Collage: Gabrielle Langdon; Source images: Courtesy of brands
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Gray hair is a beautiful, stylish part of aging, but that doesn't mean you can't benefit from one of the best gray hair treatments. First, a quick disclaimer: As much as some might wish it true, nothing will make grays disappear completely or hold them off forever. However, there are formulas that can slow premature graying (emphasis on “premature”—and no judgment if you're not ready to embrace silver hair just yet), while others can boost the vibrancy and softness of your gray-on-purpose vibe.
Or, if it’s not the grays themselves but the brittleness, dullness, frizz, or thinning that often accompanies them, one of these expert-approved serums, masks, or shampoos could be just what your hair needs. Scroll on for advice from dermatologists and hair experts, plus our picks for the best products for gray hair on the market.
Our Top Gray Hair Treatments
- Best Gray Hair Serum Overall: Arey To The Root Serum, $55
- Best Root Concealer: ColorWow Root Cover-Up, $35
- Best In-Shower Hair Gloss: L’Oréal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water Lamellar Hair Treatment, $11
- Best Brightening Shampoo: Oribe Silverati Shampoo, $49
- Best Thickening Serum: Necessaire The Scalp Serum, $45
- Best Hydrating Mask: Alfaparf Milano Semi Di Lino Moisture Nutritive Mask, $30
- Best Preventative Treatment: Iles Formula Grey Delay Booster, $95
Frequently Asked QuestionsLargeChevron
- Why do I have gray hair?
- Can I reverse gray hair?
- How should I choose a gray hair treatment?
- Meet the experts
- How we test and review products
- Our staff and testers
Best Gray Hair Treatment Overall: Arey To The Root Serum
Arey
To The Root Serum
Amazon
Credo Beauty
Why it's worth it: Arey’s To The Root Serum tackles aging hair at the source—your scalp—by combining a topical approach with internal support, which “makes sense when you consider how complex the graying process is,” says Omer Ibrahim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Chicago. At the core of the formula is Mela-9, Arey’s proprietary blend of antioxidants, peptides, and plant extracts. “From a derm perspective, there’s emerging research around certain peptides like Mela-9 and ingredients like acetyl tyrosine potentially supporting melanin production,” says Dr. Ibrahim. “But we’re still early in terms of definitive proof.”
Meanwhile, ingredients like caffeine, ginseng, and biotin are “more about scalp health and hair quality, not really pigment,” he adds. For best results, Arey recommends starting early; it’s most effective on those with up to 30% gray hair. A handy chart on the product page, can help you assess where you stand.
How the brand tested this product’s efficacy
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Arey’s To the Root serum was clinically tested specifically as part of The System, a two-part approach that combines the topical serum with the brand’s Not Today, Grey supplement to target gray hair from both the inside and outside. In the largest and only randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study on the appearance of gray hair, 88% of participants using The System experienced reduced gray hair growth over six months. On average, the active group had 13% fewer gray hairs, while the placebo group experienced a 10% increase. Users also experienced thicker, shinier, fuller-looking hair, three times more than those using a placebo.
The results are promising: “A 13% reduction in gray hairs won’t turn back the clock overnight, but it’s notable,” says Dr. Ibrahim, adding that he sees the product as one that “helps slow progression and possibly reactivates pigment in early-stage grays rather than full-on repigmentation across the board."
More to know
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- Key ingredients: Mela-9, glycerin, caffeine, biotin
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Root Concealer: ColorWow Root Cover-Up
Color Wow
Root Cover Up
Amazon
Revolve
Ulta Beauty
Why it's worth it: Color Wow Root Cover Up is a mineral-based powder that instantly disguises grays, fills in thinning spots, and blends out grown-out roots—all with a natural-looking finish that lasts until your next wash. “It holds well and is easy to shampoo out,” says Gina Rivera, a Las Vegas-based hair artist. “I love the texture because it isn’t sticky. It works on any hair type, whether thinning, gray, or color-treated.” The dual-ended brush makes it easy to apply exactly where you need it—whether you're targeting a stubborn gray streak, filling in sparse areas, or softening harsh root lines—with zero mess.
