Letting gray take over your hair is not always easy. Here is the perfect technique for a smooth transition.
Goodbye to the demarcation effect and the contrasting regrowth! For all those who, after the age of 50, dream of taking the step of gray hair with disconcerting elegance and naturalness, colorists have finally developed the perfect solution. Imagine a new generation balayage, a true hairdresser’s secret that acts as a subtle bridge between your old color and your first silver locks. This blend of tones, both soft and neutral, blurs the roots, adds shine to your hair and allows you to embrace your natural color without any effort or visual shock.
Forget the camouflage strategy: the technique consists on the contrary of enhancing nascent silver hair, giving it an elegant shade. Concretely, greige (contraction of gray and beige) is a unique shade born from the incorporation of cold and warm pigments. It is not a mixture of individual strands entirely gray and other beige. This is a hybrid color, ideal for blonde hair, which is sprinkled along the lengths. “By mixing cool beige and soft silver shades, you get a seamless transition that looks fresh and modern“, Sibi Bolan, a professional colorist, tells the British version ofHarper’s Bazaar. These highlights bring a luminous side to the mane, without abruptly marking the regrowth unlike classic coloring. The shade can be precisely adjusted to your base and skin tone. “The key is to find that perfect neutral that compliments your skin: it should feel like it’s yours“, continues the professional.
Brunettes are obviously not left out. You will simply have to opt for darker shades, which will be applied on the mid-lengths to the ends. “This creates the same chic and natural effect, while maintaining the vitality of the hair“, specifies Sibi Bolan. It should be noted that, regardless of your base color, greige is not done in a single appointment at the salon. It is a long process, “a dialogue of tones between your natural hair and your evolving style, and it should always make you feel more like yourself, not less.“To achieve the desired effect, don’t hesitate to show your hairdresser some inspiration photos.
The perfect example? British actress and producer Emma Thompson, whose locks have already convinced thousands of women to take the plunge and let naturalness come back full force.
