14 On-Trend Gray Hair Ideas To Try

When you think about cool-toned hair colors, it’s likely that shades like mushroom brown or ash blonde are the first that come to mind. And while we love those hues, there are a lot of unique gray hair color ideas worth your attention, too. While gray hair was once associated with aging, this striking shade is shaping up to be one of this year’s coolest hair color trends. Frankly, it’s not hard to see why: with so many different gray shades to choose between, from pale platinum gray hair to smokey charcoal, there’s a gray hair color to flatter just about anybody. Whether you’re looking to make a bold statement with your next hair color transformation or are looking for a stylish way to embrace your graying roots, keep reading. Ahead, we’re sharing 14 of our favorite gray hair color ideas to try and offering tips on keeping your silvery strands looking their very best between touch-ups.

How To Choose the Right Gray Hair Color

First things first: You should always feel free to embrace whichever hair color you like best. But for the most flattering end result, it’s a good idea to consider your skin tone. Dark gray hair contrasts beautifully against fairer skin tones, while lighter shades—think silver and champagne—pop against deeper complexions.

It’s also important to consider your skin’s undertones (in other words, the underlying tint of your skin). Undertones are typically characterized as warm, cool, or neutral. As a general rule, opting for a hair color that matches your skin’s undertones will yield the most flattering results. While gray hair is definitely on the cooler end of the spectrum, that doesn’t mean it’s off-limits for those with warm skin. However, you may want to steer clear of stark silvers and instead embrace a softer shade of gray, such as taupe or muted beige. Those with cool skin, meanwhile, look great in icier shades like platinum gray, silver, and blue-gray.

Finally, you’ll want to determine how much work you’re willing to put into getting—and maintaining–your ideal gray hair color. If you’re opting for a lighter shade of gray, you may need to bleach your hair. Bleach can be damaging, and if you’re not sporting gray roots, you’ll need to make time for touch-ups every six weeks or so. Those who prefer a lower-maintenance option may want to consider opting for a silvery balayage instead.

If you’re still unsure which gray hair color shade is right for you, consider consulting with a professional via our Hair Color Concierge—our team of experts can help guide you in the right direction.

How can I wear a gray hair color without looking old?

If you’re wary of gray hair making you appear old—or, at the very least, older than you are—there are a few things you can do to ensure your color looks fresh and modern. Pairing your gray hair color with a modern, on-trend cut (like the shag) can help keep the look feeling young and playful. Adding some dimension can help, too—consider brightening up your chosen hue with soft silver highlights or adding depth with thoughtfully placed lowlights.

Perhaps one of the most impactful ways to make gray hair look young and fresh is by emphasizing shine. Natural gray hair tends to be dull and flat, which can contribute to an aged appearance. To keep your silvery strands shiny, add a glossing shampoo and conditioner to your routine. We love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Shampoo and the coordinating L’Oreal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Conditioner. The former gently cleanses and boosts shine, while the latter moisturizes and smooths for sleek, glossy strands. Pair the duo with the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing 5-Min Lamination Hair Mask for intense, glass-like shine that lasts up to five days.

14 Pretty Gray Hair Color Ideas We Love

If you need inspiration before buying a gray hair color dye, keep scrolling—below, we’re sharing 14 on-trend hair color ideas for gray hair.

1. Bright silver

Jazz up your natural gray strands by asking your colorist to add silvery babylights throughout. The barely-there highlights will help brighten your base color without adding too much maintenance to your usual haircare routine.

2. Charcoal gray

Charcoal gray is the perfect in-between gray hair color for those who want to try out the gray hair color trend without making a huge commitment to bright silver strands. We love how this cool-toned hue amps up dark hair color in a fun, unique way. It’s also a great option for those with dark hair looking to slowly transition to gray.

3. Ashy gray

Of all of the different shades of gray to choose from, ashy gray is one of our favorites. The versatile hue is neither distinctly light nor dark, and it complements both fair and deep complexions beautifully.

4. Lavender gray

Gray hair traditionally lacks color, but it doesn’t have to—we love how a subtle lavender tint adds a playful twist to a classic silver hair color. To keep your silvery purple strands looking their best, we recommend adding a brass-neutralizing purple shampoo and conditioner to your weekly haircare routine. Try the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Shampoo for Toning Blonde Bleached Hair and the coordinating L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate Free Purple Conditioner for Toning Blonde Hair.

5. Blue-gray

It doesn’t get much cooler than an icy, blue-gray mane. This chilly shade pairs well with cool-toned skin and, like lavender gray, is an unexpected way to experiment with gray hair. If you’re unsure whether you’re ready to commit to the colorful look, consider test-driving it with a temporary or semi-permanent hair dye.

6. Gunmetal gray

This black and gray hair color idea features a medium gray base with soft silvery highlights and deep charcoal lowlights woven throughout. The effect is alluring and dimensional and makes for a super stylish way to blend existing grays with highlights and lowlights.

