The 10 Best Shampoos For Gray Hair Of 2023 + Expert Tips & Care Advice

As hair experiences aging, not only can it lose pigment—it can lose density: Hair thinning is an all-too-common complaint that often coincides with graying. So if improving hair fullness and growth is on the top of your list of goals, look for formulas with science-backed thickening ingredients. Vegamour has a cult following for their hair-growth serums, and this blend infuses those same ingredients into a sulfate-free cleanser. Notably, you'll see the brand's proprietary vegan silk protein that helps restore hair fullness and antioxidant-rich plant extracts to help combat oxidative stress at the scalp (which can contribute to thinning). 

Olaplex is known for their patented bond-building technology that's able to repair and revive broken bonds in the hair. (A hair fiber lesson: Your hair is made up of millions of bonds that hold together the protein keratin. These bonds are damaged or broken due to age, natural wear and tear, hot tools, and so on). Their purple shampoo revives hair, brightens gray hair, color-corrects any brassiness, and is sulfate-free, so it won't cause dryness or irritation. It also comes highly recommended from color and hair expert Christin Brown, who says she recommends it to all her clients with graying hair: "It brightens up silver hair, so it really gives it that luminescent vibe—it feels so uplifting," she says.

This brand is developed specifically for those who see signs of aging in their hair, be it thinning, graying, or damage. And the formulas are sophisticatedly designed to nurture those very specific needs. Take the purple shampoo, for example. It contains burdock root and bamboo, which are high in minerals and nutrients for the scalp and hair follicle—alongside antioxidant-rich hops to ease oxidative stress in the area. Finally, it's spiked with a light violet shade to address yellowing of gray strands.

Because aging or gray hair often develops a coarser texture, it may not be as vibrant as it once was. To add back that megawatt shine, reach for a glossing shampoo like this sulfate-free option. This paraben-free, vegan, and pH-balanced formula can help fibers appear more vibrant with the help of argan oil. "It's great for many [uses], especially on dry, damaged hair because its trove of fatty acids lock moisture into the hair follicle," says Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., an American Board Family Medicine physician and mbg Collective member. 

This brand is formulated by legendary colorist to the stars Justin Anderson (whose work you've seen on countless celebrities, beauty influencers, and, well, me). His formulas are some of the best around for color-treated hair, which is ideal for those who are looking to diffuse your gray strands with highlights. As someone who uses strategically placed blond highlights to blend gray hair in with my naturally brunette base, dpHue is one my favorite color-care brands to tone and correct. Their blond- and gray-enhancing shampoo is loaded with violet pigments, vegan silk proteins, amino acids, and hibiscus extract for strands that truly shine.

Male pattern baldness and graying can start around the same time for many—making it important to find a product that not only leaves silver hair shiny but can improve hair thickness in the process. This deeply cleans the scalp without stripping the skin or hair fiber. Then it infuses it with thickening ingredients like vegetarian proteins and kelp extract. 

A classic in the natural-leaning hair care space, Aveda always delivers with interesting blends and unique ingredients. This tinted shampoo uses a potent dose of blue malva powder, which gives the shampoo that rich indigo color. While most options for gray hair are pastel purples and light violets (because they address the yellowing of light gray hair), the blue-purple tone in this makes it an ideal blend to color-correct dark and light hair colors alike. What does this mean in practice? If you've only begun to gray and still have a brunette or black base, you may consider bluer-toned formulas like this. 

Whether you have coarse hair naturally or it has come with time, (as we've noted, many people experience coarser texture in the graying process), you'll want to switch to an ultra-gentle shampoo that won't strip your hair fiber. This uses a very light coconut-derived surfactant to clean the scalp and is further buffered with calming lavender and hydrolyzed wheat proteins. Reviewers with naturally coarse, curly hair have noted that with regular use their hair has become "soft and silvery."

It's important to understand what makes frizz in order to know how to minimize it. Frizz is caused by raised cuticles on the outermost layer of the hair fiber. Because they are raised, they trigger friction with the other hair fibers—resulting in hair that just doesn't want to smooth down. And because of the texture changes that happen with graying hair, frizz is often more common. You can minimize it by using products that encourage the cuticle to lie flat. This creamy shampoo uses several conditioning agents that help smooth down the surface of the hair fiber, like an olive oil extract.

While many items here have natural components, this formula clocks in at 98% naturally derived ingredients. The three main botanicals to highlight are the baobab oil for its silky texture and high antioxidant content, quinoa extract for keratin support, and purple rice, which can tone gray strands. Plus, the entire collection is crafted by New York City–based stylist Sam Brocato, whom I have visited for hair treatments (i.e., the visionary behind the brand is beauty-editor-approved!).