GUIDE TO GREIGE HAIR

Not quite blonde, more than a bit beige, and just shy of grey - greige hair is the year-round colour favourite everyone’s talking about. This autumnal shade of blonde and grey works for pretty much any blonde, but it’s especially-popular with blondes looking to go grey naturally and embrace their transition.

Here’s what greige hair is, what to ask your stylist for, and how to look after this ultra-flattering colour.

What’s greige hair?

Greige hair is exactly what it sounds like - a mixture of grey and beige tones that creates a soft, muted blonde with a cool-girl edge. It sits somewhere between icy ash blonde and warmer, creamy golden blonde hues, making it one of the most versatile blonde shades out there.

What makes greige so appealing is its multi-tonal finish. Rather than looking flat or overly ashy, it combines subtle lowlights to create depth and movement. If your stylist gets it right, your finished greige look should appear naturally dimensional, with a soft, diffused glow.

One of greige’s many benefits is it’s also incredibly forgiving. Unlike brighter blondes that can demand frequent upkeep, greige grows out more seamlessly - making it ideal if you love a low-maintenance colour.

How do I ask my stylist for greige hair?

Even if you’re a dab hand at toning your hair at home, we’d recommend that you seek out a trusted stylist for your transition to greige. And when you’re letting them know what you want, communication is everything. Because it’s a blended shade, your stylist will tailor your greige colour to suit your starting colour and skin tone.

Here’s what to ask for:

• A cool-toned beige blonde with soft grey undertones
• A balayage-adjacent or lived-in colour technique for natural dimension
• A shadow root or root melt to keep regrowth seamless
• A finish that feels soft, glossy and not overly icy or platinum-focused

You should also do a fair amount of research before your appointment. Bring in reference images of looks you like - and remember that greige’s easygoing nature means it can lean slightly warmer (more beigey) or cooler (more grey), depending on your preference.

Can anyone get greige hair?

In a word, yes - but as ever with changing your hair colour, there are caveats.

If you’re already a natural or dyed blonde, your stylist can easily add cooler, ashy tones and lowlights to create that signature greige look. The same goes for if you’re a blonde who’s chosen to go grey - your stylist can lighten and then colour your grey to go greige.

If you’re currently brunette, you may need a lightening step first, but your greige can be customised with deeper, darker roots and softer ends for a more natural transition. If you’re unsure, your stylist can tweak the ratio of brunette to greige to find your most flattering colour.

The good news is that greige suits a wide range of complexions, because it supports both warm and cool, and can be tweaked to suit your underlying skin tone(s).

How can I move from greige to natural grey hair?

If you’re thinking of embracing your natural grey, greige is the perfect stepping stone. Because it already incorporates soft grey tones, it helps blur the line between coloured hair and natural regrowth.

Over time, your stylist can introduce more cool, silvery tones, as well as add strategic highlights and lowlights to mimic natural grey variation. The aim should be to gradually reduce overall warmth for a seamless transition to grey.

Going from greige to grey requires a degree of patience - and working with your colourist to evolve your shade over time.

How to look after greige hair

Like any other kind of colour-treated hair, greige needs a little extra care to keep it looking its best. Here’s how to maintain greige’s perfect balance of tones while keeping your hair glossy, smooth and healthy.

• Keep brassiness at bay: Because greige sits between warm and cool, unwanted yellow tones can throw off the balance. Using a purple shampoo is key to keeping your shade looking fresh.
• Tone at home: A great option for at-home toning is our Salon Blonde Tone Perfecting Treatment in Champagne Blonde, which helps enhance and refresh neutral, beige tones between salon visits while adding shine.
• Focus on strength and condition: Lightened hair can be more prone to dryness and breakage, so weekly treatments are essential. Take care when using styling tools; heat styling and environmental stress can dull your tone over time, so heat protectants and leave-in conditioners are a must.
• Wash wisely: Overwashing your hair can fade colour faster. On wash days, always follow with a conditioner to help lock in moisture and maintain that glossy finish.