Ingredients That Stain Gray Hair: A Helpful Guide to Protecting Your Silvers

If you’ve been struggling with your beautiful silver hair turning yellow, green, pink, or any other unwanted shade, you’re not alone. This guide will help you identify ingredients that stain gray hair that cause frustrating color changes and provide practical solutions to keep your gray hair looking its best.

I created this list of all the ingredients in haircare and skin care that I have tracked through the years that have been known to cause staining on gray hair.

I have another post on all the ingredients you should avoid or not, and what is myth versus realty, but it is more related to understanding overall hype around ingredients we are told to avoid in haircare no matter what color our hair is.

If you prefer my videos you can check out the corresponding video over on YouTube:

Exceptions to the Ingredients Rules

There is one caveat before we get started: if the haircare formula is clear, white, or slightly off-white and contains any of these ingredients (aside from added dyes) then the questionable ingredient could have been the colorless version.

Or it is at a low enough concentration to not be of concern, this would usually be indicated by it being after the first ten ingredients. Ingredients on haircare and skin care are listed with the highest concentration at the top and decreasing concentration as you move down the list (respectively).

Okay there are two caveats: depending on your hair type, you may have no issues with any of these ingredients that stain gray hair, or you might have some and not others. This is not an all or nothing scare you off type of list, it is meant to help you if you are struggling and need to take a hard look at what you are putting on your hair to eliminate the possibilities.

I’m not saying avoid at all costs, I’m saying these possible ingredients that stain gray hair could be culprits behind discolorations you cannot pinpoint.

How to Search for and Read Ingredient Labels

When I do a consultation, I collect the ingredient decks for every single product you use on your hair. I meticulously comb through the ingredients looking for any of the below culprits.

When I don’t have the product in hand, my main tool is using a search engine. Often the best place to find the ingredients are at websites like Ulta or Sephora, as they fully disclose them.

Manufacturer websites often do not have them listed, mostly due to changes in formulations from batch to batch and not updating their website. Be careful that you are using the brand name and the product name as it appears on the bottle.

One of the most frustrating things, for me, when it comes to reading labels is the fonts being so small and only being able to see them with my glasses or a magnifying glass. If you already own the product or you are trying to read it in the store, if the font is ridiculously small, use the magnifier on your phone. Pro-tip: I have found some labels the camera focuses better than the magnifier does. Either way, it is an easy way to see the text clearly.

Two Primary Ingredients to Start With

Many main-stream brand hair products contain ingredients that can gradually build up and discolor your silver strands. Two primary ingredients to ditch, at least temporarily, would be sulfates and silicones.

Sulfates are often very stripping so while the ingredient itself doesn’t stain it can dry your delicate silvers out and dry silvers attract discolorations.

Silicone buildup is especially sneaky, as these ingredients can bind to your hair and accumulate over time. This buildup alters how light reflects off your hair, resulting in a dingy, dull, or yellowed appearance that diminishes the beauty of your natural silver. Silicones can also be damaged by heat appliances.

To protect your gray hair, opt for products with shorter ingredient lists. As with healthy food choices, fewer ingredients often means a healthier product for your hair. Be wary of products with dark or yellow coloring, as these can transfer their tint to your strands.

If your hair is particularly prone to yellowing, look specifically for sulfate-free formulas with minimal or no silicones. These gentler formulations will help maintain your hair’s natural silver brilliance without unwanted color deposits.

Often a clarifying treatment like the QuickSilverHair mask, used routinely, will remove any unwanted product buildup.

Sulfates:

Commonly Used in Shampoo:

• Laureth Sulfate Sodium
• Lauroyl Isethionate
• Lauryl Sulfoacetate Sodium
• Sodium Lauroyl Taurate
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Usually contains the word “sulfate”

Water-Soluble Silicones:

• Amodimethicone
• PEG-8 (or higher) Dimethicone
• Bis-PEG-8 (or higher) Dimethicone
• Bis-PEG-8/PEG-8 Dimethicone
• Bis-PEG-18 methyl ether dimethyl silane
• PEG-8-PG-coco glucoside dimethicone
• Dimethicone PEG-X phosphate

Usually contains the prefix PEG-

Degrading Silicones:

These evaporate or deteriorate in sunlight.
(Avoid always, better for the environment and your hair.)

• Cyclomethicons
• Cyclotetrasiloxane (D4)
• Cyclotrisiloxane (D3)
• Cyclopentasiloxane (D5)
• Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane
• Cyclomethicone 5.

Usually contains the prefix cyclo-

Believe it or not, your favorite hair accessories could be secretly staining your gorgeous silver locks. Hair ties, leather bun wraps, headbands, pillowcases, and other accessories are often treated with chemical dyes that can transfer to your hair, especially when your hair is wet or when you sweat. This dye transfer can happen gradually, making it difficult to identify the source of discoloration.

