How to Lighten Dark Grey Hair

Co-authored by April Ferri and Amber Crain

Last Updated: October 15, 2024 References

If your grey hair is darker than you'd like, you definitely have options for lightening it up a bit. Working with grey hair can be tricky, though, since it's fragile and technically has no pigment in it. Don't worry—we've researched everything you need to know about lightening and brightening grey hair so we could answer your most pressing questions. Read on to learn more!

Question 1 of 6:

What’s the best way to lighten dark grey hair?

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Get highlights to lighten the color and add dimension. The most fool-proof way to lighten hair is by using bleach. Grey hair is fragile, though, so bleaching your whole head isn’t ideal. Bleached highlights are the way to go if you want to subtly lighten your hair and add natural-looking dimension without damaging it. ^{[1]
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- You can do your own highlights at home using a bleach kit from a drug or beauty supply store. If you've never done highlights before, you might want to head to the salon for your first time.
- Highlighted grey hair doesn't need root touch-ups as often as pigmented hair, which is a big plus! ^{[2]
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Question 2 of 6:

What if I want to dramatically lighten dark grey hair?

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Bleach all of your hair and use a silver toner to adjust the color. Apply bleach to get rid of all pigment—you want your hair to be almost white for this. Then, wash your hair with a silver toning shampoo to introduce gorgeous light grey or silver pigments. Use the shampoo every 2-3 weeks to maintain your new color! ^{[3]
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- If you want a sparkling light grey color, use silver toning shampoo. If you want light grey without the metallic pigments, look for a toning shampoo in a shade like "slate." ^{[4]
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Question 3 of 6:

Can I dye dark grey hair to make it lighter and silvery?

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Yes, apply a high-lift permanent or semi-permanent silver hair dye. Read the instructions for specifics, but you usually saturate your hair with the dye just like you would any other colored dye. Leave it on for the recommended amount of time, rinse it out thoroughly, and follow up with moisturizing conditioner. ^{[5]
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- “High-lift” means the dye can lighten hair 1-2 shades without bleaching it first. They usually have shade names like “Silver Fox” or “Icy Blonde.” ^{[6]
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Question 4 of 6:

Can I brighten grey hair without using dye or bleach?

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1
Yes, use a silver toning shampoo at home once a week. Grey hair looks darker when it gets dull and brassy. Silver toning shampoo deposits pigments on your hair to enhance and brighten the color, but it doesn't have dye or bleach in it. You apply toning shampoo exactly like normal shampoo, so it’s super easy! ^{[7]
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- Purple toning shampoo can also brighten grey hair, especially if there are yellow tones in there. ^{[8]
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  Expert Source
  
  April Ferri
  Professional Hair Stylist
  
  Expert Interview. 8 December 2020.} ^{[9]
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- Each product is different, so read the instructions to find out how often you need to use the shampoo.
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Visit a salon if you want a more intense toning treatment. In-salon toning treatments are more pigmented than at-home toning shampoos. If you want a more dramatic color boost, make an appointment with your favorite stylist and explain the color you want to achieve with toner. ^{[10]
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Question 5 of 6:

How do I brighten grey hair naturally?

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Do an apple cider vinegar rinse once a week to enhance the color. Mix 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of apple cider vinegar with 1 gallon (3.75 l) of water. Hop in the shower and lather up your hair with regular shampoo. Then, rinse out the shampoo with the vinegar/water mixture. ^{[11]
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- Be sure to work the mixture through your hair and rinse thoroughly with clean water! Follow up with conditioner as you normally would.

Question 6 of 6:

How do I make my grey hair look shinier?

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1
Use clear or ice blonde hair gloss once a month. Clear glossing products don’t deposit any color, but they do make hair look extra shiny, seal in moisture, and smooth out the shaft. ^{[12]
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Research source} Semi-permanent glosses deposit silvery or ice blonde pigments to refresh and brighten the color while also boosting shine. ^{[13]
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- Instructions vary by brand, so be sure to read the packaging insert for more information. Generally, though, you apply and rinse them out just like hair dye.
2
Wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo once a week. Build-up on your hair makes it look dull; a clarifying shampoo strips out that unwanted build-up and leaves you with clean, shiny locks. Apply clarifying shampoo, lather it up, and rinse it out thoroughly just like you would normal shampoo. ^{[14]
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- Build-up is totally normal! It's usually caused by hard water, pollution, and styling products.

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Question

How do you maintain silvery-gray hair?

April Ferri
Professional Hair Stylist
April Ferri is a Professional Hair Stylist and the Co-Owner of Widows Peak Salon, a hair salon based in Los Angeles, California. With over ten years of experience, April specializes in hair coloring and enhancing and transforming natural tones into vibrant shades for beautiful and low maintenance hair. Her work has been featured in Voyage LA Magazine, and she has worked as a stylist for LA Fashion Week.

April Ferri

Professional Hair Stylist

Expert Answer

Invest in a good purple shampoo. I like one that's not overly drying, because sometimes purple shampoos are clarifying. That means they're made for pulling out any impurities in the hair in addition to depositing the purple color. That will cancel out any of the yellow to keep it that silvery color.

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How to Lighten Dark Grey Hair

Steps

What’s the best way to lighten dark grey hair?

What if I want to dramatically lighten dark grey hair?

Can I dye dark grey hair to make it lighter and silvery?

Can I brighten grey hair without using dye or bleach?

How do I brighten grey hair naturally?

How do I make my grey hair look shinier?

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