10 Highlights for Gray Hair That Are Colorist-Approved

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Kelly Hu with gray highlights attends the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards — Photo:
Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / Getty Images

Few things are certain in life other than getting older. And with age comes life experience and physical change — including getting gray hairs. While many of us will go gray, the journey to full-on silver hair is different for everyone. Some of us first notice a few white strands around our temples in our 20s, while others first notice a gray patch around the hairline in their 40s. Either way, whether you decide to conceal your grays with hair dye or leave them be is entirely up to you.

Since there's no wrong or right way to go gray, there are a number of ways to blend your silver strands into your existing base color so they're less noticeable or enhance them so they're extra sparkly. Whatever side you prefer, we tapped colorists Emily-Claire Sacco and Kate Reid to find out the best highlights for gray hair.

meet the expert

Emily-Claire Sacco is a colorist at Rob Peetoom Williamsburg.
Kate Reid is the Global Color Design Director at Kevin.Murphy.

Ahead, all of the hair color inspiration you need before your next visit to the salon.

VIDEO: Tia Mowry Showed Off Her Gray Hairs While on Vacation

01 of 10

Silver or Ash Blonde Highlights

Kate Moss with ash blonde highlights attends the Saint Laurent Womenswear Spring/Summer 2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week — Stephane Cardinale - Corbis / Getty Images

"Transitioning to gray using highlights can take years as highlights are very fine pieces of color and it takes a lot of them to accumulate enough saturation to break up the harsh line that occurs when growing out natural grays," says Sacci. She recommends adding highlights to blend the grays, then toning them to ash blonde or silver.

02 of 10

Glossy Natural Gray

Mara Brock Akil with straight black hair and gray highlights — Arnold Turner / Getty Images

Natural gray highlights, like Mara Brock Akil's, are low-maintenance and lovely. The two-toned color contrast of gray and black also lends dimension to her hair. Since grays tend to get dry, invest in moisturizing products to optimize hair health and shine.

03 of 10

Warm Demi Gloss

Andie MacDowell with warm-tone demi gloss attends the "The Old Oak" red carpet during the 76th annual Cannes film festival — Stephane Cardinale - Corbis / Getty Images

Brunettes who are transitioning to full-on gray, often have a harsh demarcation line separating their light roots and dark ends. For a softer, more seamless look, a gloss is a great option. "A demi gloss color will either enhance warmth or cool all your hairs down," says Reid. "This won't block out the gray, but adds a beautiful refinement to your existing color (and it would grow out with no harsh lines)."

04 of 10

Foil Highlights

"Add reflects or foil on deeper areas to create more lightness and brightness," Reid recommends. "The technique will depend on your starting depth and percentage of grey."

In between appointments, Succo suggests using a root touch-up product to keep your highlights blended.

05 of 10

Bold Chunky Highlights

JoAni Johnson with chunky silver highlights at Harlem Fashion Row at One World Trade Center — Mike Pont / Getty Images for BET

"Consider taking thicker slices to create boldness and more solid areas," says Reid. JoAni Johnson's chunky highlights are a prime example of this technique.

06 of 10

Herringbone Highlights

This technique consists of blending your grays into your base hair color. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Jessica Parker have both adopted herringbone highlights into their iconic blonde shades.

07 of 10

Face-Framing Highlights

These face-framing gray highlights brighten Kelly Hu's complexion. To ensure your grays stay soft, Sacco recommends using ultra-moisturizing products to wash your hair. Davines Momo Shampoo and Conditioner are formulated to hydrate dry, dehydrated strands.

08 of 10

Silver Roots

Flipping the aforementioned gradient on its head, Hilarie Burton is in her self-proclaimed "silver witch season." Silver roots seamlessly blend into darker lengths for a deeply dimensional color.

09 of 10

Cool Demi Gloss

Blythe Danner with cool-toned demi gloss at the "The Chaperone" New York Premiere — Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images

Blythe Danner's silver-blonde is another example of how a demi gloss can seamlessly blend silver roots with a buttery blonde base. When caring for gray hair, Reid suggests using a color-safe shampoo that's designed to eliminate brassiness such as Kevin.Murphy's Blonde Angel Wash.

10 of 10

Silver Money Piece

Stacy London with silver streak in hair attends "Halftime" Premiere during the Tribeca Festival Opening Night — Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images

A money piece is a bright, often chunky, highlight applied solely to the pieces of hair directly surrounding the face. Honey, ash, and platinum variations are the most popular, but a silvery streak can be quite distinguished. Stacey London's au naturel iteration has been serving as inspiration for years.