11 Best Gray Hair Dyes for Gorgeous Silver Hair

L'Oréal Paris Superior Preference has previously tested tops in our at-home hair studies. We think its soft silver color is perfect for anyone on the fence about going full gray — it falls right between ashy blonde and gray, so you can try a cooler tone out for size. "I've had issues with resistant grays, and this seems to be the only brand that actually covers them," an online shopper wrote. Given its light-colored tone, the gray hair dye works better on lighter hair colors.

For under $7, this semi-permanent (and budget-friendly) formula from Adore won't strip your hair — it doesn't contain alcohol, peroxide or ammonia. Plus, it doesn't have a chemical-y scent that lingers. "It left my hair shiny and soft. Smell was way better than my toner. No strong odors," one Amazon reviewer shared. Others felt they needed to apply another coat so the color appeared less faded.

Lunar Tides' gunmetal gray shade is perfect for transitioning to natural gray hair. It deposits a sheen of color that blends seamlessly into hair instead of permanently changing it. A GH staffer appreciated that it lacked any pungent scent. Online shoppers complimented its intense pigment and vibrancy. Though, we recommend following up with a color-depositing conditioner to keep color intact longer.

Ready to commit to the grays? This multi-faceted smokey hue is anything but dull — it looks cool, shimmery and dimensional. "I need two to cover my head, but it's perfect," said one reviewer. "All the ones I've tried, both permanent and semi-permanent, are the wrong shade and/or don't stick. Too blue, too purple, too green, too ashy." Another added: "It's a perfect steel gray color."

Thanks to hyaluronic acid, argan oil, pequi oil and additional botanicals, Ion's formula nourishes hair while it colors. One reviewer said that the color "silver pearl is awesome," while another called it a "dream color," adding that "this is the color I have been trying to get." Bonus: Its cream formula helped make application and coverage easier, according to shoppers.

Formulated without ammonia, peroxide and other chemicals, Arctic Fox's hair color is as natural as hair dyes come. The vegan formula is gentle and conditions hair, leaving behind color that lasts, per reviewers. "[Never] going back!" said one. "It smells amazing, is easy to apply (no drips) and is still vibrant after three weeks." It's worth noting, however, that the semi-permanent dye works best on light or bleached hair.

A past GH Beauty Award winner, Biolage's conditioner deposits a semi-permanent gray pigment onto light hair. Its color coverage, depth and vibrancy on Lab hair samples impressed our experts. Users said it added shine, while an online shopper wrote it helped them go longer between salon visits. One caveat? It won't work well on dark hair since it isn't formulated with bleaching agents to lift color.

Overtone gives thirsty hair a bit of TLC while coloring. Its conditioner deposits bright silver color without using ammonia and instead relies on nourishing ingredients like shea butter, avocado oil and coconut oil. An online shopper said it helped them transition their colored hair to full gray. "Brass is gone. [The color] blended with my new silver[s] beautifully," they wrote after trying Overtone. Many reviewers topped it off with the matching shampoo to help prevent fading.

This shade is a bright, light — almost platinum — silver. Like many gray hair dyes, this works best if you start with bleached or light hair (it may have a tough time showing up on darker hues). On light-haired shopppers, this color showed up brilliantly. "Nothing seemed to work or hold the silver color that I was looking for until I tried this product," said one reviewer.

Looking to go gray for only a day? This hair makeup has you covered. A sponge applicator allows you to use as much (or as little) color as you want to make using this product a breeze. Reviewers said this gives them a ton of controllable color payoff. Make sure you don't skip the blow-drying step to set the color — this will ensure you don't get any silver streaks on your clothes.

Streamline the coloring process with an effective 3-in-1 conditioner: It's a cleansing conditioner that deposits color. "After making the transition from regularly coloring my hair to letting it go silver, I was still visiting the salon every six weeks for toner to keep it looking vibrant," said one reviewer. "I tried this product in the silver color, and no more salon! Your hair is clean, beautifully colored and silky smooth after using." If you're looking for a deep gray color, just note that some shoppers found it had a blueish tint.