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“My husband says my gray hair glitters.”

As a deputy editorial director on the BuzzFeed Shopping team with almost a decade in the lifestyle and service journalism sphere, I use my shopping editor eye to find and vet products across a variety of categories, including lifestyle, home, beauty, fashion, pets, cleaning, travel, aging, and more.

Reviewers over 50 swear by these hair care products that may help transform thin, gray, or frizzy strands into shiny, smooth locks. We found easy solutions like purple shampoo to brighten silver tones, scalp oil for hydration, and a glass-hair lamination mask to revive dull strands. Ahead, check out these game-changing beauty finds that actual buyers say restore confidence and bring back effortless volume.

Promising review: "I am 66 years old. I have fine thinning hair. Followed instructions. Blew dry my hair. How awesome was it? My hair now feels regular in thickness and holds a curl and actually has body. I wish for a lifetime supply. Will use this from now on." —Mortimer Brewster

Promising review: "LET’S START WITH THE AMAZING SMELL! OMG! If you spray this one time and smell it, you will be [obsessed]. Not lying! My teens love it, my 90-year-old mother loves it, and I love it. I can’t say enough about this line of products. I get sooooo many compliments about how delicious it smells, and my friends all wanted to know what I was wearing. LOVE, ADORE, YUMMY! Highly recommend." —Terrie

Get it from Amazon for $26 (available in 11 scents and two sizes).

Promising review: "I am in my 60s with light blonde hair that's been color-treated for years. I have 2A-B waves when I use a curl cream/gel, and a frizzy mess when I don't. I just received this last week and am absolutely loving it!! It is light, but man, it does hold those waves/curls. I don't really notice the fragrance, but I'm not sensitive to that. Also, the next day, I sprayed some distilled water on my hair to bring it back to life, and my hair sprang right back. It holds and holds, isn't crunchy, and I noticed my hair is looking more shiny than usual, and this is the only new product I've been using." —Flanamom

Promising review: "I don't usually try all the latest hair things because my hair is very fine and it doesn't like product. But I received it as a sample, and I can't believe how nice it made my hair and how long it lasted. I have to wash every single day, or my hair would be limp and lifeless. You could tell if I didn't wash my hair for one day. This miracle stuff makes it so that I don't have to wash my hair for a good three days at least, and it still looks fresh. It also lasts between washes, so I only have to use it every other wash or sometimes not for three or four washes. I can't live without this now that I've found it. It took me 'til my 50s to find this amazing product. I sure coulda used this in my 20s!" —B.S.

Get it from Amazon for $14+ (available in two sizes).

Read more about ketoconazole shampoo at Cleveland Clinic.

Promising review: "This is without a doubt the best dandruff shampoo ever. I am 50 years old and have had very bad dry scalp and dry skin on my face and ears all my life. I have tried everything on this side of the moon without any success until now. This stuff truly works and is amazing. I literally put it on my face, and even on my ears, where I’ve always had problems with dry skin, and after even the first use, I saw amazing results — no more itching, no more flaking. I can actually wear a black shirt now with confidence; no flakes to worry about. I truly highly recommend this product, and the only downfall I can think of is that it was not available when I was a teenager and had to endure many embarrassing moments. Thank you so, so much for this shampoo. It’s worth every last penny!" —stacy

Promising review: I love this product. I have never gotten the hang of the dry shampoo spray, but this works like a charm! I know many reviews say it's great for children, but I am 50 years old, and I love it!" —Carolyn

Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in eight shades).

I bleach my dark brown-black Asian hair blonde every six to eight weeks, so I was immediately intrigued when I first heard some stylists at my salon raving about K18. And it turns out the rest of the world loves it too, because it was sold out at Sephora the first time I tried to buy it. I eventually snagged a bottleand was gobsmacked at how much softer my hair was. Seriously. I spent the whole day touching my hair, and even my boyfriend agreed that my mane was noticeably silkier. 

