beauty

Slowly Transition Your Dark Hair With Gray Blending—It'll Make You Love Your Silver Strands Even More!

April 10, 2023 by Marissa Matozzo
shefinds | beauty

Gray hair is undeniably in (just look at Andie MacDowell or Jamie Lee Curtis’ recent red carpet looks!), so we reached out to professional hair stylists for gray blending tips to rock your silver tresses, in style. If you have darker hair and want to transition to full gray while still looking chic all the while, look no further.

3 Tips For Gray Blending For Dark Hair

Read on for suggestions and insight from Ghanima Abdullah, hair expert and cosmetologist at The Right Hairstyles and Lauren Udoh, professional hair stylist and hair creative director of WigReports.

READ MORE: 20 Short Gray Hairstyles: How To Look Great Gray

 

 

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woman washing rinsing shampoo from hair in shower

1. Use A Lightening Shampoo & Conditioner

While you are transitioning from full-on dark hair to full-on gray like MacDowell, Abdullah recommends grabbing a "lightening shampoo and conditioner" or a "low-volume developer" to gently lift the color of your dark hair. "This will gradually make your hair a little closer to the light tone of the grays, so that they are not so obvious," she notes.

andie macdowell gray hair curly red carpet premiere long hair bob

Udoh agrees, and adds that her main tips for successfully blending gray and dark hair are to "use a color that is two shades lighter than your natural color," invest in a good quality shampoo to "keep the colors looking vibrant," get frequent trims to maintain the look, and to "use semi-permanent colors rather than permanent dyes."

READ MORE: Hair Stylists Say This Celeb-Approved Hairstyle Is A Great Way To Go Gray Seamlessly

hair stylist mixing dye for hair in bowl at salon

2. Add Strategic Highlights

Adding highlights throughout your hair while switching over to gray like Berry can "create a multi-dimensional color," Abdullah says. "This actually works very well to make grays hide in plain sight," she continues, suggesting a "light ash brown or ash blonde highlights."

halle berry gray hair highlights red carpet look hairstyle

Udoh points out that letting your natural gray grow in while maintaining darker tones around the face, parting areas, and ends is key." You can do this by getting subtle highlights at the salon or using semi-permanent dyes at home to bring out more silver tones over time gradually," she advises. Additionally, Udoh recommends minimizing harsh lines by "keeping natural-looking highlights with soft transitions between shades."

READ MORE: The One Highlights Technique That Is Perfect For Women Over 40: Herringbone Highlights

hair stylist applying purple toner shampoo cleanse rinse hair sink salon

3. Utilize A Toner For That Perfect Gray Shade

Grabbing a toner can help you create the "perfect gray shade," Abdullah says. "If your gray has a yellow tone to it, you can use a purple shampoo to remove the aging look of the yellow," she continues. This will make your grays "look a pure white or silver color, which is much better than the yellow that forms as your hair is turning gray," she points out.

woman running hands through wavy gray hair black shirt hands in hair

Parting your hair in a different way can "usually help you mask gray hairs," Abdullah notes, as they start forming "wherever your normal part is." Udoh echoes this, and concludes that in order to keep grays vibrant, you should "use purple shampoo and conditioner" that is formulated explicitly for "salt-and-pepper hair to banish brassiness." The more you know!

READ MORE: The One Thing You Should *Never* Do When You See A Gray Hair

Author:

Senior Staff Writer

Marissa is a Brooklyn-based culture journalist and senior staff writer at SheFinds, covering edgy celebrity style, timeless beauty trends, lifestyle and entertainment news. Her coverage of indie music, NYC fashion, underground and pop culture is featured in PAPER Magazine, Paste Magazine, The Knockturnal, Bandsintown and more. You can reach her at [email protected]

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