Silver hair yay or nay?

sarawifenow · June 2015

So, as most of you know, I work in finance for a fairly conservative firm. (Read: no unnatural hair colors). I have been so bored with my hair for months now and really want to change it up. So since I can't do the purple hair I want, I am thinking about going silver! It is a natural color and I think it is super fun.

So what are your thoughts on silver hair?

sarawifenow · June 2015

I was thinking something like this. I have the same eye color and skin tone as the model below.

mikenberger · June 2015

Love love love silver hair. LOVE. If you can do, DO IT.

TrixieJess · June 2015

sarawifenow said:

I was thinking something like this. I have the same eye color and skin tone as the model below.

This is a hair colour that is notoriously difficult to pull off IRL. It's also difficult to do. You would need to find a stylist who specialises in this, and be prepared to be at the salon for hours. You also have to wear make-up everyday.

sarawifenow · June 2015

@TrixieJess Thank you for that advice! My stylist specializes in color. Do you mean specifically gray? I'll check with her.

P.S. I never leave the house without make-up!

cupcait927 · June 2015

I vote hell no. NOT because I don't like the look - I think it's awesome, actually - but because I think it could still be viewed as "unnatural". Unless you're pushing senior citizen age, it's not typically natural for younger women to have silver hair. I work for a conservative financial company and out of 500 employees, none of them have anything but natural hair colors. I don't think we have specific guidelines in our handbook, but it's one of those things that's unspoken and accepted. I just think you'll get a lot of side-eye. But hey, you never know until you actually go for it and if you're okay with maybe some strange looks, I say do it. If someone says that it breaks the rules, it's (relatively) easy to change hair color back to something more suitable.

beachyone15 · June 2015

Oh man, I wish mine would STOP turning silver, LOL

sarawifenow · June 2015

@cupcait927 Good point! I can always blame it on a color being mixed wrong.

TrixieJess · June 2015

sarawifenow said:

@TrixieJess Thank you for that advice! My stylist specializes in color. Do you mean specifically gray? I'll check with her.
P.S. I never leave the house without make-up!

Yes, specifically this colour. It would require someone who has done it multiple times. Depending on your natural hair colour, it may require some stripping.

KatWAG · June 2015

Would your work consider silver a "natural" color for you?

eta: I work for a bank and it would not fly here.

sarawifenow · June 2015

@TrixieJess I am naturally a brunette with some red in my hair. Currently, I am light blonde. These are all questions I hadn't thought about asking. I will for sure be bringing all of them up!

sarawifenow · June 2015

@KatWAG Let's just say we have a few employees who have taken natural to mean feather colors. Haha!

cupcait927 · June 2015

sarawifenow said:

@KatWAG Let's just say we have a few employees who have taken natural to mean feather colors. Haha!

In that case, I say give it a shot. The worst they can say is that it's against the dress code (or however it's classified where you work) and you have to change it back.

STARMOON44 · June 2015

There's no way I would do this in a conservative workplace that requires natural colors. Even if I thought I could get away with it, my general approach is I don't want to be that one person clearly pushing the envelope at work. You're burning social capital on something that seems relatively unimportant.

But my opinion is def colored by the fact that I think it's a hideous color, so take my thoughts with a cup of salt for sure.

AprilH81 · June 2015

I voted hell no mainly because I hate the trend. it just looks dirty to me and not natural at all. I also hate hombre hair (have from the start) so take my feedback with that in mind. lol

Liatris2010 · June 2015

I just asked my stylist about this, and she said it needs to retoned every 2 weeks. It is expensive to maintain, and a fairly strong chance your employer will not approve. Why not a dramatic cut instead?

banana468 · June 2015

I wouldn't do it. Silver is natural at the right time but it can be dramatic and not really natural depending on the person. Similarly if you're a very pale, fair skinned blonde hair and blue eyed person, you *could* go and dye your hair dark brown but that may not look all that natural either.

I'm generally not one to push the envelope with my employer.

randomslove · June 2015

Honestly, I'm not a fan. I have seen maybe one person able to pull it off. Usually, I think it dulls people out and makes them look older/tired. If you really want something dramatic and different, many of the above have great ideas. Also, have you considered going very blonde? It might be edgy enough for you while still being okay with the employers.

ETA: Ah, I see you're already light blonde... maybe going for a fun strawberry that's still natural if you want a change?

thisismynickname2 · June 2015

I just don't consider silver "natural" for a young woman. And, given it's so hard to pull off and maintain, I don't consider it worth the risk. If anything, the silver trend makes it look like the stylist screwed up the color, not did it intentionally. How often is it really "silver" and not "dingy grey?"

Just my opinion.

lembaslover · June 2015

Liatris2010 said:

I just asked my stylist about this, and she said it needs to retoned every 2 weeks. It is expensive to maintain, and a fairly strong chance your employer will not approve. Why not a dramatic cut instead?

