How should I think about colors when my hair is going gray?

When your hair starts going gray, you retain your original undertone, but the overall contrast in your appearance changes. This means the colors in your palette may need some adjustment to harmonize with the new shades.

Keep the undertone

Gray or silver strands don’t automatically make you cool or warm – you continue to have the same undertone as before. So continue to work from your regular seasonal palette.

Adjust the contrast

Silver hair strands usually soften the contrast between hair, skin, and eyes. To maintain balance, you can borrow colors from neighboring seasons that are somewhat softer or lighter. For example, someone who wears True Summer might try more shades from Soft Summer for a softer overall impression.

Try new shades

If your hair gradually becomes lighter, you can also experiment with cooler and lighter colors. Continue using your base palette, but add shades from, say, Light Spring if you notice that the light hair makes clearer colors stand out too much.

Practical tips

• Drape a few different garments near your face in natural light and see how the new colors interact with your hair.
• Don’t be afraid to adjust makeup slightly: a softer mascara or eyeliner can sometimes give a more harmonious impression as hair contrast decreases.
• Think about the whole picture and how colors feel against your skin – the right shades should give radiance and make you look fresher even with gray hair.

By starting from your existing season but daring to try neighboring shades, you can confidently continue using color analysis as your foundation, even as your hair turns grayer.

Don’t miss Why do I disappear in ashy hair color? if you’re wondering about cool shades. Want an expert assessment? Read more about our Bespoke Analysis.