I just wanted to say how much I love your transition to ‘grey’. The colour and hairstyle suits your cool colouring so well. I note that in the photos, you always include touches of blue that tone in beautifully with your hair and skin. Did this change entail a huge wardrobe review and discard of items that no longer suit you? I am a warm colouring with the ever-present freckles like your friend but I wussed out of going ‘grey’ during 17 weeks lockdown. To me, grey is a cool, blue-based colour, so I’m concerned that I will require lots of new clothes if I eventually do. Is there such a thing as ‘warm’ grey hair colour? Margaret
Warm Grey vs Cool Grey
Going grey has been an interesting experience and I’m lucky enough to have had a warm undertoned friend who has embraced her grey at the same time. Alison Goodman (Spicy Gal Goes Grey posts here) has also embraced her grey and when you see our photos next to each other (below) you can see what a difference her warmer grey is compared to my cooler grey.
Alison Goodman (left) has warm grey hair, whilst I have cool grey hair
In fact, when Alison dropped by for me to redo her colour analysis with her new grey hair, I noticed how much more taupe (brown-grey) it was as compared to my silver-white grey. The base colour from where you’re greying from a warmer or cooler natural hair colour will change how your grey appears.
Should You Go Grey?
Only you can decide this! I’m lucky, according to my hairdresser I’ve got a nice even grey head of hair. The front is lighter than the back (front is around 90% grey, back is around 70% grey) but it is a fairly even change from front to back. I decided not to grey until I was mostly grey, rather than going grey from lots of dark hair.
You’ll never know unless you experience it for yourself. It’s got to be something you want to do. The way I approached it, was with the knowledge that if I didn’t like it, I could always dye it again. But I wanted to give myself enough time with grey hair (like a minimum of a year) to see how I felt about it. I know that it takes a long time to get used to major changes, it took at least a year to get used to seeing myself as a blonde rather than a brunette, so I have to give myself at least the same amount of time to get used to my silver before making any decisions.
Wardrobe Changes Going Grey
I absolutely didn’t throw out my old wardrobe! Going grey doesn’t necessarily mean getting rid of everything. There are ways of adapting your existing wardrobe as you go grey. Now I had a bigger change in my wardrobe when I went from dark hair to light hair, as my ideal value changed (Ideal value is the overall depth or lightness of your hair colour – which more of your outfit should replicate).
I have some clothes that are a bit brighter than what is my best intensity now that has softened down a little, so I will wear a brighter lipstick with them (like in the image above), and because my skin is shiny and the front of my hair is quite white and bright – this allows me to wear brighter colours still.
Instead, doing things like overdyeing brighter colours with a little grey is a great way of keeping your favourites but making them work better for you if your colouring has become smokier and softer with grey hair.
It’s the colour and value contrasts that change with hair colour changes that make adaptations in your wardrobe important – and this is where dye is such a great tool, to turn outfits from not-so-great – into fabulous again with your new colouring.
Given that grey is a softer, smokier colour – then the colours that flatter you will become a little softer and smokier. Though this may not be forever – it depends if you stay grey, or if you end up with bright white hair, which then is brighter again.
This is were getting a new colour analysis can help you transition between palettes (Jill Chivers and I chatted about this in the video here).
Changing Neutrals
What I did change was my neutrals. When I had very dark brown hair (it looked black to many) black and dark cool browns were my go-to-neutrals (along with a dark navy). When I changed to a platinum blonde, my best neutral became white and a soft denim blue.
Now that I’m grey, grey has become my best neutral and I’ve started to collect grey clothes, these didn’t look good at all when I had the dark hair, but now are great.
If you are wanting more going grey inspiration (or I call it, Greyspiration), Instagram is the place to go as there are so many grey hair hashtags you can follow, to see others making the transition and embracing their grey.
There are some great hashtags to follow or check out, that include: #goinggrey #silversisters #grayhair #embracingmygrey #goinggreygracefully #goinggraygracefully #grombre #graytransition #greyhair #goinggraydontcare #grayhairmovement #greyisbeautiful #ditchthedye #greyismycolor #greyandproud #embracethegrey #grayonpurpose #silverfox #saltandpepperhair #dyefree #openlygrey #naturalgreyhair #silveristhenewblonde
If you want to see some amazing grey transformations – one of the best is Jack Martin (a LA based hairdresser) who shows you some of what is possible (with many hours in the chair).
Warm Grey Hair Gals
Here are a few Insta accounts with warm undertone women who are embracing their greys.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by 𝓢𝓾𝓮 🤍🇨🇦 (@thesilvertitaniumlife)
View this post on InstagramA post shared by IamRQueen (@greytalesguru)
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Missy (@chroniclesofgraytransformation)
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Rev. Penelope Horton B.Msc. (@kemancestry)
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Monica Ippoliti (@brizzolando)
If you want tips on going grey (or just finding the right haircut and colour for you) then check out my Hair and Makeup Masterclasses here (which are also included as a special bonus as part of my 7 Steps to Style program).
More Tips on Choosing Your Grey
Choosing Colours When You Have Grey Hair But a Warm Skin Undertone
How to Adjust Your Wardrobe for Your New Grey?
How to Choose the Best Grey for Your Colouring
Shades of Grey – How to Pick the Right Grey