Leah LOVES hair. So much so, she dedicated an entire website to it! One of the founders of Hair Everyday and Chief Editor, Leah enjoys reviewing all the hair products and showcasing the best. She believes her most underrated articles are her hair care tips!
Here’s the review of the color depositing shampoo for gray and silver hair. These include toning purple and blue shampoos to remove brassiness.
Using the best color depositing shampoo for gray hair, you can add rich color to your strands without spending money or time at the parlor. These shampoos don’t just get rid of grey hair, they even reduce the brassiness on blonde and silver hair colors, leaving them vibrant and shiny.
Best Color Depositing Shampoo For Gray Hair 2024
- Best Overall: Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo
- Best For Oily Hair: MATRIX Total Results So Silver Color Depositing Purple Shampoo
- Best For Sensitive Scalp: Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo
- Best For Bleached Grey Hair: L’Oréal Paris Hair Care EverPure Brass Toning Purple Shampoo
- Best For Natural Grey Hair: Redken Color Extend Graydiant Shampoo
- Best For Color-Treated Grey Hair: Punky Color Depositing Shampoo
- Best For Dry Hair: Amika Bust Your Brass Cool Blonde Shampoo
- Best For Damaged Hair: Phyto Phytargent Shampoo
- Best For Budget Conscious People: Joico Color Depositing Shampoo
- Best For Temporary Coloring: Celeb Luxury Viral Color Depositing Shampoo
- Best For Removing Brassy Tones: Pure Blends Hydrating Color Depositing Shampoo
- Best For Brightening Greys: Drybar Blonde Ale Brightening Shampoo
Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo
Best Color Depositing Shampoo For Gray Hair Overall
The first color depositing shampoo for gray hair I tried out is the Klorane Anti-Yellowing shampoo.
If you want to reduce the brassiness and yellowness on your greys, this is the best shampoo for you.
What impressed me the most was its natural formulation. The shampoo contains Centaury as the chief ingredient as opposed to artificial pigment like other shampoos on this list.
It’s a naturally-occurring blue-violet pigment that helps counter dullness in blonde hair.
I also liked how it works on hair that’s been dyed silver or grey. It helped my dyed blonde hair look brighter and reduce the yellowness in my grey hair.
I did have an issue with the sulfate-based cleanser in the shampoo. It can be too drying for some hair types.
Also, I didn’t really care for the slightly-chemical scent the shampoo leaves behind.
Pros:
- Natural centaury extracts that do not hurt sensitive scalp
- Removes brassiness from both dyed and natural blonde hair
Cons:
- Contains sulfates so it dries your scalp out
- Scent too strong and can be off-putting
My Ratings:
- Long Lasting – 4/5
- Vibrancy of the Pigment – 4.5/5
- Conditioning – 3.5/5
Who It’s For – Oily grey hair
MATRIX Total Results So Silver Color Depositing Purple Shampoo
Best Color Depositing Shampoo For Blonde Hair
I can safely say that the Matrix is one of the best color depositing shampoos for a wide range of blonde-dyed hair. Platinum, icy blonde, gray, silver – it gets rid of yellowness, brassy tones, redness, etc., from them all.
I also like how this color depositing shampoo for gray hair can leave my hair cleansed and color vibrant at the same time.
It does have sulfates, but the purple pigment is too strong and reduces the brassiness in your hair in just one wash.
It also leaves behind a floral, mossy fragrance that I adored.
If you want a color shampoo for brown hair or for darker tones, the Matrix Total Results line also has a range called “dark envy” that helps cover grays.
Pros:
- Works for all blonde hair colors so it’s versatile
- Pleasant fragrance that is not overwhelming
Cons:
- Not for brunette hair with greys
- Contains sulfates so it can be harsh on hair
My Ratings:
- Long Lasting – 4.5/5
- Vibrancy of the Pigment – 4.5/5
- Conditioning – 3.5/5
Who It’s For – platinum blonde to grey hair
Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo
Best Color Changing Shampoo For Brown Hair
My hair is naturally brunette and I usually dye it a blonde shade. While shampoos like Matrix and Klorane are great for grey hair on dyed blond hair.
Dark hair with grey strands is a whole other story!
Violet and purple pigments are better for removing brassiness from cool, blonde tones while blue is better for darker, brunette hair.
So I got this Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo to cover my grays near my darker roots.
I liked how the creamy formulation comes packed with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera and sweet almond oil.
