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I Tried the Top 5 Gray Hair Solutions of 2025—Here's What Actually Worked

A dermatologist tests and ranks the best alternatives to hair dye—discover which one restored my natural hair color without salons or chemicals.

Gray Hair Darkening Shampoo Bar

By Ellie Williams


As women age, gray hair becomes a common occurrence for most of us. It can be frustrating to see our once luscious locks lose color and start graying. But don't worry, you're not alone!

Whether you’re in your twenties or seventies, if you don’t like your grays, there’s not much you can do besides coloring them. Or is there?

That’s what our team of beauty researchers and reviewers set out to find out. Are there natural ways to reverse your gray hair without dying it? It turns out there are!

More and more brands are releasing products that can help restore your hair's natural color, without the need for dye. There’s plenty of science showing us WHY our hair grays, and now that we know we can reverse grays, we can find the perfect products to make it happen. 

So how do you know which ones work and which are duds? Don't settle for anything less than the best when it comes to your hair. Let us help you find the perfect product to keep your locks looking youthful and vibrant! Let's get started...

1. OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS: REFRESS HAIR PIGMENT ACTIVATOR SPRAY

Effectiveness: 95%

Safety: 100%

Price: $

Overall: A+

This is hands down our top pick for anyone looking to reverse gray hair naturally — without dyes, stress, or salon bills.

What makes Refress Hair Pigment Activator Spray™ different is that it tackles the true biological trigger behind gray hair: something called Melanocyte Drift Syndrome™ (MDS).

Backed by groundbreaking Harvard research, MDS occurs when pigment-producing stem cells “drift” out of their regenerative zone — cutting off melanin production and turning hair gray strand by strand.

Refress is the first topical solution we’ve seen that targets this exact mechanism. Its BioFusion Reactivation Complex™ stimulates and stabilizes the melanin pathway directly at the root — helping restore your natural hair color from within.

We originally discovered Refress when they quietly launched with a 50% OFF sitewide sale — and it’s been sold out nearly every other week since.

Users report visible results within weeks, and the lightweight formula makes it easy to apply — just 30 seconds a day to temples, roots, or even beards and eyebrows.

One bottle lasted far longer than we expected, especially since you only need a small amount per session.

If you’re seeing more grays lately and want a real, science-backed fix, this is the one product we’d recommend above all others.

By far, Refress Hair Pigment Activator Spray is the most effective product for reversing gray hair.

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2. AREY WASH SHAMPOO

Effectiveness: 80%

Safety: 100%

Price: $$$$

Overall Value: B+

Arey refers to their products as the “Wrinkle creams of hair products”. Clever. Their high-end packaging and diverse product line make them a strong contender for the top spot. However, we found that their shampoo wasn't as effective as we had hoped, with Refress outperforming them. Although it's a bit pricey, it's not the most expensive option out there. It's worth noting that Arey offers a range of products aimed at treating aging and brittle hair, which is a plus.

3. PROSE CUSTOM SHAMPOO

Effectiveness: 80%

Safety: 85%

Price: $$

Overall Value: B+

Prose has gained significant attention for its personalized beauty products that are tailored to your specific requirements. Through their 10-minute questionnaire, they gather all the necessary information about your hair and lifestyle to create a unique shampoo that works for you. Although their shampoo provides ingredients that help with reversing gray hair, it is not their primary focus. Instead, their main goal is to provide personalized products that cater to individual needs.

4. REMINEX GRAY HAIR SHAMPOO

Effectiveness: 75%

Safety: 80%

Price: $

Overall Value: C

Reminex may be a budget-friendly option, but it may not be the most effective when it comes to reversing gray hair. The reviews were mixed and showed inconsistent results. However, if you're looking for a slightly more affordable option, it might be worth considering. That being said, Refress's sale price is more attractive, and it has been shown to deliver better results. Therefore, we would suggest starting with Refress instead.

5. JUST FOR MEN CONTROL GX

Effectiveness: 75%

Safety: 70%

Price: $

Overall Value: C-

While it's always good to stick with a classic, Just For Men's hair coloring product is a little too heavy on chemicals and may not be the best option. While the product may work, some reviews have noted that it can be messy and may stain your hands, so it's important to use gloves.

