Grey hair isn’t the end of the world anymore! In fact, a lot of people are dyeing their locks silver-grey or platinum to get the silver fox look.
Dyeing your hair grey is easy. But what about maintaining it? This is where the best conditioner for gray hair comes in.
These conditioners usually contain purple pigment that help neutralize the brassy and yellowish tones on grey hair.
There are also color-depositing conditioners that add silver pigment to brighten up your greys.
I love the Aveda Blue Malva Conditioner for my grey hair as it is silicone and paraben-free. It is great for dry hair as it contains sweet almond oil that helps nourish grey hair and makes it smoother and less frizzy. The blue pigment in the conditioner is also from natural sources as it contains the Blue Malva plant and tones hair, making it your grays less yellow and more bright.
Top Conditioner For Gray Hair 2024
Aveda Blue Malva Conditioner
Aveda Blue Malva is another conditioner for gray hair that helps brighten grey strands and also nourishes hair.
The chief ingredients in this product are malva (mallow) flower extract, coneflower extracts, sweet almond oil, and babassu seed oil.
According to this study published in Korea, Mallow extract or Malva verticillata is known to help hair growth as it contains linoleic acid. (Ryu, Hwa Sun et al. “Activation of Hair Cell Growth Factors by Linoleic Acid in Malva verticillata Seed.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 26,8 2117. 7 Apr. 2021, doi:10.3390/molecules26082117)
All of which help condition hair and leave it soft and shiny. They are also fantastic at preventing frizzy hair and smoothing your strands.
I felt my tresses become manageable and smooth after just a few washes. But my hair often gets dry, so this was a good choice for me.
If you have an oily scalp, you might find your tresses becoming limp or greasy after multiple uses.
Or if you only require a product for toning gray hair, then you should try the L’Oreal EverPure or something more color-enhancing and less rich.
While I really loved using this product, the price was a bit of a let down. Aveda products are generally highly priced.
Well, they are cruelty-free, vegan, and come in recyclable plastic, so we’re not surprised at the extra cost.
If you feel your dry hair and commitment to going green is worth it, the Aveda conditioner for gray hair is a good pick.
Pros:
- Leaves hair smooth and frizz-free
- Natural ingredients
- Neutralized brassy tones
- Vegan and cruelty free
Cons:
- Expensive
- Contains added perfume
My Ratings:
Smoothing - 5/5
Color Enhancing - 4.5/5
Frizz Control - 4.5/5
Affordability - 3/5
Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Conditioner
The first conditioner for gray hair I tried out was this Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights conditioner. And instantly it became one of my favorites.
I liked how well it neutralizes brassy tones and yellowness in my gray strands, and leaves them bright and vibrant.
It’s a purple conditioner (yes, just like a purple shampoo). There is violet dye in there that helps balance out the coppery tones in gray hair.
While this strong dye helps hair look brighter, it has one downside. Sometimes it can get difficult to get out of your hands.
So I would suggest wearing disposable gloves while applying it to your tresses.
This Clairol conditioner is also a fantastic coarse grey hair product as it helps add silkiness to your hair.
There are nourishing emollients that leave your hair soft and smooth. And I was glad to see that there isn’t any silicone-based ingredient that can cause product buildup.
But unfortunately there is alcohol and added perfume in this conditioner. So your hair might look dry in the long run.
And it can get irritating for sensitive skin folks too. So if you have a sensitive scalp Id suggest a conditioner like Aveda which is more natural.
And as for the perfume? Well, let’s just say I was not a fan of it. It smelled too floral and was too strong for my liking.
Pros:
- Neutralized brassy tones on hair as it contains purple pigment
- Emollient-based formula helps smoothen coarse grey hair
- Doesn't form buildup on hair as it's a silicone-free product
Cons:
- Contains added perfume and alcohol that can dry out hair in long run
- Very strong smell that is not suitable for everyone
My Ratings:
Smoothing - 4.5/5
Color Enhancing - 5/5
Frizz Control - 3/5
Affordability - 4/5
L’Oreal Paris EverPure Purple Conditioner
The one thing about gray hair (whether it’s natural or dyed) is that you end up spending a lot to maintain it.
