transitioning to grey hair with highlights Archives

Embracing grey hair while maintaining your dark locks is a trend that’s gaining popularity, thanks to its sophisticated and modern look. Grey blending is an excellent way to transition gracefully without completely changing your appearance. At Perfektion Hair Salon, we specialize in creating beautiful, natural-looking grey blends. Here are seven stylish ideas to help you blend your grey hair with dark hair seamlessly.

But worry not! Today, we’re here to bridge the gap between hair stylists and clients, bringing clarity and peace (well, at least in the world of hair!). Let’s demystify the tricky lingo and get you well-acquainted with the art of highlights, so by the end of this blog, you’ll not only understand what these terms mean but also how to effectively communicate your hair dreams to your colorist.

1. Subtle Highlights

Subtle highlights are an ideal way to blend grey hair with dark hair without making a drastic change. By adding highlights just a few shades lighter than your natural color, you can soften the contrast between the grey and the dark hair. Celebrities like Salma Hayek have been seen sporting this look, which adds a touch of brightness while maintaining a natural appearance.

How to Achieve This Look:

Consult with your stylist to choose the right shade for your highlights.
Opt for foil or balayage techniques to apply the highlights.

Further Reading:

Allure: The Best Highlighting Techniques for Blending Grey Hair
YouTube: How to Blend Gray Hair with Highlights and Lowlights

2. Balayage

Balayage is a freehand painting technique that creates a natural, graduated effect. This method allows for a softer transition from dark roots to lighter, grey-tinted ends. Actress Sarah Jessica Parker has been a long-time fan of the balayage technique, which helps her blend her natural grey with her blonde highlights.

How to Achieve This Look:

Request balayage from your stylist for a personalized and natural-looking blend.
Regular touch-ups every few months will keep the color fresh and well-blended.

Further Reading:

Vogue: The Art of Balayage for Gray Blending
YouTube: Balayage Technique on Grey Hair

Want highlights and you’re in Houston, TX? Get your hair slayed at Perfecktion salon!

3. Lowlights

Lowlights involve adding darker shades to your grey hair, creating depth and dimension. This technique is perfect for those who want to keep their hair dark while subtly blending in the grey. Actress Helen Mirren often uses lowlights to enhance her stunning grey hair.

How to Achieve This Look:

Choose lowlights that are one or two shades darker than your natural color.
Apply lowlights throughout the hair to blend grey and dark strands effectively.

Further Reading:

Harper’s Bazaar: How to Use Lowlights for Grey Hair Blending
YouTube: How to Add Lowlights to Grey Hair

4. Ash Tones

Ash tones can help neutralize any unwanted warmth in your hair, blending grey strands more seamlessly. Ashy hues are especially effective if you have cool undertones in your skin. Supermodel Cindy Crawford has been known to use ash tones to blend her natural greys beautifully.

How to Achieve This Look:

Consult with your stylist to select the right ash tone for your hair.
Use purple or blue shampoos to maintain the ashy hue and prevent brassiness.

Further Reading:

Marie Claire: Ash Tones and How They Help with Grey Blending
YouTube: Using Ash Tones for Grey Blending

5. Silver Highlights

How to Achieve This Look:

Opt for silver highlights to create a striking contrast.
Regular maintenance is needed to keep the silver highlights vibrant and prevent yellowing.

Further Reading:

Glamour: Silver Highlights for Grey Hair
YouTube: Silver Highlights on Dark Hair

6. Babylights

Babylights are very fine highlights that mimic the subtle, natural lightening of children’s hair. This technique offers a soft and natural transition for grey blending. Meghan Markle’s subtle highlights are an example of how babylights can create a delicate and elegant look.

How to Achieve This Look:

Request babylights for a subtle and natural effect.
Babylights require minimal maintenance, making them a low-maintenance option.

Further Reading:

InStyle: Babylights for Blending Grey Hair
YouTube: Babylights Tutorial

7. Ombre

Ombre

An ombre effect transitions from dark roots to lighter, grey-tinted ends, creating a stunning visual effect. This style can make the grey appear more intentional and stylish. Actress Diane Keaton often showcases an ombre blend, making her grey hair look modern and chic.