I'm not an expert by any means but when I died my hair blonde (like a white-ish blonde) I bought purple shampoo called shimmer light which kept it from turning yellow. I know my grandma who had grey hair used to use it as well to keep hers from turning a brassy color also. Again I'm not an expert but I feel like this could work for silver too. It worked for me and is what my hair dresser recommended for toning my blonde hair. If it works it's a very cheap option.

I'm not a huge fan of this fad because I feel like my hair will naturally turn this color anyways in the future but if you can pull it off go for it. I want to dye my hair green but i'm not sure how my workplace will tolerate it.

southernbelle0915 · June 2015

STARMOON44 said:

There's no way I would do this in a conservative workplace that requires natural colors. Even if I thought I could get away with it, my general approach is I don't want to be that one person clearly pushing the envelope at work. You're burning social capital on something that seems relatively unimportant.

All of this.

lyndausvi · June 2015

My aunt was completely gray/white by the age of 30. She never colored her hair so I've only known her with gray hair.

I've had 2 pieces of gray since I was born. In my late 20's I had quit a few grays and it's gotten progressively more. I've been coloring my hair for a while now because I want to.

No way I would color my all hair gray. Gradually turning gray is one thing. Going from blonde to gray in one day I'm not a fan of.

novella1186 · June 2015

southernbelle0915 said:

STARMOON44 said:

There's no way I would do this in a conservative workplace that requires natural colors. Even if I thought I could get away with it, my general approach is I don't want to be that one person clearly pushing the envelope at work. You're burning social capital on something that seems relatively unimportant.

All of this.

I agree with this also.

But in general, I'm just not a fan of the silver/gray trend.

It doesn't look flattering on anyone, IMO. Sure it sometimes looks cool on certain models, but picture it under the florescent lights of an office in normal day-to-day life. No thanks.

emmaaa · June 2015

engagedhamstermom said:

Liatris2010 said:

I just asked my stylist about this, and she said it needs to retoned every 2 weeks. It is expensive to maintain, and a fairly strong chance your employer will not approve. Why not a dramatic cut instead?

I'm not an expert by any means but when I died my hair blonde (like a white-ish blonde) I bought purple shampoo called shimmer light which kept it from turning yellow. I know my grandma who had grey hair used to use it as well to keep hers from turning a brassy color also. Again I'm not an expert but I feel like this could work for silver too. It worked for me and is what my hair dresser recommended for toning my blonde hair. If it works it's a very cheap option.

I'm not a huge fan of this fad because I feel like my hair will naturally turn this color anyways in the future but if you can pull it off go for it. I want to dye my hair green but i'm not sure how my workplace will tolerate it.

The bolded. If you do decide to do this, the purple shampoo helps with brassiness. I have red hair and my highlights often turn brassy after washing it multiple times because the iron in our water.

I personally would not do it though. I don't know how a conservative office would react to it. .Plus, i'm not a HUGE fan of the look. I've seen some people pull it off really well.

[Deleted User] · June 2015

I'm not a fan of the silver hair fad personally. In my mind I'm just like, "why do I want to dye my hair silver when it's going to do that on its own in a few years?" I also don't think it looks that great in the real world because it's difficult to maintain. You would definitely need to buy purple shampoo to keep out brassy tones, and you would probably need to get it touched up quite often to keep it from getting a bit funky. If none of that bothers you, then go for it. I just think it's a lot of work!

cupcait927 · June 2015

@novella1186 brought up a good point about how it would look in different lighting - fluorescent lights and silver hair - probably not very flattering at all.

sarawifenow · June 2015

Huh...so much silver hate! I hadn't realized there was such an aversion towards it. Maybe I will rethink my look. I did run it past HR and I got the green light, but now I am not so sure.

[Deleted User] · June 2015

sarawifenow said:

Huh...so much silver hate! I hadn't realized there was such an aversion towards it. Maybe I will rethink my look. I did run it past HR and I got the green light, but now I am not so sure.

I should specify that I don't like it *for me*. I have only seen it in person once or twice and it looked faded the two times I saw it, so it's just not my thing. I think it's fabulous in professional pictures!

justsie · June 2015

If you got the green light from HR and you want to do it, then go for it. Sounds like the biggest concern is that it won't look good but then that goes with any time you color your hair really.

emmaaa · June 2015

sarawifenow said:

Huh...so much silver hate! I hadn't realized there was such an aversion towards it. Maybe I will rethink my look. I did run it past HR and I got the green light, but now I am not so sure.

Well if they gave you the go ahead, then go for it! It may not be a style that I would personally choose, but if you like it then go for it!

southernbelle0915 · June 2015

sarawifenow said:

Huh...so much silver hate! I hadn't realized there was such an aversion towards it. Maybe I will rethink my look. I did run it past HR and I got the green light, but now I am not so sure.

I guess for me, it wouldn't be so much "did HR say yes or no"... it would be more "how will others in the office perceive me?"

Right or wrong, fair or unfair...people do judge. Like people who hire, and promote, and provide references, and decide who works on what projects, etc. For me personally, it wouldn't be worth it.

And not just that, I think this is one of those things that looks pretty sweet in photos and then it's sort of meh IRL.

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