Is salt and pepper hair fashionable?

While gray hair used to be something we all wanted to hide, it’s now actually a major hair color trend. You can still pull off this hair color trend even if you’re not going gray just yet. In particular, salt and pepper hair, which is a mix of gray, silver, and black hair, is totally of the moment for 2020-2021—not to mention universally attractive. Keep reading to learn how to get a salt and pepper hair color at home and how to take care of colored hair once you’re finished dyeing yours.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE GETTING SALT AND PEPPER HAIR

Like all unnatural hair colors, salt and pepper hair will require quite a bit of work to achieve if you’re aiming for all over color. If you’re starting with a dark base color, you’ll most likely need to bleach your hair so that the gray color will show up on your strands. If that’s the reality you’re looking at, it’s a smart idea to seek out a professional colorist to get the job done. Now, if you have light hair to start out with, it’s a bit easier to get the salt and pepper look at home.

HOW TO DO SALT AND PEPPER HAIR AT HOME

Whichever end of the hair color spectrum you’re on, if you absolutely love DIY, we can assist you with a salt and pepper hair color transformation. First, you’d want to color your hair using the L’Oréal Paris Superior Preference Fade-Defying Shine Permanent Hair Color in Soft Black or the L’Oréal Paris Féria in Bright Black if you want a bold, chic take on the trend. After you’ve dyed your hair black, spray sections of your hair using the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray in Silver. While the silver of your salt and pepper hair color will disappear after just one wash, it gives you the option to switch between two head-turning looks in a jiff. Just spritz the silver color wherever you’d like, then wash out at the end of the day. Of course, you can also head to the salon and have a pro colorist expertly create a custom salt and pepper hair color just for you. It's up to you as to whether you want to try this hair color trend at home or seek out a professional's help.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF SALT AND PEPPER HAIR

When you color your hair, you may need to switch up your hair-care routine. For starters, look for a system of shampoo and conditioner that is designed for color-treated hair, like the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Repair & Defend Shampoo and L'Oréal Paris EverPure Repair & Defend Conditioner. Swap out the conditioner for a hair mask, like the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Repair Remedy Balm once or twice a week. Wash your hair in lukewarm temps, as super-hot water can strip your strands of essential oils, which can lead to it feeling dry and looking dull.

THE BEST WAY TO STYLE SALT AND PEPPER HAIR

When it comes to styling your salt and pepper hair, look for hairstyles that accentuate your multi-faceted color, the same way you would with a balayage mane or highlighted head of hair. Our favorite hairstyle for this shade-shifting hair color is just about any type of braid. If you’re feeling adventurous, opt for a stacked multi-braid where you can pair a complex fishtail with a rope braid or traditional three-strand. If you want a more effortless style, try a Dutch or French braid pulled over one shoulder.

If you don’t want to braid your hair at all, rely on amplifying your air-dried hairstyle with the help of a hair mousse, like the L’Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle CURVE IT Elastic Curl Mousse. Simply apply a dollop and scrunch for beautifully defined curls.

Next up: If you’re not feeling the salt and pepper look but love the idea of all-over gray, check out our article, How To Get a Fresh Silver Hair Color.

“My gray hairs make me look old!” That’s a classic statement we hear as stylists when asked to cover our client’s natural “life sparkles” (my favorite term for them). But what if I told you that salt and pepper hair can make you look and feel younger, more vibrant, and garner a TON of compliments? Read on for some winning salt and pepper hair color ideas that will make you fall in love with the trend!

Is Salt and Pepper Hair Aging You?

Letting salt and pepper hair grow in may be quite painful, but it is a beautiful dimensional hue that can eventually shave off the years from your entire look! Believe it or not … that’s what I experience daily as an almost-40 woman after deciding to “ditch the dye” and grow out my own salt and peppers after 30. I’ve even had random strangers run across the street, going out of their way to come and see my hair.

To ease the process, I went fully silver color from root to tip and allowed my own salt and pepper to grow into it! It was so well received, and I have never colored my hair again since. Now, I’m specializing in Silver Hair Secrets, and many of my clients can also enjoy the beauty of silver hair.

While some people don’t want to wear the painful color demarcation line, many still prefer growing salt and pepper hair out in a natural way. There’s even a community known as the Grombre movement that has become a lifestyle for thousands of women around the globe who take pride in wearing gray hair.

If you feel like you are ready to transition to natural gray hair or have chosen salt and pepper hair color for your next big transformation, there are a lot of options to make a fashion statement out of this unique color combination.

#1: Lovely Waves and Curls

No matter what tone of silver you prefer to rock, salt and pepper hair color creates a stunning combination with waves and curls!

