Growing out grey hair

Growing out grey hair can be empowering, but it can also feel like an insurmountable task. We spoke with Marc Armstrong and Sabrina Maxwell from Marc and Maxwell salon in Surry Hills, Sydney, for their top tips.

Growing out grey hair – a major trend for 2023

In a post-pandemic world, it seems we’re leaning towards lo-fi beauty looks and things that save us time. Getting back to our most natural selves also seems high on our list of priorities.

“People were embracing pastel pinks and silvers in terms of colour, before COVID hit,” explains Sabrina. “This then evolved to lovely shades of silver.”

Enter, lockdown.

“When lockdown arrived, increasing numbers of women were ready to embrace their naturally silver strands,” adds Marc. “After all, the stress of colouring hair at home was all a bit much with everything else going on in the world. People were seeking a much simpler life. With this, came an acceptance of grey hair. We saw so many clients embracing the idea of growing out grey hair.”

The simplest ways to grow out grey hair

Growing out any coloured hair to its natural state isn’t a breeze, but a shorter haircut will definitely help. It will make the process faster and your hair will certainly feel healthier along the way.

“Speak to your stylist about a cut that will best suit you,” advises Marc. “It might be a chin-grazing bob, or even a pixie cut such as the style Dame Judy Dench loves to sport. Quite often, shorter styles will add an air of youth, too.”

If you don’t fancy going short, experiment with stylish up do’s.

Downtown Abbey Star Elizabeth McGovern recently walked the red carpet with her silver strands in a neat coif, with a little loose bun at the back. She looked a million dollars. The Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actress teamed her look with a bold brow, nude eye, bright red lip and opulent jewels (if you’re wearing your strands silver, you can highlight your features with bolder make-up).

Growing out grey hair without losing length

“This could be a lengthy process,” says Marc. “Plan it well. If you want to grow your hair out naturally, without cutting your hair short, it’s likely to take around two years. This is if you’re starting with a short to mid-length bob.

“Begin with a full consultation with your colourist. You might have to transition from a block colour to highlights, which will soften your regrowth as you transition to your new silver strands. You could even ask them to start splicng in a few strands of silver each time, to make your regrowth less noticeable. Finally, keep your hair shiny and healthy-looking by using a toner between salon visits. Try to avoid store-bought ones, as you risk choosing the wrong shade and ending up with an ashy blue or purple hue. Instead, ask your stylist to recommend one that is salon-quality and will enhance your hair’s health as well as your colour.”

Caring for grey hair

Caring for grey hair is much the same as blonde hair. Remember, it tends to be more porous and can pick up brassy tones quite quickly. For this reason, Sabrina suggests wearing a swimming cap when hopping in a chlorinated pool, and always using a styling product with UV protection, like Oribe Royal Blowout Heat Styling Spray.

Use top notch shampoo, conditioner and treatment masks, too. Lately, we’ve been loving the new Innoluxe Platinum range, which contains violet tones to gently neutralise yellow pigments. The Shampoo, Conditioner and mask each have lightweight formulas that blend vegan ingredients including camelina, olus and rice bran oil. There’s also murumuru and capuacu butters to nourish, strengthen, moisturise and build shine.

Celebs embracing silver strands

Keanu’s main squeeze, Alexandra Grant, wears a natural block of grey hair so beautifully.

Actor Allison Janney recently appeared on the Drew Barrymore show with a stunning silver pixie cut. After years of effort with hair extensions (that fell out), hair tapes and colour, letting her hair grow out was life-changing.

She told Drew: “I cannot tell you how amazing it is to feel free – free from hair colour, and hair extensions, and hair tapes, and blah blah blah,” gushed thee 62-year-old. “To be able to run my hands through my hair and hopefully sometime a man will be able to run his hands through my hair and appreciate it, it’s just heaven. I’m enjoying this new chapter in my hairdo world.”

And of course, who could forget the one and only Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) rocking grey hair in the first season of And Just Like That?