Whether your hair is naturally or artificially gray, silver hues are timeless and classic. Before dying your strands in this light shade, use a moisturizer to maintain healthy and strong strands.
Zosia Mamet’s Fabulous Gray Hair
Zosia Mamet shows us that gray hair can still look fabulous at any age with her stunning, icy-toned bob. The asymmetrical cut draws attention to Zosia’s gorgeous eyes and frame.
Choosing Silvery Tones
Choose silvery tones when going gray – they sparkle beautifully under sunlight and help eliminate brassiness from brassy hair colors. Add some silver-enhancing balayage, and your mane will shimmer with calm gray beauty!
Ideal for Naturally Light Strands
This look is ideal for those with naturally light strands, requiring only minimal lightening. Your colorist can blend silver, grey, and white tones for a stunning frosty blend that will leave an impression.
Darker Shades of Gray
If you want a darker shade of gray hair, bleaching and toning (possibly multiple times) will likely be required to achieve your desired style. Bring photos as references for your stylist so they know your vision. Use a clarifying shampoo with magnesium and anti-yellowing agents that help create beautiful shine in icy gray locks.
Adding Purple Tones
A toner can help neutralize brassiness and add cool tones to gray hair without darkening or lightening its strands, such as those seen with traditional dyeing methods. Instead, it neutralizes warm tones while emphasizing excellent techniques for fresh-looking gray locks.
Lilac Grey for a Pastel Shade
Lilac grey is the perfect pastel shade without the commitment of semi-permanent color, offering a light yet bright style that flatters both tomboys and girly girls alike. Blondes may need to lift their natural hair to platinum before applying this toner.
Teal Tinted Gray Hair
Teal-tinted gray hair colors are another exciting winter trend, making a stylistic and aesthetic statement. The stunning winter shade looks beautiful on both blonde and brown locks alike; lighter locks show it off beautifully.
Going Green
Sage or dark green hues look striking against gray hair, particularly those with cool-toned complexions. Additionally, this hue enhances those with darker skin tones as it draws out their natural warmth – examples include Lady Gaga’s pastel green updo, Skai Jackson’s mermaid hairstyle, and Bella Thorne’s mint green bob cut.
Oyster Gray for Added Cool Undertones
Oyster gray is an exquisite addition for those already sporting light grey or silver hair, as its cool undertones enhance existing cool undertones while adding an iridescence that stands out against cooler or ashier complexions. Lifting sessions may be necessary to reach an ideal shade.
Avoiding Grassiness with Ash Shades
To avoid the grassy hue associated with an ash shade, seek a demi-permanent gloss with red undertones to offset any potential green undertones and avoid yellowish or brassy tones that come with an ash toner. Ash toners only make hair brighter, not lighter!
Adding Red Tones for Contrast
Red tones can add subtle but stunning contrast in icy gray hair and, depending on your base color, could mean anything from adding fine mahogany or copper highlights around your face to more prominent white streaks as a foiling service.
Transitioning Dark Roots
Dark roots can be transitioned into an icy steel gray hue without bleaching, resulting in a stunning transition that is hard to detect unless one looks closely. Lifting sessions may be required, but once complete, the result will be a gorgeously seamless transition that only keen observers will notice.
Consulting with a Professional
If you decide to go this route, consult with a professional colorist and provide reference photos so they can better understand your vision. A toner like Silver Shampoo from the L’Oreal Professionnel Serie Expert Silver collection may be beneficial in maintaining a neutral, slatey hue while preventing brassiness; refreshments might need to be applied periodically.
