Davines Alchemic Shampoo Silver - Product Review

Product Review: Davines Alchemic Shampoo Silver

Italian hair care dynamos Davines make the silver conditioner that topped our list of Best Gray Hair Conditioners back in 2013. So what took us so long to try their fantastic Alchemic Silver Shampoo? We don't know, but we're kicking ourselves.

The bottle looks like something you'd find in a science laboratory, which reflects how Davines started out as a cosmetic research company before becoming a beauty product powerhouse. It truly seems like Davines has selected each ingredient to scientifically target the problems found with maintaining gorgeous gray hair. 

It contains light purple pigments to color-brighten white and blonde hair while canceling yellow and brassy tones without an activator. This shampoo doesn't really later, because lather is mainly a result of detergents that dry out your hair. Instead it contains gentle and mild surfacants to gently clean your hair without excessive drying. They've added hydrolysed milk proteins to condition and protect, along with provitamin B5 for deep moisturization. The pleasant scent would best be described as "woodsy", which may be an attempt to appeal as a unisex product.

 We highly recommend this shampoo as it does perform well. It's not the strongest purple shampoo we've ever tried, but we kind of like that you can use it more often.  The Davines Alchemic Silver Conditioner is still our ultimate gray hair must-have product of all time, but stay tuned to see if their Alchemic Shampoo makes it onto our updated list of Best Gray Hair Shampoos when we release it in the new year!

Jhirmack Distinctions Silver Plus Ageless Shampoo - Product Review

Product Review: Jhirmack Distinctions - Silver Plus Shampoo

"Ageless"? "Distinctions"??  

Jhirmack may be trying a bit too hard to convince you that your gray hair doesn't make you look older. But we're willing to forgive them.

Jhirmack Silver Plus is one of the highest rated gray hair shampoos on Amazon, and with good reason. It's a solid performer: a purple shampoo with excellent de-yellowing powers, it lathers well, and has a pleasant, light fragrance. 

And the best feature: it's about half the price of Clairol's best-selling Shimmer Lights. Like many purple shampoos it is a tad drying, so use it in rotation with more nourishing hair products such as its companion Jhirmack Silver Plus Ageless Conditioner.

It ain't fancy, but this might just be the budget purple shampoo you've been looking for.

Product Review: Sachajuan Silver Shampoo

We've seen a lot of purple, anti-yellowing shampoos here at Love The Gray.  

But when a friend sang high praises for Sachajuan Silver Shampoo, we had to give it a go. 
 And after several weeks of using it we were struck with the question... is Sachajuan Silver Shampoo the best purple shampoo for gray hair EVER?

The Good:

The purple power is strong with this one. The the anti-yellowing effect is almost immediate. Your salt-and-pepper will SHINE in no time!
It also feels lighter than other purple shampoos we've used, but still packs the punch.
It works well to eliminate brassy undertones, so if you're a blonde going gray this might be the perfect shampoo for you.

The Not-So-Good:

Like most violet shampoos, it's a bit drying. So you'll want to use it in rotation with other shampoos, and perhaps try it with the Sachajuan Silver Conditioner.
It's also it's a bit pricey. But since you don't use it every day, one little bottle should last you for months.  

The verdict:

So is Sachajan Silver Shampoo is the best purple shampoo we've ever used! YES!
Is it $20-per-bottle better than Shimmer Lights? Hard to say. But it just might bump it off our Top Gray Hair Shampoo list next time we update it!

If you like trying new products it's definitely worth a go, be sure to tell us what you think in the comments below!

Do Gray Hair Pills Work?

You've seen the ads and it got you wondering... could a little pill get rid of my gray hair? Spoiler alert: NO!

These anti-gray pills claim to prevent and reverse grey hair using an enzyme called catalase, all based on the fact that a 2009 study reported that gray hair has lower-than-normal levels of catalase. However, the study said absolutely nothing about whether taking catalase supplements actually stops hair from turning grey. And the companies marketing these pills have offered absolutely ZERO proof that they work. None! In fact, the three leading manufacturers have been sued for millions by the FTC for false advertising and have been ordered to stop claiming they get rid of gray hair. Yet do you think that has actually stopped them? 

