How To Transition To a Gray Hair Color

Transitioning to a gray hair color, like any change, can be intimidating. But there’s a lot of good that can come out of embracing your natural hair color. Not only can gray hair colors be gorgeous (silver strands are trending for a reason), but they also tend to require less upkeep. Once your gray grows in completely, you can say goodbye to the salon appointments and at-home touch-ups. Plus, going gray may even bring about a new wave of confidence.

Of course, making this transition, especially if you’ve been coloring your graying hair, is easier said than done. No one wants to see harsh lines of demarcation while their roots start to grow, but there are ways to make the process smoother. Here, we’re sharing tips for transitioning to gray hair when you have color-treated hair, plus the best haircare products to use on a silvery mane.

How to Transition to a Gray Hair Color

Here are 13 tips to help you transition seamlessly from dyeing gray hair to embracing your new, natural hue.

1. Know your gray goals

Understanding your gray goals is key to choosing the right approach and routine for you. Whether you want to go straight to silver or opt for a slower approach with a salt-and-pepper blend, clarity is key. Once you know your vision, every choice—from the shampoos you use to whether you blend your grays with highlights or lowlights—becomes that much simpler.

2. Go gray for a day

If you’re not sure you’re ready to commit to gray hair permanently, take it for a test drive with a temporary silver hair color. These formulas are designed to wash out in about a day (or with your next shampoo), so you can try out the look without any lasting commitment.

3. Let your roots grow in

If you’re ready to take the plunge and go gray, the first step is, unsurprisingly, to stop coloring your roots. To avoid a harsh line of demarcation as your roots grow in, you can visit the salon and have your colorist use the root smudging technique to blend your natural gray roots with the rest of your hair. This will allow for a gradual transition between hues as your hair grows, making growing out gray hair far simpler than you might assume.

4. Apply all-over permanent gray hair color

With the right at-home hair coloring kit, transitioning to gray hair is a lot easier than you’d think. All you need to do is dye your strands with an all-over gray hair color that closely matches your natural shade of gray. This way, it won’t be noticeable when your roots grow in.

Our best hair color for gray hair is the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Smokey Silver. The gentle, deep conditioning formula delivers gorgeous, dimensional color without being harsh or damaging your strands. If a deep silver feels a little too intimidating, try a light, cool-toned blonde hue for an easy blend. We like the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Champagne Blonde.

1. Go Gray for a Day 

If you’re not sure you’re ready to commit to gray hair permanently, test out the hue with the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Silver. Mist the color over your mane for a shimmering, temporary silver-gray hair color. When you’re ready to part with your temporary mane makeover, simply wash the color out with your regular shampoo.

2. Gray Your Roots

If you’re looking to take the plunge and go gray, the first step is to embrace your roots. This means no reaching for root cover-up at the first sight of grays — consider it a different take on the rooted, lived-in hair color trend. 

If you’re worried about a harsh line, you can head to the salon and have your colorist use the root smudging technique with a shade that matches your natural gray strands. This will allow for a smooth transition between hues as your roots continue to grow.

3. Apply Hair Color With Foils

If you’re trying to transition to gray hair, you want to avoid an all-over dye job. Instead, have your colorist apply your hair color with foils — much like applying highlights, except you won’t be lightening your hair, you’ll be coloring it gray. This will simply help you transition between the two shades more seamlessly and naturally.

4. Opt for Highlights and Lowlights

Speaking of the foil technique, transitioning to gray hair with highlights and lowlights is a great option for those who aren’t quite ready to part with their multi-dimensional color and salon visits just yet. The variation of shades will allow your grays to blend beautifully with the rest of your strands while adding some brightness to your color. 

5. Try an Updo

When it comes to growing gray hair that’s colored, your hairstyle can be your saving grace for keeping root outgrowth hidden — especially if you want to forgo coloring your hair altogether. Aside from hair accessories, updos tend to also draw attention away from the outgrowth between your gray and the dyed hair. Consider a messy bun or a French braid. 

6. Apply All-Over Permanent Hair Color in Gray

With the help of the right at-home permanent hair coloring kit, transitioning to gray hair can be easy. All you need is to dye your strands an all-over gray color as this will seamlessly blend those gray roots you didn’t know what to do with in the first place.

If you want to ease into an all-over gray mane, color your strands with the L’Oréal Paris Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Soft Silver Blonde. This shade walks the line between blonde and gray, and the formula provides vivid color for up to eight weeks. Or, try the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Silver for an all-over gray mane. This pick delivers gorgeous, dimensional color without being harsh or damaging on your strands.  

7. Use a Hair Gloss to Tint Light Hair 

 If you have light hair, use an in-shower glossing treatment like the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Silver to blend your grays with the rest of your hair. This treatment works in as little as five minutes, and deep conditions the hair while it corrects faded color. The result is shiny and vibrant strands in a single treatment — think of it like bringing the salon to your house. 

8. Cut Your Hair

If you don’t want to wait for your hair to grow out, a haircut is a great way to remove your color-treated hair for a uniform gray mane. Sport short gray hair via a cropped buzz cut or a structured box bob to eliminate the transition period.  

