Going Silver

Unveiling gray strands for the first time can be exciting and terrifying, so if you choose silver as your hair color, your locks must remain beautiful.

Getting Started

Transitioning to silver hair may seem like an immense step, but it doesn’t need to be complicated or daunting. Gray strands may get an unfavorable reputation, but that doesn’t have to be true! Gray locks add depth and character to your style, whether they remain natural or become platinum blonde with time.

Temporary Options

For those wanting a taste before leaping, temporary options such as L’Oreal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Silver may provide an easier transition. Misting on some color mist will give a shimmery silver-gray mane, which washes away easily with regular shampoo use—salon-available toning treatments from turning brassy or yellow over time between visits with a colorist.

Salon-Based Dye Transition

If you want to dive headfirst into this trend, salon-based dye transition can be an option that involves pre-lightening hair to white blonde and toning with a customized grey mix tone. Siobhan Jones of Headmasters (responsible for turning Little Mix’s Jade Thirlwall into a silver pixie) cautions that this process can be damaging and leave an obvious demarcation line between silver fairy and white blonde locks.

Preparing for the Bleach

If your hair is dark, multiple bleach sessions may be needed to lighten enough for silver dyeing. Your colorist should begin the process with Aveda’s Botanical Repair(TM) Intensive Strengthening Masque to seal in moisture and help your locks withstand more bleach than usual. It’s wise to have your stylist inspect for dryness or brittleness before starting the process.

The Bleach Process

Siobhan recommends bleaching your hair to achieve the desired level of white, for a true platinum hue, to achieve which multiple rounds of bleaching may be necessary. She notes that this process requires more care and precision than regular bleaching because your hair’s cuticle is compromised and thinner. Using a damage-repairing mask or oil while heat styling or blow-drying is done as little as possible is recommended.

Experimenting with Highlights

Numerous at-home dye products allow you to experiment with gray highlights for those not quite ready to commit to full silver hair color. Try Aveda’s Blue Malva Shampoo or L’Oreal’s Serie Expert Silver Shampoo, which helps neutralize brassy and yellow tones while enhancing gray hues.

Post-Bleach Care

Though bleaching and dyeing your hair often does more damage than good, you can limit further damage with a proper preventative care routine. Start by consulting a professional colorist who understands the process well. Between bleaching sessions, keep your silver strands hydrated with a moisturizing shampoo designed for colored hair, and use deep conditioning weekly to reduce breakage. Consider investing in a showerhead filter with mineral deposit removal capabilities for challenging water environments. Toners from Ugly Duckling offer solutions to banish any yellow tones left by previous bleaching treatments for an alluring white-blonde hue.