Gone are the days when you had to turn to hair dye as soon as you spotted your grey hair. Many women are embracing their grey hair. There are plenty of great shampoos and other products available to make silver hair look shiny, healthy, and strong, so there’s really no need to hide it.
Julie Kneafsey, a silver-haired content creator and beauty writer, wholeheartedly agrees. “Embracing grey hair is a healthy choice and a huge step towards reducing the chemical burden on our bodies,” she says. “What many people don’t know is that hair dye contains chemicals that can be harmful to your health, some of which are also used in industrial processes. They can cause allergic reactions and skin irritation, and have been linked to certain types of cancer. Going grey was a smart move, and one I wish I had made sooner.”
The best shampoo for grey hair
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For 20 years, starting in her 30s, Julie dyed her hair every six weeks to hide her grey hairs, but she stopped when she found the permanent dye was making her unwell. “Eventually, at 51, I was suffering from terrible headaches, nausea, scalp pain, worryingly rapid heartbeats and feeling pale, and I was basically poisoning myself,” she says. “I finally stopped dyeing in 2018. It took me two and a half years to grow out those dry blonde ends, but it was one of the best things I ever did. With every inch of hair I grew, I learned to be myself and not care what society thought. I found myself in the process.”
What should you look out for when choosing a good shampoo for grey hair?
Julie says: “A good grey shampoo will have nourishing, gentle ingredients, especially as grey hair can make your hair look different than it did before. My hair has become curlier and stronger but also drier, so I opt for a hydrating shampoo, but others will need to assess how their grey hair grows and adjust accordingly.”
“I love ‘clean’ shampoos – shampoos that are free of sulfates (SLS), silicones, synthetic fragrances and petroleum-based chemicals. They’re gentle on your scalp, hair and body.”
© ShutterstockAndie MacDowell on the catwalk at the 2024 L’Oreal Paris show
How does purple shampoo help with grey hair?
“Purple shampoo is useful because it contains purple dye that reduces the yellowing and tinge of grey hair. It can make the white parts of your hair look brighter, but the effect doesn’t last long, so you should use it about once every two weeks. Also, I don’t recommend using it too often because it can dry out your hair. Also, don’t leave it on for too long because it can temporarily dye your hair a beautiful lavender color.”
“I don’t use purple shampoo because it reacts the same way to hair dye, but I know lots of people who use it successfully.”
How to choose the best shampoo for grey hair
Expert opinion: We spoke to grey hair expert and beauty writer Julie Kneafsey for her advice and recommendations on what to look for when choosing a good shampoo for grey hair. Scroll down to find out more about Julie and why you should trust her. You can find her recommendations in this article. Price: We wanted to cater to all budgets in this roundup, so whether you’re on a budget or looking for a bargain, there’s a shampoo that’s right for you. Review: The HELLO! team always recommends brands and products that we know and love, but if we haven’t tried a product ourselves, we only feature shampoos that have lots of positive reviews from verified shoppers.
The perfect shampoo for healthy, shiny silver hair
Faith in Nature Lavender & Geranium Balancing Shampoo
© Faith in NatureScent: Lavender & GeraniumActive Ingredients: Lavender, Orange Peel Oil, Sea Salt, Eucalyptus Leaf OilParaben Free, Silicone Free, SLS FreeVegan Friendly
Julie Kneafsey, a blonde-haired content creator and beauty writer, says: “I love Faith in Nature’s Lavender & Geranium Balancing Shampoo. It’s simple, great for an everyday cleanse, affordable and available in your local store.”
John Frieda Shimmering Shampoo (for dull, grey hair)
© John FriedaScent: UnscentedActive Ingredients: Coco Glucoside, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit ExtractVegan Friendly
John Frieda shampoos are also very popular on naturally gray hair, with people saying it makes silver hair shine beautifully and leaves hair super soft. This shampoo is also said to be very strong, and people say a little goes a long way.
