Gray hair has been trending on and off for some time now, with celebrities such as Lady Gaga, Ciara, Pink, and Zosia Mamet all trying out the silvery hue. Another hair color trend that won’t be going away any time soon? The ubiquitous ombré. On their own, each trend feels slightly stale at this point — but by combining them, you can have a hair style that feels fresh and edgy. Ombré gray hair is the latest hair color craze, and it’s easy to see why. The ombré adds the perfect amount of depth and visual interest to silvery gray hair, making your hair look less like your grandmother’s and more like a stormy sky.
We spoke to expert Heather Cie, head colorist of Cie Sparks Salon, to find out how to get this look. Speaking about the trend, Cie says, “We normally focus on natural hair colors and highlights; however the gray ombré and ‘icy-grey’ trend has been around for well over a year now. I’ve also noticed a lot of pastel colors are popping up among celebs.”
You may also like: Glow-in-the-Dark Hair Is 2016’s Major Hair Look That’s Still Trending
According to Cie, it’s a somewhat involved process so you probably don’t want to attempt to DIY gray hair at home. “When I ombré my clients, first I like to highlight the hair with foils to provide an even coverage,” Cie explains. “While the color is processing, I take the remaining hair outside of the foils and balayage from the middle of the hair down, ensuring the bottom of the hair is much lighter to create that ombré effect. In order to achieve a gray ombré, the bottom hair must be lifted to a very light blonde or platinum shade to ensure there is no orange or brassiness. Then you simply tone the hair with a gray toner, focusing mostly on the roots/scalp and then blending through the hair to create that gradual change in color.” Knowing these steps and the specific terms can help you get the exact gray ombré look that you want when you go see your stylist.
As for maintaining this look, Cie says, “To maintain the grey ombré color, I like to use the Evo Fabuloso Platinum Blonde Color Intensifying Conditioner to help keep the tonal grey color in place as well as regular glossers to help keep hair healthy. Another great product is the R+Co GemStone shampoo and conditioner to help and prolong the grey shade.”
Now you’re armed with all the knowledge you need to get this beautiful ombré gray hair for yourself.