Tester feedback from social media director Kassidy Silva
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“Losing my hair postpartum has been more difficult to deal with than I would like to admit. I love my hair, what can I say? To help get a little boost of confidence back, I use the ColorWow Root Cover-Up. I start along my hairline and work my way down my part to the center of my head, covering any spots. Blending is the key! You have to go back in with your long brush side and blend the powder into the scalp to get a more natural appearance.” —Kassidy Silva, social media director
More to know
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- Shades: 8
Best In-Shower Hair Gloss: L'Oréal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water Lamellar Hair Treatment
L'Oréal Paris
Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water Lamellar Hair Treatment
Walmart
Why it's worth it: There's fast and then there's L'Oréal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water Lamellar Hair Treatment fast. It takes eight seconds for the treatment to kick into gear, yielding silkier, shinier, healthier-looking hair and working on all textures and curl patterns. Apply it to wet hair two to three times a week post-shampoo and condition it as usual. It won't erase grays but will help with all the other aging hair pitfalls. If you have medium-textured or fine hair, use one dose. If you have thick or curly hair, use two to three doses. If your hair is extra long, add one more dose than you would otherwise.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: wheat protein, vitamin E, amino acids
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Thickening Serum: Nécessaire The Scalp Serum
Nécessaire
The Scalp Serum
Amazon
Sephora
Why it's worth it: If you’ve noticed your grays becoming coarser or more wiry with time, Nécessaire The Scalp Serum helps bring some softness and supports hair growth while it’s at it. This nourishing, lightweight treatment features Capixyl, a peptide and red clover extract blend that, in some small-scale studies, has been shown to deliver results similar to minoxidil in promoting hair growth. “Capixyl helps reduce inflammation and shedding while stimulating hair proliferation,” says Omer Ibrahim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Chicago. This can be especially beneficial for aging scalps where thinning and texture changes are more common. The formula also features niacinamide, which offers antioxidant protection and helps reduce shedding—ideal if your grays are accompanied by hair loss. Bonus: It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin and is recognized by the National Eczema Association.
Tester feedback from content director Kara McGrath
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“Working it into my hair-care routine was easy. The formula goes on super wet and dries really quickly. It played well with my other products—leave-in conditioners, curl creams, dry shampoo, too. I applied it to wet hair on washdays and dry hair the rest of the week. It didn’t leave a trace in either situation. Other than sticking to the recommended “half pipette” amount of product, my application technique was fairly haphazard. I would part my hair with my fingers and use the dropper to apply the serum directly to my scalp in different sections, then massage it in. I started seeing results pretty quickly. After about a month, my hair was already looking much shinier and bouncier, if not exponentially thicker.” —Kara McGrath, content director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: capixyl, hyaluronic acid, biotin, niacinamide
- Fragrance-free: yes
Best Brightening Shampoo: Oribe Silverati Shampoo
Oribe
Silverati Shampoo
Amazon
Nordstrom
Dermstore
Why it's worth it: We’ll never not have a soft spot for Oribe, and the Silverati Shampoo is just further proof of why. Specifically designed for white, gray, and silver strands, this ultra-luxe formula enhances vibrancy, restores softness, and protects against breakage caused by environmental stressors with a blend of antioxidant-rich lychee, watermelon, and edelweiss flower extracts. “I’m obsessed with this shampoo for my clients with gray or silver hair,” says Sean Michael, a hairstylist in Andover, Massachusetts. “It brightens those tones instantly and keeps brassiness at bay without feeling harsh.” He adds that it brings back a “clean, luminous shine” to dull or yellowing grays while softening and strengthening strands that are often coarser and more fragile with age. And yes, it smells just as incredible as you'd expect from Oribe: sophisticated, indulgent, and addictive. Get the full treatment by pairing the shampoo with the Oribe Silverati Conditioner.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: vitamin B5, glycerin, rice extract, lychee extract, titanium dioxide
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Hydrating Mask: Alfaparf Milano Semi Di Lino Moisture Nutritive Mask
Alfaparf Milano
Semi Di Lino Moisture Nutritive Mask
Amazon
Why it’s worth it: Alfaparf Milano Semi Di Lino Moisture Nutritive Mask is a rich, deeply hydrating treatment that helps bring dry, brittle strands—especially gray hair—back to life. “Gray hair tends to feel dry or wiry, and this mask softens the texture, boosts shine, and makes it way more manageable,” says Michael. Since gray hair is often drier and more porous due to reduced scalp oils, it craves moisture, but not weight; this lightweight formula lives up to the task. “It leaves the hair feeling velvety, not heavy, which is exactly what gray hair needs,” he says. Infused with flaxseed extract (a.k.a. semi di lino) and fatty acids, it delivers softness, shine, and renewed manageability.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: vitamin B5, glycerin, rice extract, lychee extract, titanium dioxide
- Fragrance-free: no
Tester feedback from features director Dianna Singh
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"My hair has stayed shiny and soft for four or five days after a single application. The best way I can describe the overall effect is to say that it gives my hair that fresh-from-the-salon feeling. You know, the one that helps you justify spending $40 or more on a blowout." —Dianna Singh, features director
More to know
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- Key ingredients: wheat protein, vitamin E, amino acids
- Fragrance-free: no
Best Preventative Treatment: Iles Formula Grey Delay Booster
Iles Formula
Grey Delay Booster
Amazon
Bloomingdale's
Why it’s worth it: With a name like Grey Delay, it’s pretty clear what this little bottle is aiming for: more time before those silver strands start showing up. The Iles Formula Grey Delay Booster is a lightweight scalp serum that helps slow the graying process by supporting melanin production at the root. It’s powered by two proprietary blends: Silverfree, a peptide complex that helps “re-educate” hair follicles to reduce gray formation, and MelanoGray, which encourages pigment production and helps combat oxidative stress.
