Many women today are changing their hair to a natural gray or silver color. You don't want the expense or time it takes to color it every month for a variety of reasons. But it also changes the color of their clothes. Colors that once looked good on you can wash you out or, worse, make you look unhealthy.
The gray hair transition is a fun time to experiment with new colors and styles that suit your new you! What are the best clothing colors for gray hair?
Jewel tones like royal blues, deep reds, and bright purples look best.Using the complementary colors yellow helps brighten the complexion and highlight gray hair.
If you wear white, go for snow white as shades of brown will make you look sick.
Note: This post may contain affiliate links which help our family at no additional cost to you, but these are all products I use and love.Thank you for your support!
Knowing the color season will help when choosing clothes.
I remember falling in love with the book Color Me Beautiful over 30 years ago. It is based on your hair and eye color as well as your skin tone. Each of the 4 seasons has 3 sub-seasons. Today we have 12 color palettes designed to complement your natural color.
Takethis questionnaireto discover your station:
Click on the image below to see theComplete Seasonal Guide:
I know I'm a light winter and look best in light, cool colors. That didn't change much once I stopped dying my hair. What has changed is that my wardrobe leans more towards darker jewel tones and super bright colors. I avoid bright green as it makes me look spooky. Nobody wants it!
Try adding more muted shades of the colors you're used to before going gray to add new shades to your wardrobe. Look for scarves with the old colors you usually wear mixed with the new colors you want to try.
I have bought many silk scarves from Amazon. When searching Amazon, be sure to select the color family you want. You can find it by scrolling down on the Amazon search page on the left and it looks like this picture.
Oh! You can also select the care instructions.
But there are other things you should know when considering what colors to use with gray hair.
Knowing your gray hair type will help when choosing your outfit.
Not all gray hair is the same shade. There are actually 4 types of gray hair. It can be all white (like mine), battleship grey, salt and pepper or champagne grey. The shade you will have when you start going gray is due to the natural shades you had when you were born.
So blondes get a more champagne color. Brown and black hair looks gray in salt and pepper tones. If you have some red in your hair, it will turn white.
If your gray hair is more silvery, you'll look best in blue, pink, charcoal, and plum.
If your hair is pure white, try teal, dark purple, or pink.
Women with gray hair often have cool skin tones and look good in pure white or jet black.
Treat champagne gray like a blonde and aim for ruby tones.
Knowing what colors gray hair prefer the most.
While it's true that knowing your season and your shade of gray will help you choose which colors to use, there are shades that look good with all shades of gray. Why are we looking at yellow? Because gray hair tends to be that color.
purple and roses
If we look at the color wheel, we see that the opposite of yellow is purple-violet. Shades of purple that pair well with gray hair are those that have a ruby red or royal blue undertone. Think of colors like lavender, amethyst or periwinkle.
Roses also make your gray hair shine, but they can make you look very pale if you're not careful. Aim for fuchsia, pink, or a true pink. Stay away from shades of purple or pink that contain something brown, like blackberry, plum, or salmon.
royal blue
Blue can bring out the freshness of any shade of gray. Navy blue is always the best choice and looks great with gray hair. Look for shades of blue that tend towards a purple or red hue. Look for royal blue or sapphire, navy blue or denim. You can even try lighter shades of blue, but look for icy tones like arctic blue or sky blue.
Rot
If you want to stand out from the crowd, always go for a red top or dress. The warmth of the shade will instantly brighten your cheeks. However, stick to a true red. Red can have brown undertones and it won't look good on you. Shades like candy or pink would also look good on you.
green
I like to wear green because it makes my eyes shine. But I choose shades that are emerald green or have a blue undertone. On the other hand, shades of green that contain some kind of yellow make me feel like maybe I should rest a bit. My favorite is using jade or lime green colors, especially near my eyes.
white
Women with gray hair can look stunning in a white top. The caveat here is that it should be snow white with no brown undertones. You also need to increase the color on your lips and cheeks. Shades like taupe or beige are good enough, but maybe try pairing it with a colorful scarf or sweater.
Negro
A black shirt or dress can make you look elegant, even if it's a linen shirt. This also applies to shades such as silver or grey. These colors bring out the darker tones of the hair. Make sure to use purple shampoo before using black to wash away the yellow undertones. You want your gray hair to be the star of this show.
Get 5 Days of Quick and Easy Hairstyles!
Just enter your email below and I'll send you new simple and easy hairstyle tutorials every day for 5 days. Beautiful hair in seconds!
Knowing what colors don't work on gray hair
Avoid mustard, olive, camel, or rust. These colors accentuate your skin's yellow undertones. With age, the skin can become thinner. Shades of yellow make you look jaundiced.
The same applies to brown or orange tones. They will reproduce the pale tones of your new coloring.
Knowing how to slowly add new colors to your wardrobe.