Innersense Hydrating Cream Hair Bath Shampoo
© Innersense Active Ingredients: Salvia and Tamanu Essential Oils Paraben Free, Silicone Free, SLS Free Vegan Friendly
Julie Kneafsey, content creator and beauty writer at Silver Hair, says: “I can’t recommend Innersense enough – their products are so clean and organic. For me, the Innersense Hydrating Cream Hair Bath is my top pick! It’s quite pricey, but the mixture is creamy and you just pour a little into your hands, lather it up and apply. Using it this way gives long-lasting results and leaves your hair super soft and hydrated. I love it!”
L’Oreal Professional Shampoo Silver
Scent: Unscented Active ingredients: Magnesium, anti-yellowing agent
Some shoppers say this purple shampoo works better than any other shampoo on the market at brightening white and gray hair and removing yellow tones. This rich, creamy shampoo leaves hair soft and shiny.
Lahua Colorful Shampoo
© RahuaScent: Lavender & Gardenia EnfleurageActive Ingredients: Rainforest Oils, Enriched with Mineral PigmentsParaben Free, Silicone Free, SLS FreeVegan
Julie Kneafsey, a silver-haired content creator and beauty writer, said: “Rahua Colour Full Shampoo is made with beautiful, natural, sustainable rainforest ingredients. It contains natural ingredients that combat yellowing, so you can keep your grey hair bright without the need for purple dye. It leaves your hair soft and smells amazing.”
Charles Worthington, Colorplex Glowing Grey Shampoo
© Charles WorthingtonScent: RosemaryActive Ingredients: Plex Repair System Strengthens the hair coreSuitable for vegans
Charles Worthington’s Grey Shampoo is popular because it’s packed with intense salon-grade pigments and leaves no residue after rinsing. This purple shampoo (actually it’s a deep turquoise blue) naturally flatters grey hairs and gives them a radiant silvery shine.
Olaplex Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo
© OlaplexScent: Fragrance FreeActive Ingredients: Patented Olaplex Bond Building TechnologySulfate Free
Olaplex is a popular brand for blondes looking to get rid of yellowing in their hair. This purple shampoo repairs, moisturizes and brightens grey hair. Free of sulfates, it is specifically designed to visibly repair severe damage, transforming dry, brittle hair into softer, shinier and more resilient hair.
More tips for caring for grey hair
Wear a hat. My biggest piece of advice is to protect your gray hair from direct sunlight. Gray hair has little to no pigment, so it’s more susceptible to UV damage and yellowing. This is called photoyellowing. Not only are hats a lot of fun to wear, they’re also a great way to protect your skin.
Our second tip is to stay away from heat tools as much as possible. Heat from straighteners, curling irons and hot air can damage any hair, but they can also turn beautiful grey hairs yellow. To keep your hair looking its best, limit your use of these tools and use a low heat hair dryer to let it air dry, or use heat-free curling methods when possible. If you must use curling irons or straighteners, be sure to use a heat protectant spray beforehand.
A final word on embracing grey hair
Julie says: “From an emotional standpoint, embracing grey hair signals that I’m in control of how I’m presented to society. Youth is beautiful, but it shouldn’t be the only thing that’s prized in life. Giving up on grey hair dye is a cheeky anti-grey response to a society that sees us as old and shameful if we allow ourselves to visibly age.”
“It’s a wonderful tribute to aging and a wonderful journey to embrace. Plus, it’s the most vibrant color and looks good on everyone. What’s not to love?”
Meet Our Experts
© Julie Kneafsey
Julie Kneafsey (aka The Fifthist Online) is a silver-haired content creator and pro-age campaigner who is very active on social media. She worked in education for 17 years but left to write, create and do more fun things. Since then Julie has built an amazing community on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. She will be launching a YouTube channel and lifestyle website in early October which will focus on her relentless quest to turn health into her favour. The journey began when she was diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time after 20 years.
Julie researches and writes about clean beauty, healthy living and pro-ageing, and has collaborated with well-known beauty brands to create content. She has written a non-fiction book that is “almost finished”, contributed articles to her own website, guest blogs, magazines Somerset Life and Tangled Silver, and appeared on podcasts to talk about menopause, breast cancer, and living her dream at 57. She’d love for you to come by and say hi.
