(c) Daniel Paterno
Many times I’m asked by clients if they could wear their grey hair natural and not tinted. I have a short list of questions that I like to run down to help us consider all the options for either going grey, or wearing your grey hair with a little “enhancement.” Here’re some things I like to think about and talk over with my clients…
- Is your natural grey hair really white, or just not the darker color anymore?
If your grey hair is a beautiful, icy white or smokey grey then going natural may be an option. - If I do have a beautiful white or smokey grey natural color, what hairstyle should I wear?
I usually recommend wearing a style that has a bit of “verve” to it. By that I mean, a style with some straight lines, like a one length bob with no bangs, or something shorter and spikey. Being playful with the style offsets the somberness of white or grey hair and keeps the look “fun.” - What if I want to go naturally grey, but need a little help?
There are a few options: I like to low-light (foil technique) more “pepper” into the hair. I’ve used a smokey brown, or a beautiful dark chocolate shade which looks great when you want to keep the overall color design cooler but not ashy. You can also do an all over tint with a demi-permanent color that will “stain” your greys and make them look “not white.” This gives richness and shine and the upkeep is minimal. I’ve also done low-lights and high-lights together which give more warmth and depth to grey hair and keep the maintenance low.
So.. going grey can become a large part of your signature style. Discussing these few questions with your stylist can help you figure out if “going grey” is a style option for you.