Start with a scarf or jacket in the new shade over current colors that go well together. There are many ways to wear a scarf. Try different shades, not all the same color. Find your shirt color that you already have and add a new color that you want to try.
You might also be wondering...
What colors should not be used on gray hair?
If you have gray hair and want to wear beige or tanks, pair it with a very light lipstick. The yellow undertones in shades of brown make your lighter skin look unhealthy. The same goes for green, which can make your hair look green.
How about white?
A monochromatic look doesn't look good with gray hair because it makes your skin paler. Try wearing a scarf in one of the lighter colors close to your face.
What kind of scarf should I use with my gray hair?
Choose a scarf in a light color that matches your skin tone. Longer rectangular scarves are better than square scarves for gray hair because you can do so much with them.
How do you not look washed out with gray hair?
Use a quality purple shampoo at least once a week. my favorite isClairol Shimmer Lights Conditioning Purple Shampoo for Silver and Blonde Hair. Also, use bright blush or lipstick to brighten the face.
The 12 best hairstyles for gray hair
To see beautiful gray hair ideas, check out my post by clicking the button below!
Gray hair ideas
A big thank you! 💜
Did you love these beautiful pictures of Missy and Erika? They are two of my favorite silver hair Instagrammers as not only are they gorgeous with their gorgeous smiles but they also post amazing photos and stories of their journey with gray hair that I know you will love.
Follow them and say hello! You can follow MissyHEREe ErikaHERE.
About the Author, Jackie Masek
Jackie lives in Pittsburgh, PA with her 20-year-old husband and their dog. Her two sons left the nest to make their own way in the world after graduating from the Masek School for Wayward Boys. Now she has the entire 3 floors of a centuries-old house all to herself. To this day, people show her theirsWrists with rubber bands over them.
FAQs
What colors are most flattering with white hair? ›
If your gray hair is more of a silver color you will look your best in blues, pinks, charcoals, and plums. If your hair is pure white try teal blues, dark purples, or hot pinks. Women with salt and pepper hair usually have cool tones in their skin and look good with pure whites or jet blacks.
How can I look beautiful with white hair? ›White hair can make you appear washed out, so try a bronzer, concealer and foundation to warm up your skin. You can also pull together a modern, fresh look with a clothing palette that complements your hair. Fashion stylists often recommend a neutral black, white or gray to bring out the beauty of silver hair.
What colors should you wear if you have white hair? ›“Stick to black, navy, pure white—never ivory—and all the jewel tones like sapphire, royal blue, ruby, fuchsia, magenta, purple and violet,” says image consultant Sandy Dumont, who has wardrobe-advised individuals and corporations for over 30 years. You'll also want to stay away from certain shades.
What hair color make you look younger and whiter? ›Caramel, honey, gold, copper, and strawberry give a healthy brightness that makes us look and feel younger. (Framing your face with lighter shades draws the eye away from any complexion concerns, as well.)
How do you make white look flattering? ›White looks especially good with summer's brightest tones. Colors like coral, hot pink, orange and turquoise are universally flattering and make everyone look fresh and pretty.
Which is the best shampoo for white hair? ›- Joico Color Endure Violet Shampoo. ...
- Redken Color Extend Graydiant Shampoo. ...
- Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo with Centaury. ...
- Clairol Shimmer Lights Shampoo. ...
- Aveda Blue Malva Shampoo.
- Sachajuan Silver Shampoo. ...
- Philip Kingsley Pure Silver Shampoo.
Gray or white hair is often associated with ageing. On average, Caucasians turn gray in their mid-30s, Asians in their late 30s and Africans in their early 40s. To know how gray and white hair occur, we first need to understand how we get our natural hair colors.
Is white hair more attractive? ›According to a survey conducted by the online dating site Match.com, 72 per cent of women who participated in the study stated that they find men with grey hair more attractive than men who did not have a salt and pepper hairline.
What makeup should I wear with white hair? ›For a more minimalistic yet super chic makeup aesthetic, try using pink tones that will complement your white hair. Baby pink and pastel shades are especially beautiful on fair to medium complexions; whereas, fuchsia has the wow factor against deeper skin tones.
Does wearing white make you look younger? ›Women such as Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Martha Stewart, Helen Mirren and Joan Collins all know an effective way to brighten the complexion and look younger is to wear something white, which reflects the light. Knowing your most flattering shade is vital.
What turns hair white instead of gray? ›
The pigment in our hair is caused by melanin— the same pigment that is also responsible for our skin color. Gray hair is caused by a loss in melanin, whereas white hair does not have any melanin at all. As you age, your hair produces less and less melanin that leads your hair to appear gray, and then eventually white.
How do old people get white hair? ›As we get older, the pigment cells in our hair follicles gradually die. When there are fewer pigment cells in a hair follicle, that strand of hair will no longer contain as much melanin and will become a more transparent color — like gray, silver, or white — as it grows.