Cool-leaning colors in light to dark shades like platinum, ash, beige, and medium blonde are especially well-suited for gray blending.
Rich jewel tones such as emerald green, ruby red, and sapphire blue are great options to bring out the silver tones in bright grey, white grey, or silver grey hair and if you have a cool undertone, you'll look fabulous in these colours.
Neutral shades like soft blonde, mushroom brown, light copper, and caramel blonde balayage are the easiest to blend gray into (and maintain over time without wanting to shave your hair off).
Lipstick for Grey Hair
Brighter shades of lipstick have a youth-boosting effect and can help your lips to look fuller and more defined. Don't be afraid to choose a classic red or pink lipstick to complete your look, darlings – it'll lift the look of your complexion while giving you a timeless beauty boost!
Choose champagne or silver eyeshadows to brighten your eyes and create a luminous effect. Pair it with a soft pink or mauve blush for a natural flush, and opt for a glossy lip colour in a similar shade to tie the look together with a touch of shine.
“Reds, oranges, peaches, pinks, some purples and rose tones are some of their top choices for most occasions,” she says. “Also, deep colors with an emollient finish are a great choice because the semi-shine allows the lips to look fuller.”
The Colors to Avoid with Gray Hair
Here are a few to steer clear of: Muddy Neutrals: Beige, taupe, and other muted tones can make your skin look washed out and ashy. Earthy Yellows and Oranges: These warm tones clash with the coolness of gray hair and can make your complexion look sallow.
The benefits of gray blending
Keading says that the two biggest benefits to gray blending are its natural-looking coverage and how low maintenance upkeep can be. “Since the technique works with your natural color and grays, it requires fewer touch-ups compared to other coloring methods,” she says.
If you are a natural brunette, you'll want to blend your greys with darker lowlights. For natural blondes, you should add highlights and lowlights ranging from pearl to medium blonde. And if you are a natural redhead, a range of brown and blonde highlights and lowlights will enhance your grey locks best.
Brighten up! Ten out of ten colorists agree, shades that are warm-toned read more youthful than cool-toned hair colors. Spicy copper reds, rich caramel brunettes, and soft honey blondes will warm up your complexion for younger-looking skin (hold the retinol).
Ask for toner
“Whenever you're at the salon, ask your colourist to use a toner. It will make hair look shinier and add depth to your colour. This will have the result of making hair look brighter, healthier and more vibrant,” she advises.
Sunkissed, golden, honey, caramel and champagne colours are often excellent, and browns stay warm and golden feeling, never too dark. Strawberry blonde and red can also work well. Greys stay warm, more like a pale gold than anything remotely blue.
When you embrace your gray hair, gold jewelry becomes the perfect accent to highlight your natural beauty. Its warm tones create a stunning contrast, making your hair glow with elegance. Whether it's a delicate gold necklace or bold statement earrings, these pieces can elevate your look effortlessly.
Cool-leaning colors in light to dark shades like platinum, ash, beige, and medium blonde are especially well-suited for gray blending.
- Low Maintenance: Gray blending is relatively low maintenance compared to traditional hair coloring. It doesn't require frequent touch-ups, which appeals to those who prefer a more effortless look.
Highlights and lowlights
With grey hair, adding dimension with light highlights and dark lowlights into locks is a great way to blend grey strands discreetly without trying to hide them.
If you're looking to stay true to your aging roots, a light blonde shade is always the way to go. This color blends seamlessly with ashy browns and grays.
You could choose Taupe, Cocoa or Rose Gold. Finally, use your darkest shade in the outer corner of the eyes to create a sultry, elongated almond shape. Opt for shades like Chocolate or Dusky Pink and build lightly in layers.
Lipstick for Grey Hair
Brighter shades of lipstick have a youth-boosting effect and can help your lips to look fuller and more defined. Don't be afraid to choose a classic red or pink lipstick to complete your look, darlings – it'll lift the look of your complexion while giving you a timeless beauty boost!
She recommended opting for pink, rose and "pinky nude" shades. She said: "You don't want to go with a nude that really just looks like your lips because that's not adding anything. You want to add some of that youthful colour back to your lips."