Is silver a real hair color?

Q: Is silver hair the same as GREY hair?

People use gray,” white” and silver” interchangeably to describe hair that is turning or has turned. Its appearance — whether it looks, gray, white or silver — depends on how much natural color, or pigment, remains, experts say. Hair that has lost all its color typically appears white.

Silver hair is not just for the elderly. It is chic, sexy, edgy, and on-trend. Not to mention, there are so many different colors that you can use to create the perfect look. If you’re struggling to decide on what icy style to go for, we’ve created this list of the most incredible silver hair color ideas and products to help you achieve your frosty hair goals.

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RELATED: How to Get Platinum Blonde Hair in 6 Easy Steps

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1. Black and Silver Hair

If your hair is naturally black, then you’re going to need to take a few trips to the salon to achieve this look. Going from black to silver is a process, but one that’s worth doing to gain hair this fabulous. Most importantly, make sure that you find a hairdresser that specializes in doing this. They’ll be able to decide whether your hair is capable of this extreme makeover. Also, keep in mind that your silver ends are going to have to be maintained with a toner. Generally, with this look, purple shampoo won’t be strong enough. Underneath the silver, the hair will usually remain a golden color, so a toner is required, especially if you aim to get super silver ends.

2. Silver Grey Hair

Silver grey hair can look super stylish. The first step to achieving this look is by dying your hair platinum blonde. After this, your hairdresser will add a toner, but maintenance is always required. For this look, the Clairol Professional Shimmer Lights Shampoo will become your best friend. Otherwise, you could also add a few drops off Crazy Colour, Silver Ice Cool, to your regular shampoo bottle. This will keep the grey tones through your hair intact.

3. Silver Blonde Hair

Silver blonde hair looks super cute while remaining a little more natural than some of the other looks. The key with this is dying your hair the perfect shade of blonde. You don’t want it to reach platinum, but you should leave the bleach on long enough to eradicate the golden tones. When you wash the bleach off, the hair should be a nice lemon color. To achieve the perfect silver blonde, leave Fanola No Yellow Shampoo on the hair for 2-3 minutes before rinsing, and voilà, there you have it, beautiful silver-blonde locks.

4. Silver Ombre Hair

When trying to achieve silver ombre hair, make sure that you go to a professional that specializes in this hairstyle for the best possible outcome. If you do, you’ll leave the salon looking more stylish than ever. Subtle silver ombre hair has become a trendy style, which continues to look so chic. However, after a week or two, the silver will begin to fade from both your roots and ends. You can simply use a purple shampoo to maintain the ends, but if you want to keep the silver through the roots, use a toner every fortnight. Yes, it takes quite a bit of effort to be a blonde, but it’s worth it for a result like this.

5. Silver Purple Hair

Silver purple hair is a little bit out there, but it sure looks cool. When trying to achieve this look, the best way to get the perfect color is by using Splat Berry Blast Hair Color Kit. Naturally, this color will make your hair a deep purple, so add the Colour Dynamics Pasteliser to lighten it. The more pasteliser you add, the lighter the color will be to achieve your perfect purple.

6. Silver Blue Hair

Silver blue hair is especially stylish during the winter months. This icy blue color is a great addition to your usual blonde hair if you’re getting sick of the same old, and it suits both short and long hair. It can be achieved by using shampoo, conditioner, or toner. If you’re in need of advice on which product to choose exactly, try Fanola’s No Orange shampoo is great for creating that subtle blue tinge you’ve been longing for.

7. Silver Lilac Hair

Lilac hair is great if you want that purple tone but still want it to be subtle. With this color, it’s possible to see your platinum locks under specific lighting, so it’s not too extreme. The easiest way to achieve silver lilac hair is by using L’Oreal Paris EverPure Brass Toning Purple Sulfate Free Shampoo Simply leave the shampoo on your hair for between 5-10 minutes. By the time you wash and dry it, you’ll be so in love with your soft lilac hair.