Before you use a new accessory and routinely thereafter, handwash with warm water and a gentle shampoo. This simple step will help you identify an accessory that might transfer color to your hair. When washing, pay close attention to the rinse water – if you notice color bleeding from any accessory, it’s best not to use it. Investing in higher-quality, colorfast accessories can save your silver strands from unwanted tinting in the long run.

Foundation and sunscreens (tinted or not) can cause discoloration to your silvers:

• The pigments used to match your skin tone can tint your hair the same color.
• The chemical sunscreens Oxybenzone and Avobenzone can react to chlorine and turn lighter shades of hair yellow or green.
• The mineral sunscreens Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide can buildup on the hair causing discolorations and dullness.

Be careful to avoid your hairline when applying foundation, sunscreen, and tinted face creams.

Home and Salon Treatments

• Vitamin C treatments
• Malibu C Crystals & Hard Water Wellness Packets
  
• Hydrogen peroxide/developer
• DIY mixtures (baking soda, vitamin C, peroxide, developer, dandruff shampoo, dish soap, etc.)

While these aren’t concentrated ingredients in haircare products making recipes at home with simple ingredients may seem safe, but even everyday kitchen ingredients are still chemicals that can cause damage and discoloration.

Some popular clarifying and detoxifying treatments can be surprisingly damaging to gray and white hair. Vitamin C treatments and Malibu C Crystals, often recommended for removing product buildup, can trigger chemical reactions that leave white hair stained in shades ranging from pink to orange to caramel. The damage goes beyond discoloration – these treatments can severely dry out your hair, leading to breakage and permanent structural damage, especially when heat is applied afterward.

Similarly, hydrogen peroxide treatments at home products or developer (peroxide based) in salon treatments, gradually dry out your hair, open the cuticle, and cause unpredictable discoloration. What makes the home treatments particularly dangerous is that the damage often isn’t immediately apparent but accumulates with repeated use.

Bleaching gray hair to white is not possible, in fact, the opposite result will happen. Bleach can leave your hair yellow, dry, and severely damaged. If you want to maintain your truest silvers, avoid bleach.

A serious warning must be given about DIY dye removal methods. Never mix home remedies like baking soda, vitamin C, developer, dandruff shampoo, dish soap, and other ingredients in an attempt to remove hair dye or yellowing from your silvers.

Any dye that contains the word permanent (semi, demi, and permanent) will PERMANENTLY stain your natural color hair.

These DIY concoctions won’t completely remove the dye and risk leaving you with orange hair, or worse, severely damaged strands that need to be grown out entirely. Because they can perform like bleach and create a chemical process, they will not remove yellowing but contribute to it.

The internet is filled with DIY hair remedies, but caution is essential when applying these to gray hair. Overusing home treatments or combining different remedies can permanently alter your hair’s pH balance. This disruption opens the door to dry, damaged hair, permanent discoloration, and even the dreaded “chemical haircut” – where hair becomes so damaged it breaks off unexpectedly.

Hair’s natural pH is slightly acidic, and maintaining this balance is crucial for retaining moisture, strength, and color. When experimenting with home remedies, introduce them one at a time, in moderation, and monitor your hair’s response carefully. What works wonderfully for one person’s hair may damage another’s, so personal experimentation should be approached with caution and restraint.

In addition, home remedies can cause serious scalp irritations that may require medical attention.

To learn more check out my videos on Vitamin C, Bleaching Gray Hair, and Hydrogen Peroxide.

Medicated Shampoos

• Minoxidil/Rogaine
• Salicylic acid (can turn hair pink)
• Tar-based formulas

While medicated shampoos are essential for treating certain scalp conditions, the medicated ingredients can unfortunately discolor your silver hair. Products containing Minoxidil or Rogaine can leave a tint on your strands.

More surprisingly, salicylic acid, a common ingredient in dandruff shampoos, has been known to turn silver hair distinctly pink – an unwelcome surprise for anyone embracing their natural gray. In addition, the tar-based formulas will definitely stain your hair.

This issue presents a true dilemma – your scalp health is important, but so is your hair color. When possible, consider spot-treating problem areas on your scalp rather than applying medicated products to all of your hair.

This targeted approach can help maintain scalp health while minimizing the risk of discoloration to your silver strands. If complete treatment is unavoidable, you may need to accept some staining as part of your haircare routine.

Not all natural oils are friendly to gray hair. Several popular oils can cause significant staining that’s difficult or impossible to remove.

Olive, avocado, and hemp oil, especially when used on white hair, can leave a greenish tint. CBD oil, besides being an expensive and wasteful hair application with no proven hair benefits, can discolor silver strands.