Olaplex was my go-to before I tried K18 and I still stand by it as a product, but I really love that K18 is a leave-in treatment rather than an in-shower mask. Having to let the Olaplex sit for 10 minutes felt like forever, especially when I wasn't taking an everything shower (you know, the ones where you exfoliate and shave). With K18, you let it sit in your hair for four minutes post shower to activate and then you can style your hair (or just let it air dry like I do). 

I've found that my hair is softest the next day, so don't be discouraged if your hair looks or feels the same the day you use it. One last thing: it is pretty pricey but a little goes a long way. The 15 mL tube I bought has lasted ~five washes, and eventually K18 can become a maintenance product so you won't need to use it every time you wash your hair."

Promising review: "My hairdresser used this on my hair and it instantly made it silky. I decided to purchase it because I’m 52 and my hair has had a different more frizzy texture over the past few years. I have used this for several months now and can say it works really well. It’s expensive but I don’t wash my hair every day so it has lasted me a bit. It seems to repair damage as it states." —AW

Get it from Amazon for $29+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "This product has a light but really lovely scent. I absolutely love it! My almost waist-length hair was seriously damaged by my last hairstylist. I've tried everything to make my hair shinier and more manageable, with less frizz. I've been through countless deep conditioning treatments with little results...till I found CER 100! I'm in my early 50s, so I have far from 'virgin' hair. If mine looks this great, that says a lot! My only wish? That it came in a bigger tube/bottle!" —C. Fordham

Read our review of Elizavecca's CER-100 Collagen Coating Hair Protein Treatment to learn more about why my colleague calls it "the miracle product I've been searching for."

Promising review: "For the price of this small bottle, I had very high expectations, and it truly delivered! This is not a hair conditioner. As it says on the bottle, it is a 'hair bonder.' I am 55 years old, and I dye my gray Asian hair every three to four weeks. This makes my hair very frizzy and dry-looking, no matter how much I condition. After using this twice — I washed my hair first, towel dried it, applied Olaplex, left it on for 10–15 minutes each time, did a quick rinse, towel dried it, and then blow dried it — the result is just amazing! No more frizz and fly-away hair. That was two days ago and still looks good." —SusannaF

Promising review: "I have long, straight, baby-fine hair halfway down my back. When I wash my hair, it gets tangled the most. I just got out of the shower...and am fascinated by how well this thing worked through my WET hair. I hardly lost any hair! Being 56, I am lucky to have all this hair! Having a tool like this ensures I will keep as much as I can!" —Blind Man Frank

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes and a variety of prints).

Promising review: "I am 68 years old and decided to let my gray hair out, which was very frizzy and unmanageable. My hair is about four inches below my shoulders, all cut one length. Have tried many types of shampoos and conditioners, but my hair has stayed the same. So wore it up with clips. The first two weeks of using this shampoo and conditioner, I would have given it 1-star just because it cleaned my hair. I gave it a five now because I have used it for over a month and it has left my hair shiny, smooth, and, most days, frizz-free. My husband says my gray hair glitters. Am definitely buying again through Subscribe & Save." —kathy

Promising review: "I get so many compliments on my hair. The curl holds for days! It is so easy to use. It only takes me about 20 minutes to use. I love that there is a timer for how long the hair is in the barrel, so each curl is the same. I am 55, and this is very easy to use — no more burning my skin or hands or anything because the barrel is inside." —Luvtoshop

Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in four colors).

Promising review: "I love these rollers. My hair is very thin, and the hot rollers and dryer that I have been using further destroyed my hair. These rollers are easy to use. I put a little water on each section, roll, and usually wait two hours. My curls are great, and stay all day. I am 70 years old." —The Sutherlands

Promising review: "At 54 years old and menopausal, my hair has changed from fine and soft to fine and frizzy. The mask has remedied that, and my hair is like it was when I was younger. Soft, manageable, and I am getting compliments on it." —Jeanette B