Lacking any actual scientific evidence to back up their claims, the companies marketing these pills use the only evidence ever offered by snake-oil salesman: the "testimonial". Testimonials are subjective, highly selective, and prove nothing other than that someone who was paid to say a product worked said: "It worked! (Now where's my check?)". 

Have a look at the Amazon reviews for one of these products, the positive reviews are all from people who were either paid or given free samples to write a review. And even those mostly say "they haven't started working yet, but I'm hopeful!" 

If you really want to get rid of your gray hair, the only way is to dye it. Period. Sorry. 

But may we suggest just going gray gracefully instead? 

Dare we say, loving your gray? 

If you want some tips on how to transition into a gorgeous silver fox have a look at our post: How To Let Your Hair Go Gray The Right Way.

New York Times Style Section learns to Love the Gray

The New York Times Style Section has finally discovered Gray Pride. In an article entitled "For Millennial Men, Gray Hair is Welcome", the editors offer this revelation:

"Gone are the days when guys would actively avoid graying hair. For a new generation of adventurous men, dyeing one’s hair gray is gaining traction, appropriating a naturally occurring phenomenon from older men and giving it a millennial twist."

So for men, going gray is officially "trending", and hipsters are now dyeing their hair grey as a "fashion statement." The "Gray Lady" also credits celebrities like One Direction's Zayn Malik, Olympic athlete Gus Kenworthy, and YouTuber Tyler Oakley with bringing the gray look into the public eye.  

Of course, we here at Love The Gray have known this for ages. That well kept, well groomed gray hair is gorgeous on both men and women. And of course, women were already on the forefront of this trend, and the sexism of the NYT's coverage is laid out in this excellent piece on The Frisky: "The Times is a Year Behind on Hair Trends".

"It’s annoying that the 2015 piece on women and grey hair talked about embracing ageing while the men’s piece on grey hair claims that it’s not about embracing aging, it’s just about being fashion forward, making the women’s piece an appraisal of women’s entire bodies while affording men the ability to just have it be about their hair. It’s annoying that the women’s piece got stuck into their “Women in the World” vertical while the men’s piece got put into the Fashion & Style section, as if the topic didn’t belong in the more widely-read section until men were doing it."

And if you're looking for tips on easy ways to color your hair gray check out our post How To Go Gray Fast!

How To Maintain A Gray Beard

Gray Beard Care: 101

This post is for the hirsute hunks, those guys with gray beards looking to keep them stylish and fresh. It seems every guy has a beard these guys. And until the clean shaven look is back in fashion, here's how to keep your beard looking it's best:

1. Use a trimmer!  

It doesn't matter if you're just working the salt-and-pepper stubble, or growing out a full Rip Van Winkle, you always need to shape your facial hair and keep the ends tidy. So an electric trimmer is essential. Adjust the setting for your desired length, use the side razor for edging, and a moustache comb for a nice uniform groom. A fancy Philips Norelco 7300 BeardTrimmer has a handy built-in vacuum, but a more basic Philips Norelco Multigroom 3100 will do you just fine. And for the love of god, please trim your nose and ear hairs while you're at it!

2. Use a brightening shampoo!

There's nothing more unattractive on a man than a yellowing white beard. If you're lucky enough to still have hair on top of your head, that's probably gray too. So pick one of our favorite gray hair shampoos and use it on your face as well to keep your beard looking white and bright.

3. Condition!

Like all hair, your beard hair needs moisture. And since grey hair tends to be more wiry, it's even more important to use a conditioner in the shower. Just remember to rub it on your beard and leave it in there for a couple extra minutes, since gray hair needs an extra moisture infusion. Any old hair conditioner will do, but if you want the Cadillac of hair conditioners try this one from Alterna. 

4. Groom!

And the last step, apply a few drops of beard oil and comb it through your beard at least once a day. Either dry or preferably on a damp beard just after you get out of the shower. It will soften the hair and prevent split ends. We love The Gentlemen's Beard Oil. It contains a mixture of essential oils including vitamin E and evening primrose which help nourish your skin and prevent itching. (Helps with "bearddruff" too! ) They make a nice unscented beard balm as well. You won't believe the difference that using a beard oil makes in how soft your beard will get. The people that you kiss will love you for it!