8. Platinum Silver Hair

Platinum silver hair is great in winter; you’ll look like the Queen of an ice castle. To achieve platinum silver hair, the bleach must be left on until it reaches a level that is almost white. Before you wash it off, there shouldn’t be any gold tones left. This color requires little to no upkeep, which makes this look super easy. If anything, all you’ll need is a light purple shampoo that doesn’t need to be kept on for more than a minute. Any longer hair this blonde will start to turn purple, so make sure you’re keeping track of time.

9. Dark Silver Hair

Dark silver hair is the perfect summer look if you usually have black or dark brown hair just to lighten it that little bit. To maintain this color, Crazy Color by Renbow is the perfect product. Simply add a few drops of the color, Precious Platinum to your shampoo bottle to keep that ‘straight out of the salon’ feel. This color looks fantastic when the sunlight reflects against it and brightens up your whole look.

10. Silver Lavender Hair

Silver lavender hair is a lovely icy purple hair color. When trying to achieve this, keep in mind that the color your hair turns with purple shampoo depends on how blonde it’s dyed underneath. So to get silver lavender hair, you want to bleach it quite light. This is a great icy winter color that will get you some compliments, so have fun with your hair and change it up this season.

11. Silver Pink Hair

Silver pink hair is super cute; you’ll never get enough of this soft pink tone. If you’re looking for a subtle pink, your best option is De Lorenzo’s, Novafusion Auburn. Depending on how pink you want, this shampoo should be left on for different lengths of time. Aim for between 5-15 minutes, depending on the level of intensity you wish to achieve.

12. Pastel Silver Hair

Pastel silver hair is another icy color that looks amazing. To create this look, L’Oreal Paris Le Color Gloss One Step In-Shower Toning Hair Gloss is a great option to choose from. This toner removes all the brassiness from your hair while also adding shine and softening the hair. This pastel platinum color is simple and stylish; it’s the perfect cool tone to try out on your hair.

13. Silver Blue Ombre Hair

Silver blue ombre hair looks cool if you’ve got dark roots, the two tones are fabulous together. To make the ends of your ombre hair silver blue, use Schwarzkopf Got2b Metallics Permanent Hair Color. It’ll give you the perfect blend of blue and silver; trying to figure out which color it’s closest to will stump you. You may need a decent trim after bleaching your hair to achieve this look, but it will be worth it for that result.

14. Red and Silver Hair

Silver and red hair is an out-there style; you have to be rocking a killer personality to pull off this look. You also need to be committed to this style as it takes some serious upkeep. Red and silver hair is generally something that can’t be maintained from home. The red will fade from your hair, as well as the silver, and seeing as these are contradictory colors, you’ll need a professional to separate your hair and expertly re-touch the colors. Yes, this one is a bit of a process, but those contrasting colors look so vibrant together that if you’re after this style, you have to try it.

15. Silver Highlights on Brown Hair

Silver highlights on brown hair are a look you will see more often. They say that blondes do it best, so adding just a little bit of lightness to your hair, it’ll make your whole look that much more vibrant. If you’re hoping to keep those silver tones, you’ll need either a purple shampoo or a toner, depending on how dark the brown is. It’s usually best to consult your hairdresser as they’ll be able to advise you, as to which will work best for your hair color.

16. Silver Highlights On Dark Brown Hair

Dark brown hair can look a little dull during the summer, and silver highlights are the perfect way to brighten it up. The best way to maintain this silver color is by using an ash toner and massaging it through, from your roots to the ends. You’ll become so addicted to this new look that you’ll never want to go back to just having your dark brown hair; the silver will be here to stay.

17. Black Hair with Silver Highlights

Silver highlights add a beautiful effect to black hair. It brightens up your entire look by a mile and makes even the darker tones appear lighter. Get a violet toner to maintain the silver highlights, which will need to be used every few weeks to keep the colors looking fresh and vibrant. Darker hair always looks better with a tinge of purple or blue, rather than letting the golden blonde creep through, so be sure to re-touch when needed.

18. Silver Highlights on Blonde Hair

Silver highlights on blonde hair are a classic look. People have been dying their hair like this forever, and it’ll never go out of fashion. The two hair tones are soft and subtle, mixing a darker and lighter blonde. However, using purple shampoo allows you to keep the fresh look, preventing your hair from turning brassy or letting the golden tones take over. This look is super cute, and by only bleaching half of your hair, you’ll maintain a bit more of its health.