“It’s harder to evaluate since the key actives are proprietary,” says Dr. Ibrahim, “but ingredients like songyi mushroom (tricholoma matsutake) and Sichuan pepper have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which could help buffer oxidative stress in the follicle—a big factor in graying.” He also notes that “acetyl tyrosine this formula might support melanin synthesis under the right conditions,” and that the idea of delaying gray “makes some sense, especially if it’s used preventively rather than as a reversal treatment.” The formula is fragrance-free, gentle enough for daily use, and requires no rinsing.
More to know
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- Key ingredients: Silverfree, MelanoGray, mushroom extract, pepper extract, acetyl tyrosine
- Fragrance-free: yes
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I have gray hair?
The development of gray hair is a normal part of aging, caused by the slowing of the body's melanin production. "Melanocytes in the hair follicle produce pigment during the growth phase of the hair," Daniel Belkin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York, previously told Allure. "They transfer these packets of pigment into the cells that ultimately become the hair shaft." With hair growth over time, however, the melanocytes produce less and less pigment, leading to grays. "One day they decide not to show up for work anymore— consider it retirement," adds Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Hamden, Connecticut.
According to the Department of Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, the first gray hairs typically pop up between the ages of 34 and 44, but that doesn't mean they can't appear earlier. Genetic predisposition to grays may be at play, but you may have heard stress is a leading cause of early graying.
"It is unclear whether emotional stress is truly associated with graying of the hair," Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at the Mount Sinai Department of Dermatology in New York City, previously explained to Allure. "We know that stress can have physical effects, interfering with wound healing and promoting inflammation. We don't know how significant an impact it has on hair color, but I would not be surprised if one day a definite association is found." Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, previously explained that lifestyle elements like anemia, smoking, low vitamin B, untreated thyroid illness, and poor nutrition can also contribute to premature graying.
Can I reverse gray hair?
Color-reversing gray hair treatments are most likely to be effective the earlier you begin using them and are thought to work best on grays related to stress. Ralf Paus, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the University of Miami, participated in a 2021 gray-reversing related study, about which he told Scientific American, "…there is a window of opportunity during which graying is probably much more reversible than had been thought for a long time."
Still, dermatologists and trichologists have yet to perfect the treatment and its delivery into follicles, and the jury is out on efficacy. "If you're applying something topically, like in a shampoo, it's much harder than you think for that to penetrate through to the skin, right down to the root of the hair, where it needs to be," James O'Sullivan, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate in developmental biology and cell metabolism, previously told Allure. "So there's a bit of a dilemma about delivery and how to get stuff all the way down there." Rebecca Marcus, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Dallas, Texas, added, "The depth of penetration depends on the molecular size and weight of the active ingredient."
That being said, until science develops a method to reverse gray hair, Dr. Gohara explains, the only surefire way to eliminate grays 100% is with hair dye.
How should I choose a gray hair treatment?
Your choice of gray hair treatment depends on the concerns you're looking to address and the level of gray or white hair you currently have. In any case, because dry hair and gray hair can go hand in hand, a product that moisturizes hair from roots to ends is essential, colorist Kylie Williard Fritas previously told Allure. "Gray hair tends to be more on the dry side which happens generally as we age and our body starts to lose moisture. That's why we recommend using highly moisturizing conditioners and styling products to help prevent dryness and dull, frizzy hair texture," added New York City-based hair colorist Clara Purvis. "Additionally, regular oil treatments and hair masks are great ways to increase moisture."
Dr. Gohara reminds readers to focus on prevention rather than reversal. “Choose a treatment knowing that you may get slowing of gray coming in at the roots, but nothing that will permanently get rid of those grays,” she explains.
Meet the experts
- Omer Ibrahim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Salmalita Cosmetics, based in Chicago
- Gina Rivera, a hair artist and founder of Phenix Salon Suites based in Las Vegas
- Sean Michael, a hairstylist and owner of Salon Beau, based in Andover, Massachusetts
- Daniel Belkin, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York
- Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic and clinical research at the Mount Sinai Department of Dermatology in New York
- Hadley King, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City,
- Ralf Paus, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the University of Miami
- James O'Sullivan, PhD, a postdoctoral research associate in developmental biology and cell
- Rebecca Marcus, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Dallas
- Kylie Williard Fritas, a hair colorist based in New York City and Aspen
- Clara Purvis, a hair colorist based in New York City
- Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Hamden, Connecticut
How we test and review products
We always enlist a range of testers for our makeup vertical, but hair-care products and tools are another story. While there are certainly products that can be used across different hair textures, lengths, curl patterns, thicknesses, colors (natural and unnatural), and needs, hair products are often created with specific consumers in mind. Many are created in order to address a concern (dandruff, breakage, brittleness) or to work most effectively for a specific hair type (4C curls, wavy hair, gray hair). You wouldn't want to pick up a purple shampoo that's only been reviewed by someone with, say, auburn hair, or a diffuser that's never been tested by anyone with curls—right?
For our review of the best gray hair treatments, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, dermatologists, researchers, and hair colorists—who all have experience with treating gray hair. Testers considered performance across four primary categories: efficacy, texture and experience, fragrance, and packaging. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.
After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.
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