Actress Olivia Colman just put grey hair back in the spotlight, walking the red carpet with tumbling grey waves.
Granted, she had a helping hand for her ultra-full mane – she was wearing four different grey shades of naturally curly hair extensions.
Olivia's stylist, Inanch Emir, founder of INANCH London and Gold Class Hair told HELLO!: "We weren't trying to hide her grey hair - we wanted to celebrate it. Natural grey hair is never just one colour, so I blended four different grey shades to create depth and dimension and to work harmoniously with Olivia's own hair."
But even if you're not blessed with a world-class stylist, grey hair can be super flattering – you just need a cut that works with it. We spoke to celebrity session stylist and colourist Kris Barnes for his wisdom on the best haircuts for grey and silver hair.
You might wonder why you can't just stick to your usual haircut after you've gone grey, and of course, you can, but Kris explains that as we age, our hair naturally changes, which can mean tried and tested cuts don't look quite so perfect.
"When we go grey, our hair becomes drier, coarser and less reflective," Kris, who works with silver haircare collection Provoke Touch of Silver, says. "What once felt smooth and glossy can suddenly look dull or lose its strength. But with the right care, grey hair can look incredibly chic, luminous, and full of life. Olivia Colman is a perfect example of how empowering it can be to embrace your natural colour."
© Getty Images for ZFFFlattering haircuts for grey hair
"A soft bob is my personal favourite for grey or silver hair because it gives you the structure of a bob but removes the severity that can sometimes make grey hair look harsh," Kris says of the top style for greying hair.
One person rocking the soft bob with grey hair is 88-year-old Jane Fonda. "Her hair is such a brilliant example of embracing grey and making it feel incredibly glamorous," says Ricky Walters, founder of Soho's Salon 64. "The softness through the layers gives the hair movement around the face, while that beautiful silver tone reflects light and brightens the complexion."
© Corbis via Getty ImagesHer soft bob is a brilliant shape for fine hair because it creates the illusion of fullness without looking stiff or overdone, Ricky adds.
A French bob is a classy look if you have great bone structure, Kris says of the tidier bobbed look. "Not only is it classy, it also gives a cheeky fashion edge," he says.
Not in the market for a silver bob? Not to worry, you can still wear your hair long, with the right care.
"If your hair is thick, then long will look great when you go grey," says Kris. "A lot of people go shorter as they go grey due to the change in hair density, but if your hair is still thick, try adding long layers to add movement through the lengths which makes silver/grey look more dimensional."
© Getty ImagesIf you do want to go shorter, super short hair is an option. Picture Dame Judi Dench; she looks sensational with her pixie crop.
"Super short grey hair can make silver or grey hair look more deliberate and can also make finer hair look thicker," says Kris.
© UK Press via Getty ImagesFellow hair aficionado Matt Taylor, senior stylist at Hadley Yates, says of a short crop: "By taking weight away from the lengths, the hair gains bounce and movement - ideal for creating a soft, face-framing finish that doesn’t rely on daily blow-drying or hot tools."
"This also takes a natural white shade from feeling heavy and ageing to a beautiful statement piece. Rather than disguising silver strands, the right cut can turn them into a standout feature."
