Gray Hair – What Color should you dye it?

Dying grey hair and getting just the right shade, be that blonde or dark, is  tricky. That’s why we turned to Celebrity Hairstylist Billy Lowe to answer this question from a stressed out reader.

Dear Glam Gals,

Please help me! The most frustrating thing is my hair!  It is all grey.  I started out with long hair past my shoulders, and everyone keeps cutting it, dying it dark and tons of highlights which my husband likes but is very drying.  Everyone keeps trying to return my hair to the natural hair color which was medium reddish brown and my hair is so think it looked very dark at times.  

My last haircut the girl dyed it black, with red highlights, wow that is going to look pretty when the grey grows in? I was told by a co-worker to go as light as possible and let the grey grow in and maybe highlight and/or lowlights?  Please help with hairstyle/color/highlights that would look the best on me.  Thanks! Keep up the good work, we need you!    Karen J.

Dear Karen,

Thank you for reaching out,  First of all – great photos of you.   My first thought is this – if you are going with lighter strands – especially around the faceline, you want to be sure to accentuate your eyes, lips, brows, and perhaps wear larger accessory/jewelry pieces around the neckline (chunky necklaces, etc) so your face doesn’t disappear.    Without the contrast, and if hair color blends in with skin too closely, then things start to disappear.

Secondly, if you are going with the darker color, just know that there’s a greater contrast between that color and the regrowth.  So the regrowth will be a lot more evident.   Catch 22 I know.

I personally like both looks on you, but feel the lighter color suits your personality a bit more – as evident in the photos.

LA Celebrity stylist, Billy Lowe

Going “Heather Locklear blonde” could be an option, but have you tried on any hair pieces to see what you think, and perhaps get responses from friends that might want to go along?   That’s always a safe bet because there are countless options when it comes to color and endless possibilities in color formulations.  Baby-steps.    Try on some fun hair pieces, and see what you think.   But if I had to choose, I’d pick the Karen with the soft brunette and the highlights strapped through.   Fun, brilliant, and fabulous.

In beauty, Billy Lowe

For more information on Billy Lowe, please visit his exciting beauty blog at www.LoweLights.com or his website at www.BillyLowe.com

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  1. Definitely like the lighter hair color!

  2. I’m emailing 2 photoshop images of hair color changes I made for Karen. Nothing overly professional, just an idea of a lighter color and a deeper, more red/auburn shade (which seems to look nice).