The right way to go gray

Silver is a go-to color when you want to turn heads. It’s also emerging as the “it” hair color as more women opt to go gray. Here’s how to do it right:

Do it gradually. “Don’t let [gray roots] take over 60% to 70% of your head,” says Oscar Blandi, celebrity stylist and owner of Oscar Blandi Salon in New York. Camouflage incoming grays with highlights or lowlights to soften the transition. And be patient: You may need to get highlights for a year to avoid a two-tone look.

Protect with product. Prepare for a change in hair texture. “It will get coarser and more wiry and will tend to become frizzier,” Blandi says. Maintain shine by having a gloss applied during highlights, and use a moisturizing conditioner and oil serum at home.

Get a clever haircut. “A shorter, textured cut will de-emphasize the lines of demarcation between chemically treated hair and emerging grays,” says Nick Stenson, Matrix artistic director.