19. Silver Hair with Dark Roots

Silver hair with darker roots is such a hot look. People used to complain about ‘re-growth’, but now it’s a style that many opt for at the salon. It looks especially good if you naturally have quite dark hair, and by keeping a little bit of your natural hair, it can be less of a shock to the system when you dye it. Plus, if you’ve got dark hair and decide to go blonde, having that touch of dark still framing your face will make the color suit you so much more.

20. Silver Hair Extensions

If you order silver hair extensions online and they’re brassier than they looked in the picture you saw when you purchased them, don’t worry. Simply get a bowl and squirt some purple shampoo into it, then fill the bowl with water. The water should be a deep purple. After you’ve done this, add the extensions to the bowl and leave them to sit for around 20 minutes. Be sure to keep checking the color by pulling the extensions out of the water slightly. When they reach the silver-tone, you were hoping for, rinse the excess from the hair and condition them.

Silver Hair Color FAQs

Does silver hair fade quickly?

Silver hair can fade very quickly, so you do need to work on maintaining the color. Corrector shampoos that help to tone out brassiness are one way to help it stay. Make sure to choose a sulfate-free shampoo, as these can also impact shade retention. Of course, washing your hair less is another option. You'll also want to use a good treatment once a week to keep your hair strong and healthy. Lastly, booking regular appointments at the hair salon is the best way to keep your color fresh.

How Long to Leave Purple Shampoo on For?

How long you should leave the shampoo on for, depends on how deep or silver you want the color to be. If you're aiming for a light silver, you should keep it on for between 2-3 minutes, but if you're aiming for a deep purple, try leaving it for 15 minutes. Its always best to experiment with the time you leave it on for, to find out what suits you.

Is there a permanent silver hair dye?

Hair salons will certainly stock permanent color solutions. However, for at home, you can get permanent silver hair dye from brands like L'Oreal Paris, Schwarzkopf, Got2b, and Knight & Wilson. Keep in mind, though, that even permanent silver hair dyes will fade, so you need to put in a little extra work between sessions to maintain your mane.

How do I dye my hair silver?

Dying your hair silver is a multi-part process. The first step is to bleach your hair, so it's very light, and the color will take. Unless you're a natural blond with already light hair, most people need this step. Once it's bleached, you'll need to tone it to minimize the yellow tones. Next is silver or grey dye. If you're going for all-over color, apply it like any regular dye. If you're aiming for balayage or highlights, you'll need to follow the appropriate technique. Leave the dye on for the recommended time, and then rinse it out, washing with a toning shampoo. Keep in mind, silver can be tricky to achieve, so it can take time to get it just right — be patient, and it will be worth it.

How to Get Silver Hair?

Silver hair is a hot style, but you have to be willing to commit to the maintenance. It will need to be re-touched every couple of weeks, or at least once a month, and you've got to be able to source the perfect product to suit the color you're aiming for. It's usually best to consult with your hairdresser when getting it done, ask them what products they're using to create the silver tones so you can re-create the look at home.

Is silver hair a natural hair color?

Gray or white hair is not caused by a true gray or white pigment, but is due to a lack of pigmentation and melanin. The clear hairs appear as gray or white because of the way light is reflected from the hairs. Gray hair color typically occurs naturally as people age (see aging or achromotrichia below).

Is silver hair the same as GREY hair?

People use “gray,” “white” and “silver” interchangeably to describe hair that is turning or has turned. Its appearance — whether it looks, gray, white or silver — depends on how much natural color, or pigment, remains, experts say. Hair that has lost all its color typically appears white.

What color does silver hair fade to?

What Color Does Silver Hair Fade To? Without proper upkeep and the right products – like Keratherapy's Totally Blonde and Color Protect lines, silver hair will fade into a cornhusk yellow, pale green, or yellow similar to what hair looks like right after bleaching.

What does silver hair look like?

Silver-blonde hair is just a very pale blonde that reflects a silvery/ashy tone. It differs from platinum in that platinum keeps to a pure white tone, while silver-blonde will have a cool tone to it, appearing slightly darker, Tressa Yunchuk at Kharma Salons tells us.