Hair that shimmers silver from root to tip is one way to wear grey, but it’s not the only option. Some women feel more confident just dipping a toe into the grey transition rather than diving in headfirst, and Salma Hayek proves that this ‘quiet silver’ option can be just as striking.
Like many natural brunettes, Salma has greys that are more concentrated in certain areas, and it’s a growth pattern that can become a whole beauty feature in itself.
The latest step in her grey evolution is her prettiest ever and sees her wearing the lightest section of her hair as a glamorous sweep, cleverly styled to enhance her updo. That swoosh of silver creates a gorgeous shooting-star effect that stands out against her dark base and brightens her whole complexion.
‘This is a great option for anyone who wants to still colour their hair but also want to slowly embrace their grey growth,’ explains celebrity stylist Karine Jackson, who works with A-listers like Anya Taylor-Joy.
For those women, a quiet silver sweep feels like less of a jump-scare than a full ‘grey blending’ transition, where silver shades are woven throughout the entire hair.
‘I think a lot of women feel that going fully grey is too ageing at a time when they’re not ready for it, but they’re happy to incorporate some element of it,’ says Karine. ‘Wearing it like this is similar to wearing a pop of colour or highlights to bring the wow factor.’
Salma has been embracing her silver ‘highlights’ for a while now, and she has even made them a playful peekaboo feature of her look. ‘I do makeup up on my hair,’ she recently revealed in a beauty video, using mascara as a ‘now you see, now you don’t’ hack for her greys.
Whether her latest look involves dye or mascara, there’s certainly a striking contrast between her lighter sweep and her brunette base colour. To Karine’s expert eye, it’s the perfect middle ground.
‘She definitely looks to be enhancing the sweep, and it looks fabulous,’ says Karine. ‘It works for her because she’s clearly colouring, but adding the grey flicks softens it. It’s less ageing than fully coloured hair, which can be really harsh, and fully grey hair.’
It looks effortless, but it’s not quite effort free, notes Karine. ‘It’s a beautiful mix, but it takes a little while to achieve if you’ve been colouring your hair because you need to grow that section out. However, I’ve done it with a few clients and it looks really fabulous. It works so well for anyone who wants to embrace a hint of grey without going all in.’
