As you’re surely aware, silver and grey hair is the trend of the moment, with influencers, celebrities and fashionable ladies left, right and centre adopting the look. Even if your hair is jet black, there is no reason why you can’t still achieve light, shimmery locks. However, instead of going all out and dying your whole head grey or silver, opting for ash highlights instead is an excellent choice in terms of maintenance and limiting hair damage. If you’re looking to jump on the moonlight hair trend, you’re in the right place. In this article we’ll take you through a myriad of exquisite grey and silver highlight looks for black hair. Read on and you’re bound to find something which inspires you to book that salon appointment!
Best Grey and Silver Highlight Looks for Black Hair
Even Grey Highlights on Black Hair
If you want to achieve a well-balanced black and grey look which will give off an ashy aesthetic, then you’re best off getting an even distribution of grey highlights. The mix of your natural color with the dyed strands will give you a whole new aesthetic without the need for a full dye job. opt for this color scheme and you’ll be turning heads everywhere with your new Smokey locks.
Silver Money Piece Highlights on Black Hair
Money piece highlights, also known as framing-the-face highlights, refer to a particular method of applying a lighter color around the face so it stands in contrast to the rest of the hair. This technique really brings out the face and is a fun and fresh way of getting highlights. If your hair is dark brown or black, then a silver or grey money piece will stand out a mile. This will give a bold statement look as the contrast is so high, but the colors still give a hint of elegance and femininity. If you’re looking for a very modern look with a bit of edge, then this is the silver highlight look for you.
Grey Ombré
Ombré refers to the coloring technique of a gradual degradation down the hair, with the lighter color at the tips. If your hair is black, this means you will go from black down to ash down to bright silver or grey. If you’re looking for something lower maintenance, then this is a great option as your roots will blend in perfectly with the look. You can save money this way too as you don’t need to visit the salon nearly as often.
Black Roots and Grey Tips
This look is even lower maintenance than a grey ombré, as the hair lightening will begin further than half way down your hair. This way you’ll achieve the ash silver shimmer you desire, but won’t damage the body of your hair through bleaching. The contrast with this style is also very striking and will still get you noticed!
Silver Purple Highlights on Black Hair
When you bleach your hair to achieve a silver color, you open up the possibility of dyeing your hair a multitude of other colors too. So, while you’re getting those silver highlights, you might as well consider getting another color mixed in too. One color that is particularly popular with black and silver looks is a metallic purple.
Silver Blue Highlights on Black Hair
Alternatively, blue is an absolute classic color to mix in with grey or silver. Combined it gives you a kind of icy, wintery look which is simply stunning. When it comes to getting these bold purple or blue hair colors, you don’t necessarily need to go to the salon. Once you’ve had your silver highlights for a while and feel like a change, you can purchase some semi-permanent dyes and experiment on yourself. There are even wash-in wash out colors you can try, so if you don’t end up liking it, it can be gone as soon as you wash your hair!
Dark Silver Hair
If you love your dark locks but just want to spice it up with a hint of silver, you can ask your hairdresser for a dark silver look. This will maintain your natural color whilst adding a subtle silver shimmer here and there. This is perfect for a fresh summer look, or ahead of a special event where you want to look extra stunning. The sun will bring this look out more as the silver reflects the strands which meet the sun’s rays.
Silver Peekaboo Hair
Peekaboo hair refers to a coloring technique whereby only the under layers of your hair are dyed. This way the contrasting color ‘peeks’ through when you flip or run your fingers through her hair. This look has been popular for a while now, but it’s only recently that women have been trying out the black and silver peekaboo style. If you want to maintain your usual raven lock look but want to add a little twist, then this is the best option for you.
Subtle Silver Highlights on Greying Black Hair
If your black hair is starting to turn grey, then now is a great time to optimise the salt and pepper look by getting some silver highlights. This will give your hair extra shine and a new lease of life, as well as making your barnet instantly more youthful.
Brown Lob with Gray and Silver Balayage
If you want a whole new look which will give you edge and facial definition, then consider getting a bob or a lob at the same time as you go in for your highlights. A shaped bob which starts short at the back and is shaped longer around the face is the perfect cut for bringing out silver highlights as the bright strands get more prominent toward the front and give you a delightful wave of color!
Metallic Grey Highlights
There are a variety of different shades of grey and silver you can opt for. For the daring among you, you might be tempted to choose a metallic silver which will give you an ultra modern standout look. This color scheme also works well with pinks, purples and blues — perfect if you’re partial to experimentation!
Silver Streak
A very alluring look to go for if you have dark hair is a single silver streak, usually near the front of your hair. The contrast is beautiful and will update your look without damaging the main body of your hair.
Smokey Grey Bob on Black Hair
A smokey grey color goes wonderfully with the bob hairstyle, giving you infinite texture while framing the face exquisitely.
Black Hair with Ash Blonde Highlights
Instead of going for a startling grey highlight, why not consider blonde with a touch of grey? This will give your hair a warmer, summery look with just a hint of ash! If you prefer something sophisticated and not too out there, then this is a great look to go for.
