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 to remove buildup. She also recommends using moisture-replenishing conditioners to offset any dryness or brittle texture. “Grey hair tends to be more on the dry side which happens generally as we age and our body starts to lose moisture, that’s why we recommend using highly moisturizing conditioners and styling products to help prevent dryness and dull, frizzy texture,” she says. “Additionally, regular oil treatments and hair masks are great ways to increase moisture.”
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.