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.
The Best Grey Hair Dyes
How to Shop for Grey and Silver Hair Dye
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.