Silver Hair Dye – A Complete Guide | How to Color Hair Silver at Home?
Silver hair color is what we can best describe as the unexpected darling of the hair world. It snuck up on us when we weren’t watching, and now it has stolen the hearts of many, male and female alike.
Thanks to its versatility, sleek, and chic appearance, from celebrity to girl next door, silver hair color can bring out the star in anyone. Whether you want to go bold and daring or royal and gentle, there’s a silver hair dye to transform your hair.
If you’re about to join the throng of people showing off their beautiful silver tresses, there’s a lot you should know about this hot color before jumping in.
This post will tell you what you need to know about getting silver hair, including the products and processes involved in transforming your hair.
What Color Does Your Hair Have to Be to Dye It Silver?
The first question that might cross your mind when you look at the silver hair color and your natural hair is ‘how do I go from here to there?’ And that’s a valid question. Hair dyes are great, but they are no magicians so you can’t transform your dark manes to bright silver in a blink of an eye.
So, how do you transform from your hair color to silver?
You’ll need to bleach your hair and remove all the color until your hair is nearly white. That’s when the silver dye can work.
The darker your hair color, the more bleaching processes you’ll have to undergo to get your hair to an almost-white state. If you have lighter hair, then you probably don’t need to do so much.
Hair experts advise that when bleaching your hair to a light state, you do it in stages. That’s because the very process of bleaching is harmful to your hair, and multiple bleach sessions can really damage your hair fibers, especially if your hair isn’t in the healthiest of states.
So, if your hair color is on the darker end, you can bleach it, and give your hair a while to recover before bleaching again, until you get the desired light shade.
After bleaching, it is also necessary to tone your hair to avoid the terrible yellow color that bleach often leaves on your strands.
If you don’t remove the yellow color, your silver hair color might not be flawless. You can use a purple-based toner alongside a 5 or 10-volume developer on your hair for 30 minutes to 1 hour before washing it off.
Top 5 Silver Hair Dyes
- L’Oreal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Permanent Hair Dye, S1 Smokey Silver
- Il Salone Milano Permanent Hair Color Cream – 12.11 Silver Platinum Hair Dye
- ARCTIC FOX Vegan and Cruelty-Free Semi-Permanent Hair Color Dye
- Kiss Tintation Semi-Permanent Hair Color 5 Ounce Mystic Silver
- Ion 7SP-HM Silver Pearl Permanent Creme Hair Color
What’s The Difference Between Silver and Grey Hair?
Is grey hair the same as silver? Many people have asked and will continue to ask this question, especially when shopping for hair dyes.
Both colors are nearly the same, but there is a tad difference between them, and that’s in their appearance.
Grey color is flat in appearance, while silver has a shine and reflectiveness to it. The best way to understand the difference is to see grey as a mixture of black and white and see silver as the same mixture of black and white, but with a metallic tint.
In a few words, silver is shiny grey.
Can I Dye My Grey Hair Silver?
Now that we know the difference between grey and silver, can a person with grey hair switch to silver? What does it take?
Coloring your grey hair silver is easy because you don’t have to bleach your strands. You’re already close to the actual color, so you simply need to add a silver color dye that will brighten your grey hair and remove the yellow or orange tone on your natural grey hair.
A semi-permanent permanent silver hair dye comprises cool violet and blue pigments that will take away the brassiness from your hair strands.
Since your hair is already grey, a permanent silver hair dye can give you beautiful silver strands that would last between four and six weeks.
How Do I Know If Silver Hair Will Suit Me?
Now, that’s a very valid concern. We all love to explore hair colors, but what if you invest time and money into getting a silver hair color but it doesn’t look good? Let’s find out who silver hair dye is best suited for.
Fair and olive skin are perfect for silver hair color. Pale skin with red undertones also blends well with silver hair color. However, silver hair won’t look so great on you if you have a pink tone as the light color will neutralize pink.
If you have a neutral skin tone, you are good to go, but a warm skin tone will only carry silver hair beautifully if it has a peachy edge to it.
How Can I Color My Hair Silver at Home?
Nearly everyone is exploring DIY methods of doing almost everything hair-related and coloring your hair silver doesn’t have to be an exception.
