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner
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Redken
All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Ulta Beauty (Shampoo)
Ulta Beauty (Conditioner)
Why it's worth it: When hair starts to gray, the cuticle often becomes rougher, which makes it harder for natural scalp oils to travel from roots to ends, especially if your hair is thick to begin with. Redken’s All Soft Shampoo and Conditioner features the brand’s Moisture Complex, which acts like a targeted delivery system, helping hydrate the hair fiber beyond just the surface level. The shampoo gives you a satisfying lather while strengthening amino acids, smoothing aloe, and nourishing sacha inchi seed oil “soften and boost shine without heaviness,” says Haislip. Follow up your cleansing routine with the argan oil-infused conditioner, and your grays will feel less coarse and more touchable again.
More to know
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- Shampoo key ingredients: sacha inchi seed oil, glycerin, silicones, conditioning polymers, hydrolyzed soy, aloe
- Sulfate-free: no (sodium laureth sulfate)
- Conditioner key ingredients: argan oil, hydrolyzed soy
- Who it's for: people who have thick or frizzy hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Thinning Hair: Sachajuan Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
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Sachajuan
Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Why it's worth it: Sometimes (hi, genetics) you’re predisposed to grays earlier than planned, so it’s totally possible to have a full head of gray hair that’s still thick. But if you’re in the camp where your gray hair is also thinning with age, Dickson recommends Sachajuan’s Thickening Shampoo and Conditioner. The shampoo uses lightweight polymers that wrap each strand in a veil, helping hair feel fuller and less staticky without drying it out, she says. The duo relies on the brand’s Ocean Silk Technology, a blend of red algae extracts designed to help improve hair’s elasticity, moisture balance, and light-reflecting shine—which is “key for fine, gray hair, which can often look lifeless,” adds Dickson. Thickening formulas are great for a temporary volume boost, but using them every wash can lead to buildup and flatten fine gray hair over time, so it’s best to alternate with your go-to violet duo.
More to know
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- Shampoo key ingredients: polymers, red algae
- Sulfate-free: no (sodium laureth sulfate)
- Conditioner key ingredients: shea butter, violet toning agents
- Who it's for: people who have thinning hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Brittle Hair: Matrix So Silver Purple Shampoo and Conditioner
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Matrix
So Silver Purple Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Ulta Beauty (Shampoo)
Ulta Beauty (Conditioner)
Why it's worth it: Loss of melanin doesn’t just change your hair color—it changes your hair structure. When hair stops producing pigment, it often becomes drier, less elastic, and more prone to breakage. Matrix’s So Silver Purple Shampoo is a “lightweight shampoo that uses violet pigments to neutralize brassy tones” while moisturizing polymers help smooth the cuticle and reduce friction that can lead to snapping, says Haislip. Follow with the So Silver Purple Conditioner, which relies on silicones and conditioning agents to boost slip, softness, and moisture—helping minimize breakage in fragile gray strands “while it keeps silver tones bright,” adds Haislip.
More to know
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- Shampoo key ingredients: violet pigments, dimethicone, conditioning polymers
- Sulfate-free: no (sodium laureth sulfate)
- Conditioner key ingredients: violet pigments, conditioning agents, silicones
- Who it's for: people who have damaged or brittle hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Curly Hair: Pureology Strength Cure Blonde Purple Shampoo and Conditioner
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Pureology
Strength Cure Blonde Purple Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Why it's worth it: Similar to thick hair, curls have a harder time getting natural scalp oils to travel all the way down to the ends—and when wiry grays enter the mix, dryness and breakage can show up quickly. Pureology’s Strength Cure Blonde Purple Shampoo and Conditioner use gentle, sulfate-free violet formulas to tone brassiness without stripping curls. The duo helps protect fragile gray curls with arginine to support strength, ceramide-like lipids that reinforce the hair barrier, and astaxanthin, a powerful antioxidant that helps defend against oxidative stress. The conditioner boosts slip and elasticity with a blend of plant oils—like olive, linseed, and sunflower seed—so curls stay soft and defined. “The conditioner is great for curly hair because it’s so rich and creamy, adding much-needed hydration through the entire length of the strand and helping prevent damage,” says Haislip.