So if you’re worried about all these tinted shampoos drying out your hair, don’t be! And if you have curly hair, you can always use it with the Aveda Clove Color Conditioner.
I also like the blend of essential oils, including ylang-ylang, eucalyptus, anred lemon, that leave a pleasant fragrance on your tresses. (Hongratanaworakit, Tapanee, and Gerhard Buchbauer. “Relaxing effect of ylang ylang oil on humans after transdermal absorption.” Phytotherapy research : PTR vol. 20,9 (2006): 758-63. doi:10.1002/ptr.1950)
If you’re an animal lover, you will also be pleased to know that all Aveda products are cruelty-free. So it gets bonus point from me for that!
Pros:
- Mild formula with mostly natural ingredients
- Essential oil-based fragrance that is not irritaing on scalp
- Good for the environment as it has a cruelty-free and vegan formula
- Sulfate-free formula is gentler on sensitive and dry scalps
Cons:
- More expensive than other shampoos
My Ratings:
- Long Lasting – 4/5
- Vibrancy of the Pigment – 4/5
- Conditioning – 5/5
Who It’s For – Damaged grey hair/Sensitive scalps
Redken Color Extend Graydiant Shampoo
Best Shampoo For Salt And Pepper Hair
I think the Redken Graydiant Shampoo is the best color depositing shampoo for gray hair that I’ve used. And for good reason too!
It not only kept the brassiness out of my greys, but it also helped nourish my strands.
The shampoo claims to have a formula that comes packed with amino acids that strengthen the hair. Smart move, considering hair can get damaged with repeated dying, bleaching, and coloring.
But I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary with this shampoo. In fact, it’s very similar to Matrix and Joico Purple shampoos!
In fact, I noticed this shampoo has a very strong purple pigment.
I suggest rinsing your hair thoroughly, as this color depositing shampoo can leave behind a purple cast.
Pros:
- Good for repiaring hair as it has amino acids
- Cleanses oily scalps as it has a very clarifying formula
- Removes brassy tones from grey hair
Cons:
- Contains sulfates that can dry your hair
- Expensive when it has a similar formula to Matrix
My Ratings:
- Long Lasting – 4/5
- Vibrancy of the Pigment – 4.5/5
- Conditioning – 3.5/5
Who It’s For – Oily grey hair
Punky Colour 3-in-1 Depositing hair dye shampoo for grey hair
Best Shampoo To Dye Hair
Yes, there are several shampoos that can cover grays, neutralize brassiness, and give you a natural-looking color. But what if you don’t want a natural color?
If you love trying out experimental hair tones, then the Punky Color Depositing Shampoo is a holy-grail product.
I use it to cover the grey hair that start near the roots. It’s a great shampoo to use to conceal those pesky few strans when you don’t want to actually dye your hair.
You know what I like most about this shampoo?
Red, pink, aqua, lilac, blonde – no matter what hair color you want to try, there is a Punky color shampoo for that.
And the best thing is that this product is perfectly safe on your tresses. It doesn’t contain any sulfates and comes with shea butter that conditions the strands.
The Punky Colour 3-in-1 Depositing Shampoo + Conditioner is great for curly hair as well as it functions a bit as a strong co-wash.
Pros:
- Doesn’t damage hair as it’s sulfate-free
- Shea butter conditions dry hair
- You can change hair color often as it washes off easily
Cons:
- Color washes away in quickly so it won’t last long
My Ratings:
- Long Lasting – 3/5
- Vibrancy of the Pigment – 4.5/5
- Conditioning – 4.5/5
Who It’s For – Oily grey hair
Phyto Phytargent Shampoo
Best Natural Color Depositing Shampoo For Gray Hair
The one issue I had with most toning color depositing shampoos is that they are full of synthetic coloring and sometimes even perfumes and sulfates.
So I was really mind blown to see this how this product is infused with nourishing, natural ingredients.
Yes, this Phytargent shampoo helps cover greys without damaging your tresses as it’s 100 percent natural.
It contains walnut leaf extracts that help tone down the yellows in blonde hair and rhatany root that gets rid of brassiness. (Beiki, Tavoos & Najafpour, Ghasem & Hosseini, Morteza. (2017). Evaluation of antimicrobial and dyeing properties of walnut (Juglans regia L.) green husk extract for cosmetics. Coloration Technology. 134. 10.1111/cote.12322.)
No artificial dyes here!
