Best Color Depositing Shampoo for Gray Hair [And How To Evaluate the Best]

Certified Senior Advisor®
Senior Home Safety Specialist®
20 years of medical equipment experience
Compassionately helping seniors and their caregivers solve challenges of aging
Updated:

Is that brilliant, gleaming color you adore fading or turning brassy? What should you do? How about some color depositing shampoo for gray hair to add vibrancy and color to your tresses without spending time or money at the salon!

Best Color Depositing Shampoo for Gray Hair
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my Income Disclosure.

Going to the salon every few weeks to have your greys tinted can be a real pain. But one thing is certain: whether you get your hair colored at a salon or do it yourself at home, a new color job can help you feel more confident.

Many people are turning to color-depositing shampoos to delay – or eliminate – trips to the salon. If you think this is an option for you, here’s what you need to know:

What Is Color-Depositing Shampoo?

Color-depositing shampoo is a type of shampoo that contains pure pigment that briefly increases hair color. It can make minor adjustments to your hair, such as reducing undesirable greys, or major adjustments, such as turning blonde hair bright pink.

Note that color-depositing shampoo will not lighten your hair. Instead, the pigment is added to your hair to make subtle color changes and make it appear brighter. In essence, such shampoos are supposed to get you through until your next color session so you can retain the vibrancy or tone of your hair color.

Features To Look Out for When Choosing the Best Color Depositing Shampoo for Gray Hair

Here are the important features and options you should know about when shopping for color depositing shampoos.

Longevity

Does the shampoo have long-lasting effects? Color depositing shampoos are easy to wash off. So look for shampoos that show effects for a long time.

Vibrancy

The pigment’s vitality – When it comes to tone shampoos, see how well they neutralize brassiness on grey hair. Simply look at how brilliant your hair looks after applying additional pigments.

Conditioning

The best color depositing shampoo for gray hair keeps your hair soft and smooth by moisturizing it.

Sulfate-Free

Sulfates, such as SLES and SLS, are damaging to your hair. Gray hair, by its very nature, is prone to damage as it ages. Sulfates can also take the color from gray hair that has been colored. As a result, these ingredients should be avoided.

UV Filters

UV filters will protect the color of your gray hair from fading if you have colored gray hair. They protect your hair from further sun damage if you have naturally grey hair. As such, choose shampoos with UV filters, your hair needs SPF too!

Purple/Violet Pigment

Violet pigment is maybe the most important component in a color depositing shampoo for gray hair. These pigments make gray hair brighter and more lively by removing brassy or yellow overtones.

Your Hair Tone

You should match the color of your hair to the best color depositing shampoo for gray hair when making a choice. Here is a quick guide:

Blonde, grey, or silver hair – A purple shampoo is your best bet if your hair is naturally pale blonde or if you want to get the golden, brassy tones out of colored grey/silver strands.

Black hair – For really dark or ethnic hair, a color depositing shampoo that turns grey hair black is the best option.

Brunette, chestnut, or honey blonde hair -A blue shampoo is great for hiding greys in deeper hair tones.

Red, strawberry blonde, or ginger – For Caucasian hair that is red, a red shampoo is the finest option.

6 Best Color Depositing Shampoo for Gray Hair

Based on my research, here are some of the top-recommended color depositing shampoos for gray hair.

Best for Silver & Gray Hair

Celeb Luxury Intense Color Depositing Colorwash Shampoo

Available in 22 colors, including silver and diamond
Create a new color or maintain your existing one
Plant-based and sustainably sourced
Image: Amazon API
Where to Buy:

This celeb luxury product can be used for multiple purposes – from cleansing to coloring to maintaining your color or refreshing your existing color. It’s a great way to get fresh color at home. And you have 22 colors to choose from.

If you have choose to embrace your gray and are wearing a full head of it, choose their silver or diamond colors to enhance your existing hair. Or, choose another color if you are looking for a change.

This color depositing shampoo is semi-permanent and safe for daily use. It hydrates with plant-based palm and coconut and conditions with plant-based sugars. The ingredients are plant-based and sustainably sourced.


BEST RATED

MATRIX Total Results So Silver Color Depositing Purple Shampoo

Use with all hair types to neutralize yellow tones
Formulated for platinum and silver/gray hair
Use twice per week to maintain color
Image: Amazon API
Where to Buy:
Click to Compare and Save

For platinum blonde to grey hair, this is the greatest option. It’s regarded as one of the best color depositing shampoos for a variety of blonde-dyed hair, including platinum, frosty blonde, gray, and silver. It thoroughly cleanses your hair while removing redness, brassy tones, and yellowness.

Your hair will be vivid and revitalized as a result of this treatment. The nicest aspect is that it’s reasonably priced and has a beautiful flowery mossy scent that isn’t overpowering. This shampoo, however, does contain sulfates.

However, this has an upside; the purple pigment is too powerful and lowers brassiness in your hair in just one wash. It’s also long-lasting, vivid, and has some conditioning properties, albeit minor ones.


