The purple pigment found in most gray hair shampoos helps to counteract the yellow and brassy undertones that might appear in gray hair. You can also get shampoos specifically designed to prevent gray hair from becoming dry and brittle on the market. Before discussing the many benefits of using a toning shampoo for gray hair, it's important to understand what causes gray hair in the first place. Exactly What Causes Gray Hair? Scientists have discovered why some people start seeing gray hair as early as 30. Catalase production decreases with age. Hydrogen peroxide can be neutralized by catalase, which then releases oxygen and water. The decrease in catalase production means that hydrogen peroxide is not being as effectively neutralized in the hair follicles. As a result, pressure begins to rise. Hydrogen peroxide, as is common knowledge, can be used as a bleach. The melanin in our hair follicles is practically wiped away by the hydrogen peroxide, and the strands that sprout out of them are bleached as a result. Because of this, hair begins to gray. Even though most of us would choose a shiny silver-gray, many people actually pick a tawny, yellowish-gray, or white. It's not uncommon to have gray hair in the roots yet observe that the ends are yellow or brassy (due to picking up pigments from hair products or your environment). What can we do about the yellow or brassy undertones that sometimes appear in our natural gray coloring? The obvious answer is to use a shampoo specifically formulated to reduce the appearance of gray hair. 
What Causes Gray Hair and How to Treat It Shampoos specifically formulated for gray hair leave behind subtle pigments with a purple or blue cast. However, these pigments do not cause purple or blue hair; rather, they tone the hair down. To understand how and why violet and blue tones "balance out" yellow or brassy tones in hair, let's have a look at the color wheel. The best shampoo for gray hair, as determined by a color wheel iniaz/Shutterstock You can see that purple sits across from yellow on the color wheel. Their relationship is that of complimentary hues. A cooler shade of gray can be achieved by adding purple color to yellow hair and toning it. That's why a lot of women with blonde hair (whether it's natural or colored) use purple shampoo. Removes undesired warm tones (yellow and orange) and replaces them with a cooler ash tone; effective for both blonde and gray hair (think silver, platinum, or ash blonde). Let's examine the top gray hair toning shampoos on the market now. A List of the Top 6 Gray Hair Shampoos To remove undesirable tones from your gray and expose a dazzling, healthy silver or white, you can use a shampoo that deposits a small quantity of the corrective pigment — violet or blue. Check out the best shampoos for gray hair that we've found at the salon and at drugstores. In that case, which of these options do you think will serve you best? For example, Redken's Color Extend Graydient Purple Shampoo The Redken Color Extend Graydiant Purple Shampoo is the best gray hair toning shampoo on the market. Redken is the number one professional salon brand in North America, and their product is the industry standard for getting that iridescent silver hue. The unique purple pigment created by Redken is the key ingredient. Created to tone down and rectify the most yellow, dingy, or brassy of grays, this paint is a marvel of modern technology. This shampoo, however, takes things a step further by incorporating citric acid into a low pH formula for better hair and scalp health. Which leads to what conclusion? Redken guarantees that your gray hair will be twice as strong, shiny, and smooth as it was before you used their product. 
There are approximately 3,000 reviews, and they all give this shampoo 4.5 stars, so clearly reviewers agree that it's just as good as any other Redken shampoo. Once you try this, you won't be able to do without it!
- Summative Matrix Results Shampoo in Purple and Silver, Please
Using MATRIX Total Results, you can adjust your gray to a more silvery or white hue. A Silver-Purple Shampoo, Indeed. To prevent gray hair from seeming brassy, dull, or yellow, try this professional shampoo. The formula's purple pigment helps toning your hair color while the rest of the ingredients work to make your hair silky smooth, resistant to frizz, and incredibly strong. Naturally occurring "highlights" in your hair will be brought to the forefront, revealing a richer, more nuanced shade. It's not just for brunettes; blondes can use it, too! There isn't the normal "flowers and fruit" shampoo scent, but there is something very nice about this shampoo's aroma. Instead, it has an alluring scent that combines moss, leaves, and a hint of flowers. It has a 4.5-star rating and almost 30,000 reviews, so it must be really good. This has consistently been a top pick from our clients. The Purple Shampoo with Pantene Silver Expressions Pantene Silver Expressions Purple Shampoo is the best shampoo for toning natural gray. The B vitamins in this Pro-V mixture will make your hair healthier and more lustrous. Adding to its attractiveness as a purchase is the reasonable pricing. This shampoo's violet pigment helps eliminate dullness and yellow tones. It's a short-term solution for covering over unpleasant yellow or muddy tones with a cooler, brighter shade of gray or white. Pantene emphasizes that their shampoo is ideal for gray hair. 
If you have gray hair or hair that has been dyed another color, you should use a different shampoo than the ones we recommend. A total of nearly 6,000 reviewers have given this shampoo a whopping 4.5-star rating. This is a wonderful choice if you're going gray naturally and want to avoid yellow undertones. L'Oréal Paris's Purple Toning Shampoo for Brass (EverPure) To subtly darken your gray hair without breaking the bank, try L'Oreal Paris EverPure Purple Shampoo. This low-cost alternative also offers some interesting advantages for your hair. It's a combination of a short-lived purple dye and an extract of the plant hibiscus sabdariffa, which is high in anthocyanins (the pigment that gives plants violet, blue, or red color). It doesn't include any sulfates, so it won't damage your silver hair or strip away your natural oils. You shouldn't expect the same level of sudsiness from this sulfate-free shampoo as you would from one containing sulfates. You can use it in place of your regular shampoo twice or three times a week. For added toning benefits, try the purple EverPure conditioner.
- Jhirmack's Purple Shampoo with Silver Brighteners
It's easy to see why Jhirmack Silver Brightening Purple Shampoo is Amazon's Choice for gray hair shampoo. Remove unwanted yellow or brassy tones from gray hair at an inexpensive price with this method. This shampoo for gray hair (or silver hair, or blonde hair) contains purple pigments to neutralize the yellow or orange/brassy tones that can appear while lightening hair. The end result is a whiter, colder shade because the warm tones have been removed. Ladies with coarse or dry hair will benefit the most from this shampoo. 
To those with thin hair or oily locks, this may be too thick. This gray hair shampoo is ideal, nevertheless, if you're having trouble providing adequate nutrients and hydration to your hair. On Amazon, it has approximately 8,500 reviews and has been rated 4.5 stars on average.