WHY WE CHOSE REFRESS HAIR PIGMENT ACTIVATOR SPRAY FOR OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS

While we believe we recommended some great shampoos to help reverse gray hairs in women, we believe Refress Hair Pigment Activator Spray is the absolute best option. We wanted to talk further with our investigative reporter Ellie Williams who helped create the rankings list and how she discovered the greatness that is Refress.

I've always had issues with gray hairs. It runs in my family, and I started noticing them when I was in my early 30s. And personally, I never believed in products that claim to reverse gray hair. There are so many brands out there that promise to work, but most don't. I've had too many friends who were disappointed after buying products that didn't deliver results. So, I avoided them at all costs. 

So when I was put on assignment to find some amazing hair growth products, I was happy to test some things out. Unfortunately, not a lot made the cut. Too many products felt, smelled, and contained strong chemicals that felt more like medicine. And worse, they didn’t really work that well.  

I sort’ve gave up.

But then, I heard about Refress hair pigment activator spray from a colleague. She said it worked within a few weeks. I, of course, didn't believe her. That’s when she suddenly stood up and grabbed the Refress Pigment Activator Spray.

She said she tried a few things but that Refress was the only brand that she felt like actually delivered. She had been raving about how it helped to darken her hair naturally, without using any harsh chemicals. Though I was skeptical, but then she showed me her before and after photos, and I was amazed. Week by week, I could see her hair getting healthier and darker.

I begged her to let me borrow her Hair Hair Pigment Activator Spray, but instead she told me to buy my own like a real adult LOL. Thankfully, she gave me the link with a SALE, and I ordered two bottles immediately.

HOW DOES REFRESS HAIR PIGMENT ACTIVATOR SPRAY WORK?

I received the package four days later and followed the instructions: just spray it evenly on dry hair and massage it in. Super simple. 

And of course, I looked into the mirror and expected immediate results, but with products like these you got to use them everyday for about three weeks before you notice anything. In the meantime, I wanted to know what made Refress Pigment Activator Spray do what it did. 

It’s all about what CAUSES gray hair. Refress says there’s two reasons,

1. As you age, the melanocytes in your hair responsible for producing pigment begin to decrease, causing the color to fade away.

2. The release of norepinephrine into the follicle due to stress can result in the rapid killing of melanocytes, ultimately ending the production of pigment.

Refress works to safeguard melanocytes and promote pigment production. This means that even in times of stress, your hair can still maintain its natural color and remain healthy. And isn’t that in of itself a great relief? 

ONLY THREE INGREDIENTS TO REVERSE GRAY HAIR

Refress includes a blend of three unique ingredients that assist in safeguarding melanocytes and promoting the production of pigments:

Panax Ginseng Root Extract

This is your all-around bad ass ingredient to help make your hair stronger and healthier with a mix of anti-oxidants and peptides. It also is the main force in protecting your melanocytes.

Polygonum multiflorum

Polygonum is amazing for promoting hair growth, restoring hair color, and improving hair texture. 

Arborvitae Twig Extract

Soothes and conditions the scalp, reducing flakiness and itchiness, and supports thicker, healthier hair by nourishing hair roots and strengthening strands from the base up. 

Did It Finally Work?

After patiently waiting for 4 weeks, I was eager to see if the product had made a difference and to my surprise, the areas of my hair that were gray turned darker and even started to regain my original hair color. Moreover, my hair appeared more voluminous and resilient than it had in a long time, and I was astounded by how amazing it looked and felt.

After seeing the amazing results of using Hair Pigment Activator Spray, I strongly recommend giving it a try and experiencing the benefits for yourself.

264,235 Comments
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  • avatar

    Maria Lewis

    I’ve been using refress for a month now and can you say a happy customer color changes without any dyeing! 👏🏾

    Reply 4 11:13
  • avatar

    Sammie Ferris

    Loving the pigment spray! Amazing

    Reply 1 10:22
  • avatar

    Steph Lynn

    did ayone else receive four sprayainstead of three? :D

    Reply 4 9:08
  • avatar

    Alice Jackson

    Seriously magical.We have tried many other shampoos from face book, but the activator spray is amazing my husband using it for two weeks now its amazing how his white hair getting darker

    Reply 9 5:33
  • avatar

    Molly Davis

    Where has this little gem been that I’ve only now just found it?

    Reply 2 4:01
  • avatar

    Sara Tavern

    It took me 7-8 days to get the effect. But for short hair, my husband got good results after 5 days

    Reply 2 2:21