However, coloring your hair silver is a lot of work, so you might want to visit the salon, especially if it’s your first time. But, if you trust your skills, then, by all means, let’s get into it.
As we stated earlier, your hair must be very light or platinum blonde before you begin the process. Some pre-procedures are worthy to note.
Required Items
- Bleach
- Silver hair dye
- Toner
- Towel
- Petroleum jelly (for your hairline)
- Applicator brush and mixing bowl
Pre-process
First, ensure that you haven’t recently dyed your hair before this process. It is best to wait a few months if you had dyed your hair recently. That way, your hair can be in better condition before you begin the bleaching process.
You can also apply a deep conditioning mask to your hair one week before you dye your hair to supply the hair with nutrients and protection.
You also need to wash your hair with good shampoo for 1 or 2 days before you proceed to color your hair. That way, you remove any residue, dirt, or product in your hair.
These steps will support the build-up of natural oil in your hair to protect it from damage during the processes.
Remember that your hair should be clean and dry when you apply the hair dye.
It is also important to run a strand test 1 or 2 days before applying the dye to your hair, especially if it’s your first time.
The test shows you the final color so that you decide whether you like it before getting the dye on your entire hair. It also prepares you for any reaction you might have to the dye.
Once this is done, you can move on to the main process.
Main Process (Step by Step)
1. Bleach your hair
We have discussed what bleaching your hair for this purpose entails in the earlier paragraphs. Bleach your hair according to the color of your tresses but ensure that they are platinum blonde by the time you’re done.
2. Apply toner
The purpose of the toner is to remove yellow undertones that will be left behind after bleaching your hair to ensure a smooth finish.
Leave the toner on your hair for about twenty minutes before rinsing it off.
3. Apply petroleum jelly around your hairline
Surround your hairline with petroleum jelly to prevent the dye from running and staining your skin during the coloring process.
4. Apply the silver hair dye
Follow the instructions on the pack of hair dye when mixing and applying it to your hair. Pay close attention to timing and don’t leave it on longer than you should.
When applying the dye, divide your hair into sections and then apply the dye to one section after the other.
While waiting for the color to develop, cover your hair with a shower cap or plastic bag to protect your neck and avoid drips.
5. Wash hair dye out thoroughly
Once the timing elapses and your hair color is in, wash the dye out of your hair properly leaving no residue behind. Wash it as many times as is necessary to achieve this.
You can apply a nourishing leave-in conditioner to revitalize your hair after the process and deliver shine, but don’t apply anything you have to wash off.
With all these done, your silver hairstyle is ready to be flaunted!
How Long Does Silver Dye Last?
Whether you use a permanent or semi-permanent dye, your silver hair color will fade with time. Depending on the product and strength of the dye, some colors will fade faster than others.
For instance, a lighter silver color will fade quicker than a deeper tone. However, silver hair color generally fades fast.
Your silver hair color can last anywhere from 4 weeks and above, depending on how you manage it, and how often you wash your hair. The silver color will begin to fade after some washes, so you’ll need to be careful with that.
Don’t shampoo your hair too frequently. You can wash your hair less frequently than usual while using purple shampoo every time. The purple shampoo helps the color last longer.
You can also use dry shampoo in-between washes to keep your hair clean and smelling fresh.
If your hair begins to slowly turn yellow, use a toner to correct the color and increase the shine.
What Is the Best Hair Dye to Go Silver?
Check below silver color dyes from popular brands
Final Words:
Now you have all you need to know about coloring your hair silver. With the information available, you can decide whether you want to take the leap and dye your hair and if you can handle the procedure.
Because your hair will be exposed to a lot of bleach, your hair needs to be very healthy before this process. You’ll also need to follow up with a weekly repairing hair mask after getting the silver dye because your hair might be dry and prone to breakage and damage. Ensure that whatever treatment you use is color-safe to avoid reducing the lifespan of your beautiful silver hair color.
It is also important to reduce heat exposure and styling while carrying this style as your hair will be more prone to heat damage. If you must, use a heat protector, but natural styling methods are the best when carrying silver hair color.
