Best Conditioner For Gray Hair (Top 5 We Tested With 2023 User Reviews)

If you have gray hair then you should be proud of it, but if your gray hair has become dryer, more coarse, or perhaps finer than normal, then you may be in need of a conditioner for gray hair.

That’s right, hair care for gray hair needs specialized hair care products, and the best leave-in conditioner for gray hair, purple conditioner for gray hair, or color conditioner for gray hair can do wonders for your gray mane.

If you’ve been trying to figure out the best conditioner for gray hair, you may have noticed your head is producing less sebum, or perhaps your gray mane isn’t as soft or manageable as before.

All that can be tackled with a conditioner for gray hair, all because these formulas are designed particularly to handle the unique texture of gray hair and their main purpose is to provide deep conditioning for your hair.

As you can tell by now if your gray mane has turned against you, the best you can do is to incorporate the right products and that certainly includes the best deep conditioner for gray hair you can find.

If you can relate and feel like bringing your gray hair back to life, a conditioner for gray hair should be in your immediate future.

However with a sea of options in the market, we totally understand how overwhelming it can be to pick the right product, but that is what we’re here for. Continue reading and check out our top picks for the best conditioner for gray hair in 2022, where to find them, how to use them, tips from users, and much more.

Best Conditioner For Gray Hair Reviewed In This Guide

In this Article hide

How To Choose The Perfect Best Conditioner For Gray Hair For You?

Hair conditioner is every girl’s best friend no matter the age. A good conditioner for gray hair literally does everything, from detangling hair and making it easy to brush, adding moisture to the hair, and making hair feel soft, to adding shine to help your hair stay healthy and beautiful.

The best deep conditioner for gray hair is the one that suits your particular hair texture and hair type, and in addition, helps you deal with targeted issues. It is also important to know how to properly use them in order to make the most out of these highly effective products.

When shopping for the best conditioner for gray hair what you’ll choose really depends on what benefit your hair and scalp need. Your specific hair type and concerns will help determine what you’ll need to look for. In general, is best to stay clear from sulfates and parabens which is key to preventing dryness.

Some conditioners even help strengthen fried strands and prevent future heat damage. The beauty of conditioners is that there’s one for every hair type. Even if you have super fine hair, there’s a conditioner out there for you.

Additionally, you want to avoid those containing synthetic perfumes as those will actually dry out the hair, which is usually the opposite of what you might want to achieve.

Ingredients like natural oils, glycerin, biotin, proteins, and antioxidants, are all great to look for in a conditioner for gray hair. You can also choose by the health of the hair, for example, a damage repair conditioner is also essential if your hair is dry and damaged or prone to damage.

It should also be noted that your hair cannot get used to a conditioner. If your conditioner no longer works for you, you might have to switch brands.

Regardless of whether you’re aiming to treat damaged hair or make your hair more manageable, a conditioner for gray hair is surely helpful.

Types Of Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

Rinse-Out Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

Rinse-Out conditioners (rinse-through conditioners) are the most common type of conditioner. For this type of conditioner, you don’t have to leave it in your hair for a long period of time, and the effects are usually instant.

Use it by applying a sufficient amount to damp hair, then leave it in for at least three (3) minutes. It is the most common type of conditioner for all hair types.

Rinse-Out conditioners work by closing the cuticle scales of the hair. Some of them coat the hair in a thin film to fill in some of the gaps in the broken scales so the hair becomes more shiny and manageable. The best ones are acid-based.

Deep Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

Deep conditioners are normally for damaged and dry hair. As the name suggests, they provide deeper conditioning compared to other conditioners. The ingredients in deep conditioners are understandably less harsh than other conditioners and are meant to combat dry and damaged hair. They are also sometimes used for reconditioning hair.

It is important to note that deep conditioners might not be ideal for normal hair as they may weigh them down since they are not meant for normal use. Deep conditioning hair is also a long and tedious task. Apply the deep conditioner to your hair and leave it for 30 – 40 minutes before rinsing it off.

Hair Masks Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

Hair masks are best suited for deeply penetrating root hairs. They instantly make your hair shiny and radiant and should be used on average two times per week. Hair masks are made with a concentrated formula that provides the hair with much-needed nourishment.