#2: Salt and Pepper with Shadow Roots

You can go full silver or white from root to tip and remove all of your previous color, but you can also go for a shadow root that blends in your new regrowth with your new silver strands. As an alternative, you can blend down your root with salt and pepper locks that are already growing out.

#3: Long Salt and Pepper Hair

Salt and pepper hair works gorgeously as a natural root shade at any stage of growing out your gray color. And you don’t necessarily have to cut your white hair short as you age! Doesn’t this long gray hair look stunning?

#4: Salt and Pepper Bob with Bangs

Bob going just an inch or two below your chin is a great idea if you prefer wearing your natural salt and pepper tresses short. Bangs and messy waves add a cute youthful vibe.

#5: Silver Extensions

Once you choose to leave your own salt and pepper completely, you can always add some silver extensions to inject some fun and youth into your style.

#6: Platinum White with Dark Roots

White tips with dark hair at the roots is a great variation of salt and pepper color. Just remember, the process of mimicking your own “life sparkle” canvas requires a substantial amount of time, effort, and skill. So, both you and your stylist should be well aware of the time investment for this one! On the low side, you’re looking at 6 hours including the color removal, and on the high side (for very long and thick hair) it’s in the double-digit hours!

#7: Salt and Pepper Balayage

This stunning look took a whopping 13 hours. First, I removed ALL warmth in all of the hair (sometimes referred to as a platinum card). Then, I re-created an entirely new root color in my bowl that was pulled halfway down the length in places to really give it that depth. Quite a challenge, isn’t it? However, if you happen to want the Ferrari of salt and pepper hairs, steal this look!

#8: Salt and Pepper Reverse Ombre

If you have reached a gray stage where your dyed hair is just an edge of your salt and pepper tresses, take advantage of it and rock this gorgeous reverse ombre. It’s an elegant and stylish option for older women.

#9: Silver Highlights and Lowlights

Adding distinctive silver highlights to dark hair is an awesome way to tap into the salt and pepper trend. The contrast makes this hair look absolutely amazing.

#10: Salt Pepper Hair with a Pastel Touch

You can inject a fresh, romantic vibe into your salt and pepper look with the help of pastel hues. Lavender ombre looks exceptionally great with salt and pepper color.

#11: Salt and Pepper Pixie

Getting a big chop is a smart way to get rid of dyed locks and transition to natural hair color. Salt and pepper pixie is simple, elegant, low-maintenance, and suitable for women of any age.

#12: Subtle Warm Highlights

Do you feel like your salt and pepper hair lacks warmth and doesn’t complement your skin tone? Well, you can always give your hair a slightly warmer finish with a subtle ombre or semi-permanent dye that will wash out seamlessly, without any demarcation lines.

Salt and Pepper Hair Color Ideas for Men

Many men don’t want to be left out of the salt and pepper hair color trend, and going full silver and letting their own grays grow in is a good choice.

Still, there are many variations to play with on men’s hair too. For example, salty silver slicing can add drama to salt and pepper hair.

A short cut with an ultra-clean lineup is the perfect choice for men with natural black hair that is turning gray.

How To Make the Best of Your Salt and Pepper

Despite the ease and beauty of salt and pepper color, there are definitely some things to avoid to make it look good:

1. Banding

Banding happens for various reasons, including uneven heat distribution often called “hot roots”. For example, when something like a box dye root touch-up overlaps previously colored hair, or the worst, and potentially most harmful to your length, overlapping of lightener on the regrowth and the previously lightened length. This can also cause major breakage and damage.

2. Brassiness

Not keeping up with your at-home shampoo-toning can give you less of that salt and pepper silver look. Instead, you can start getting more and more of the yellow gold blonde look. To avoid this, get into the routine of washing your salt and pepper tresses with quality blue or purple shampoos. Just compare these before and after pics below. The difference is more than striking, isn’t it?

3. Not Conditioning

The lack of pigment in gray hair affects the texture, so you might notice that your salt and pepper locks get dry and wiry over time. If you want to keep graying hair soft and healthy, my advice is to take conditioning seriously and treat your hair with a hydrating mask once a week.

The fun and beauty of silvery salt mixed with ashy pepper hair will always be a stunning sight to behold from anyone you come across. So don’t shy away from responding to your friend, your client, your mom, or even your dad that their gray hair doesn’t make them look old. Instead, silver hair is a crown of glory and when done right it will be a beautiful sight to behold.

Is salt and pepper hair attractive?

Is salt and pepper hair in style?

Is salt and pepper hair aging?

What colors look best with salt and pepper hair?