Embrace the Gray with This Hot Hair Color - A Celebrity Stylist Shares How

Going gray? Don’t fret it!

Shades of gray are in, at least according to NYC-based celebrity hair stylist Brandon Hoover of Uncommon Hair Co.

It’s pretty easy to maintain right now too.

It’s pretty easy to maintain right now too.

“Silver hair is a great color during winter because you naturally experience less exposure to the elements that cause it to fade quickly, such as the sun, saltwater, and chlorinated water,” he says. “Cool tones of silver hair also echo the cool tones of the colder months, which I think is very chic!”

Let’s just put it out there - silver hair is simply alluring anytime of year.

Of course, achieving that perfect shade can be laborious, especially if your hair is darker in hue, so I decided to put my own scalp to the ultimate test and undergo the trendy dying process with Hoover himself. Here’s how I landed these platinum locks.

The Prep

Before taking part in any bleach job, it’s important to first establish whether or not you’re a good candidate.

“There is a silver tone, from dark to light, for everyone,” says Hoover. “But I would recommend this trend for people who have the budget for maintenance, the discipline for using the proper product, and the ability to avoid the elements that cause fading and discoloration.”

In fact, if you’re already going gray, Hoover actually recommends leaving the hair alone.

“Let Mother Nature and the stresses of the world work their magic,” he recommends.

But there are a couple of ways you can accentuate an already-silver mop to make it look its best.

“If the client covers their grays with hair color and they want to grow it out, you can start highlighting in silver hair to blend the natural grays into the previously colored hair,” he says. “This may take a few appointments to get to a place where maintenance is no longer necessary, but it can turn out quite beautiful with a bit of patience.”

The Process

For those whose hair hasn’t taken a complete turn into gray territory, you’ll undergo a three-step process to achieve the perfect look. Of course, your hair must have the health and “integrity to withstand bleaching,” which a stylist will determine after an initial consultation.

(Steps provided by Hoover.)

Step One: Lighten the Hair

“Lighten hair to a level nine or 10 for best results. Lift the hair to the color of the inside of a banana. This will ensure that the toner isn’t working overtime to camouflage the yellow tones and that it will fade within the same color family of silver.”

Step Two: Apply the Toner

“Apply desired toner on hair. I recommend using a more intense, deeper toner at the root and switching to a brighter, more pale toner as you work your way down the hair strand. Note that silver hair is rarely provided from a tube — it almost always takes a lot of color theory and creative influences from the colorist to achieve the desired shade.”

Step Three: Style the Hair

“If you blow dry, it’s best to use a cooler setting. Hot air can quickly push out the color molecules that you just spent so much time and money putting into the hair.”

The Maintenance

Once the desired outcome has been accomplished, the client has two options when it comes to general maintenance in the coming months.

First, you can opt for a full coverage bleach retouch.

“I suggest doing this every eight weeks for best results,” says Hoover. “This will allow the boldness of silver to come from the scalp”

“But if you are looking for more dimension, you can also alternate with foiling in the silver for more depth,” he adds.

If you’re on a budget, your other option is to come every eight weeks for what Hoover describes as “root shadow.”

“This is a toning service where we use a darker silver to connect your natural hair to the lightened hair.”

Of course, the quality of your color is only as good as the products you use to preserve it. Here are Hoover’s top silver hair must-haves he suggests before the treatment.

Shampoos

Kevin Murphy Blonde Angel

Olaplex No. 4 Purple Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

Conditioners

Kevin Murphy Blonde Angel Treatment (for a brighter, lighter silver)

Kevin Murphy Cool Angel Treatment (for a darker, smoky gray)

After-Care and Styling

Kevin Murphy Shimmer Me Blonde Mist

Olaplex No. 3 Hair Perfector with four drops of IGK Mixed Feelings Toning Drops mixed in