They have the most long-lasting results. Normally, anyone can use a hair mask regardless of hair type but they are pricier than alternatives. Apply by leaving it in the hair for 15 – 20 minutes before washing it off.

Leave-In Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

Leave-In conditioners like Daily Dose contain moisturizing and protective ingredients and can be sprayed or applied directly to the hair. They are the best type of conditioner for kinky African natural hair and can also be used in place of a detangler.

They are also useful in preventing hair from drying out. They are lighter and thinner than other conditioners so they are not as heavy. They can be used as a moisturizer or styling product and are suitable for all hair types.

Thickening Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

Thickening conditioner (sometimes called “volumizing conditioner”) uses ingredients like protein and collagen to make hair look as full and healthy as possible. This type of conditioner works for all hair types but obviously is best for guys whose hair is thin or thinning. Biotin, caffeine, green tea, and saw palmetto are all good ingredients to look out for in a thickening conditioner.

Moisturizing Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

The moisturizing conditioner contains more oils to soften and smooth the hair. It should be used for moderately dry, curly, or thick hair as these hair types need extra moisture. Avoid moisturizing conditioners if you have oily hair.

Protein Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

Protein conditioner contains keratin, the protein that makes up your hair and prevents breakage. It helps thicken fine, straight hair and provides necessary nourishment to dry, wavy, or curly hair.

Cream Rinse Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

Cream rinse conditioner has a thinner consistency than regular conditioners. It’s used as a quick detangler for fine to medium hair that is straight or wavy.

Best Conditioner For Gray Hair List


1. Vitamins Keratin Purple Hair Mask Conditioner For Gray Hair

What We Like

  • Cruelty-Free
  • Hydrating, Conditioner Treatment
  • Color Depositiing Formula

What We Don’t Like

  • Might Give You a Purple Tint

The perfect hair toner for orange brassiness, this highly concentrated color corrector & lightener is the ideal toner for hair after bleach. This blue toner for orange hair instantly neutralizes brassiness.

Purple Hair Mask for blonde hair works great on bleached, brunette, balayage & ombre hair. This powerful purple toner for blonde hair gets you results quickly, after just one or two uses. It is also cruelty, paraben SLS, and sulfate-free blonde toner with no alcohol.

Now you can say goodbye to faded color with this unique brightener with UV protection which helps maintain rich and perfect color without a salon visit. This quality blonde hair toner restores highlights, and also gives you a healthy shiny blowout look.

Contains a smoothing anti-frizz moisturizer for shimmer and shine, as well as an anti-breakage nourishment cream that hydrates from root to end.

What Our Testers Say

I’m a Cosmo student and I’ve been looking for some keratin treatment plus my hair is always super orange or yellow! Used this for the first time and man can I see a difference and feel it too!!

Most of my yellow is gone with one wash!! It smells amazing too!! Will continue to recommend and buy!!

How To Use Vitamins Keratin Purple Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

  1. Wear the provided hand glove to prevent color staining of your hands.
  2. After shampooing with Vitamins’ Keratin Purple Blue Shampoo, apply a palm-size of the Keratin Purple Blue Mask to hair from an inch above the roots to the ends.
  3. Massage thoroughly. Wait 5 minutes to effectively remove brassy tones and up to 15 minutes at most to achieve a buildable silver to ash-gray hair color.
  4. Recommended using twice a week.

2. Redken Color Extend Graydiant Conditioner For Gray Hair

What We Like

  • Removes & Tones Brass
  • With Amino Acids

What We Don’t Like

  • Pricey

Redken’s Color Extend Graydiant Conditioner is a silver conditioner and hair toner that deposits custom silver pigments to progressively brighten and tone gray and silver hair. Tones gray, silver, and light blonde hair to remove yellow and brassy undertones.

Purple shampoo and silver conditioner formulas deposit custom pigments to tone brassiness and brighten light blonde, gray and silver hair.

Use as a complete hair care system to progressively tone away brass, color correct yellow and orange undertones, and maintain bright, shiny gray and silver hair.

Color Extend Graydiant is for individuals with natural or color-treated gray/silver hair who want to reduce brassiness and brighten hair color. Gradient Shampoo contains purple pigments and Graydiant Conditioner contains silver pigments for gray/silver toning.