Black Hair with Cool-Toned Highlights
If your hair is on the longer side and runs down your back, then you have the perfect length hair for glossy metallic waves. Opt for a cool-toned grey which will blend in nicely with your natural color but add some extra dimension to your tresses.
Black Hair with Violet Grey
As we’ve established, black hair with silver highlights is a stunning look, but when you add in a subtle violet hue it becomes extra eye-catching and feminine. With this style, you can start the highlights a few inches from your roots, making it low maintenance as well as chic!
Silver Ombre on Black Hair
If your hair is very dark then you are able to easily create a sensual shadowy ombre with stark degradation of color. Combine with red lipstick and this look is simply perfect for a night out on the town.
Gothic Grey on Black Hair
Black and grey are classic gothic colors. If you’re looking for a macabre look which will bring out your inner gothic goddess, opt for a soft grey which goes effortlessly with your natural black tresses.
Raven Feathers on Black Hair
Black locks are often compared to raven feathers. To enhance this even more, add some subtle silver highlights to mimic the shine of a raven’s natural plumage. This look will have you turning heads no matter what, but it can be even more eye-catching with dark blues and purples added to the mix!
Frosty Highlights on Black Hair
The silver highlight trend is often viewed as an edgy, modern look, but it can easily be feminine and subtle too. If you want a little extra shine and color for an upcoming do, look into getting some subtle silver frosty highlights on your black hair. Without completely overhauling your look, you can join in with the silver hair trend!
Ash Grey Ombré on Black Hair
If you want to make your hair look thicker and much more textured, then an ash grey ombré look is the way to go. This black to grey degradation will give you the appearance of more volume, as well as an eye-catching color mix!
Two-Tone Silver and Black
Yes, we left the boldest look until last. If you want to try something completely standout and off the wall, then you might be interested in a two-tone silver and black look. For this, half the hair will be silver and the other half black without any ombré or balayage — just stark contrast. While this look can look sensational, it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted!
Silver Highlights on Black Hair: Step-by-Step Guide
Unless you’re just embracing natural grey hair growth, you’re going to need to go through several steps to obtain the grey or silver highlight look of your dreams. Below we’ll take you through the process of transforming your raven mane into a moonlit night.
Gather Reference Pictures
The first step is to scour magazines, Pinterest and Instagram to find pictures which perfectly demonstrate the look you want to achieve. Make sure you look for models which have a similar skin tone and natural hair color to you. This is to ensure that the look is actually achievable for you and won’t look completely different to the picture. Likewise, look for photos which feature models or celebrities with a similar length hair to you. Unless of course you’re willing to alter the length with a cut or extensions.
Book a Consultation
Come to your consultation armed with reference photos of exactly what you want. That way, the hairdresser will have a clear idea of how much time and what dyes will be needed. Be aware that the hairdresser might recommend that you go for a slightly different color to your photos. As long as you have an experienced and high quality stylist, it’s best to trust their opinion as they’re trained to match color to skin tone and complexion. Ultimately, a great hairdresser knows best what will work for you and what won’t.
Time for Highlights
Before you book your appointment, be aware that getting silver highlights is a big investment, both financially and in terms of time. As the hair will be bleached first before adding a silver tint, you can expect to be in the salon for several hours. It will probably knock you back a pretty penny as well, so make sure you’ve got a high enough budget before committing. Your stylist will likely start by painting bleach on the foils and waiting for the hair to lighten sufficiently before it’s possible to add silver. With black hair this will take a long time, so make sure you’ve got something to occupy you while you wait.
Next, it’s time for the silver tint. This is a very difficult color to get right, and the prep work is the most important factor in making sure it turns out exactly the way you want it to. This means, getting dark hair to a very pale blonde first, and then doing some precision toning. Your hairdresser might also do a pre-tone which will help neutralise any undertones. The final step is adding the silver, which will likely only take around 15 minutes or so.
At-Home Maintenance
Silver is notorious for fading fast and needing a lot of him upkeep to ensure it stays looking as good as it did in the salon. Bleaching hair removes all the nutrients and can dry the hair out. For this reason, you need to take extra care to lock in moisture in your hair care routine. To do this, you should condition your hair every time you wash it, and use special hair masks and oils weekly. Speak to your hairdresser to find out which ones are recommended for you specifically.
Many women with bleached hair use coconut oil and jojoba oil as inexpensive ways to keep their hair moisturized. Simply massage the oil into your hair and leave-in for several hours or overnight. If you do this frequently, your hair won’t get that dry and damaged bleach look. It’s also recommended that you keep shampooing to a minimum, and don’t wash the hair more than twice weekly. On non-wash days you can use dry shampoo to keep your hair looking fresh. When you do wash, it’s a great idea to use purple tinted shampoo. The purple pigment can help offset any copper or brass tones which can show up in your highlights.
Always consult your hairdresser so that you know exactly what steps and products to incorporate in your new hair care routine. But be aware that bleached hair is a big responsibility when it comes to maintenance — far more than maintaining natural brunette or black locks. However, if you really love your silvery mane then all the upkeep is 100% worth it. There are plenty of silver and grey highlight looks for black hair. From subtle to staggering, there’s something for everyone. Choose which looks inspire you the most and head down to your salon of choice for a whole new mane and a whole new you!