More to know
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- Shampoo key ingredients: violet pigments, arginine, astaxanthin, ceramide-like lipids
- Sulfate-free: yes
- Conditioner key ingredients: violet pigments, arginine, astaxanthin, ceramide-like lipids, olive, linseed, and sunflower seed oils
- Who it's for: people who have curly or frizzy hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Drugstore: Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo and Conditioner
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Clairol Professional
Shimmer Lights Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Why it's worth it: Forget gray, call it silver—and Clairol Professional’s Shimmer Lights Shampoo and Conditioner are all about keeping it bright and reflective. This drugstore classic duo uses violet pigments to cancel yellow tones, while a foamy, thorough cleanse helps gray hair look freshly polished, not dull. Valerie Vanessa, a stylist based in New York City and Los Angeles, calls it a go-to for brassiness as the shampoo also contains salicylic acid, which helps break down oil and product buildup that can mute silver’s natural shine. Hydrolyzed vegetable proteins help fortify fragile strands, while the conditioner adds slip and softness so hair doesn’t feel wiry after toning. The result is cleaner, brighter, more luminous hair—true to its name, Shimmer Lights.
More to know
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- Shampoo key ingredients: violet pigments, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, polymers, salicylic acid
- Sulfate-free: no (sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate)
- Conditioner key ingredients: violet pigments
- Who it's for: people who have curly or frizzy hair
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Dry Hair: Oribe Silverati Shampoo and Conditioner
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Oribe
Silverati Shampoo and Conditioner
Amazon
Why it's worth it: Oribe Silverati Shampoo and Conditioner brighten gray hair without relying on traditional violet pigments. Instead, the duo uses a mix of blue and silver pigments to counteract yellow and orange tones that can exist in hair transitioning to gray—boosting clarity and shine while keeping hair looking cool and reflective. That matters because gray hair is especially prone to dullness, thanks to everyday offenders like pollution and mineral buildup. “Pipes have rust and pollution is real—those things make gray hair yellow,” says Dickson.
Beyond toning, both formulas focus heavily on nourishment. Along with coconut- and corn-derived cleansers, the conditioner is packed with lightweight plant oils—like baobab, moringa, plum, sunflower, and jojoba esters—that help soften wiry grays, improve slip, and enhance light-reflecting shine without weighing hair down. Oribe’s Signature Complex—an antioxidant blend of watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss—further supports elasticity and gloss (and, yes, smells incredible). Even without a violet hue, the duo is still considered a tone-correcting treatment, and because gray hair absorbs pigment more easily, “use them once a week in place of your regular shampoo and conditioner,” Dickson adds.
More to know
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- Shampoo key ingredients: Oribe signature complex (watermelon extract, lychee extract, edelweiss flower extract), blue and silver pigments, European silver fir extract, coconut acid, salicylic acid
- Sulfate-free: yes
- Conditioner key ingredients: baobab, moringa, plum, sunflower, and jojoba oils, shea butter
- Who it's for: people who have dry hair or product buildup
- Fragrance-free: no
Best for Product Buildup: Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo and Conditioner
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Klorane
Anti-Yellowing Shampoo and Conditioner
Klorane (Shampoo)
Klorane (Conditioner)
Why it's worth it: Between hair serums, shine sprays, and softening masks—all in the name of making gray hair feel less wiry—it’s no surprise that product buildup can start to show up. Instead of relying on heavy purple pigments, Klorane’s Anti-Yellowing Shampoo uses centaury flower water, a botanical ingredient rich in subtle, naturally blue pigments that help neutralize yellow tones without overcorrecting. A plant-derived cleansing base helps lift away everyday buildup and dulling residue, while mild acids like citric and maleic acid further refine the hair surface for added shine. The lightweight conditioner continues that clean, refreshed feel with conditioning agents that smooth without coating—and lactic acid, which helps rebalance hair and prevent residue from lingering. The result is brighter, smoother gray hair that looks polished, not weighed down.