What Our Testers Say

I’m really impressed with Redken again! This conditioner is actually a really good conditioner that leaves my hair soft and smooth. It is also color depositing. This means it leaves some of the grey tints that give the conditioner its color in your hand in your hair!

Very helpful when your grey roots are so light that one’s scalp color gets reflected off them, ie, pink vs grey, making one’s part line seem wider than it is. The deposited color means no more “extra” pink, and you’re looking at your actual part line again.

A big help when one’s hair is thinning with age a bit anyway. Also leaves hair with lustrous, vibrant color. Even my remaining brown streaks are a pretty dusty brown that blends better with the many surrounding greys. I definitely recommend it!

This purple conditioner for gray hair will reduce the appearance of yellow and orange undertones in light blonde, gray, and silver hair.

Color Extend Graydiant should be used 2-3 times per week, alternating with Color Extend Magnetics Shampoo and Conditioner.

Tips

Apply to wet hair, leave in for 3-5 minutes, and rinse. Use 1-2 times per week for optimal results.


3. Jhirmack 10-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner Spray For Gray Hair

What We Like

  • Detangling
  • Reduces Frizz
  • Heat Protection

What We Don’t Like

  • May Leave Hair Stiff

The Jhirmack Silver Hair Care regimen is developed for all shades of silver and gray hair, from cleansing and conditioning to styling. Whether you’re gorgeously gray, sublimely silver, perfectly pewter, whimsically white, or even sassy salt & pepper, trust the experts in silver hair care.

This lightweight leave-in spray delivers 10 essential benefits to moisturize, strengthen and soften coarse strands; with Macadamia Oil, Green Tea Extract, and Vitamins E and B5.

Leave-In Conditioner moisturizes, adds shine, reduces frizz, softens, strengthens, detangles, prevents breakage, smooths, conditions, and protects from heat up to 445 degrees.

Restore dry hair with Macadamia Oil, Green Tea Extract, and Vitamins E & B5. This lightweight leave-in spray delivers 10 essential benefits to restore dry hair. Pair with the Jhirmack Shampoo and Conditioner for all of the benefits from cleansing to conditioning to styling.

What Our Testers Say

Ever since I started using the shampoo, then found the conditioner also on Amazon, and now the spray. When I use them all they make my white hair softer and bright. Best for the older generation, which might have issues with dry hair.

How To Use Jhirmack 10-in-1 Leave-In Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

  1. Shake well.
  2. Spray generously onto wet or dry hair and comb through.
  3. Do not rinse

4. Purple Leave-in Conditioner For Gray Hair

What We Like

  • Hydrating & Detangling
  • Peta-approved
  • Vegan
  • Cruelty-Free
  • Sulfate & Paraben Free

What We Don’t Like

  • Small Bottle

This Purple Leave-In Conditioner has been designed to cut out these issues with a simple, one-stop solution, teaming soft levels of purple pigments with an incredible conditioning treatment.

Purple products are developed specifically for Blonde, Platinum & Gray/Silver Hair. If you want to hold onto our salon-fresh finish, with regular use, this purple leave-in conditioner will help to balance your color-reducing yellow tones to preserve your radiant, blonde locks.

It is a deeply moisturizing formula, that encapsulates the traditional actives of Shea butter and Sunflower Oil with high-tech Panthenol and Allantoin!

This innovative blend works wonders on dry hair types, promoting healthy-looking hair, enhancing natural shine, and smoothing flyaways.

What Our Testers Say

I am so happy to FINALLY find a product that does exactly what it claims!! It is so frustrating and expensive to try a good product only to discover it doesn’t work. Most products either leave my hair flat and greasy looking or turns my hair an orange tone.

This product works!!! Leaves my hair soft, shiny, full of body, and healthy looking!

And I loved the little brochure included in the box. Nice to see a company cares about its customers, the quality of its product, and environmental issues! Great job!!! I will definitely be back for more!

Not only does this product gently tone your hair, but it also works to detangle troubled tresses. Using an emollient-rich formula to tackle tugs, minimize breakages, and encourage natural hair growth and repair.

This conditioning spray has been designed to maintain optimum hair health and shine and the best news is BOLD UNIQ strives to give you sustainable beauty choices!

