Best Purple Shampoos for Gray Hair

Quick comparison

A dash means the maker page doesn’t state it. SLES and SLS are sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate, from the makers’ ingredient lists.

Best classic toner for natural gray: Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo

Shimmer Lights is the long-running pick, and its maker writes directly to gray hair. On Wella’s official store, Clairol Professional lists “Removes dull yellow in gray hair” among the benefits and says the shampoo blends, enhances and complements natural grays or silver hair. It also “maintains a cool-effect on color-treated, modern gray shades.” The brand says it uses purple pigments to reduce brass and has been sold since the 1980s.

Clairol’s directions are to lather, rinse and repeat, and to use it “up to twice weekly or when hair appears brassy,” with no patch test required. It suits all hair types, natural or color-treated, according to the brand. The ingredient list includes sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate, plus fragrance. The Amazon link is the 16 fl oz bottle, and Wella’s store also lists 8 oz and 2 oz sizes. Wella’s store now names it Shimmer Lights Blonde Toning Shampoo, and the Amazon listing notes that packaging may vary.

See Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Purple Shampoo on Amazon

Best for everyday use on silver hair: Jhirmack Silver Brightening Purple Toning Shampoo

Jhirmack aims this shampoo squarely at silver hair. The brand says it “removes dulling buildup while neutralizing brassy, yellow tones in all shades of silver hair,” and that the formula is “designed for daily care.” Jhirmack says it is tailored for silver hair’s texture, taming flyaways and helping to manage “wiry, dry and coarse strands,” with vitamin E and glycerin for moisture.

Two details suit women who wash often. Jhirmack calls the formula sulfate-free and color-safe “for both color-treated and natural silver hair,” and says it “won’t stain hands, hair, or your shower.” Its directions are to leave the lather on for 2 to 3 minutes, then rinse, and to use it daily as needed. The formula is also vegan and free of parabens, silicones and phthalates, according to Jhirmack. On Amazon, Jhirmack sells it in a four-pack or with conditioner, so the link is a search for the single bottle.

Search Amazon for Jhirmack Silver Brightening Purple Shampoo

Best sulfate-free drugstore toner: L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Shampoo

L’Oréal says EverPure Purple is designed to correct “unwanted yellow and orange tones in blonde, gray/silver, and bleached or highlighted hair.” The formula is sulfate-free and color-safe, with hibiscus and purple pigment, and L’Oréal calls it vegan and free of parabens, DMDM hydantoin, gluten and added phthalates. The scent is violet and thyme.

L’Oréal’s directions are useful if you are new to purple shampoo. Use it in place of your regular shampoo one to three times a week, and leave it on for up to two minutes. If hair picks up a slight purple hue, L’Oréal says too much product was used or it stayed on too long, and suggests using less and rinsing sooner. For the days in between, it points to its non-toning EverPure shampoos. The Amazon link is the 6.8 fl oz bottle; L’Oréal also sells 23 fl oz and 2.5 fl oz sizes.

See L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Shampoo on Amazon

Best for brightening without staining: Philip Kingsley Pure Blonde/Silver Brightening Daily Shampoo

The Philip Kingsley takes a lighter approach. The brand says it combines violet hues with optical brighteners to cut the look of discoloration and neutralize brassy tones in silver, gray and blonde hair, and that it “tones yellow hair without staining.” That makes it worth trying if other purple shampoos have left a tint.

It is sold as a daily shampoo. Philip Kingsley’s directions are to lather on wet hair with a gentle kneading of the scalp for 60 seconds, then rinse and repeat if needed. The brand says the formula is vegan friendly and cruelty free and adds that it “dramatically enhances shine.” Its page doesn’t list sulfate status in the visible text. The Amazon link is the 8.45 fl oz (250 ml) bottle, sold by Philip Kingsley.

See Philip Kingsley Pure Blonde/Silver Brightening Daily Shampoo on Amazon

Best salon clarifying toner: Matrix So Silver Purple Shampoo

Matrix calls So Silver “a professional salon clarifying shampoo” that “neutralizes brassy warmth and eliminates dull, yellow tones,” and says it adds brightness to color-treated and natural hair in shades from gray to white. It also calls the formula vegan.

Its directions are to apply it to wet hair wearing suitable gloves, lather and rinse, repeat if needed, and leave the second lather on for 3 to 5 minutes for maximum benefit. Matrix’s precautions say the product may irritate some people’s skin and that a preliminary test should be made according to the accompanying directions. The ingredient list includes sodium laureth sulfate. It has the most involved directions on this list, so follow them closely. The Amazon link is the 10.1 fl oz bottle.

See Matrix So Silver Purple Shampoo on Amazon

How to choose a purple shampoo for gray hair

Decide how often you want to tone. If you want one shampoo for every wash, Jhirmack and Philip Kingsley sell daily formulas. If you only need to correct yellowing now and then, Clairol says up to twice weekly and L’Oréal says one to three times a week, with your regular shampoo in between.

Match the directions to your patience. Matrix asks for gloves, a 3- to 5-minute second lather and a preliminary test, so it is the most involved. Philip Kingsley pairs violet hues with optical brighteners and says it doesn’t stain. Clairol, Jhirmack and L’Oréal fall in between, with leave-on times of up to 3 minutes or none stated.

Check sulfates if your gray is dry. Jhirmack and L’Oréal are sulfate-free. Clairol and Matrix list sulfates on their ingredient lists.

Avoid purple tint. L’Oréal says a purple hue comes from too much product or too long a leave-on time. Start with less and rinse sooner, then adjust.

For the wider routine, see our hair care guide for aging hair and our guide to what to check before buying hair care for color-treated mature hair . If you are deciding whether to keep coloring at all, our semi vs demi vs permanent hair color map explains the gray-coverage options. If your hair is also thinning, see our shampoos for thinning hair in women over 50 .

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I use purple shampoo on gray hair?

It depends on the formula. Clairol says up to twice weekly or when hair looks brassy, and L’Oréal says one to three times a week. Jhirmack and Philip Kingsley sell their purple shampoos for daily use.

Can purple shampoo turn gray hair purple?

It can. L’Oréal says a slight purple hue means too much product was used or it stayed on too long, and suggests using less and rinsing sooner. Philip Kingsley says its formula tones yellow hair without staining, and Jhirmack says its formula won’t stain hair.

Does purple shampoo work on natural gray hair?

Several makers say so. Clairol says Shimmer Lights blends, enhances and complements natural grays or silver hair, Jhirmack says its formula is safe for color-treated and natural silver hair, and Matrix says So Silver adds brightness to color-treated and natural hair from gray to white.

Sources

Product facts were checked on each maker’s page, or the maker’s official store, on October 5, 2026. Amazon links were checked for the exact product and an Amazon.com or brand-store seller on the same date.

• Wella Professional Store (official): Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Blonde Toning Shampoo
• Clairol Professional: Shimmer Lights collection
• Jhirmack: Silver Brightening Purple Toning Shampoo
• L’Oréal Paris: EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Shampoo
• Philip Kingsley: Pure Blonde/Silver Brightening Daily Shampoo
• Matrix: So Silver Purple Shampoo for Blonde and Silver Hair