“Going grey is a personal journey,” says the model JoAni Johnson, who made her runway debut at 65. “It’s also empowering.” Still, transitioning between colours, while keeping breakage-prone grey hair both healthy and luminous, isn’t always straightforward. To help you along the way, Johnson and two other experts — the actress Andie MacDowell, who has welcomed her salt-and-pepper curls, and the New York colourist Lena Ott, whose clients include Meryl Streep — share their tips and product recommendations below.
Andie MacDowell, 67, actress
– When my hair started growing out during the pandemic, I felt like it was time to embrace my age and be comfortable with where I was in my life. I didn’t find many women who had silver hair, so I was inspired by men. I’d look at George Clooney or Hugh Grant and think, He looks great. I realised going grey wasn’t going to be detrimental [to my career]; in fact, I think it made me more unique and powerful.
– Dying your roots to match the rest of your hair can be harsh; your top layers can be very brittle, and some of mine broke. [If you want your hair to be one cohesive colour,] I highly recommend just cutting it short.
– I use a lot of conditioner because my gray hair is coarser and a little frizzier now. L’Oréal has a shampoo and conditioner that are great for silver hair, and I’ll add a small amount of their Bond Repair Oil-in-Serum when my hair’s damp, before styling, or when it’s dry, to finish my look. It helps to make everything shinier and softer.
– I’ve noticed that wearing certain colours enhances silver hair, including silver hoops and grey accessories. Shades of blue and mint green also look so pretty against my hair. I have a great collection of blue Hermès silk scarves. But I still wear every colour. I don’t stop myself!
Lena Ott, 47, colourist
– Rather than completely covering up grey hairs, I love to do grey blending: I’ll add highlights to certain areas to make the grey more reflective, which creates a little sparkle and takes away that dull, ashy look.
– Grey blending has a more diffused, seamless effect than coverage — which creates a hard line of demarcation at your roots so quickly — so it can grow out for eight weeks or even longer. My clients who used to have to come in every two weeks to dye their greys are like, “Why haven’t I been doing this all along?”
– To protect the investment that you’ve made in your colour, it’s super important to use a high-quality, colour-safe shampoo and conditioner. Because grey hair can be coarse, you’ll need ones that are moisturising and hydrating. Everist’s 1 and 2 concentrates can help make your hair look smoother — and they’re thoughtful for the planet.
– Grey hair has a tendency to not air-dry well. Applying a styling cream with some hold to very wet hair can help make it look shiny and piecey and not so fuzzy. Reverie’s Milk is a greatest hit for finer hair, and I recommend Oribe’s Crème for Style and Supershine Cream for medium to thick hair.
JoAni Johnson, 73, model
– I started going grey in my 30s and let nature take its course in my 40s. First, I had a grey streak, which slowly turned into what it is now. My current colour pattern would be very hard to reproduce in a salon.
– I’ve found that washing my hair too often results in breakage and dryness. I have to allow the natural oils to replenish themselves, so I typically wash it every two weeks. In between washes, if my hair feels brittle, I may apply argan oil in the evening. I’ll rub a tiny bit in my palms, smooth it on top of thehair strands, and then brush itthrough.
– My hair gets used to certain products, so I have to change them periodically in order to keep my hair conditioned. Currently, I’m using Fenty’s The Rich One Moisture Repair Shampoo, and every few months I’ll switch between Peter Louis’s TR Conditioner, which makes my hair really soft, manageable and healthy, and Fenty’s Instant Damage Repair Treatment Bond Builder.
– If I’m wearing makeup, I prefer a dark eye because the contrast helps brighten my hair and skin. Every once in a while, I’ll throw on a pop of red, whether it’s a bag or an earring. My overall advice is to keep [your look] simple.
T Recommends
- Moroccanoil Treatment Purple, $38.
- Augustinus Bader The Leave-In Hair Treatment, $90.
- Oribe Silverati Shampoo, $49.
These interviews have been edited and condensed.