So I was glad to have found a good drugstore conditioner for gray hair in the L’Oreal Paris EverPure.
Like other products for brightening gray hair, it also contains purple pigments that neutralize coppery and yellowish tones on gray hair. Just look how strong the pigment is!
I also liked that the formula contains hibiscus extracts which are known to condition hair. And there are no sulphates, harsh salts, or allergy-causing gluten in here.
So I'd suggest it for people with damaged or brittle hair as it won't hurt your strands further.
But it’s not very conditioning and is more useful for toning hair than smoothening it.
So if you have dry hair or want something more nourishing, try the Clairol or Aveda conditioner for gray hair instead.
Another thing I noticed was that purple dye is very strong. Which is a good thing if you want bright, vibrant grays, but it can be irritating on sensitive scalps.
It also has silicone (dimethicone) in it which was a let down. This ingredient might leave hair soft and shiny on first application but can cause product build-up.
This build-up often weighs down hair. So if you've got thin, fine hair I'd suggest skipping it as it can make your strands look limp in the long run.
Pros:
- Leaves grays brighter and vibrant as it neutralizes orange tones
- More affordable that Clairol or Aveda
- No gluten or harsh salts so it can be used for sensitive skin or people with allergies
Cons:
- Contains silicone that can form buildup on hair over time
- Not good for dry hair as it contains added alcohol and perfume
My Ratings:
Smoothing - 3/5
Color Enhancing - 5/5
Frizz Control - 3/5
Affordability - 5/5
Keracolor Clenditioner Color Depositing Conditioner
Most conditioners for gray hair are in fact purple conditioners that help remove brassy tones from the strands, making them brighter and softer.
But what if you want to cover up the greys? Or want a grey hair look instead? A good color depositing conditioner for gray hair is the perfect choice.
I especially liked this Keracolor conditioner (or rather Clenditioner as it’s called)! There are several color options for you to choose from.
And the best part? It’s low foam formula helps cleanse hair as well! So it’s a 3-in-1 product.
There’s shea butter, rosehip oil, jojoba oils, and keratin complex in this formula which helps control frizz, smoothen hair, untangle knots, and adds shine.
I bought the Silver Clenditioner and I must say, the results were impressive on the first use itself. The silver pigments brightened up my greys in minutes. And my hair felt softer too!
This is a silicone-free product, so I’ll give this conditioner extra points for that.
I do have one tip to give you. If you want to use it only to brighten your grays, apply it on dry hair and not on wet hair.
This, I’ve found, helps the hair color penetrate better. I also kept the conditioner on for 2-3 minutes.
Now coming to the downsides. There is some added perfume in it, but it's not as overwhelming as the Clairol.
However if you have very sensitive scalp, even this little perfume might be too much to handle, so test it on a patch of skin before using.
Also, let me forewarn you that this is not a toning conditioner, there are no purple pigments here. So it won't remove orange and brassy toners from gray hair.
Pros:
- It won't leave buildup on hair as it contains no silicones
- Unlike purple conditioner this is a color-depositing product that covers grays if need
- Can also be used to brighten grays with silver color due to the silver pigment
- Good for dry hair and frizz as it contains moisturizing shea butter and jojoba oils.
Cons:
- Contains alcohol and added perfume that can dry hair over the long run
- Color washes off easily so toning affects are not long lasting
- Not a purple conditioner so it won't neutralize any brassy tones on grey hair
My Ratings:
Smoothing - 4.5/5
Color Enhancing - 4.5/5
Frizz Control - 4/5
Affordability - 3.5/5
Davines Alchemic Conditioner Silver
After using the Keracolor Silver Clenditioner I thought of giving another silver color depositing product a try so that's why I tested the dAvines Alchemic Conditioner.
And the results were mixed to say the least. Firstly, this felt like a temporary hair dye than a conditioner.
It did next to nothing for moisturizing my hair so if you have dry hair please skip this one. You'll be better off with Keracolor as its super moisturizing.
But if you want a temporary silver dye of sorts to brighten up your greys and do not want to use an actual hair dye than this is a good choice.
The silver color pigment is brilliant and long lasting! I had used the copper version of this product before and I must say, even though it has it's faults, the color isn't one of them.
