HOW TO ENHANCE GREY HAIR AT ANY AGE

Thanks to silver sirens like Jamie Lee Curtis, Diane Keaton, Andie MacDowell and Emma Thompson, grey hair is now more glamorous than ever.

"I think everyone should feel confident in whatever choices they make, including embracing natural colour or texture," Jennifer Aniston told Glamour magazine in 2022.

"Hair is a creative way to express yourself, and I love that your mood and energy can change with the change of a hairstyle, cut or colour. Embrace whatever is going to make you happy."

While some celebs grow out their greys as they get older, there's no shame in choosing to conceal your snowy strands, but whatever you decide, understanding how your tresses change as you get older is the key to keeping hair looking healthy.

"Similar to your skin losing elasticity as collagen starts to fade, the pigment and melanin in hair stops working and that's how white hair starts to develop," explains creative director Joe Savine.

The first grey hairs usually start to appear in your 30s and 40s, with more significant greying occurring from 50 onwards, while the texture of the hair varies from person to person.

"Sometimes it can stay the same - some people have really smooth, silky white hair, but a lot of people find that it's a little bit coarser because it's lacking the nutrients that the rest of their hair has," Joe says.

One thing's for certain: despite what people say, plucking one grey hair won't cause more to grow in its place.

The single grey hair that sprouts from the plucked follicle only appears more noticeable, Joe says: "When it grows it hasn't got the weight of the long strand to hold it down, so it stands out more."

Whether you've got a smattering of silver, a full head of white hair or somewhere in between, here the team talk through how to make the most of grey hair at any age…

Pick the right products

"Keeping your hair in good condition is crucial because if it starts to look frizzy or dry or wispy it doesn't look as youthful," Paul says, which is why he advises using nourishing products when you get your first sprinkling of greys.

Paul highly recommends the Iles Formula Signature Collection Box, which includes shampoo, conditioner and serum.

"It's great for all hair types because you get body from it as well as the condition and protection," he says. "The serum isn't greasy, it's more like a cream so it adds body and flexible hold."

When more greys begin to sprout, purple shampoo is a must if you're choosing not to cover them, says Joe: "Grey hair is like bleached hair, things like pollution can discolour it. Violet shampoo is like a detoxifier, it takes the yellow tones out, while gold shampoo adds vibrancy and brightness."

But to avoid the dated 'purple rinse' look, don't use it every day: "If you use it every day your hair will turn purple. Using it once a week or once every two weeks will just keep it nice and bright."

Try a treatment

In salon, transforming treatments like Kérastase Premiere and L'Oreal Metal Detox (done alongside colouring) help to counteract the effects of hard water, polluted air and heat styling, while the corresponding product ranges boost hair health at home.

"If like many clients your white or grey hair tends to go frizzy I would recommend a signature smooth express treatment," says Paul. 

"This reduces frizz without making the hair dead straight, leaving the hair shiny and manageable for about three months."

Discover the full range of hair treatments at Paul Edmonds London.

Tailor your grey coverage

There are lots of flattering colour options if you wish to keep your grey hairs hidden.

"You can do an all-over colour, that's called a global or root tint and will give you 100% white hair coverage," says Joe. "However we like to create a multi-dimensional colour by keeping light and dark strands running through the hair."

He continues: "We have a lot of younger clients that just have one or two white hairs and what we do is a camouflage colour matched to their natural shade. This is done by picking up the white hairs and camouflaging them with a semi-permanent colour." 

Chat to your colourist about how to complement your complexion with your grey coverage.

"I generally say when you're older, closer to having 100% white hair, warm tones are more complementary," Joe says. 

"Because you lose the colour in your skin, so by putting the warmth back into the face it kind of reawakens you."

That could mean opting for a golden or honey blonde shade or adding warmer highlights to brunette balayage.

If you're nervous because you've never dyed your hair before, the point when greys begin to appear might be the perfect time to dip your toe in the water and experiment.

Joe explains: "Some of my clients who have natural hair, they're scared to colour it, but actually by putting a colour on it sometimes it's better because you're giving the hair pigment that it may have lost. Besides, the colourants we use are also very gentle and are filled with moisturising properties to soften the hair."

Choose a contemporary cut

As well as colour, it helps to consider how to adapt your haircut, but that doesn't mean a drastic change as soon as any wisps or grey appear.

"People often say that you should go shorter as you get older, but that's not always necessary," says Paul Edmonds.

"It doesn't matter about the length, the main thing is to stay contemporary, keep it looking groomed without looking overdone or hard."

He continues: "At the moment, fashion's moving towards a slightly undone look. It still looks like a good haircut, but it's just naturally fallen into shape without too much effort."

No matter what your age, regular trims - every six to eight weeks - are important, Paul says: "If the ends look tidy and neat then the hair is going to look in better condition."

Fabulous hair at every age

Enhancing grey hair isn't just a question of choosing whether or not to cover your silver strands - it's about keeping your locks in optimal condition.

Caring for your tresses with nourishing products, having regular trims and repairing treatments will all help to maintain your hair health throughout the years.

 

 

Treat your tresses and elevate your look with a moisturising hair treatment at Paul Edmonds London.