Tips

Start with less and apply more if you need to. Your hair will absorb what it needs, and too much product can oversaturate your locks.


5. Purple Conditioner by The BTW Co. for Silver, Gray & Blonde Hair

What We Like

  • No Sulfates
  • No Parabens
  • Cruelty-Free
  • For Color-Treated and Natural Hair

What We Don’t Like

  • Pricey

Purple conditioner from The BTW Co. does an amazing job of removing yellowing and brassy tones from white, silver, and blonde hair!

The Purple Conditioner provides exceptional softness and moisture from our gentle plant-based conditioning formula, including our proprietary blend of ingredients containing sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, and Pro-Vitamin B5.

Many customers have sensitivities to strong perfumes, so this purple conditioner for gray hair is perfect because it has a very light, non-irritating fragrance. This conditioner is safe for all hair types.

What Our Testers Say

For my dry, graying hair, I tried a few other, more expensive conditioners and found that this one was 10 times better. The others seemed to absorb completely into my hairline a lotion, but then when my hair dried, it still looked unconditioned. This product actually leaves my hair feeling soft!

The smell is like when vanilla floating through the air when you’re baking cookies (really nice, not too strong). Lastly, the message on the bottle always makes me smile, “By the way, you look fabulous.”

How To Use Purple Best Conditioner For Gray Hair by The BTW Co.

  1. Wet hair thoroughly
  2. Apply conditioner and work through the hair
  3. Leave on hair for 2-5 minutes to achieve maximum effects
  4. Rinse well. Use 1-2 times weekly

Best Conditioner For Gray Hair Buying Guide

What is A Best Conditioner For Gray Hair?

Conditioner for gray hair is a product that is designed to be used in conjunction with standard purple shampoo. It helps you keep your hair color vibrant and fresh while also adding moisture and shine.

Some of these conditioners contain purple tones or blue-tinted pigments that help makes grey hair look more vibrant by reducing brassiness. Those who bleach their hair are often surprised by the brassy and yellow undertones that result.

How Does A Best Conditioner For Gray Hair Work?

Conditioners smooth and detangle the hair, which, therefore, helps reduce breakage and split ends and that’s precisely why experts recommend conditioning every time you shampoo in order to add moisture back, as well as to soften and detangle.

To put it simply, while shampoos are formulated specifically to clean off sweat, and dead skin cells, and hair products, conditioner makes hair softer and easier to manage. It also protects hair shafts from damage. The best conditioner for gray hair can do the same for your gray strands.

Features To Look For In A Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

Ingredients

The best conditioner for gray hair should come with natural moisturizers like coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, etc. If you have curly or coarse hair, you can try a leave-in conditioner for gray hair with rich ingredients like shea butter and cocoa butter too.

Some ingredients are better avoided. Mineral oils are present in most drugstore conditioners and are linked to several health issues. So are parabens. Silicones are commonly present in the form of dimethicone in conditioners.

While this ingredient isn’t typically harmful, it can cause product build-up over time.

Moisturizing Power

Like any good conditioner, this product should moisturizing and leave your hair soft after use. If you have naturally grey locks, then you need that extra hydration as hair tends to get brittle and dry over the ages.

If you have color-treated grey hair, focus on color conditioner for gray hair, and it’s important to maintain the moisture levels after the bleaching and dyeing process.

Toning And Neutralizing

The best conditioner for gray hair is one with purple pigments in it. Sometimes grey hair tends to get yellowish over time. If you have dyed your hair grey, then the bleaching process might give red undertones to it.

Purple and violet which are opposite red in the color wheel, help neutralize brassiness and leave gray hair shinier and brighter than before.

Therefore a purple conditioner for gray hair is the way to go. When buying conditioner for grey hair, look out for formulas that contain purple or blue-tinted tones, silver-tone deposits, plant-based oils, or amino acids.

Smooth and Freeze Control

You need a conditioner that can restore order and help smooth your hair and control frizz. You should also choose a conditioner for gray hair that uses natural ingredients to control frizz, as silicones and other ingredients can leave residue on the hair that builds up over time.

Look for conditioners with natural products such as Aloe Vera and other plant-based ingredients to condition your hair without adding residue.

