If You Have Gray Hair, These Are the Shampoos You Should Use

Best Hydrating: Pureology Hydrate Shampoo

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Sulfate-free with an anti-fade complex, this is an all-around great choice for color-treated hair. It’s also deeply moisturizing, which, according to Fleming, is a major boon for those with gray hair.

“To achieve true gray and silver, the hair has to be prelightened to the palest color it can be, which compromises its integrity,” she explains. In other words, going gray takes a toll on your hair. Picking shampoos that are extra-hydrating (and always, always, using a conditioner) is super important. 

Size: 9 fluid ounces | Scent: Minty, herbaceous | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Brightening: Philip Kingsley Pure Blonde/Silver Brightening Daily Shampoo

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The key to rocking the gray hair trend is not only making sure your silver shade is cool, but also that it’s extra shiny. Dull gray hair just isn’t cute. That’s where this sudser comes up huge. It does have a subtle violet tint to it, though it isn’t quite pigmented as some of the other options on this list. Instead, it’s infused with optical brightening ingredients that translate to an “I just left the salon” shine and long-lasting glossiness.

Size: 8.45 fluid ounces | Scent: Lavender | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Color-Protecting: SACHAJUAN Silver Shampoo

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Yes, this too has violet pigments, but it goes above and beyond the gray-enhancing call of duty. Credit the addition of UV protectants that help guard against sun-induced fading (yes, the sun takes a toll on your hair just like it does on your skin) while also hydrating and increasing shine. Also nice: It’s a great option for all hair types and textures.

Size: 8.4 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Luxury: ORIBE Silverati Shampoo

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Go ahead and treat yourself to this splurge-worthy sudser, one of Fleming’s favorites. (After all, if you’re only using it a few times per week, one bottle is going to last quite a long time.) Regardless, it’s worth the price, thanks to the carefully crafted formula that touts a litany of carefully chosen ingredients. Along with a combo of blue and silver pigments to keep silver shades vibrant, there are also gentle cleansers, strengthening keratin, and a complex of protective antioxidants to further help safeguard your color. Not to mention that in true ORIBE fashion, it smells incredible, too.

Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Scent: Cote d’Azur | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for All Shades: Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo

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Another one of Fleming's recommendations, here’s one shampoo to use even if you ultimately decide gray hair isn’t the look for you. Its bluish-purple tint is made to keep gray hair bright and fresh while also neutralizing brassiness in all shades, from blonde to brunette to red. Bonus points for the packaging: The bottle is made of 80% post-consumer used plastic.

Size: 33.8 fluid ounces | Scent: Eucalyptus | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Daily Use: UNITE Hair Blonda Daily Shampoo

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Cutting back on how often you shampoo is super important. If you’re only doing so a few times per week, go ahead and use a pigmented shampoo each time. But if you fall into the daily hair-washing camp, it’s best to reach for tinted formulas only two to three times weekly. Overdoing it can end up leaving a purplish cast to your gray, obviously not the intended effect.

In between, lather up with this noncolored pick. The gentle, shine-enhancing cleanser will keep your bright shade fresh and is the ideal daily option. Fleming is a fan of both this product and its toning counterpart. 

Size: 10 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Professional: Hair.com by L’Oréal Serie Expert Metal Detox Shampoo

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Aaron Bradford, a colorist at Cédric Salon in New York, says this is one of his top picks. It’s actually a chelating formula that’s “amazing if you live in areas with hard water or spend a lot of time in salt or chlorinated water,” he says. “It will help neutralize any of those chemicals or trace minerals that leave gray—and blonde—hair looking dull and even green over time." FYI: It does have a thicker, creamy texture that can take a bit of getting used to.

Size: 10.1 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Highlighted Hair: René Furterer Okara Silver Toning Shampoo

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“This is perfect for those who highlight their hair to blend the gray and want a cooler result,” says Bradford. He adds that it’s also a nice option if you simply want to add some shine to dull gray hair, though is quick to point out that this isn’t a shampoo that should be used daily. Instead, he suggests using it just once or twice per week.

Size: 6.7 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best for Fine Hair: SACHAJUAN Moisturizing Shampoo

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If you have gray hair that’s also on the fine side, Bradford recommends this pick. It adds shine and moisturizes surprisingly well—both of which gray hair tends to need—without weighing down the roots, he says. This also makes it a great everyday shampoo in general, especially as it doesn’t have any tint or pigment. Plus, a little bit goes a long way, and it lathers beautifully.

Size: 8.4 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No