Then there’s also cornflower extracts that add softness and shine. And broom flowers that improve blood circulation on the scalp.
I think that the gentle ingredients make this product one of the best color depositing shampoos for gray hair.
Pros:
- Removes brassiness from hair as it contains blue /purple pigments
- Protects hair from damage as it’s sulfate free and perfume free
- Boosts new hair growth thanks to the cornflower extracts
Cons:
- None
My Ratings:
- Long Lasting – 4/5
- Vibrancy of the Pigment – 4/5
- Conditioning – 4/5
Who It’s For – Thinning grey hair
Joico Color Depositing Shampoo
Best For Peroxide Blondes and Bleached Tresses
As far as purple shampoos are concerned, this one by Joico is by far one of the most promising ones out there.
The violet pigments in the cleanser function as semi-permanent hair dyes and coat the hair strands in vibrant color.
This is fantastic for removing yellow tones from bleached hair and leaving a clean silver-tone instead. The paraben-free formula also leaves hair soft and healthy.
Some reviews also mention how women with a few stray white hairs can use this product too.
It works very well to leave those grey locks a pretty shade of platinum blonde in just one or two washes.
Pros:
- Good for platinum blonde hair
- Neutralized redness or brassy notes
- Makes grey hair brighter
Cons:
- Contains sulfates
My Ratings:
- Long Lasting – 4.5/5
- Vibrancy of the Pigment – 4.5/5
- Conditioning – 3/5
Who It’s For – Platinum blonde hair
Pure Blends Color Depositing Shampoo
Best For Brunettes
What I loved most about this shampoo is its super lightweight, yet super hydrating formula. It is completely sulfate-free and contains emollient ingredients like coconut oil.
So it’s not just a good color depositing shampoo, its fantastic for your tresses as well.
This shampoo contains a range of colors, but I especially loved the brunette tons.
If you’ve got naturally blonde hair and the grey strands are peeking through, try this product to cover them up.
Pros:
- Hydrates dull, dry hair thanks to the coconut oil-based formula
- Sulfate and paraben-free, so it’s safe for damaged hair
Cons:
- None that I could find
My Ratings:
- Long Lasting – 4/5
- Vibrancy of the Pigment – 4.5/5
- Conditioning – 4.5/5
Who It’s For – Dry grey hair
Celeb Luxury Color Depositing Shampoo
Best For Jewel and Bold-Colored Tresses
The best thing about this Celeb Luxury shampoo is that it’s got every tone in the color wheel.
So it doesn’t matter if you want to remove yellow tones from platinum hair or add color to your jewel blue tresses, this one’s great for it all.
Some of the colors include pastels, lavender, magenta, indigo, and a range of rainbow hues.
I got this shampoo in the hot pink shade and trust me my hair looked ah-mazing! So if you want to cover greys with a funky twist, this shampoo is it!
The best part is that there are no harsh ingredients in this shampoo. It leaves your dyed hair smooth and shiny in just one wash.
Pros:
- Safe and sulfate-free
- Can be used on sensitive scalps
- Conditions hair
Cons:
- Washes off easily
- Doesn’t give vibrant color in one try
My Ratings:
- Long Lasting – 3.5/5
- Vibrancy of the Pigment – 4.5/5
- Conditioning – 4.5/5
Who It’s For – Color-treated hair
My Ratings – Colour Shampoo To Cover Grey
| Color Depositing Shampoos For Grey Hair | Klorane AntiYellowing Shampoo | Matrix Total ResultsShampoo | Aveda Blue MalvaShampoo | L’Oreal EverPureShampoo | Redken Color ExtendShampoo |
| Images |  |  |  |  |  |
| Cleansing | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 4/5 |
| Longevity | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 |
| Pigment | 3.5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Gentleness | 3.5/5 | 3/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Sulfate-Free | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Can I use color depositing shampoo to cover grey hair?
Color depositing shampoos can be used to subtly blend or enhance the appearance of grey hair, but they are not typically effective for full coverage of grey hair. These shampoos contain pigments that can temporarily deposit color onto the hair shaft with each wash.
While they can help to diminish the visibility of grey hairs by adding subtle tones or highlights, they may not provide complete coverage, especially for more pronounced or resistant grey hair.
It’s important to understand that color depositing shampoos work differently from traditional hair dyes. They do not contain strong chemicals or permanent colorants that can fully penetrate the hair shaft and permanently cover grey hairs.
