From honey bronde to cowboy copper and buttery blonde, the last few years have been defined by a wave of trend-led hair colours (with equally trendy names). But this year, rather than reaching for the dye, more and more women seem to be ditching it altogether, proving that silver strands are a beauty statement in their own right.
Yes, it's official: grey hair is in. Of course, we've long had our silver-haired muses (hello, Helen Mirren and Andie MacDowell). But the list is getting longer by the day.
Paris Fashion Week was just treated to Olivia Colman showing off glossy grey curls, while New York saw Sarah Jessica Parker weave strands of silver into an oversized braid (and yes, it's as dreamy as it sounds). Closer to home, former model Melinda Messenger recently shared her journey to embracing the grey on Instagram.
Long gone are the days when going grey was seen as ‘giving up’. Today, silver strands are stylish, sophisticated and completely intentional. Here, we've rounded up 10 celebrities who are proving just that.
Olivia Colman
It was only last week that Olivia Colman unveiled her move to grey, swapping her signature dark pixie cut for glossy silver curls. Already, her new look has had something of a world tour, turning heads everywhere from red carpets to the Miu Miu runway in Paris.
Not only does the look prove that silver hair is firmly on trend, but it also challenges the outdated idea that long grey hair is ageing. ‘Olivia’s hair is a textbook example of why the old stereotype about long grey hair no longer holds up. Her silver is striking, but it’s the combination of length, natural texture and movement that makes it feel so modern,’ says Danilo Giangreco, session stylist and artistic ambassador for Revlon Professional UK & Ireland.
Andie Macdowell
Andie has long been ahead of the curve. She debuted her grey in 2021 and hasn't looked back since. Today, her silver strands are a signature part of her beauty look, whether she's embracing her natural texture or smoothing them into soft ghost waves.
Speaking with GH, Andie tells us, ‘The response has been wonderful. Occasionally I’ll see someone say something like, “You look older.” And I just feel so sorry for them, that they feel the need to say that. I don’t have a problem with it. I’m embracing being my age, so I’m not trying to look younger.’
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sex And The City star Sarah Jessica Parker recently embraced her silver strands, weaving them into a giant oversized braid that cascaded down her back.
Her swept-back roots showcased a blend of shades, from graphite grey to a contrasting icy silver, while the lengths kept to her iconic Carrie Bradshaw blonde. She proves it doesn’t have to be all or nothing – in fact, the transition to grey can look incredibly chic, too.
Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren may be a long-time silver-haired icon, but her latest bixie haircut proves there's always a fresh, modern way to wear grey.
In case you're unfamiliar, the bixie is the best of both worlds, combining the length and sophistication of a bob with the choppy texture of a pixie. On Helen, the cut frames her face beautifully, working well with her icy shade that lends her complexion a radiant glow.
Sharon Stone
Embracing the grey doesn't have to mean committing to one all-over shade. Sharon Stone demonstrated exactly that when she stepped out in New York last month. Wearing her bob swept back, she showed off her grey roots with pride, meanwhile her blonde lengths were tucked neatly behind the ear.
The result is a beautifully multi-tonal look, where shades of silver, chocolate and honey melt effortlessly into one another.
Melinda Messenger
Blonde bombshell of the 90s, Melinda Messenger recently revealed she's found ‘joy and freedom’ in embracing the grey, sharing her jaw-dropping new look on Instagram.
The former model looks as glamorous as ever, with silver at the roots, falling into deeper charcoal lengths. Together, the shades create a natural ombré effect that adds depth and dimension.
She proves that grey is every bit as glam, styling her tresses into the signature bouncy blow-dry, which looks as good in her 50s as it did in her 20s.
Glenn Close
Glenn Close has long proved that silver hair and a pixie cut are a timeless pairing. Having championed the look for years, she's proof of just how versatile it can be.
The actress isn't afraid to experiment with styling, switching effortlessly between polished, sculptural looks, pushed-back quiffs and, more recently, soft, beachy waves that embrace her natural texture.
Whatever the styling, one thing remains the same: the close-cropped cut allows her silver shade to shine, and the luminous tone works hard, brightening her complexion beautifully.
Kristin Scott Thomas
Low-maintenance colour and a low-maintenance cut. Does it get much better than that? Kristin Scott Thomas's silver ‘boyfriend bob’ is proof that hair can be effortless and still make a statement.
The actress's hair has an effortless, relaxed quality. She proves there's no need to rush to cover grey strands when they can become part of your look. Here, natural silver weaves seamlessly into buttery blonde, creating a soft, dimensional finish.
Paired with an equally relaxed, easy-going cut, silver suddenly feels fresh, modern and incredibly cool.
Prue Leith
Recently papped on the FROW at London Fashion Week, Prue Leith proved that grey hair is every bit as stylish as any trend-led colour. With a blend of natural hues running through her hair, from platinum silver to smokey grey, the colour only enhances her natural texture, adding extra depth to those textured curls.
Besides, she shows that embracing grey doesn't have to mean shying away from colour altogether, her bold red lip and a statement outfit bring contrast to her look.
Salma Hayek
Going grey doesn't happen overnight, and Salma Hayek proves that even those first few stray silver strands can be styled with intention.
Earlier this year, the actress incorporated her greys into a sweeping updo, making them the centrepiece of the look. It was far from distracting from the style, instead, the silver strands actually enhanced it, drawing attention to the updo's sculptural shape. Safe to say, she has a very clever glam squad on hand.
