I grew out my natural color over the past year and am now trying to find the best shampoo/conditioner to keep the white and gray hair bright and white without the tan/yellowish tones. I’ve tried Shimmer Lights so far, and it does work a bit, but it smells awful, at least to my nose. What have you tried and liked?
I have the same question. Would like to also ask how often to use the shampoo/ conditioner and what brand to use the other days.
So would I, but I need a sulfate-free shampoo.
My hair is dry now, so I only wash it twice a week. When I used Shimmer Lights, it was in my growing-out phase, so was mostly toning down the yellow from the blonde transition color. It was very drying so I used it once a month maybe. I’m not sure if there is a distinction between using purple shampoos for blonde hair vs gray/white hair.
If your hair is wavy, curly, or textured, the Deva Curl line is awesome. Sulfate and detergent free, good for colored or natural hair. I can’t imagine it would harm straight hair, since their main focus is not stripping moisture.
Aveda Blue Malva (according to my silver haired friends)
I have past shoulder length gray hair. I’ve never colored it. I wash it every day. Three days a week I use a chlorine remover shampoo. On the advice of my stylist I use a purple shampoo for gray hair twice a week to prevent yellowing. (I use whatever gray hair shampoo is on offer on Amazon.). Two days a week I use any shampoo I feel like using. I only use conditioner once a week because it weighs my hair down. For what it’s worth I get compliments on the color of my hair surprisingly consistently.
Natural hair. Never dyed. Long below shoulders.
Runner so need to wash it every day – super sweaty after a run of seven miles. No way to not shampoo.
I do nothing fancy with it and I get lots of complements. – Fructis shampoo and conditioner – the ordinary one.
I also blow-dry my hair every day. it’s super shiny and healthy looking.
I use Aveda products, which I think do a great job of keeping my hair from drying out. Color wise, I am fine with any shampoo. My hair is silvery gray & has natural “highlights.”
Sometimes I think that when people compliment my gray hair they’re comparing it to their grandma’s permed (so frizzy) gray (or blue) hair. Well, mine will look different because I’m not your grandma. This is Boomer hair I guess.
Yes! I saw a woman yesterday that reminded me of my grandma - short, very curly gray hair, glasses, high necked blouse, looked fine for her - and I will never have that particular look.
I tried a shampoo called Shiny Silver Ultra from Sally’s. My hair seems to have brightened a little. My problem is that the last 3/4 inch of hair is strawberry blonde - just that hint of reddish/orange, and purple shampoo does not fix it. So what do you do at 1am when you can’t sleep? Cut off the offending hair! There. That’s better!
I get compliments on my gray hair all the time. The front has some natural white streaks and people think I put white highlights in. I wear it short in a straight pixie style, and will never go for the curly, sat-under-a-hairdryer look that my grandma had, although it worked for her. My mom swears by the purple shampoo (don’t know what brand she uses), but I haven’t tried it.
While I still dye my hair myself, I have begun to only do the top and upper sides - I have been leaving the gray and a few whites just above the ears. This was almost accidental (we do get forgetful as we get older) but I had been stung by a bee and I decided it was not going to be worth the discomfort to rub that area. I was more comfortable with how this looks on me so I figured do this every time.
When it comes to shampoo/conditioner, I am a John Frieda devotee.
I’ve had various shades of black, grey and white hair for more than 10 years now. I’ve always used a purple shampoo and conditioner. I’m currently using Rusk Deep Shine Platinum X. Sometimes I use Bed Head’s Dumb Blonde Purple Toning products. It all depends on what TJ Max/Marshalls has when I need it.
I get lots of complements on my hair.
Watching with interest, because at the ripe old age of 42 I have no idea what my “real” hair color is - I’ve been home-coloring for 15+ years. My grandmother and mom both grayed early, and I inherited that. Hoping I also inherited their beautiful silver & bright white along with the early-graying…
But am also kind of hoping that my girl didn’t inherit these traits - she has amazing auburn hair that people pay a lot of money to try to imitate. You can literally find every color of natural hair strands on her head (white to black, with lots of red, gold and brown in between).
I tried another purple shampoo. Schwarzkopf BC Bonacure Color Freeze Silver Shampoo.
This one noticeably brightened my white and silver. I thought it looked brighter but when H saw me after I used it, he mentioned how bright and pretty my hair looked. He didn’t know I was experimenting with shampoos so only thought I had styled it. I tried it based on a silver-haired model’s video on purple shampoos.
Between brands, I’ve been washing my hair with regular shampoo and also doing a white vinegar rinse.
Usually, I google a lot before buying anything. That’s how I get here 
I checked this blog - https://mystraightener.com/haircare/ - for natural sulfate free shampoos, especially, keratin-based
I have natural gray hair with a mix of colors. I don’t do anything special for the color and don’t see any yellow. Strangers stop me to tell me how pretty my hair is. They did NOT do this when it was brown! My hairdresser who
I go to once a year for a trim, always tells me my natural highlighting is what all her customers want. Myself, I don’t see what everyone is talking about. I haven’t seen any natural gray that looks bad.
About the yellow, I don’t get that either. I used to have an elderly friend with pure white long hair except it definitely had a soft yellow sheen. I thought it was lovely. Why is that something to avoid?
FWIW, here is what I use:
Paul Mitchell Awapuhi shampoo
Paul Mitchell Detangler
Alba Drink It Up Coconut Milk Shampoo & Conditioner (sulfate free)
Any cheap 3 minute mask
I alternate the shampoos according to whim. All of these products are low fragrance, which I need, but I like the Alba coconut as a mini aromatherapy pick me up.
My hair is very very dry now and I don’t use any leave-in products so I only wash it every 5 to 7 days, unless it actually gets dirty or I sweat profusely. I recently realized that my hair is very absorbent so I rinse out conditioners and masks after a very short time, otherwise it makes my hair heavy. I no longer leave the mask in for 3 minutes, more like 30 seconds after rubbing it in. And then it takes a LOT of rinsing.
My hair is not shiny like it used to be. It’s probably over 50% gray and white and those hairs are coarse and sort of textured. Took some getting used to.
I have been exceptionally lucky when it comes to my hair. It is mostly gray at this point, and I get compliments on it frequently.
It would not be possible to spend less money on my hair. I cut it myself, I wash it with Suave shampoo (Strawberry or Rosemary & Mint), then air-dry it. I don’t use conditioners. I have never colored, permed or straightened it. I’ve worn it long and short and it has enough body for either.