Black castor oil, though beneficial for some hair types, can cause significant staining on white hair.

Mineral oil, which isn’t actually an oil, but a petroleum by-product causes both buildup and staining over time.

Sea buckthorn oil has the propensity to turn whites the very same shade of orange as the oil.

Chamomile oil and extract (unless colorless) will cause a gradual yellowing. In fact, chamomile has been used as a natural color enhancer for blondes, for many years.

Any oil with a pigment from yellow to amber has the potential to stain, so be mindful, know your hair type and avoid if your hair has the propensity to grab anything you put on it. When selecting hair oils, look for clear, lightweight options that won’t deposit color onto your strands.

Using oil neat for UV protection and not properly blended into a formula made for UV protection leaves you at risk of staining from the oil and not protecting your hair from UV damage.

Perfumes and fragrances are made from oils. Essential oils can have very concentrated colors. They both can stain and cause discolorations.

100% Clear Silver-Safe Lightweight Oils

Dyes & Color Additives

Even products not marketed as dyes can contain color additives that gradually stain your silver hair. These hidden colorants can be found in everything from conditioners to styling products and even heat protectants. Over time, these products can subtly dye your hair with each application.

When examining product ingredients, be wary of certain color additives that are particularly problematic for white and silver hair.

Colors to watch for in products:

• FD&C Blue No. 1 (Maybe fine for toning silver hair use in moderation)
• D&C Green No. 5, No. 6, & No. 8 (avoid on white, silver, or yellowing hair)
• D&C Orange No. 4, & No. 5 (avoid on white, silver, or yellowing hair)
• FD&C Red No. 4, No. 17, No. 21, No. 22, No. 27, No. 28, No. 33, & No. 40 (only use if in combination with blue or violet dyes for white, silver, yellowing or blonde hair)
• D&C Violet No. 2 (Maybe fine for toning silver hair use in moderation)
• FD&C Yellow No. 5, No. 6, No. 10, & No. 11 (avoid on white, silver, or yellowing hair)
• Iron oxides (vary in color from pale yellow to rusty orange, be mindful)

If you would like to understand what different types of hair dye do to gray hair I have an Ultimate Guide on hair dyes.

Herbal Powders, Extracts, Teas, Botanicals, & Natural Dyes

• Henna (even “clear” version)
• Chebe powder
• Hibiscus powder
• Rhubarb powder
• Chamomile tea
• Vanilla ext., flavoring, or oil
• Dark pigmented herbs
• Sugars and Honey
• Black – Activated charcoal
  

Natural and organic herbal powders can also stain our silvers. Henna is a dye, and even the clear version will leave your hair with a yellow tint.

Other powders to avoid would be chebe powder, hibiscus powder, rhubarb powder, chamomile tea, and any other dark pigmented herbs that are used for natural dyes.

Sugars and honey are often added to styling products for their tackiness, with the addition of using a heat tool they can caramelize onto your hair leaving a caramel color stain.

Activated charcoal shampoos need to be avoided with white and silver hair, black activated charcoal turns green when wet. Not something I want on my hair. It may seem like these are “natural” and good for you, they may be, but likely not for maintaining your silveriness.

QuickSivlerHair Clay was designed to help remove all forms of buildup that can discolor your hair. It can even work on temporary dyes like the ones found in pigmented shampoos. Give it a try to see if you can solve at least one silver hair issue.

Conclusion

There are many ingredients in the haircare world, so by no means is this a complete list, at least you know the primary categories that would potentially cause issues. I have made a PDF that is a simple list of everything discussed in this post. You can save it on your phone or computer and use it while reviewing ingredients in your products or the new products you are exploring.

I hope you found this post educational and helpful.

Thank you for reading. Please feel free to share.

As always it is about so much more than the hair.

§

Next Suggested Post

*Affiliate Links:

QuickSilverHair is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Some of the links on this site are affiliate links to Amazon.com. I earn money as an Amazon Associate from qualifying purchases.

QuickSilverHair is an affiliate with several brands, I earn a small percentage from any qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.

© Copyright disclaimer: All content is written by Joli A. Campbell or Guests, that content belongs to QuickSilverHair or the respected author. All Images in this blog belong to the women in the picture, myself, or were used with purchase or commercial permissions. I have used their images and names with their permission. Please do not copy or redistribute anything from this site without further permission. Thank you.

QuickSilverHair.com content disclaimer: content is provided for general information purposes and should not be considered medical advice. Product information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The hair care content is also for educational use, I am not a hair care professional or dermatologist, please be careful with your hair and skin. If you have any hesitations or concerns speak to your doctor or hair care professional for their support before using any information you find on this site. Be well.

For full Affiliate and Copyright Details Please Read My Terms & Conditions Page