How to Care for Gray Hair 

As you age, your hair’s appearance goes through various changes ranging from color, thickness and shine. To keep it healthy, you must upgrade your hair routine with hair care products that can deeply condition gray hair. 

Reach for the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Silver Care Sulfate Free Shampoo with Peptides and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Silver Care Sulfate Free Conditioner with Peptides. When used together, the hair care system intensely hydrates, strengthens and renews silver and gray hair for a bouncy style with noticeable shine. 

How Long Does It Take to Transition to Gray Hair?

Typically, the average transition to gray hair is six months to 18 months. It takes time because you’re simply waiting for your hair to grow. There are things you can do to speed up the process like getting a haircut (to remove the colored hair) or dyeing all your hair gray. 

Next: How Much Hair Loss Is Normal?

Photographer: Stephanie Price, Photo Assistant: Thomas Miller, Digi Tech: Sergio Colon, Art Director: Hannah Packer, Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Content Director: Shalwah Evans, Visual Designer: Sarah Duvivier, Makeup Artist: Kelly Bellevue, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Wardrobe Stylist: Rika Watanabe, Wardrobe Assistant: Fausti, Model: Jacky Lee

8. Use a semi-permanent hair color

Semi-permanent dyes are a great in-between option for those who want to ease into the gray transition. These ammonia-free hair dyes come in a variety of shades that add vibrant color to the hair and fade gradually with each shampoo (typically, they last for a week or two). Take your graying hair as an opportunity to experiment with bold shades you may not have considered trying before, such as pink, purple, or blue—since the dye washes out, you won’t have to worry about it interfering with you growing out gray hair.

9. Consult a professional

If you aren’t sure about the best option for coloring gray hair as you transition your shade, it can pay off to go to a professional. They can help determine what will work best for you. While grey blending with highlights might be best for one person, using all-over gray dye may make more sense for the next.

10. Embrace your hair texture

Gray hair tends to have a different, unique hair texture compared to other natural hair colors. It can be coarser and may even have a different curl pattern than your hair did pre-gray transition. Lean into this texture change with air-dried hairstyles like beach waves. You can also play it up with a texturizing spray.

11. Try an updo

Updos can help for awkward transition times, whether you’re growing out bangs or gray hair. Consider a messy bun or a French braid to draw the eye away from your roots.

Editor’s tip: As you refresh your look, consider changing how you part your hair. This can help make new growth less noticeable.

12. Wear hair accessories and hats

An easy way to hide a distinct transition line (the point where your gray roots meet your colored strands) is with accessories. You can wear a hat to conceal your grays as they grow in, or place a headband at the line to create a chic two-toned look. Adding a mix of different hair clips can also be a fun option—you can use them to draw attention to or away from your new growth, depending on your preference.

13. Cut your hair

You can get a haircut if you don’t want to wait for your hair to grow. This will instantly remove the color-treated portion of your hair. You have plenty of hairstyle options to explore. This includes a cropped buzz cut and a structured box bob. Almost any short style will be great for showing off your silvery hair.

How To Care for Gray Hair

As you age, your hair’s appearance goes through various changes in terms of color, thickness, and shine. To keep it looking healthy, upgrade your hair routine with haircare products specifically designed for gray hair. Here are four steps to revamp your routine:

1. Use a silver haircare system

Just as there are shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for brunettes, blondes, and redheads, there are also lines specifically meant to care for gray hair. Using one of these can help ensure your strands get the hydration they need (as gray hair tends to be drier). Try swapping your regular formulas for the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Silver Care Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Silver Care Conditioner. This system intensely hydrates, strengthens, and renews silver and gray hair for brighter, silkier-looking strands.

2. Treat your tresses to plenty of deep conditioning

Deep conditioning should be the core of any gray hair routine. This means showing your hair plenty of TLC with a nourishing hair mask is key. We love using the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Anti-Brass Purple Mask Treatment. This hair mask deeply nourishes hair and neutralizes stubborn brass for a bright, cool, true-to-tone gray.

3. Pick products that can help minimize visible damage

Minimizing damage can help keep gray hair shiny and healthy-looking. Look for formulas that reduce the appearance of breakage and protect against further damage. If you heat style your hair, use the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Bond Repair Hair Oil-in-Serum. The strengthening formula smooths, softens, and adds non-greasy shine—all while protecting the hair against temperatures up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Book (and get) regular trims

No hair color pairs well with thin, splitting ends. Keeping up with regular trims will help keep your gray hair color looking its best.

How Long Does It Take to Transition to Gray Hair?

How long it takes to transition to gray hair depends on the length of your strands. Growing out just a couple of inches inherently takes less time than growing out long locks. For most people, hair grows about half an inch per month. This means that if you want to grow out a cute silver bob—a style usually around eight inches long—it could take about 16 months.

It’s also important to remember that transitioning to a gray hair color may not mean your entire head of hair goes gray; some people don’t go completely gray for many years. Growing out gray hair might just mean having a smattering of grays or a few silvery streaks.

Because transitioning to gray is so individual, the best you can do is be patient and not set strict expectations for yourself. It’ll all be worth it in the end!

Next Up: How To Use a Root Spray for Gray Hair and Regrowth

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