Promising review: "OK, over-50 female club members, this is for you. My hair has not only been getting thinner, but the texture has gotten dull, dry, and impossible to style. I came across this product in one of my desperate online searches to find anything to help restore shine to my hair. I doused my scalp and ends with this and put my hair into a ball cap. Then, I was outside doing some gardening in the 80-degree heat for about six hours. I was sweaty and very hot when I came inside to shower and rinse this stuff out of my hair. I didn't blow-dry, just air-dry. And to my amazement, my hair is now SO SHINY and GLOSSY that I can very easily slide my fingers through my hair! It looks incredible! So the true test will be to see if it actually regrows my hair...esp my non-existent eyebrows, which I plucked back in high school and never grew back. So far, I'm very happy with this purchase and will continue to use it." —Justme

Promising reviews: "This stuff is great! I have baby fine hair with a wave. My hair changed after the age of 50, and I am trying to embrace the wavy/curly. This is very lightweight, smells delish, and gives me the curl without crunch! A go to and just have!" —Joy McQueen

"I received a trial-sized version of this in a beauty box, and it won me over immediately. I have hair that ranges from medium curls to loose waves, and I have been using mousse or gel in it my whole life. I decided to give this a try since it smelled AMAZING. That was about six months ago, and I never went back! As soon as I got about halfway down in my smaller bottle, I ordered this one. It goes on easily and rinses off my hands without soap. I run it through the ends first to make sure they get the most coated, and then I work my way up, rubbing and scrunching as I go. I mostly let my hair air dry and then hit the roots a bit with my hairdryer. Perfect nearly every time! And if it isn't perfect, it's because I didn't use enough, so I simply spray on a little leave-in conditioner and apply a bit more of the Curls product until it's right. I couldn't do that with mousse! And I love that my hair is always soft now and not crunchy. It makes it much easier to reshape on the second day. This is my new styling product from now on!" —CLB

Although gray hair is honestly pretty fierce, feel free to let those silvery strands shine!

Promising reviews: "This product is awesome. Covers the grays/roots. Stays on all day. Also, if you have thin hair, it will fill in the spots nicely. Comes with a sponge that you unscrew from the bottom. This will last a very long time. This is much easier to use than the spray that doesn't always get the right spots and tends to get on your clothes. A good selection of colors. Great price. Will re-order when the time comes." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $17.95+ (available in 13 colors).

Promising review: "I'm 54 and my hair feels like it did when I was a little girl — very soft all the way to the ends, and I have only used it once. Does not leave hair greasy at all. I had to have chemo when I was 33 years old, and when my hair grew back, not only was my hair a darker shade of blonde, but it also wasn't as soft as it was before the chemo. I know some of the comments said that they didn't like the smell, but I think this product smells nice. I have tried so many brands of shampoos and conditioners, from very, very expensive to cheap, even brands that were recommended by a licensed beautician, but none of them can compare to this product. This is the BEST shampoo and conditioner I have ever used. The price is reasonable, and a little goes a long way. I will definitely be buying this again. There is an extra bonus: It softens your hands, too." —Vickie

Get the shampoo and conditioner from Amazon for $24.99.

Promising review: "As I've gotten older (62), my scalp has gotten itchy, so I thought I'd give this a try. Used it twice and already feel a difference. It makes my scalp tingle and just feels good. I just scrub with shampoo in my hair for about a minute. It's easy to hold and washes off nicely." —Cindylou

Get it from Amazon for $6.49+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "I have shoulder-length hair that is frizzy without product. This product is the best I have ever used in my 56 years. If I put it on damp hair and blow-dry, my hair looks great and bouncy. If I use my flat-iron after blow-drying, it stays smooth, even on rainy days." —delenbaas

Not convinced? Check out our Verb Ghost Oil review (#5) for more deets!

