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We’ve been conditioned to feel a certain urgency when we notice our first few grays. Commercials for at-home hair color, going back decades, would have you believe that the only course of action after a few silver strands show up is cover, cover, cover. (Never yoink, though\u2014old wives’ tales would have you believe that plucking one gray hair will trigger more to grow in.) The \u201cquiet silver\u201d trend rebuffs the notion that grays must be hidden, allowing for the previously frowned-upon blend of gray and color to shine.<\/p>\n
The concept of easing into your gray era isn\u2019t exactly new. We\u2019ve reported on how colorist Farah Hurdle does it at her San Diego salon. But as with many trends, it\u2019s been rebranded\u2014this time by Annabelle Taurua of Fresha, a booking platform, who coined \u201cquiet silver\u201d while speaking to Glamour<\/em>. But the question remains: Why is the conversation about being okay with your grays coming up yet again?<\/p>\n The process of going gray gracefully is extremely personal. After all, everyone arrives at the salon with a different base color, varying degrees of gray, and unique goals. It starts, though, with a professional consultation.<\/p>\n Hurdle, who calls her approach to quiet silver \u201cgreyblending,\u201d previously told Allure<\/em> it\u2019s all about distraction. \u201cInitially, we\u2019re trying to highlight the areas where they have more silver, and then on the areas where they might be darker, we\u2019re lowlighting,\u201d she said, explaining that she uses toners and demi-permanent color to add dimension around the gray.<\/p>\n L\u2019Or\u00e9al Professionnel is launching a hair-color application method to achieve this. Called \u201cFrench blending,\u201d it\u2019s \u201cdesigned to match every level of gray acceptance,\u201d says Jacob Habib Khan, a stylist and global creative contributor for the brand. “We formulate the shade that’s right for you using one of three different coloring techniques\u2014first blending, retouch blending, and total blending\u2014to not only cover gray hair, but also blend them for a more natural look and seamless grow-out.\u201d<\/p>\n First blending involves creating contrast with the first patches of gray for a natural, camouflaged look. This restrained approach ensures softer regrowth between salon appointments. With retouch blending, the goal is to move away from the \u201chelmet effect\u201d line of demarcation that comes with gray coverage, softening the banding. Total blending fully embraces grays for a more visible transformation.<\/p>\n French blending, overall, is based on a highly personalized strategy. \u201cFor some clients, it could take a micro-teasing approach\u2014which involves gently back-combing tiny, thin sections of hair before applying lightener\u2014and others could be candidates for a balayage,\u201d Khan says. \u201cIt\u2019s all about mirroring and re-creating the gray pattern to give the best possible blend for each client.\u201d<\/p>\n If you think starting with lighter hair might make for an easier path to quiet silver, you\u2019re not wrong. \u201cI do think it\u2019s a bit more of a seamless look on someone with a lighter natural hair color,\u201d says Suarez. \u201cThe blend is much better since the two colors do not have such a stark contrast.\u201d But that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s out of the question for those with dark hair. Says Khan, \u201cabsolutely any hair color\u201d can look gorgeous with gray mixed in.<\/p>\n It might take a while for you to decide to move forward with fully embracing your gray. Staying in this quiet silver phase is completely okay. To maintain it, Suarez says, it\u2019s key to consider your base color and how much warmth you\u2019re willing to tolerate. For lighter colors, she recommends using a purple shampoo once a week to keep your tones from getting too brassy. We\u2019re fans of the Allure<\/em> Best of Beauty Award-winning milk_shake Icy Blond Shampoo, as well as Pravana Perfect Blonde Toning Shampoo. For darker hair, Suarez says, use a color-safe shampoo that won\u2019t strip away the richness of your deeper tones. Biolage Color Last Shampoo or Wella Ultimate Color Shampoo should do nicely.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nHow to achieve quiet silver hair<\/strong><\/h2>\n
How to maintain quiet silver hair<\/strong><\/h2>\n