How You Can Embrace The Beauty Of Going Grey

A few years ago, I decided to stop colouring my hair and go grey. I know – that's a decision that tends to elicit some gasps, and I got quite a few comments, ranging from how old I looked to how cool I looked. There were fervent appeals from college friends to go back to colour so as not to age them, and protests from my nieces and nephews that I would no longer look like their ‘cool’ aunt. On the other hand, there were positive strokes from people who complimented me on my elegant new look and women on my social media feed who said they were inspired to go grey as well.  

Thanks to the pandemic and various lockdowns, I, like many of you, have been confidently flaunting my fifty shades of grey—barring one experiment with a new burgundy shade for a few months. And though salons have reopened I am toying with the idea of holding out a little longer. In case you are considering it too, here are a few tips to help you embrace the grey and ease into silver status.  
 

Start Short   
Getting a buzz cut and starting over is the quickest way to have a full head of fresh all-over grey hair, but it is a drastic step. And we all know how we look forward to having short hair, but almost immediately go back to missing our long hair once the big chop is done!  
Instead, cut off an inch every couple of months, if you have long locks, to balance out the grey being revealed. For most people, it is this in-between stage of dual coloured and sometimes multi-coloured hair (your hair colour is also fading out) that makes them give up. A regular trim will ensure your hair looks balanced and groomed. If you are transitioning naturally (lucky you), you will go easily from elegant salt and pepper to full grey, so you need not worry. 

Graduate Lightly 
Sometimes, you may not be ready to fully commit – and I completely get that. If going cold turkey on colour seems daunting, try switching to a lighter hair colour, one that makes your hair a little translucent. It will cut the stark visual contrast of dark and grey. Shades of blonde or caramel will help blend the grey better. It will also give you time to get used to the change. Consult your colourist for the best way to do this – it may not be the best idea to try this one at home.

Go Directional   
Let’s say that you want to cover up, but you also want to acknowledge your grey. In that case, it’s best to keep a fashionable forelock grey or toss in a few grey streaks (think of it as grey highlights) while you colour the rest of your hair. It is a statement of intent, and it looks terrific.

Balance the Colour 
You may have visualised your grey as a full silver mane, but you find that it shows an unflattering yellow tinge. Try a colour balancing shampoo to bring out a little freshness to your grey. A purple shampoo, recommended by experts, helps tone down the yellow.  

This is also the time to switch to care products meant specifically for grey hair that is usually weaker and prone to frizz. Don’t stop the hair spa and deep conditioning, you still need to keep your hair in top condition.

Up the Makeup 

If like many of us, you have a yellow undertone in your skin tone then your face might look a little more washed out when you go grey. There’s an easy way to remedy that - try to wear makeup that complements this change. Experiment with what you are used to but recalibrate shades—a navy or dark grey kohl pencil instead of jet black or a hint of silver in your eye shadow sound like minor changes but will make a world of a difference.  
 

Top tip: A peach, rose or coral blush works wonders to give your face some colour.