Hair dye used to be the go-to for covering grey hair, but now, it can also be used to embrace it. Whether you're naturally grey and ready to rock it or are just looking to go temporarily silver, there are tons of ways to experiment with this trending hue — and quite a few color variations, too.
Before you even begin shopping for grey and silver hair dye, you’ll need to make sure your hair is the appropriate hue. “The biggest mistake when trying to go grey or silver is not lightening the hair enough prior,” says celebrity hairstylist Clariss Rubenstein. “The color will end up having no effect (or a kind of mushy color) if you’re not depositing on hair that is lighter than the intended result.”
So, how light are we talking? If your hair isn’t at the highest level of blonde you can achieve — meaning no yellow or warmth is present in that color — your hair won’t turn grey or silver, explains hairstylist Oliver Adams, a Wella Color Charm Top Artist. This is why he's partial to kits and maintenance products that have metallic or purple tones. Rubenstein is also a fan of purple tone haircare products for maintaining lighter hair.
How Do You Keep Grey Hair Healthy?
Grey and silver color-treated hair is delicate, so you’ll want to invest in products that will help maintain the hard work you put into styling. The hair experts we consulted share their no-fail maintenance tips. Minimize how often you wash: The more you shampoo it, the quicker your hair will lighten, so celebrity colorist Rachel Bodt recommends using a co-wash to clean — but not strip — your strands of their color. Use purple shampoo and conditioner: Don’t let purple haircare products intimidate you. All of the experts we interviewed say they prevent your cool, icy hair from turning warm or yellow, which is a sensation commonly called brassiness. Remove buildup: In between shampoos, you can give an apple cider vinegar rinse a whirl. “This removes buildup and residue so the color looks more vibrant,” Bodt says. “Pollution and mineral deposits can dull grey hair, so this truly helps.”
Use a deep conditioner: Hair masks are essential to keep your grey or silver hair healthy and soft. After you apply your favorite deep conditioner, put on a shower cap, and sit under a hooded dryer. Or, you can use your hair dryer to help your hair mask’s conditioning ingredients better penetrate your hair.
How We Chose
Dying your hair is a commitment, and we want to make going grey as simple as possible. Beyond an array of expert-approved grey hair dyes, we scoured the internet for items aligned with their expertise. We also selected products that cost much less than a trip to a salon, and are readily available at multiple online retailers for your online shopping convenience. So whether you want to go grey for a few hours or a few months, you'll find products that will satisfy all your hair needs. Here are the 14 best grey and silver hair dyes worth considering in 2022.
Looking to get salon-quality results under $10? Then grab this box of hair dye, stat. L’Oréal’s fan-favorite grey hair dye will give your strands a sexy, smoky hue, for a stylish look without a heavy price tag. But keep in mind that it’s permanent, which means you’ll go up to 8 weeks without touching up your coif.
Looking to go a little more against the grain? Then this grey hair dye is exactly what you need. It has a metallic hue that’ll give you a grungy, edgy look that’s a throwback to the cool kids of the ’90s.
This affordable kit includes everything you need to safely color-treat your hair at home, including hair dye, an application bottle and lotion, gloves, and a protective hair treatment.
This semi-permanent grey hair dye creates a deeper shade, which is perfect for those who want something more slate than silvery.
Because semi-permanent dye can only deposit color — not lighten your existing color on your light or pre-lightened hair — it's a must-have if you want to experiment with your hair, minus the commitment.
Toners are products that change the tone of your hair, and they typically last up to 4 weeks. Adams recommends Wella’s Color Charm toners because “they eliminate brass almost immediately, and are super gentle after the lightning process.”
Although they make many shades for light and dark hair, you'll want to opt for T18, an ash blonde, or T35, a beige blonde. You can also combine the two shades and customize your look.
"They give you the ability to create the perfect light tones every time," he adds.
This purple shampoo is another must-have for Adams, who called it his favorite product for maintaining silver and grey tones. “It works by neutralizing unwanted warmth, while keeping your silver shade beautiful and fresh,” he adds.
You can use this floral-scented shampoo and matching conditioner up to twice a week, according to the brand.
Your freshly dyed grey hair will become stronger, thanks to this weekly pH-balanced hair treatment that helps strengthen your hair bonds. “The stronger the bonds are, the less the color will fade,” Bodt says.
Even better? It works for all hair textures — from coily and curly to wavy and straight.
We also appreciate that it earned the “Clean at Sephora” tag, which indicates that it’s free of more than 50 ingredients the retailer considers questionable.
If you just want to try on a few streaks for a spell, this spray-on hair “makeup” is the perfect solution. It dries onto hair with the heat from your blow dryer, and then washes out easily after one or two showers.
It's also a great option for when you want to switch up your look, but avoid ammonia and peroxide.
Want a grey hair dye that’ll only last for a few washes? Then give this semi-permanent dye a try. It'll let you live out all of your silver-vixen dreams ... up until you're ready to try something new.
As a bonus, Adore's grey hair dye has earned rave reviews across all sites, ranging from Amazon and Walmart to Ulta.
If you're true to your tones, then this silver hue from Keracolor is a must-have for you. There will be no extra steps to your usual haircare routine, since this is a regular conditioner that also adds color to your hair while it works. It’s perfect for keeping up your color between salon visits.
This grey hair dye bottle may say “platinum,” but it has a light lavender hint that adds a cool, minimally modern touch to your freshly colored strands.
MOROCCANOIL'S hair mask not only dyes your strands, but also conditions and softens. So, you won't have to worry about post-color dryness or damage.
It also smells like an enticing blend of warm musk, spicy amber, and sweet florals.
Full disclosure: We fell in love with the name first because it reminded us of Derek Zoolander. Blue Steel, a light-blue, metallic hair dye from Manic Panic, will give already-blonde hair a wash of silvery coolness: Think a more “metal” edge.
If you're an animal lover, be sure to add this cruelty-free and vegan grey hair dye to your online cart ASAP.
12
Easiest to Apply
Paris Colorista 1-Day Temporary Hair Color Spray in Silver
Here's another temporary grey hair dye if you aren't ready to take the plunge just yet. This one is in spray form, and extremely easy to apply. Just shake well and spray the nozzle onto the desired area, and you'll have silvery-grey hair just for the day (or night).
Just remember to let the product dry for a minute, and brush out your hair to help disperse it.
To give your grey locks a metallic sheen, try out this silvery shade. This deep, dark silver color from oVertone will give your grey strands a healthier, holographic look.
Plus, this conditioning formula deposits intense and “beautiful pigment” into your hair while softening and strengthening it, resulting in a mane that’s healthy and happy from the inside out, according to Rubenstein.
14
For Color Maintenance
Color Boosting Gloss + Deep Conditioning Treatment in Sheer
Sometimes, dyeing hair can cause the locks to lose their sheen. If you're looking to bring that radiance right back, this clear gloss is just what you need. It helps restore a glossy, healthy look to fragile strands.
The Color Boosting Gloss is a semi-permanent product that easily lasts for up to 10 shampoos.
Jennifer HusseinBeauty EditorJennifer is the Beauty Editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse.
Ashley PhillipsBeauty & Style EditorAshley is the beauty and style editor at BestProducts.com, and her work has been featured on Cosmopolitan and Town and Country.
Nicole SaundersBeauty EditorNicole Saunders is the Beauty Editor at BestProducts.com, where she oversees coverage on all things beauty.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
