Top 5 brands for silver hair dye
If you’re in the market to experiment with your hair and give it an edgier style, silver is a color that can be embraced by anyone at any age. Luckily, if you’re tight on time or money or just want to do something spontaneous, you can easily dye your hair silver at home. Here’s what you need to know about dyeing your hair silver before snapping on the gloves.
Before you begin: understand hair “levels”
The hair level system is used internationally by hairstylists and colorists alike to help you understand the best route for your locks. It’s a number system that identifies how light or how dark your hair color is. For example, black hair is a Level 2, while platinum blonde is a level 10. The lower the number, the darker your hair; the higher the number, the lighter your hair. For those hoping to go silver, having Level 8-10 hair is the best starting point.
Therefore, if you’re trying to dye your hair silver, the only way to do it is to have fairly blonde — if not platinum blonde — hair. For those with naturally dark hair, you’ll need to bleach your hair a couple of times to get the right shade for this transformation. Keep in mind that if you do have to bleach your hair, you’ll want to wait a few days between bleaching and dyeing (so your hair can have a break). This means you won’t get your ideal silver hair right away — but the result will be worth the wait.
How long will silver hair dye last?
Just how long your silver hair dye will last depends on what type of silver hair dye you decide to go with. There are three major types:
Semipermanent (or temporary dyes) usually last for about a month before fading, or around 6-10 washes.
Demi-permanent dyes take approximately 24-30 washes (or 1-2 months) to be removed from your hair.
Permanent dyes are just that — permanent. Although they may lose their intensity over time, they won’t completely fade from your hair.
How do you care for silver hair?
When it comes to any dyed hair, it’s crucial to keep it hydrated and conditioned—but when it comes to silver hair, there’s a little bit of added maintenance you need to consider. After you dye your hair you’ll want to use a purple shampoo to avoid any brassy orange color from coming through and to keep your silver tone.
It’s also a good idea to look for a sulfate-free shampoo as it’s a gentler shampoo that won’t strip the color out of your hair.
The best silver hair dye
L’Oreal Paris Feria – Smokey Silver: available at Amazon Our take: When it comes to store-bought options, it’s no surprise L’Oreal is at the top of the list with their hair dye collections. With their Feria series, you can get a shimmering and edgy silver with three-times the highlights, keeping your hair looking dynamic and not flat. What we like: Go from blah to brilliant thanks to L’Oreal’s conditioner in the dye that seals and smooths your hair. This is a permanent hair dye and you shouldn’t see any fading for at least 6 weeks.
What we dislike: This dye doesn’t work on dark hair. You’ll need to bleach your hair to a lighter shade for the color to really stick.
Garnier Bold Collection – Lightest Silver Blonde: available at Amazon Our take: This long-lasting permanent hair dye is ammonia-free, made into a unique non-drip velvet cream formula to help spread the color evenly across your hair.
What we like: Not only does Garnier’s hair dye leave you with a silver fox look, it also leaves your hair looking healthier, hydrated, silky smooth and with three times more shine. It’s a permanent dye and uses natural flower oils.
What we dislike: You might need to use more than one box to get full coverage, regardless of how short your hair might be.
Got2b Metallic Permanent Hair Color – Metallic Silver: available at Amazon Our take: You can’t get any bolder than with Got2b’s metallic hairline. These hair dyes will give you a true silver tone.
What we like: This permanent hair dye will keep its radiance for longer, thanks to its formula that combines a metallic-shine booster with shimmering tones.
What we dislike: Those with longer hair will need at least two boxes for full coverage. This color is only really intended for those with bleached blonde hair or super light blonde hair.
Manic Panic Silver Stiletto Hair Toner: available at Amazon Our take: If you’re a little hesitant on committing fully to silver, Manic Panic’s semipermanent toner might just be your best bet. What we like: Manic Panic’s Silver Stiletto gives you an icy and unique twist on silver hair dye, thanks to its lavender-tinted undertones. One of its best features? The formula is fully vegan and paraben and gluten-free. What we dislike: Your hair needs to be platinum blonde for this dye to really show.
Smart Color-Plex – Metallic Silver: available at Amazon Our take: Get the salon right in your home thanks to Smart’s coloring kits that use the latest salon-quality hair coloring technology. This animal cruelty-free and vegan-friendly hair dye is great for anyone looking to obtain a light silvery shade.
What we like: This dye is infused with “plex,” an anti-breakage technology that will keep your hair strong and healthy. This hair dye will condition and treat your hair to a salon-quality level, while also rebuilding the micro-bond fiber structure of the hair to keep it intact. Best of all, it’s a permanent dye so you can expect long-lasting results.
What we dislike: If you have thicker hair you’ll need two boxes to dye it (possibly three depending on how long your hair is).
Courtney Love is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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