Another good thing about this conditioner for silver hair is that it's silicone free. I hate removing product build-up on hair and I always brighten up if the product doesn't contain my dimethicone.
Go for it if you value hair color over moisturization.
Pros:
- It won't leave buildup on hair as it contains no silicones so its good for thin, fine hair
- It brightens gray hair and hides any brassiness by adding silver pigment over it.
- Strong color pigment that lasts for several days and gives good coverage
Cons:
- Not a purple conditioner so it won't remove any coppery tones on grey hair, it only covers it temporarily
- Very little moisturizing ingredients so it won't suit dry hair
My Ratings:
Smoothing - 3/5
Color Enhancing - 4.5/5
Frizz Control - 3/5
Affordability - 4/5
Redken Color Extend Graydiant Silver Conditioner
If you’re looking for something nourishing, colour-correcting and affordable, this Redken Graydiant Conditioner is a good choice.
Like others here, this is also a purple conditioner. It’s especially good if you have silver, grey, or platinum-dyed hair.
I found it to work well on my natural grey hair as well. The conditioner helps counteract the brassy or yellow tones on my grey strands and leaves them brighter.
And unlike the Clairol conditioner, the Redken Graydiant didn’t leave any sort of residue on my hands or hair. So that made things easier.
The formula comes packed with amino acids and citric acid that helps strengthen damaged strands. So if you’ve got bleached hair, this conditioner will help restore your tresses back to life.
It does contain added perfume and alcohol however, so if you have sensitive skin, it might cause irritation.
Pros:
- Strengthens damaged hair
- Leaves hair smooth
- Neutralizes brassy tones
- Leaves grey hair bright
- Doesn’t leave residue
Cons:
- Contains alcohol and perfume
- Not for sensitive skin type
- Scent is too strong
My Ratings:
Smoothing - 4/5
Color Enhancing - 5/5
Frizz Control - 3.5/5
Affordability - 5/5
How To Select The Best Conditioner For Gray Hair
Gray hair needs special care, so you need to be careful and select the right conditioner for gray hair. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Moisturizing
Like any good conditioner, this product should be moisturizing and leave your hair soft after use.
If you have naturally grey locks, then you need that extra hydration as hair tends to get brittle and dry over the ages.
If you have color-treated grey hair, it's important to maintain the moisture levels after the bleaching and dyeing process.
Toning And Neutralizing
The best conditioner for gray hair is one with purple pigments in it.
Sometimes grey hair tends to get yellowish over time. If you have dyed your hair grey, then the bleaching process might give red undertones to it.
Purple and violet which are opposite red in the color wheel, help neutralize brassiness and leave gray hair shinier and brighter than before.
Ingredients
I often suggest going for conditioners with natural moisturizers like coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, etc.
If you have curly or coarse hair, you can try products with rich ingredients like shea butter and cocoa butter too.
Some ingredients are better avoided. Mineral oils are present in most drugstore conditioners and are linked to several health issues. So are parabens.
Silicones are commonly present in the form of dimethicone in conditioners. While this ingredient isn't typically harmful, it can cause product build-up over time.
Here are the top conditioners for grey hair at a quick glance!
| Top Conditioner For Grey Hair | Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Conditioner | L’Oreal Paris EverPure Purple Conditioner | Keracolor Clenditioner Color Depositing Conditioner | Davines Alchemic Conditioner Silver | Aveda Blue Malva Conditioner | Redken Color Extend Graydiant Silver Conditioner |
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| Price | Expensive | Very Affordable | Affordable | Slightly Expensive | Very Expensive | Slightly Expensive |
| Grey Brightening Properties | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Toning Properties | 4.5/5 | 4/5 | - | - | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Ingredients Quality | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Silicone-Free | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable For Dry Hair | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
FAQs - Best Conditioner For Gray Hair
1) Why is my hair turning grey?
2) What are the best shampoos for grey hair?
Grey hair isn’t something you hide anymore. With the help of the best conditioner for grey hair you can wear them with style.
And if you’ve decided to dye your locks silver, grey or platinum, these conditioners will help maintain the color.
I’ve reviewed these products based on their moisturizing ability, price, color enhancing powers and more. You can pick one best suited to your hair type and needs.