Do’s and Don’ts of the Silver Hair Dye Job
It used to be that all the women I knew were trying to hide their greys. But somewhere around 2014, celebrities started breaking the mold by going grey and silver on purpose, and it seriously caught on. As far as I can see, that trend isn’t going anywhere, with superstars like Cara Delevingne and Winnie Harlow still going gray in 2016 and 2017. The look is definitely gorgeous, but it’s no easy process.
If you’re considering taking the plunge into icy silver hair dye, it’s important to take all the necessary steps so that it, a) turns out the way you want it to, and 2) stays shiny and healthy.
Here are a few do’s and don’ts of the process:
#1 Don’t Use Box Dye
That adorable silver hair dye box next to the deodorant at the drug store, with the super pretty model with the hair you want? That’s not how your hair is going to turn out! The only way a box of silver hair dye is going to turn out even sort of right is if you are a natural platinum blonde — that means no previous dye or bleach jobs, and hair that is basically already white. Otherwise, you definitely need to leave it to a professional.
#2 Do Let Your Hairstylist Lift Your Hair
In order to get the icy look you’re looking for, your hair has to be super light. If you have naturally dark or dirty blonde hair, this will most likely take a few bleaching sessions, and this will inevitably damage your hair. To get the best silver look, the majority of hairstylists recommend your hair being at least a level 11, which is basically the lightest platinum blonde.
#3 Don’t Wash Your Hair Every Day
Silver hair dye washes out fairly easily, so you’ll want to leave as much time between washes as possible, and make sure to wash with cold water. If your hair is just oily and not dirty, consider using dry shampoo such as Blend Refreshing Spray by Keune or Moroccan Oil Dry Shampoo for light or dark tones to help take out some of the moisture. After so many bleaching sessions, your hair is likely to be much drier than before anyway.
#4 Do Get Purple Shampoo
When you do wash your hair, be sure to get a purple shampoo. Purple shampoo does a great job of brightening and toning silver and blonde hair. If it starts to get a tarnished or brassy hue, you can use Keune Silver Reflex Shampoo and Conditioner at least once a week. I recommend this at least once a week for all icy blondes, ash brown or gray hair clients. Even rose gold red heads will benefit from it. By the way, those tarnished or brassy hues can come from minerals in the water, sebum or environmental build up.
#5 Don’t Add Heat Damage
Like I mentioned, your hair is going to endure some damage after the bleaching sessions it will take to dye your hair silver. This is why you need to take excellent care of your hair afterward. Use hair masks weekly and get deep conditioning treatments—the last thing you want is the perfect silver hair dye going to waste on hair that feels and looks like straw. Let your hair air dry. If you need to manage frizz, try to use nourishing serums instead of heat products to straighten or style your hair. Again, ask your stylist for the best mask and/or products to use for your unique hair type and color. Of course, then you need to USE THEM!!!