7. Platinum gray

Blondes looking to play with gray need not look far: This ultra-light hue falls squarely between platinum blonde and silver and boasts a distinctly cool undertone. To keep your platinum silver hair looking its best between touch-ups, you’ll likely need to tweak your haircare routine. We suggest swapping your existing shampoo and conditioner for a system designed specifically for silver hair, like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Silver Care Shampoo for Gray Hair and the coordinating L’Oréal Paris EverPure Silver Care Conditioner for Gray Hair.

8. Snowy gray

Snowy gray is about as close as you can get to white while still being in the gray family. It’s bold, it’s attention-catching, and it’s a great pick for those looking to make a statement with their strands. Note that unless your hair is already completely white, you’ll need to lighten your hair to achieve this striking hue. You can DIY it with the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach, which can lighten your hair up to eight levels.

9. Smokey silver

Metallic smokey silver hair is a great pick for those with fairer skin tones who may feel washed out by lighter silver or platinum shades. The rich shade also complements deeper cool-toned complexions beautifully. To achieve the versatile look at home, pick up an at-home coloring kit, such as the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Smokey Silver.

10. Salt and pepper

Salt-and-pepper hair isn’t one color: Rather, it’s the dimensional look that occurs when natural grays start growing throughout a darker brown or black base color. While it often occurs naturally with age, it’s also a great option for those seeking a hair color idea for dark hair with gray roots, since it doesn’t require a total hair overhaul. However, if you find your roots start graying faster than the rest of your hair, you can blend them out with a root touch-up product, like the L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Root Rescue 10 Minute Root Hair Coloring Kit.

11. Rose silver

Rose gold is one of our favorite ways for brunettes to embrace pink hair—but if you have light blonde or gray strands, we suggest trying rose silver instead. This feminine hue features a blend of soft pink and metallic silver for a shimmering pastel color with a decidedly luxurious feel.

12. Silver balayage

If you’re on the hunt for a hair color idea to blend gray roots, try a bright silvery balayage. With this technique, your colorist will hand-paint individual sections of hair to add brightness, depth, and dimension. Unlike highlights, which typically begin at the root, balayage usually starts a few inches down—this gives the color a lived-in effect and helps mask regrowth. If you’re up for DIY-ing it, pick up the L’Oréal Preference Superior Preference Balayage At-Home Highlighting Kit to lighten select strands.

13. Charcoal ombré

Ombré is a hair coloring technique in which the roots are left dark and the hair is lightened from the mid-lengths to the ends for a gradient effect. Charcoal ombré is particularly well-suited for those with dark or black hair, as it adds interest without lightening your existing color too much.

14. Silver blonde

If you tend to favor natural-looking hair color ideas, gray-blonde may be an option worth considering. This bright, ashy shade is the perfect in-between color for blondes looking to transition to an all-over gray hair color. Best of all, it can easily be recreated at home with an ashy blonde hair dye, such as the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Creme Cool Supreme Permanent Gray Coverage Hair Color in Ultra Ash Medium Blonde.

How To Maintain Your Gray Hair Color at Home

As with any other hair color, gray requires special care to look and feel its best. Here are a few tips to consider to help keep your color looking vibrant and fresh between touch-ups.

1. Use a color-safe shampoo and conditioner

Anytime you dye your hair, it’s a good idea to update your routine with color-safe products to help preserve your new hue. We love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Conditioner. The reparative duo gently cleanses and hydrates color-treated hair while helping to strengthen it from the inside out to support smooth, shiny-looking strands.

2. Deep condition your hair regularly

Coloring your hair can contribute to dryness, so to keep your hair feeling nourished, we recommend using a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week. Try the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Total Repair 5 Damage Erasing Balm Rinse-Out Mask—it contains a 17% repair concentrate with protein and almond oil and is designed to help repair up to one year’s worth of damage to hair smoothness in just a single use. We recommend leaving it on your hair for three to five minutes before rinsing to reap the full benefits of the nourishing formula.

3. Limit heat styling

If you heat style your hair every day, try cutting back to just once or twice a week—overexposure to high temperatures from styling tools can damage your hair and dull your color. If you must use hot tools, be sure to prep your strands well with a heat protectant to help shield your strands from unnecessary damage. We love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair Hair Oil-in-Serum—the lightweight formula softens, smooths, and helps protect against temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. You can even use it on dry hair to give your look an extra-shiny finish.

4. Get regular trims

Last but not least, be sure to schedule regular trims to snip off split or frazzled ends and help keep your mane looking its best. How often you’ll need to cut your hair depends on how quickly it grows, but generally, it’s recommended to get a trim once every six to eight weeks.

Next Up: 8 Ways To Conceal Unwanted Grays Fast

Photo courtesy of L’Oréal Paris