How To Transition Your Hair From Permanent Color To Your Natural Grey Gracefully
To all the ladies in the place with style and ...GREYS? Or whatever Biggie said.. I'm Meg Ann Lee, a hair stylist in the Eau Claire area and today we are talking about going grey gracefully. I've had the pleasure, and sometimes challenge, of helping my clients make the shift from permanent hair color to growing out their natural grey. Â Here's the truth: rocking grey hair isn't just a trend, it's a power move. It's about saying goodbye to relentless root touch-ups and embracing that glorious, shimmering crown you've earned. But, how do you make the switch from dyed hair to natural grey without feeling like a skunk in between salon visits? Let's dive into techniques and realistic expectations for your hair transition.
The one thing clients always say is that they wish they could permanently "dye their hair silver". Unfortunately, that's just not how the color molecules in hair color work.
When I discuss color options with clients, I always like to explain three MAIN points about how hair color works:
- Permanent hair color permanently changes your hair. The color will slowly fade but it WILL NOT fade back to your natural tone.
- All artificial color fades warm. Period.
- Lifted or bleached hair is permanently changed; it will not fade back to your natural hair and it WILL change the texture of your hair.
A lot of clients are like, "yep, all sounds great to me", but they often don't REALLY understand what this means for them. It means we may tone your lifted level 10 hair to a white silver but that color WILL fade to a warmer tone over time. It means that if you love your natural bouncy curl pattern, bleaching or using permanent color will cause fizziness and dryness over time. It means you cannot heat style every day and can only wash your hair once a week. Still want to go for grey hair? Let's discuss three techniques for a smooth, stylish transition.
Different Techniques
If you are thinking of a change make sure you let your stylist know ahead of time. The worst thing to do is show up at your prebooked root retouch appointment and say, "okay, so i have a picture of something totally different". Odds are you won't have enough time to get anywhere near your goal hair.
Highlights or Lowlights Transition
Imagine blending your natural color in with a few shades of grey highlights or lowlights. This technique is a game-changer because it softens the line between colored and natural hair, allowing your grey to grow in gradually. Adding highlights or lowlights in shades close to your natural grey can give you a seamless blend, making it look like you were just born fabulous this way. Plus, it's great for those who are easing into their greys but aren't quite ready to let go of all the color. If your style is funkier try color blocking instead of traditional highlight placements! This is also a great technique for someone who is all white-grey naturally and wants to add dimension. But remember my hair color facts above, all artificial color will fade warm.
The Demi Root Smudge
A root smudge is similar to your routine permanent color retouch but it's like putting a soft, cloudy buffer between your natural grey roots and the rest of your hair. By "smudging" a slightly darker or cooler tone near the roots, we create a soft, blended look that buys you time as your grey grows in. As a demi color is more translucent, some stylists describe it as a "camouflage" color but with enough layers this can stain the hairs cuticle and will leave a line of demarcation if it is formulated too dark. This technique will not always work if you are transitioning from a dark color because your roots WILL be lighter than your ends so you have to just embrace that color gradient.
Go Big with a Bold Chop
Sometimes, the best way to make a statement is to go short. A chic pixie cut or modern bob can remove the bulk of dyed hair, giving your grey a fresh start. Not only does a bold cut reduce the "in-between" stage, but it also shows off your natural color with confidence. For those of you who are brave enough to take the plunge, this option can be surprisingly liberating and honestly THE BEST option for going grey IMO. With this technique you aren't fighting against ANY lingering pigment or bleached hair.
Realistic Expectations
When doing any big color transformation, a test strand will give you the answers! I usually require this during a color consultation for a big transformation.
Asking your stylist to take your hair from a level 4 permanent dark brown to an icey, silver tone takes so much time, product and to be honest a lot of hair won't be able to remain "healthy" during that big of a color change. Can some? Yes! Check out Jack Martin on Instagram for AMAZING results. But once you do, don't bring those pictures to your hairstylist as an inspo unless you're ready for the price tag. Jack is a specialist with years of training. Clients fly from all over the world to see him and he charges THOUSANDS for his color transformations. Yes, thousands not hundreds. So no, your hairstylist probably can't tackle that grey hair project at 5pm on a Friday night for $250. Sorry not sorry.
Confidence is Key
Here's the bottom line: going grey is more about confidence than anything else. I see funky types of hair color combos all the time and truly it comes down to confidence. When you own your natural color, whether it's silver, white, or peppery salt, it becomes part of your signature look. So stand tall, let that silver shine, and remember - your natural grey is a statement of strength, wisdom, and grace.
As your stylist, my job is to make sure you are realistic with your expectations, and you walk out of the salon looking (and feeling) incredible every step of the way. Whether you choose highlights, root smudging, or a bold haircut, just know that you're rocking that grey with style <3