Color Enhancing

As hair loses pigment and turns gray, it often has wiry strands and flyaways because the hair can be uneven in its texture. A color conditioner for gray hair should enhance the color to remove yellowing and eliminate brassiness.

You’ll probably encounter a purple conditioner for gray hair, these are the ones formulated to bring out the bright silver, platinum, or gray in your hair while reducing the brassy tones that are caused by environmental damage and residue buildup.

The purple conditioner has crushed violet pigments that fall opposite yellow on the color wheel. This is why they are able to neutralize yellowing and brassy tones. It helps to return your hair to its natural pigment before environmental factors make it dull and yellow.

Common Questions About Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

Why Do I have gray hair?

The hair follicles in our scalp contain pigment cells called melanocytes that produce melanin. This pigment gives our hair its color black, brown, red, and blonde. The higher the melanin production by the melanocytes, the darker the hair color gets.

Usually, Asian hair has more pigments and caucasian hair has fewer. As we get older, the pigment cells die out naturally, which results in a lack of melanin production. Therefore, when the hair strands grow out of that hair follicle, they will begin to grow grey. This will be more prominent in people with darker hair shades.

What conditioner should is best for my hair type?

  • Straight or fine hair: Use cream rinse or instant conditioner to quickly nourish hair without weighing it down.
  • Wavy, curly, or coily hair: Use a leave-in conditioner, deep conditioner, or moisturizing conditioner to treat dryness. Protein conditioners can help build strength.

Does grey hair need a special conditioner?

To counteract the more coarse and often wiry texture of gray hair, it is important you use a good daily conditioner for gray hair and, as needed, the best deep conditioner for gray hair moisturizing treatment once a week. A shine-boosting spray will also give you a smooth and healthy look.

How do you keep grey hair moisturized?

To quench your parched grays, harness the deep moisturizing properties of natural butter and oils, including shea butter, olive oil, or coconut oil. On a cautionary note, applying too much of these intense oils can leave thin or fine hair greasy and weighed down.

As the grey hair increases on our heads, the drier our hair gets. This means sufficient moisturizing is very important. Massaging your scalp and hair with oil will help lock in the moisture. Do not confuse oils with mineral oils. Mineral oil forms a coating around the hair and can weigh it down therefore has to be avoided.

If you still find your hair dry and under-hydrated, then use leave-in conditioners or you can even choose to use deep conditioners more frequently, which could be even once every week to enhance the moisture content in your hair.

Does gray hair need protein or moisture?

Gray hair tends to be drier, so sealing in moisture is a crucial first step. Don’t over-shampoo, as this strips the hair of natural oils from the scalp that moisturizes your locks. Shampooing your hair 1-3 times per week should be perfect. You then need to follow up with a conditioner for gray hair.

Enjoy Your New Best Conditioner For Gray Hair

There you have it, our top picks for the best conditioner for gray hair. We hope this guide was helpful in your journey toward the best conditioner for gray hair.

Remember, the type of hair you have determines the type of conditioner that will best suit your hair. Do not hesitate in contacting us if you have any doubts. We are always happy to hear from you.

Disclosure: The Hair Products recommended in this article are our top favorites because they have a great combination of quality, features, and affordability. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases made through the links as a way to support this site. If you buy a qualifying product, you’re not charged anything extra, but I’ll get a small commission to help pay for my expenses. I hope you find our advice helpful and discover the Best Hair Products for your needs on this list.

Author

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Author
After graduating from an apprenticeship program in 2010, color specialist Doris began working behind the chair. She started with color corrections and then moved on to creative color. Currently, she works with blonding and grey-blending clients. Sarah views hair color as both an art form and a science and is passionate about salon education, which is the main reason why she started this blog. She has the Invisible Bead Extension Certification and the Bellami Master Certification for extensions.
Photo of author
Author
After graduating from an apprenticeship program in 2010, color specialist Doris began working behind the chair. She started with color corrections and then moved on to creative color. Currently, she works with blonding and grey-blending clients. Sarah views hair color as both an art form and a science and is passionate about salon education, which is the main reason why she started this blog. She has the Invisible Bead Extension Certification and the Bellami Master Certification for extensions.