Gather Reference Pictures
The first step is to scour magazines, Pinterest and Instagram to find pictures which perfectly demonstrate the look you want to achieve. Make sure you look for models which have a similar skin tone and natural hair color to you. This is to ensure that the look is actually achievable for you and won’t look completely different to the picture. Likewise, look for photos which feature models or celebrities with a similar length hair to you. Unless of course you’re willing to alter the length with a cut or extensions.
Book a Consultation
Come to your consultation armed with reference photos of exactly what you want. That way, the hairdresser will have a clear idea of how much time and what dyes will be needed. Be aware that the hairdresser might recommend that you go for a slightly different color to your photos. As long as you have an experienced and high quality stylist, it’s best to trust their opinion as they’re trained to match color to skin tone and complexion. Ultimately, a great hairdresser knows best what will work for you and what won’t.
Time for Highlights
Before you book your appointment, be aware that getting silver highlights is a big investment, both financially and in terms of time. As the hair will be bleached first before adding a silver tint, you can expect to be in the salon for several hours. It will probably knock you back a pretty penny as well, so make sure you’ve got a high enough budget before committing. Your stylist will likely start by painting bleach on the foils and waiting for the hair to lighten sufficiently before it’s possible to add silver. With black hair this will take a long time, so make sure you’ve got something to occupy you while you wait.
Next, it’s time for the silver tint. This is a very difficult color to get right, and the prep work is the most important factor in making sure it turns out exactly the way you want it to. This means, getting dark hair to a very pale blonde first, and then doing some precision toning. Your hairdresser might also do a pre-tone which will help neutralise any undertones. The final step is adding the silver, which will likely only take around 15 minutes or so.
At-Home Maintenance
Silver is notorious for fading fast and needing a lot of him upkeep to ensure it stays looking as good as it did in the salon. Bleaching hair removes all the nutrients and can dry the hair out. For this reason, you need to take extra care to lock in moisture in your hair care routine. To do this, you should condition your hair every time you wash it, and use special hair masks and oils weekly. Speak to your hairdresser to find out which ones are recommended for you specifically.
Many women with bleached hair use coconut oil and jojoba oil as inexpensive ways to keep their hair moisturized. Simply massage the oil into your hair and leave-in for several hours or overnight. If you do this frequently, your hair won’t get that dry and damaged bleach look. It’s also recommended that you keep shampooing to a minimum, and don’t wash the hair more than twice weekly. On non-wash days you can use dry shampoo to keep your hair looking fresh. When you do wash, it’s a great idea to use purple tinted shampoo. The purple pigment can help offset any copper or brass tones which can show up in your highlights.
Always consult your hairdresser so that you know exactly what steps and products to incorporate in your new hair care routine. But be aware that bleached hair is a big responsibility when it comes to maintenance — far more than maintaining natural brunette or black locks. However, if you really love your silvery mane then all the upkeep is 100% worth it. There are plenty of silver and grey highlight looks for black hair. From subtle to staggering, there’s something for everyone. Choose which looks inspire you the most and head down to your salon of choice for a whole new mane and a whole new you!