Promising review: "Truly, this is the most amazing serum that I have ever used. I’m a 66-year-old grandmother with colored, thin, and wavy hair. I have tried many products in my life. A few drops — let’s say two when your hair is wet and two when it’s dry — will make the magic. You will experience soft, easy-to-handle hair. And the smell is so pretty. BTW, I got one for one of my granddaughters (she is 14 with curls), and she texted her mom, saying, 'Mom you have to try it, and the smell is fantastic.' DO I have to say more? NO!" —Placeholder

Just FYI, the reviewer on the right uses the color-depositing conditioner in addition to Boldify hair fibers.

Promising review: "At 59 years old, I decided (during the pandemic) to quit coloring my hair. I shaved my head (seriously). The gray was a shock, but not as shocking as the white. I really hated it, but didn’t want to go back to dying it. Enter this onyx toner, which I mix with the silver gray. I put it on my shoulder-length hair in the shower, then rinse off about 10 minutes later. It leaves a beautiful salt-and-pepper look on my hair. I’ll never be without it. I only do this weekly, so the bottles last a long time. I tried the silver, but I like the onyx and silver-blue mixture better. It’s been nothing but positive for me for the past 3+ years. No white or yellow-toned hair for me. I love this stuff!" —Amazon Buyer

Get it from Amazon for $13.20+ (available in two sizes and 21 colors).

Promising review: "Smells amazing, and when I use it on my shoulder-length color-treated dry thin 62-year-old ginger hair, it transformed it back to my super soft shiny hair. I've used a lot of miracle serums and oils with bigger price tags, none smell or perform as well as this. I use it on my damp hair right after a shower, and it makes combing out knots a breeze. No greasy residue or limp locks." —DashOneCharlie 

Get it from Amazon for $17.88+ (available in two sizes, a mist style, and eight other formulas).

I've been bleaching my dark-brown Asian hair blonde for almost 10 years (so I use the Intensive Repair formula — but the other formulas have fans with all hair types, including Type 3 and 4), and while I'm fortunate that my hair is pretty strong, it definitely needs some moisture and softness added back after a root touch-up. I'm very loyal to my current routine, so I was skeptical that this product would work as well, given the price — less than $10! — and the fact that you only need to leave it in your hair for a minute. Well, I could not have been more wrong! I truly see and feel the difference when I use this mask: My hair is softer, it's easier to blow-dry and style it, it's smoother (frizz is a big concern for me, especially when it's humid), and it just *looks* healthy. The delicious scent is an added bonus! I test a lot of products, so it's not often that I love something enough to buy it when I run out. This, though? This I will definitely be buying when the tub is empty!

Promising review: "I thought I would try this less expensive alternative to high-priced conditioners. It works well. Nice jar, nice consistency, a little goes a long way. It makes my hair very soft and smooth. I have a lot of long, straight, very fine hair, and I don't do anything to it most of the time — just shampoo and let it air dry. As nice as my hair feels, I don't think this adds any volume. There are no tangles, maybe a little more shine than usual. (I am 77 years old.) I think it is a good value for the money." —Kindle Customer

Get it from Amazon for $10.88+ (available in three other formulas).

Promising reviews: "Works wonders on my 68-year-old hair, great sheen and looks so healthy after just one application." —kashmirwoofies

"I've been using this L'Oreal Glossing Lamination Hair Mask for a few weeks now, and I'm genuinely impressed with the results—especially considering the price point. This product absolutely delivers on its main promise: SHINE. My hair looks noticeably glossier and shinier after using it, and the best part is that the shine actually lasts. The product claims up to 5 days of shine, and I can confirm it holds up to that claim without issue. Even after several days, including a wash day, my hair still has that healthy-looking gleam. It does exactly what it says on the bottle, the price-to-performance ratio is fantastic, and that lasting shine is worth it for the confidence boost alone." —Amazon Reviewer

* Products That Truly Understand The Assignment When It Comes To Keeping Your Hair Moisturized

* Hair Care Products That Require Little Effort But Give You Real Results

* Finds That’ll Make You Become #Obsessed With Your Hair

* Hair Care Products Reviewers Over 50 Swear By

* It’s No Exaggeration To Say That These 35 Hair Products Are Legit Game Changers

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.