Punky Colour 3-in-1 Color-Depositing Shampoo + Conditioner In Redilicious

For bold colors, including red, purple, yellow, and silver
Vibrant colors in one wash
Keratin amino acids, hydrolyzed quinoa, and Verbascum flower extract
Image: Amazon API
Where to Buy:

This one is for boldly colored hair. Sure, most color depositing shampoos available conceal grays, reduce brassiness, and give you a natural-looking color. But what if you don’t want the hue to be natural?

This one is a must-have if you enjoy experimenting with different hair colors. There’s a Punky color shampoo for every hair color you wish to try: blonde, lilac, aqua, pink, red, name it!

Even better, the brand’s exclusive blend contains healthy components, including shea butter and pro-vitamin B5. The best part is that this shampoo is completely safe for your hair. It’s free of sulfates and contains shea butter, which moisturizes the hair.

During application, allow up to five minutes for color renewal and up to ten minutes for optimum color deposit. However, keep in mind that the color fades quickly. Remember to use this product sparingly, as a little amount of red can go a long way.


Together Beauty Black Bird Shampoo

For dark brown and black hair
Contains black rice, black walnut, and mongongo oil
Strengthens and maintains depth
black bird shampoo
Image: Together Beauty API

It’s designed to maintain black hair in fine feathers and is the best option for natural black hair. Its formula is as pure as it gets. It contains mongongo seed oil, black walnut, and quinoa, which all help to enhance shine while also reducing frizz.

It’s simple to use to give depth to Black hair. Moreover, it yields a charcoal-black tone thanks to its 98% natural recipe. After a shower, expect rich, lustrous Black hair. As the cherry on top, its floral-citrus aroma is very divine!


Fekkai Technician Color Shampoo

Pleasant tropical, peach scent
Proprietary formulation with Vitamin B5, special rice proteins, and edelweiss flowers
Ideal for most hues
Image: Amazon API
Where to Buy:
Click to Compare and Save

This is the one to use if you have color-treated hair. It helps to protect hair from the inside out, ensuring that the quality of the hair remains excellent and the color remains vibrant. Protect your favorite color with a salon-quality shampoo designed to help extend the life of your hair color. It’s ideal for all hair colors, including black, platinum, red, brown, blonde, and anything in between.

It includes a Sulfate-free technician color solution that reduces color fading by reducing friction between strands. It’s also infused with Mirabelle plum seed oil for long-lasting color and increased vibrancy. Moreover, it contains additional plant-derived extracts and solar protection polymers that protect strands from UV rays, brassiness, and color loss.

As if that’s not enough, it’s also sulfate-free, gluten-free, phthalate-free, paraben-free, and silicone-free. As a result, it’s cruelty-free and vegan. It can be used in conjunction with the technician conditioner to achieve the gentlest results. Finally, if you like your products to smell well, this one is a winner with its tropical peach and red fruit combo perfume!


Joico Color Infuse Brown Shampoo

Designed for brunettes who want to hide a little gray
Great for color treated hair
Other colors available
joico-color-infuse-shampoo-brown-10oz
Image: BeautyPlus API
Where to Buy:

All hues of brunettes, especially golden and honey-hued brunettes, should use Joico’s color-depositing shampoo. It enhances gold and honey-colored strands while preserving rich black tones. The “wonderful” aroma of this product is also very well-known.

The cleanser’s violet pigments act as semi-permanent hair colors, coating the hair strands in bright colors. This is great for removing yellow tones from bleached hair and replacing them with a clear silver tone. It also makes hair silky and healthy thanks to the paraben-free recipe.

According to some reviews, women and men with a couple of straying white hairs can also use this shampoo. In just one or two washes, you can turn those grey locks into a lovely shade of brown. It does contain sulfates but has a long-lasting effect.

Bottom Line: Best Color Depositing Shampoo for Gray Hair for Both Men and Women

After reading reviews and looking at ingredient lists, the best shampoo will differ from person to person because everyone’s hair has different needs. With any of these products, however, you are a winner.

Remember to assess the factors to consider before making your decision. Parabens, gluten, sulfates, and harsh chemicals should all be avoided. Also, shea butter, natural oils, and other healthful ingredients are recommended. Boost your confidence today!

Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)®
Senior Home Safety Specialist (SHSS)®
Assistive Technology Professional

Scott Grant has spent more than 20 years serving seniors and the elderly in the home medical equipment industry. He has worked as a manufacturer's rep for the top medical equipment companies and a custom wheelchair specialist at a durable medical equipment (DME) provider in WV. He is father to 4 beautiful daughters and has three terrific grandkids. When not promoting better living for older adults, he enjoys outdoor activities including hiking and kayaking and early morning runs.

Join Our Crew!

Enter your email address to subscribe to our weekly email newsletter to get updates on new guides for seniors and the elderly and savings on senior-friendly products. And, of course, we will never sell or share your email address!

Leave a Comment