More to know
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- Shampoo key ingredients: violet pigments, centaurea cyanus flower water, citric acid, maleic acid
- Sulfate-free: yes
- Conditioner key ingredients: violet pigments, centaurea cyanus flower water, lactic acid
- Who it's for: people who have dry hair or product buildup
- Fragrance-free: no
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of shampoo is best for gray hair?
Silver hair, natural or not, is similar to blonde in that it needs more TLC than darker hair tones to look its brightest and shiniest. Whether you naturally have icy-white hair or sit in the salon chair to get the look, the best shampoos for gray hair are essential for creating a dullness-defying hair-care routine that your cool-toned hair color will benefit from.
One of the most common concerns about going gray is keeping brassiness at bay. "The goal is to keep that hair bright and sparkly and not brassy or yellowish," says Los Angeles-based hair colorist Clariss Rubenstein. Usually, purple shampoos are used to neutralize any yellowness in cool-toned blondes and gray hair, but Rubenstein says finding a shampoo that not only neutralizes brassy tones but also nourishes hair and replenishes moisture is key to keeping gray strands in tip-top shape.
Yes, counteracting yellow tones to minimize brassiness is one concern for those with gray hair, but New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner, MD, previously told Allure that gray hair can also change and become thinner, coarser, and drier since your oil glands produce less sebum as you get older, leading to drier hair follicles. "It is unclear why, but the biological process that affects the color of the hair likely also affects the structure of the hair being produced as well," he said.
Tips for maintaining gray hair
To keep your grays looking bright and silver, Rubenstein recommends having a purple shampoo and a regular shampoo catered to your hair concerns. "Do you need volume? Moisture? Choose the right fit of shampoo and conditioner, then choose a purple shampoo you like," she says. There are tons of nutrient-rich purple shampoos on the market, but for a deeper treatment that checks multiple boxes off your strand care list, Rubenstein recommends mixing your usual shampoo and a purple shampoo every time you wash. "The ratio I like is three-fourths regular shampoo and one-fourth purple shampoo; then follow with conditioner," she says. "About once a month, do a full shampoo with purple just to tone."
As we all know, shampoo's main purpose is to cleanse. To remove buildup without sacrificing tone, New York City-based hair colorist Clara Purvis suggests using a clarifying shampoo or apple cider vinegar treatment. "Grey hair tends to be more on the dry side, which happens generally as we age and our body starts to lose moisture she says. So, she recommends using hair products like moisture-replenishing conditioners to help offset dryness, brittle texture, and frizz. "Additionally, regular oil treatments and hair masks are great ways to increase moisture."
Meet the experts
- Julie Dickson, a stylist and founder of Joon Drop Salon based in New York City
- Marla Haislip, a stylist at Thrive Beauty Bar based in Santee, California
- Clara Purvis, a hair colorist and founder of Noordwyk Salon based in New York City
- Clariss Rubenstein, a hair colorist based in Los Angeles
- Valerie Vanessa, a stylist based in New York City and Los Angeles
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, Associate Professor of Dermatology, and the Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital based in New York City
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for any review, but hair-care products are another story. While some can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and concerns, many are created with specific consumers and their needs in mind. We guarantee that these factors are considered when determining whether a hair-care product is worthy of a recommendation.
For our review of the best shampoos for gray hair, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and hairstylists we've interviewed for the piece—who all have different hair concerns and types, desired outcomes (i.e., want shinier hair), and whether one product was tested across multiple hair types. Testers considered performance across two primary categories: efficacy and value. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we’ve solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it’s never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.