We Tested More Than a Dozen Gray Hair Shampoos and Spoke to Experts, and These Are the 8 We Recommend for Shiny, Healthy Hair

Created by the Arrojo salon in New York City, the Arrojo Ultra Violet Shampoo contains some of the most hair-healthy ingredients on our list and is our top pick for the best salon-made formula. Salon formulas are known for premium ingredients that are highly concentrated to yield more noticeable results, so they tend to be more expensive than drugstore brands. This one is also a purple shampoo, which brightens gray hair.

I tested this product for four weeks on my double-processed platinum hair. After one wash I noticed light refracting off my hair — it was so shiny.

The creamy texture of this shampoo is luxurious, and the floral citrus scent helps justify the expensive price. Yes, it’s a splurge, but if you’re looking for a soft and gentle formula for salon-worthy shine, this can’t be beat.

It’s paraben-, sulfate-, and phthalate-free, but does contain silicones for a smoothing effect. Sarah Garone, who has dyed blond hair with gray roots and tested the shampoo for Everyday Health, wished the formula were a bit more hydrating; however, she did wash her hair three times per week, which is more than recommended. Cohen notes that to prevent dryness, “purple shampoo should be used no more than two times per week.”

Garone was most impressed by the amber scent of argan oil. “It has a pleasant fragrance that reminds me of a salon-quality shampoo,” she says, noting this made the process of keeping the shampoo on for three minutes a relaxing and sensory experience. “I enjoyed smelling its fragrance, both in the shower and the day after use.” A luxurious scent at an affordable price point makes this product a must for those who want a salon experience at home.

The dae Violet Hour Purple Shampoo is designed to combat brassiness without exacerbating oiliness, making it ideal for those with blonde, gray, or lightened hair prone to getting greasy. It contains ingredients that cleanse hair effectively without stripping the scalp’s natural oils, preventing an overproduction of sebum. Katharine Chan, a writer who tested this product for Everyday Health, found it best suited to “slightly oily or thicker hair” because it was too drying for her gray, more “brittle” hair type.

In addition to being ideal for oily hair, the shampoo’s purple pigments neutralize unwanted yellow and orange tones and leave hair feeling clean and looking balanced. Its formula is paraben-, sulfate-, and phthalate-free, but it contains silicones to help with texture. “The shampoo has a thicker lather than I’m used to, which pleasantly surprised me since most shampoos that don’t contain sulfates don’t,” Chan explains. She also adds that the “foamy texture” was easy to rinse away.

The Dove Love Your Silver Gorgeous Grays shampoo is a lightweight purple shampoo specifically formulated to enhance the brightness of gray, white, and silver hair without weighing down strands, making it our choice for thin hair. It uses purple pigment to effectively counteract unwanted yellow and orange tones. Garone, who tested this product for Everyday Health, says her “blonde highlights are slightly more defined after using it.”

The gentle, silicone-free formula cleanses and brightens without weighing hair down, making it especially suited for fine or thinning strands and perfect for enhancing radiant grays with added body. It’s also free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and drying alcohols, helping to keep hair healthy and hydrated.

Sarah describes the texture as “gel-like and thick” compared to the creamier formulas on our list. With its budget-friendly price and nourishing ingredients, this shampoo is an ideal entry point for anyone curious about the benefits of a purple formula with hair-healthy properties.

I’ve used this formula for almost two years. Because I have dark roots, I only apply shampoo to my hair’s midsection and ends. I’m especially impressed with how smooth and silky this formula leaves the ends of my hair, which tend to show damage from color the most and split easily. After one wash, my platinum hair goes from yellow-toned to white and feels soft and manageable during the wash experience. It’s paraben-, sulfate-, and phthalate-free, but contains silicones. However, in the two years I’ve used this shampoo, I haven’t noticed any buildup from the silicones.

Not Your Mother’s Blonde Moment Purple Bonding Conditioner uses dark violet pigment to tone and condition simultaneously and is our pick for top conditioner. “Deep conditioners are a great way to soften gray hair,” says Cohen. “Letting a conditioner sit on hair can make a huge difference.”

Not Your Mother’s Blonde Moment Purple Bonding Conditioner is free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and silicones. It contains cetearyl and cetyl alcohols, which are fatty alcohols that function as emollients and conditioners, providing moisture and smoothness. Unlike some other alcohols, these won’t dry your hair.

I’ve been using this conditioner for more than two years because it’s an affordable, effective follow-up to purple shampoos, which, due to their pigment, are more drying than regular shampoos. Because of the budget-friendly price, I don’t feel bad about using a generous amount of this rich conditioner so that my platinum hair gets the conditioning it needs. This conditioner is sometimes sold in a bundle with the brand's purple shampoo, but it is the conditioner that stood out to us the most.