‘Going grey’ doesn’t have to be all or nothing
When did "going grey" have to mean growing it all out or covering it completely? There's a third way, as demonstrated by the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker, Naomi Watts and Julianne Moore: grey blending , which has seen a rise in bookings in leading salons. This is a bespoke treatment that helps to break the cycle of constant root colour, by gradually reducing permanent colour and allowing more of your natural grey to come through. The result is a much softer grow-out and far less maintenance.
Leading hair colourist and grey hair specialist Zoe Irwin is in favour of making the grey in hair stand out, for more of a statement style. "I'm turning 60 next year and I still want to look cool. Just because you're going grey doesn't mean you need to disappear," she tells me, explaining that the key with grey blending is to make sure your hair still looks dynamic. "You can blend pieces of grey into your darker, non-grey hair, while making the greys you do have 'pop'."
Irwin says Parker is often referenced by her midlife clients as someone who has this middle ground of fashionable, grown-out greys. (Back in 2022, the actress said in an interview with Allure magazine that she wished people would stop applauding her "bravery" for going grey, and that she just didn't have the time to go to the hairdresser every three weeks.)
Parker's grey-blend look is a sophisticated, low-maintenance approach - Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
"Without being intentional, the way Sarah's hair has grown out with these statement pieces around her hairline looks really polished and elevated," says Irwin, who recommends a bespoke combination of a tint and fine "micro" highlights in the rest of the hair for her clients. This way, your hair will grow out without any tell-tale lines of re-growth – meaning you can go longer between treatments.
If you don't have an area or "streak" where your greys tend to grow and they are peppered throughout instead, you can take a softer approach, similar to Julianne Moore and Naomi Watts, and blend the greys in with your natural hair colour. "I will often use a soft, semi-permanent colour that gently adds depth to the grey, while remaining sheer and allowing the natural grey to shine through," says colourist Hannah Gayle from Hershesons.
Moore, who also uses the grey-blend look, at Cannes Festival earlier this year - Laurent Koffel/Getty
The grey-blending expert Sarah Blowers, from Larry King salon, agrees. "The most flattering way to embrace grey in midlife is to blend it, rather than trying to go completely grey overnight," says Blowers, who will often use ultra-fine highlights to break up darker colour and mimic the natural greys. "Keeping the overall tone cooler helps everything melt together, so the grey feels intentional, modern and really flattering," she says. Like Irwin, Blowers prefers to embrace the natural grey around the hairline and parting, rather than covering it.
So what should you ask your hairdresser? The old trick of showing your hairdresser a picture of a celebrity's hair that you like is still a really powerful tool, says Irwin. "Collect pictures in an album on your phone of people's hair you like, and during your consultation, be honest about how often you can go in and the maintenance you're willing to undertake," she says. At the minimum, you'd need to go in for a regular toner to keep the colour looking polished and healthy.
For every colourist, the products you use at home are just as important in making sure your grey hair looks its best.
Three of the best
Ultra Strands Leave In by Loya, £80, at Loya
Irwin rates this luxurious leave-in hair treatment that dramatically reduces frizz and thickens the hair shaft over time. It's an investment, but you only need a little each time you use it.
TripleBright Oxidation Defense Purple Shampoo by K18, £39, at Space NK
Purple shampoos have come a long way in recent years, and this is one of the best on the market. It neutralises yellow tones in as little as three minutes.
Blondage High Bright Conditioning Treatment by Redken, £20, at Tesco
Although this is a conditioning treatment for blondes, it works well on greys, suggests Irwin. The inclusion of vitamin C helps to brighten all dull tones.