How to Achieve This Look:

Ask your stylist for an ombre effect to blend your grey hair.
Regular touch-ups and conditioning treatments will keep your ombre looking fresh and healthy.

Further Reading:

Elle: Ombre Techniques for Grey Hair
YouTube: Ombre on Grey Hair

Perfecting Your Highlights at Perfektion Hair Salon

Grey blending is a versatile and stylish way to transition to grey hair while maintaining the beauty of your dark locks. Whether you choose subtle highlights, balayage, lowlights, or any other technique, embracing your grey can be sophisticated and empowering. Visit Perfektion Hair Salon to discuss these options with our expert stylists and find the perfect grey blending technique for you.

By incorporating these blending techniques, you can achieve a look that complements your natural beauty and enhances your grey hair in a stylish, modern way. For more inspiration, check out our recommended articles and videos on grey hair blending techniques.

Aging gracefully often includes making the decision to let natural silver strands shine through. Whether you’re ready to embrace your grey hair fully or prefer a gradual change, blending grey hair with highlights can be a beautiful and stylish option. This guide explores the best techniques for transitioning to grey hair with highlights, ensuring a vibrant and multi-tonal look.

How to Transition to Grey Hair

1. Grow Out Your Grays Gradually

Letting your grey roots grow out naturally can create a seamless transition. As new growth appears, the contrast between grey and previously dyed hair will gradually lessen. This method requires patience, as the full transition can take several months. To maintain a polished look during this period, consider using root touch-up products to camouflage the regrowth.

Want highlights and you’re in Houston, TX? Get your hair slayed at Perfecktion salon!

2. Get Highlights or Lowlights

Adding highlights or lowlights in shades similar to your natural grey can create a blended, multidimensional look. This technique is particularly effective for those with lighter hair, as it helps integrate the greys more naturally. A professional colorist can strategically place highlights to complement your specific hair color and grey pattern.

3. Cut Your Hair Shorter

Opting for a shorter haircut can speed up the transition process. By trimming off the colored ends, you’ll reveal more of your natural grey growth. This approach is ideal for those seeking a dramatic change and can make the transition faster and more noticeable.

4. Use Blue or Purple Shampoos

Grey hair can sometimes develop unwanted yellow or brassy tones. Blue or purple shampoos and conditioners can help neutralize these hues by depositing cool pigments onto the hair. These products keep your greys looking fresh and bright. Be sure to follow the instructions to avoid over-toning.

5. Embrace Your Grays Confidently

Going grey is a natural part of aging. Embrace your greys with confidence and wear them proudly. Grey hair can be incredibly chic and stylish with the right haircut and styling products. Let go of societal pressures and outdated beauty standards—rock your greys with pride.

Real Talk on How to Transition to Grey Hair for All Hair Colors

Benefits of Transitioning to Grey with Highlights

Adding highlights to grey hair offers several benefits:

Enhances Natural Beauty: Softer, lighter tones enhance the natural beauty of grey hair.
Blends Grays Seamlessly: Blending techniques create a balanced, blended appearance.
Gradual Transition: Highlights allow for a gradual transition to grey, avoiding drastic changes.
Reduces Salon Time and Costs: Highlights reduce the frequency of salon visits compared to full hair dye.
Adds Dimension and Volume: Highlights add depth and volume, making hair look fuller.

Choosing the Right Highlights

Go 2-3 Shades Lighter

Selecting highlights 2-3 shades lighter than your natural color creates a subtle, blended look with your grey hair. This prevents the highlights from appearing dull against the grey strands.

Use Ash or Beige Tones

Ash and beige tones are ideal for blending with grey hair, as they counteract any unwanted brassiness. Cooler ash tones, in particular, help maintain a natural look.

Face-Framing Highlights and Balayage

Place Highlights Around the Face

Strategically placing highlights around the face brightens your complexion and camouflages grey roots as they grow.

Ask for Balayage Highlights

Balayage is a highlighting technique that creates a soft, natural blend of colors without a stark regrowth line, making it perfect for grey hair.

