5 Surprising Tips For Disguising Gray Hairs, From Highlights To Spot Treatments

Going gray is a natural, beautiful part of life—and, well, likely unavoidable for many of us. That said? It's also totally normal if you decide to cover up silver strands with a few dyeing techniques.

Case in point: Me! I started growing gray hair early (around my mid-20s) in spurts and spatters. I have a few areas on my head around my part and hairline that hoard the hairs. My reason for graying on the earlier end comes from genetics but, of course, was likely influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors such as pollution (free radicals can trigger premature aging of the hair much like it can the skin) and stress (chronic stress does a number on the body). 

One of the easiest ways to blend in gray hairs is through adding dimension. A silky swipe of highlight can help camouflage the silver hairs while also making any grow-out phase (or the time between appointments) less obvious. "My advice is to eliminate the harsh demarcation line caused by [single-process] artificial color: Balayage is a more gentle highlighting technique," says celebrity colorist Abby Haliti.

These are basically tiny, purposefully subtle highlights that add a touch of sparkle to strands. "Babylights are super-fine—floss-thin—weaves of highlights via foiling techniques," says celebrity colorist and Redken brand ambassador Matt Rez.

"Typically their lightness is achieved by bleaching to desired level of lift, rooted to blend and melt into the base color, and glossed for the final color result—they are not meant to be very pronounced and are intended to simulate a super-natural, sun-kissed result."

To subtly soften contrasting hair—or to add luster, richness, and depth—glazes and glosses are a perfect solution.

"A glaze is basically a semipermanent color that coats the hair shaft with shine and lasts up to a few washes," says Rez. As the pigment sits atop the shaft and can be made with light-reflective nutrients, they are often used as a way to add luster to otherwise dull hair—or as a way to help blur any harsh line. Be warned: Because it only sits atop the strand, it washes out with a few shampoos—making this a good option if you want a temporary pick-me-up prior to an event or some such.