“Gray hair tends to turn a dull yellowish color that can age you, so try keeping it shiny and bright.” You can do this by using toning, purple-colored shampoos. Popular options include Aveda's Blue Malva Shampoo, Davines Alchemic Silver series, and Joico's Color Endure Violet.
Just like blondes, brunettes and redheads can benefit from using color-specific shampoos, those with gray and silver hair are no exception. Gray hair, since it lacks pigment and can be coarser, needs a little extra TLC to keep it shiny and healthy.
Using a purple shampoo on grey hair can help to remove brassy yellow shades, leaving you with a flattering silver undertone.
You may associate purple shampoo as strictly a shampoo for blondes, but it's actually immensely helpful when you have grey hair, too. It's useful for both naturally grey hair and dyed locks. Purple shampoo is exactly what it sounds like – it's a shampoo infused with violet pigments.
Grey hair tends to be more dry, so be diligent with conditioners and moisturizers. Always use oils to seal in moisture, use a daily leave-in conditioner, and if you're still struggling with dryness, deep condition more often- even up to once a week.
What is a purple shampoo? A purple-colored shampoo contains purple pigment to neutralize brassy and yellow tones on lighter hair. "The main reason it is purple is because on the color wheel, it is the direct opposite color of yellow, which means purple and yellow will cancel one another out," explains Kandasamy.
Everyone's hair is different, but we recommend using it once every week or two, then building it up from there until you find your own cadence. Just know that it is possible to overdo it—especially if you have high porosity hair—which results in a (temporary!) purple tinge.
Silver shampoo is designed for those with gray or silver hair, and as silver is opposite yellow on the color wheel. This shampoo fights brassy tones of yellow that can appear in your gray locks, and take away from your color. Thirdly, purple shampoo is used for blonde hair or those with blonde highlights.
If you are a natural brunette, you'll want to blend your greys with darker lowlights. For natural blondes, you should add highlights and lowlights ranging from pearl to medium blonde. And if you are a natural redhead, a range of brown and blonde highlights and lowlights will enhance your grey locks best.
Thankfully, a purple shampoo will help remedy that, which is why it's so important to a going gray guide. Purple shampoo is the best toner to use when it comes to gray hair because it neutralizes brassiness caused by heat styling, medications, product buildup, sun, salt, chlorine and environmental pollutants.
But where purple shampoo is intended to be used by blondes (it's also a common shampoo for gray hair), blue shampoo is better suited for brassy brunettes. Specifically, blue shampoo should be used on brunette hair that has been lightened or highlighted.
Using purple shampoo will result in your color looking more cool-toned, with pale-beige's and brighter blondes. For gray hair, it leaves it looking dimensional and vibrant. But, it must be noted too – purple shampoo is usually quite powerful and effective, so it isn't necessarily made for everyday use.
Silver shampoo is also perfect for natural grey hair which can develop a yellow tinge from exposure to elements such as wind, rain and pollution. The shampoo can help correct this brassy colour, as well as strengthen hair fibres.
HAIR PRODUCTS FOR GREY HAIR
Looking for scalp care products for grey hair? Head & Shoulders shampoos and conditioners are specially formulated to tackle the symptoms and causes of dandruff, and can be used on aging hair .
If you leave purple shampoo on for too long, you may find yourself with a little lilac hue. This color is not permanent and is more likely to happen if you have very light blonde hair or if your hair is dry and damaged. To remove the purple hue, switch to regular shampoo for your next few washes.
Blue and purple shampoos work by coating the hair shaft, canceling out brassiness, and adding shine. For best results, use these special shampoos daily until you achieve your desired color result. To maintain your ideal shade, try alternating with your regular shampoo as needed. Use blue and purple shampoo together!
Silver hair toner is a popular option when it comes to showcasing your grey. Instead, a blue pigment is used to neutralize yellow undertones. Gradually, your hair stylist can reduce the color pigment at each application, smoothly easing you into an all-grey look thanks to a silver toner for hair.
DOES PURPLE SHAMPOO DAMAGE HAIR? The cool violet pigment in purple shampoo won't damage hair, but if you leave it on strands too long, those purple pigments will take their job a little too far and could turn tresses a purple-violet colour.
What purple shampoo is good for is no secret—it's your line of defense against brassiness if you have blonde or bleached hair. You'll want to reach for a purple shampoo when you notice your strands starting to look yellow.
If you have platinum, gray, or silver hair, you can leave the purple shampoo on for up to 30 minutes, depending on how brassy or discolored your hair is.
All you need to do is apply a demi-permanent color all over your head. Say for example you're naturally a brunette, go with a golden blonde shade. It will only deposit the blonde color on the gray hairs, turning them into golden highlights. Your natural brown hair will just pick up some extra shine!
Tackle the texture first. A weekly moisture mask will help soften coarse gray strands. You'll also want to switch to a violet-tinged shampoo to help neutralize yellow tones; even white hair can turn brassy from UV rays and minerals in the water.
Gray hair has a different texture because your hair loses the pigment or melanin and the hair follicle doesn't produce as much sebum. 3 The sebum is the oil your body naturally produces to hydrate your hair. As a result, gray hair often feels more coarse, dry, and wiry, but using the right hair products can help.