How to Transition to Grey Hair and Love Your ‘Do

Grey hair is beautiful, natural and increasingly stylish, spurred on by fashion designers in the 2010s and the global pandemic in the 2020s (may salons never close again!). Lots of people feel that embracing their silvery locks lets them laugh in the face of age and beauty stereotypes. In fact, more and more of us […]

Back to listings

Grey hair is beautiful, natural and increasingly stylish, spurred on by fashion designers in the 2010s and the global pandemic in the 2020s (may salons never close again!).

Lots of people feel that embracing their silvery locks lets them laugh in the face of age and beauty stereotypes. In fact, more and more of us are looking for information on how to welcome the changing pigments in our strands, or choosing to go grey via bleach and toners.

If you’re in that first camp though, there might be an awkward in-between stage when you’re transitioning to grey hair. Our amazing Colour Workshop expert, Kirsty Judge, is here to explain how transitioning to grey hair with highlights, lowlights and other methods, can transform your ‘do, and keep you feeling fabulous until your gorgeous grey grows in.

When you’ve decided what step to take next, find your nearest Rush salon and book an appointment so we can help you on your way to being a silver-haired vixen.

Tip 1: Go at your own pace

Finding your new grey look is your journey, no one else’s. It’s a big change and there’s no rush, so let your hair grow in naturally, help it on its way or continue dyeing it until you’re ready; it’s your choice!

Remember, too, that it can take several salon sessions across a few months, to get your mane exactly how you want it.

Tip 2: Try an off-duty style while your roots grow

If your hair is long, there are lots of updos you can experiment with. Disguise your demarcation (the line where your hair colour changes) with a headband braid, French plaits or a quiff.

For more obvious demarcations, in tresses that have been recently dyed, accessories can be your best friend. Try a bandana, or twist sections into clips around your hairline and complete the look with a wild, messy bun.

Tip 3: Choose root smudging for an ombré effect

Another way to minimise upkeep and grow out grey hair naturally, root smudging can be used to blend the line between your new silver roots and your dyed or original colour.

There are no rules about what shades can go together with ombré, though you’ll achieve a softer aesthetic if your ‘old’ hair has a lighter, brighter hue, while unnatural or very dark colours will lend themselves to a striking finish.

Tip 4: Bite the bullet and remove your colour

Excited to wear your grey locks like a crown? There are some handy steps to help your hair grow faster, but there’s also the option of removing your colour, with two main techniques.

As with any chemical process, each can cause damage, so its best to discuss with your hairdresser if either is suitable for your mane’s current condition, and how best to care for it afterwards.

Sulfur-based stripping

Your hairdresser will strip any dye out of your hair so it reaches its original pigment; you might choose this if your demarcation is particularly harsh due to previous colouring.

Bleaching

These days, we call it pre-lightening, but the idea is to first remove both artificial and natural colour from your hair. Then, a variety of grey toners can be applied, which will give it multi-tonal depth.

Of course, this means your natural grey is entirely covered again, and you’ll need regular salon appointments to keep your roots matching your lengths.

Tip 5: Opt for the chop

What better time to roll out that long bob you’ve been dancing around for years? New colour, new cut, new you! And it will majorly speed up your grey coverage.

Tip 6: Move to being dye-free with lowlights

The right lowlights will be close to your outgrowing colour, making the demarcation less obvious, even as your hair grows longer, and allowing a more subtle transformation.

As you progress, put fewer lowlights in until you’re ready to let your grey strands rule the roost.

Tip 7: Get highlights to enhance your silver

Highlights can help you thread greys, silvers and whites through your lengths and enjoy your sultry new look sooner. Similarly to lowlights, they’ll also blend away your demarcation.

Once your hair is grey to the tips, you can choose to phase out the highlights or use a subtle mix alongside lowlights for a dimensional finish.

Maintaining and styling your new grey ‘do

Just as you’ve always had to look after your locks to keep them healthy, you’ll need to pay even more attention to them when they’ve turned grey. Hair that has lost its pigment will produce less sebum, so it might feel coarser and drier than before.

Avoid styling with heat where possible, and keep your tresses hydrated with a regular deep conditioner. Treatments like Nano Smoothing and Fusio-Dose that reduce frizz and enhance shine can deliver injections of moisture when you need it.

Transitioning to grey hair in all its glory does take time and patience, but the results are sensational. Hair colour correction can be just as transformative; find out how this process fixes unwanted shades with minimal damage.