Instead, they offer a more temporary solution for refreshing or maintaining color between salon visits or traditional dye applications.
How does a color depositing shampoo work on gray hair?
A color depositing shampoo definitely works on gray hair. These products help cover grays by using color pigments.
Some of these pigments, like blue, violet, etc., only help counter the brassy tones in grey hair, leaving them more vibrant and with a ‘cooler’ hue.
But other color depositing shampoos have pigments like brown, black, red, or even jewel tones like pink. These give a layer of semi-permanent dye on your tresses. The color might not be as long-lasting as a hair dye, but it’s still strong enough to hold for a few weeks at the least.
These color depositing shampoos are often considered a safer alternative to regular hair dye use.
How to select the best color depositing shampoo for gray hair?
If you’re going to select the best color depositing shampoo for gray hair, you need to take care of the following factors.
Avoid Sulfates
Sulfates like SLS and SLES are harsh on your hair. Naturally gray hair is prone to damage already as it’s aged. And dyed gray hair color can be stripped by sulfates. So you should avoid these ingredients.
UV Filters
If you have colored gray hair, UV filters will keep the hair color from fading. If you have naturally grey hair they prevent further sun damage.
Purple/Violet Pigment
Perhaps the most essential element of a color depositing shampoo for gray hair is the presence of violet pigment.
These pigments help remove brassy or yellow undertones from gray hair leaving them bright and vibrant.
Why You Should Trust Haireveryday?
The author of this article, Leah Marie Priest has a degree in Cosmetology with years of experience in dealing with hair care, scalp care, and hairstyling. As someone who extensively deals with all kinds of hair textures, products, styling methods and more, hair Leah Marie knows what kind of products and procedures suit each hair type and person. We have also tested these hair products and processes ourselves to provide you an unbiased review about every product. Each of our articles are also reviewed by a team of medical professionals so that you get the most accurate and expert-reviewed information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you dye your hair with color depositing shampoo?
Yes of course. But the only catch is that the color might not appear as bright as it would with regular dyes and that the color washes off easily as well. But if you use a color depositing shampoo often it will in fact dye your hair. The pigments coat the top of your cuticles to add color.
Can you use color depositing shampoo on uncolored hair
A lot of times, people use color depositing shampoos just on color-treated hair in order to prevent dye from fading and brightening the hair color. But you can also use color depositing shampos on uncolored hair if you want to dye it without damaging your hair or if you want a temporary hair dye.
Is color depositing shampoo bad for your hair?
No at all. Color depositing shampoos are actually a much healthier and less damaging option compared to using hair dyes to color your hair. So if you have just a few strands of grey showing up near your roots. You don’t have to dye our whole head. Using a color depositing shampoo can cover up the greys in just a few washes. You can choose the color that matches your hair color the most to make the cover up look natural.
Why won’t my grey hair take color?
Grey hair is naturally resistant to hair dyes as it differs in texture from younger hair.
Both hair biology experts and top hairstylists agree that grey hair is rougher as it lacks natural oils.
This makes the hair cuticles rough and resistant to absorbing hair color, especially around the roots.
Does using a color depositing conditioner cover gray?
Yes! A lot of color depositing conditioners help cover gray hair. They work the same way a color depositing shampoo does. There are coloring pigments in the formulation that settle on the tresses.
These leave the greys covered and sometimes in a completely different color. Like color-depositing shampoos, they can also be used to remove brassy tones from grey-silver hair.
Conclusion
Say goodbye to ammonia-based dyes and long-waiting hours at the parlor.
Using a tinted shampoo for grey hair can get you vibrant, natural-looking hair in just seconds.
Want to give your tresses a more intense color? You can even pair these shampoos with a good color depositing conditioner.
Just take your pick from our list above to give your tresses a younger look instantly.
Also Read:
How To Enhance Natural Grey Hair
How To Dye Hair Silver At Home
Can I Use Color Safe Shampoo On Uncolored Hair
Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo
A color depositing shampoo for gray hair can brigthen greys or hide them among your hair. The Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo neutralized brassy notes and yellowness in grey hair.
Product SKU: KL379Y2OHB
Product Brand: Klorane
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: $15.00
Price Valid Until: 2025-06-06
Product In-Stock: InStock
5
Pros
- Tones blonde hair by removing yellowness
- Gentle on hair
- Doesn't leave scalp dry
Cons
- Expensive
- Suitable for blonde hair only
To Summarize
