The 13 Best Shampoos for Gray Hair of 2023

Best Overall

Pureology Hydrate Shampoo

4.8

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Sephora

Sulfate-free with an anti-fade complex, this is an all-around great choice for color-treated hair. It has jojoba, green tea, and sage to support the health of the hair and scalp, and it’s also deeply moisturizing, which is a major boon for those with gray hair, according to Fleming.

“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. 

Price at time of publish: $35

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

Best Budget

L'Oréal Professionnel Resveratrol Vitamino Color Radiance Shampoo

View On Amazon View On Walmart

Bradford says this is a great daily shampoo for anyone with thick and/or dry hair. And if you at any point decide that you do want to color your grays, you can still keep using this product. The color-protective formula helps lock in color for up to eight weeks.

Price at time of publish: $19

Size: 16.9 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Drugstore

Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Target

This shampoo is able to enhance your color and tone down brassiness, and the best part is—you can find it at your local drugstore. We love that it works on naturally gray hair as well as dyed, and it also revitalizes blonde and gray highlights for a shiny, healthy-looking mane.

Price at time of publish: $16

Size: 16 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: No | Cruelty-Free: No | Byrdie Clean: No

Best Brightening

Philip Kingsley Pure Blonde/Silver Brightening Daily Shampoo

View On Amazon View On Saks Fifth Avenue

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.

Price at time of publish: $71

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

Best Color-Protecting

SACHAJUAN Silver Shampoo

View On Amazon View On Net-a-Porter View On Revolve

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.

Price at time of publish: $31

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

Best Luxury

ORIBE Silverati Shampoo

View On Amazon View On Nordstrom View On Sephora

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.

Price at time of publish: $40

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

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Aveda.com

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.

Price at time of publish: $54

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

View On Amazon View On Unitehair.com

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. 

Price at time of publish: $31

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

View On Amazon View On Hair.com

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.

Price at time of publish: $34

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

Best for Highlighted Hair

René Furterer Okara Silver Toning Shampoo

View On Dermstore View On Renefurtererusa.com

“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.

Price at time of publish: $32

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

Best for Fine Hair

SACHAJUAN Moisturizing Shampoo

View On Amazon View On Net-a-Porter

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.

Price at time of publish: $32

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

Best Repairing

Olaplex No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

View on Ulta View On Amazon View On Sephora

At this point, you've probably used the Olaplex line (or at least tried one product), but if you have gray hair, this might be the product you're missing. Made with the brand's signature bond building technology, this shampoo is able to repair damaged or weak hair while brightening grays and neutralizing brassy tones. An added bonus— its formulated without sulfates or parabens.

Price at time of publish: $30

Size: 8.5 fluid ounces | Sulfate-Free: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Byrdie Clean: No