Strike a pose! Olivia Colman just took a surprising step (or two) on her latest beauty adventure as she strutted her new grey hair look on the Paris catwalk – proving that silver hair is the height of fashion.
The actress wowed us last week when she debuted long silver curls on the red carpet; a fresh look far removed from her signature brunette pixie haircut. Now she’s underlined grey hair's style status by appearing not on the FROW but on the actual runway for Miu Miu.
Olivia was a surprise star of Miu Miu’s Womenswear Spring/Summer 2027 at Paris Fashion Week last night, strutting her silver stuff in a chic black leather blazer and skirt combo.
This time round Olivia kept her long grey curls pulled back into a ponytail, proving that having hair extensions doesn’t mean forgoing the convenience of a quick tied-back style.
'There’s a misconception that once you have hair extensions you always need to wear your hair down to disguise them, but with the right application that simply isn’t the case, says celebrity hair extensions specialist Inanch Emir, the pro behind Olivia's hair transformation.
'Olivia’s low ponytail at Miu Miu is a perfect example — you get all that beautiful length and volume, but without seeing where her natural hair ends and the extensions begin,' adds Inach, who is the founder of INANCH London and Gold Class Hair
Later though, Olivia literally let her hair down for the Miu Miu after party, where she was snapped with her new flowing mane on full display again.
How did Olivia get her long hair look?
Olivia’s striking long hair makeover was created by Inanch using curly Gold Class extensions in four different shades of grey, carefully blended throughout Olivia’s hair to recreate the natural tonal variations found in greying hair.
‘For me, the most important thing was that Olivia still looked completely like herself,’ says Inanch. "We weren't trying to hide her grey hair - we wanted to celebrate it. Natural grey hair is never just one colour, so I blended four different grey shades to create depth and dimension and to work harmoniously with Olivia's own hair. Using our naturally curly Gold Class Hair was also key because the texture needed to feel as authentic as the colour.’
How does Olivia wear her hair up without the extensions looking obvious?
As Inach explains, the extensions were applied using ultra-discreet micro bonds, allowing the different grey tones to be positioned seamlessly throughout Olivia's own hair. ‘By creating very small individual bonds, I was able to place the different tones exactly where they were needed. The aim was that nobody should look at Olivia and think 'hair extensions' - they should simply see beautiful, naturally long grey hair.’
Olivia's discreetly-applied extensions enable her new hair to be very versatile, adds Inach. 'Because each extension bond is individually applied and the bonds are so small, I can strategically position them around the head so they remain concealed when the hair is worn both down and up.
Do extensions risk tugging on mature hair, especially when worn up?
Olivia proves it's possible to wear extensions up safely and stylishly, says Inach. 'The key is to avoid creating unnecessary tension at the root. I love a low ponytail, a loose low bun or chignon, or a softly pinned-up style with some natural movement around the face. These styles can look incredibly elegant while placing much less tension on the hair than a very tight, high ponytail or slicked-back style.'
'With mature or finer hair, the application itself is particularly important. I tailor the size, weight and placement of every individual extension bond to the density and strength of the client’s natural hair. Our tiny polymer micro bonds allow us to be very precise with that placement.'
Are grey hair extensions a trend?
Yes, says Inach, who believes that Olivia’s transformation showcases a real switch in attitudes towards grey hair. Although extensions are traditionally associated with lengthening conventional blonde or brunette hair, Inach says grey hair can get just the same benefit, and it’s a possibility that women are switching onto.
‘Grey hair can be incredibly beautiful,’ says Inanch. 'Women shouldn't have to choose between embracing their natural colour and having the length or volume they want. The secret is recognising that authentic grey hair contains many different tones. When you reproduce those nuances correctly, extensions can become virtually undetectable.’
