Mane Changer: 5 Ways to Sport Trendy Silver Hair

Shimmery, silver hair color has captured our hearts on social media and there’s no doubt this trendy and eye-catching hue is the perfect way to upgrade your strands. Whether it’s with a pixie cut or long layers, this lightened shade of hair looks good on pretty much everyone. 

In truth, this icy hue isn’t too far off from gray hair and you care for it the same way you would blonde hair. We’re loving the vibrant look of silver hair so read on as we share five different ways to pull off silver hair, plus how to care for your new metallic strands.

Silver Patch

Why we love it: A metallic patch of color is a relatively easy way to dip your toes into the world of silver hair. Adding a silver patch to your blunt bangs is striking and we love the contrast of rocking two different hair colors simultaneously. Plus, this is a great, low-commitment way to experiment with silver hair without bleaching your whole head and potentially damaging your strands.

Get the look: If you’re not starting with light hair then you’ll need to use bleach like the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Bleach to create a baby blonde base color for your streak. Once you have lightened hair, reach for a silver dye like the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Silver to create your streak. Follow the directions inside the at-home color kit for a seamless application.

Silver Hair with Lavender Highlights

Why we love it: Fun colored highlights are a great way to add some depth and dimension to your silver strands. Golden highlights are popular for blonde hair because the tones complement each other, so why not amp up your silver hair with complementary lavender highlights? Since silver and lavender are similar hues, you can also use your purple shampoo to preserve both colors.

Get the look: Those with dark hair can lighten their base to a platinum shade with the Colorista Bleach or the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach in Extra Bleach Blonding. If you’re already starting off with lightened hair, get a silver hue with the Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Silver. Follow the directions in the box for seamless color. 

Then, reach for the L’Oréal Paris Colorist Semi-Permanent Hair Color in Purple to create your streaks. This semi-permanent dye lasts four to eight washes, offering a temporary pop of color that also comes in shades of Blue and Pink. 

Two-Tone Split Silver and Blue Hair

Why we love it: Shimmery silver strands are next level when paired with a pastel hue. The results create a vivid two-tone ‘do that is bold and exclusively yours.

Get the look: If you have dark hair, start by lightening your strands with the Colorista Bleach or the Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach in Extra Bleach Blonding. Once your hair is lightened or if you’re starting with lightened hair, part your hair down the middle with a comb, creating two precise and even sections of hair. To create your silver side, use the Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Silver. For the colored side, we recommend the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Smokey Blue, Smokey Pink or Turquoise. Carefully follow the instructions included in the box for a smooth experience and gorgeous, two-tone color. 

All Over Silver Hair

Why we love it: The most obvious choice for silver strands is definitely going in with all-over color. The bonus: it’s one of the easiest silver styles to achieve at home, plus, a full head of silver hair is very wearable and you’ll never need to worry about gray roots.

Get the look: As we’ve mentioned before, dark hair that wants to go silver will need to lighten their strands with the Colorista Bleach or the Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach in Extra Bleach Blonding. If you’re already starting with light hair, go for silver with the Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Silver and carefully follow the instructions included in the box.

Before committing to bleach and all over silver hair dye, try the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Silver. This temporary spray offers silver hair color that lasts until your next shampoo. 

Silver Buzz Cut

Why we love it: An alluring short style like a buzz cut or pixie creates a gorgeous canvas for silver hair, plus, the low-maintenance styling is a great pairing for the high-maintenance color. Silver hair requires constant bleach and that can lead to hair damage so rocking the look with a shorter haircut is a great way to avoid severely damaged strands.

Get the look: Those with dark hair that want to go silver will need to lighten their strands with the Colorista Bleach or the L’Oréal Paris Féria Hyper Platinum Advanced Lightening System Bleach in Absolute Platinum Very Platinum. Once your hair is lightened or for those starting with light hair, carefully use the Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Silver to complete the look. Remember to follow the instructions included in the box.

How to Care for Silver Hair

Silver hair often requires bleaching and routine touch-ups which can lead to damage like breakage and dry, brittle strands. So, once you’ve done all the work to carefully dye your hair silver, it’s time to switch up your hair care routine for products made for color-treated hair to preserve the icy, silver tone and give your strands some much-needed love.

1. Use a Shampoo for Color-Treated Hair

Silver hair, like blonde, is no stranger to brassy strands so purple shampoo is essential. To banish brassy tones, we love the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Conditioner. This system is formulated with purple dye to neutralize the brassy tones in color-treated, blonde, bleached, highlighted brown and silver hair while keeping it moisturized.

Purple shampoo should only be used when your hair is brassy. Considering this and the two-tone silver hairstyles that can be a little tricky to care for, it’s a good idea to also have a system for color-treated hair like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Color Care Bond Strengthening Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Conditioner. This reparative duo works to strengthen color-treated hair inside and out by reinforcing weak hair bonds. Reach for it on regular wash days when your hair isn’t brassy.

2. Add a Deep Conditioning Treatment 

As we said, your silver strands will likely experience some damage from all the bleaching and maintenance they require so using a conditioning mask to hydrate and deeply nourish is one of the best things you can do for your hair. Once a week, switch out your conditioner for a purple conditioning mask like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Anti Brass Purple Mask Treatment. This intense treatment contains purple dye to tone brassy strands and keep your silver hair vibrant while deeply nourishing dry, colored strands.

If your hair doesn’t need toning, you can opt for a hydrating hair mask like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Signature Masque, Color Care Hair Mask. This mask works to restore smoothness, enhance shine and deeply hydrate dry, color-treated strands.

Editor’s tip: If your silver strands look dull, opt for a glossing treatment like the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Gloss in Silver or Silver White (two-tone silver hair can opt for the Clear gloss). This at-home glossing treatment will add vibrance, enhance shine and leave your strands with a luxurious, silky feeling.

3. Opt for Air Drying

Trust us when we say that silver hair does not need heat styling to look fire. Your newly silver strands will seriously benefit from less heat so opt for air drying or hairstyles you can achieve sans hot tools, like beach waves or space buns. If you’re naturally a curly beauty, reach for a curl enhancer like the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Curls Non-Stop Dreamy Curls Leave-in Conditioner to bring out your hair's natural wave and texture.

If you must use heat, make sure to always coat hair with a heat protectant like the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Dream Lengths Frizz Killer Serum Leave-In or the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Weightless Blow Dry Primer, Heat Protectant first. Always remember to use your hot tools on the lowest temperature setting and only pass through each section of hair once.

Next: How to Get Gorgeous Peach Colored Hair at Home

Written by: Reece Andavolgyi, Photo credit: IG @/bishops.oakley, Design by: Crystal Simone