Consider Glosses or Toners

Using toning glosses or treatments after highlighting can enhance the chosen tone while adding shine and luster to the hair.

Complementary Colors for Grey Hair

Jewel Tones

Rich purples, sapphire blues, and emerald greens add a luxurious look to grey hair. These bold colors create a sophisticated and polished vibe.

Warm Reds, Corals, and Pinks

Warm shades like red, coral, and pink provide a beautiful contrast to grey hair, adding vibrancy and youthfulness.

Plums, Wines, and Burgundies

Deep reddish purples and reds blend seamlessly with grey hair, adding richness and warmth.

Navy Blues and Forest Greens

Navy blues and forest greens offer a striking color combination with ash grey hair, providing depth and sophistication.

Soft Pastels

Dusty pastel shades like pale pinks, blues, and lavenders add a delicate, romantic touch to grey hair.

Metallics

Shimmery metallics like silvers and pewters enhance the lustrous tones of grey hair, creating a modern, edgy look.

Caring for Grey Hair for African Hair Types

For Black individuals with grey hair, specific care is essential to maintain the health and vibrancy of their hair. Grey hair can be more prone to dryness and coarseness, making it crucial to use the right products and techniques.

Choosing the Right Relaxer for Grey Hair

Not all relaxers are suitable for grey hair. Using the wrong type can lead to undesirable effects, such as yellowing or increased brittleness. It’s important to select a relaxer that is gentle and specifically formulated for grey hair.

One example of a safe choice is using a no-lye relaxer, which is typically milder and less likely to cause yellowing. However, always conduct a patch test and consult with a professional stylist before applying any relaxer to grey hair.

Preventing Yellowing

Using the wrong relaxer or over-processing can turn grey hair yellow. This was the case with my mother, who has beautiful white-grey hair. She used a kid’s relaxer to straighten her hair, and unfortunately, it turned her hair yellow. To prevent this, avoid using products not intended for grey hair and incorporate a blue or purple shampoo into your routine to neutralize any yellow tones.

Perfecting Your Grey Hair Highlights at Perfektion Hair Salon

Conclusion

The decision to transition to grey hair with highlights is deeply personal. Whether you opt for subtle changes or bold transformations, working with a trusted stylist can help you achieve the look that best suits your style and preferences.

At Perfektion Hair Salon in Houston TX, we believe a thorough consultation is key to achieving the perfect result. We encourage you to bring photos and describe your desired outcome in detail, which helps us tailor our techniques to suit your individual style.

As you explore the world of highlights, remember that combining different techniques can create a truly personalized look that reflects your unique beauty. We’re here to guide you through each choice and ensure you shine with confidence.

Thank you for joining us on this detailed journey into the art of greying and hair highlighting. Whether you’re a seasoned salon-goer or new to the world of hair coloring, we at Perfektion Hair Salon are excited to help you achieve your dream hair. Ready to transform your look? Book your appointment today and let’s create magic together!

FAQs

Is it better to have highlights when going grey? Highlights can help blend new grey growth, making the transition less noticeable.

How do salons transition to grey hair? Salons use techniques like highlights, lowlights, toners, and gradual lightening to transition to grey hair.

What do highlights do to grey hair? Highlights add dimension and contrast, making grey hair look more vibrant and youthful.

Is it better to go lighter or darker to cover grey hair? This depends on your skin tone and personal preference. Consult with a stylist to determine the best option for you.

How often do I need to touch up my grey hair highlights? Touch-ups are generally needed every 6-8 weeks, depending on hair growth rate and contrast between natural color and highlights.

Can I dye my hair after getting highlights to cover the grey completely? Yes, but consult a professional stylist to avoid damage and maintain highlight integrity. Dyeing may require more frequent maintenance than highlights.

Will highlights damage my hair? When done correctly, highlights should not cause significant damage. Use high-quality hair care products and avoid excessive heat styling to maintain healthy hair.

Embracing your grey hair with highlights can be a beautiful and empowering journey. With the right techniques and colors, you can achieve a look that is both stylish and uniquely you.

Blog Archives

7 Stylish Ideas for Grey Blending with Dark Hair

1. Subtle Highlights