Gray comes in fastest at the part and temples, and on a dark single process that regrowth line can show by week four. The right hair color for older women depends on how much gray you have and how often you want to be in the chair. Below, each shade comes with its cut, drying tool, and retouch schedule.
1. Soft Beige Blonde on a Collarbone Lob
Soft beige blonde is the hair color for older women I reach for first, because a level nine beige sits close to incoming gray and hides the regrowth line. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then lift and tone beige at the bowl. It suits fine to medium density and most skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush. Retouch the roots every eight weeks and gloss every eight.
2. Gray Blending With Fine Highlights
Gray blending is for the client who wants to stop full root cover without going silver overnight. I cut the perimeter at the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then weave fine level nine highlights and level seven lowlights through the top so the gray disappears into the mix. It suits fine to medium density and most skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush. Refresh every twelve weeks and gloss between visits.
3. Warm Honey Balayage on Long Layers
Honey balayage puts warmth back into the face where skin loses it after sixty. I cut the perimeter past the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then hand paint a level eight honey through the ends and face frame, leaving the roots natural. It suits medium density and warm skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Refresh the balayage every sixteen weeks and gloss every eight.
4. Mushroom Brown With Ash Lowlights
Mushroom brown is a cool level six that reads soft against gray regrowth. I cut the perimeter at the chin on dry hair with two layers, then apply a level six ash demi and weave level five ash lowlights through the interior. It suits fine to medium density and cool or neutral skin tones. Blow-dry with a paddle brush and use a blue shampoo weekly. Retouch every seven weeks and gloss every eight.
5. Hair Color for Older Women Highlights in Champagne
Champagne is the hair color for older women highlights I use on hair that is half gray, because the beige gold reflect blends into silver better than cool blonde. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then foil fine level nine champagne highlights through the top and tone at the bowl. It suits fine to medium density and neutral skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush. Refresh every ten weeks.
6. Silver Gloss on Natural Gray
A silver gloss takes the yellow out of natural gray and adds shine. I cut the perimeter at the jaw on dry hair with soft layers, then apply a clear violet-based demi at the bowl for ten minutes. It suits fine to medium density and cool skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and use a violet shampoo weekly. Gloss every six weeks and trim every eight, with no retouch needed.
7. Cool Ash Brown on a Chin Bob
Cool ash brown is a level five with a green reflect, and it stops brunette from pulling red as it fades. I cut the perimeter at the chin on dry hair with no layers, then apply a level five ash demi at the bowl. It suits medium density and cool skin tones. Blow-dry flat with a paddle brush and finish with serum. Retouch every six weeks and gloss every eight.
8. Caramel Ribbons on a Dark Base
Caramel ribbons on a level four base give dark hair dimension without lifting the whole head. I cut the perimeter at the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then paint level seven caramel ribbons through the mid-lengths and ends. It suits medium to thick density and warm skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Refresh the ribbons every twelve weeks and gloss every eight.
9. Platinum Pixie
A platinum pixie only works on hair that is already light or mostly gray, because the lift is short. I cut the sides with scissor over comb on dry hair, point cut the top to three inches, then lift to a level ten and tone cool at the bowl. It suits fine to medium density and cool skin tones. Rough-dry with a texture spray and use a violet shampoo twice a week. Retouch every five weeks.
10. Rich Chocolate Brown Single Process
Chocolate brown single process is the simplest full cover I do. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then apply a level five neutral permanent at the root and a demi on the ends. It suits medium density and neutral or warm skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Retouch the roots every five weeks and gloss the ends every ten.
11. Copper on a Shoulder Cut
Copper is a level seven with a strong orange reflect, and it reads bright over gray with a permanent at the root. I cut the perimeter at the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then apply the copper permanent at the root and a demi on the ends. It suits medium density and warm skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush. Refresh the tone every five weeks because copper fades first.
12. Older Women Hair Color Ideas With a Root Smudge
A root smudge is the first of the older women hair color ideas I offer when the client is tired of a hard regrowth line. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then melt a level seven demi an inch into lighter lengths and gloss the ends. It suits medium density and most skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush. Refresh the smudge every ten weeks.
13. Bronde Blend
Bronde sits between blonde and brunette so neither the gray nor the regrowth shows a line. I cut the perimeter at the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then paint level seven caramel blonde through the lengths over a level five base. It suits medium density and neutral skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Refresh the bronde every twelve weeks and gloss every eight.
14. Salt and Pepper Enhancement
Salt and pepper enhancement keeps the gray and sharpens the dark. I cut the perimeter at the jaw on dry hair with soft layers, then weave level four lowlights through the darker sections and gloss the gray with a clear violet demi. It suits medium to thick density and most skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and use a violet shampoo weekly. Refresh the lowlights every twelve weeks.
15. Strawberry Blonde Lob
Strawberry blonde is a level eight with a copper gold reflect and it flatters skin that has lost its pink. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then lift to a level eight and tone copper gold at the bowl. It suits fine to medium density and warm skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush. Refresh the tone every five weeks and retouch every eight.
16. Pearl Blonde on a Crop
Pearl blonde is a level ten with a pink violet reflect, and it reads soft rather than white on gray hair. I cut the sides short with scissor over comb on dry hair, point cut the top to two and a half inches, then lift and tone pearl at the bowl. It suits fine to medium density and cool skin tones. Rough-dry with a texture spray. Retouch every five weeks.
17. Dark Blonde Babylights
Babylights on dark blonde are the finest foils I do, so the grow-out is soft. I cut the perimeter past the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then foil level nine babylights through the whole head over a level seven base. It suits fine to medium density and most skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Refresh the babylights every twelve weeks and gloss every eight.
18. Auburn on Long Layers
Auburn is a level five red brown and it holds better over gray than a true red. I cut the perimeter past the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then apply a level five auburn permanent at the root and a demi on the ends. It suits medium to thick density and warm skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Retouch every five weeks and gloss every eight.
19. Icy White Pixie
Icy white is where I take a client whose gray is already past seventy percent. I cut the nape short with graduation on dry hair, point cut the top to three inches, then lift the remaining pigment and tone with a blue violet toner. It suits fine to medium density and cool skin tones. Rough-dry with a texture spray and use a violet shampoo twice a week. Retouch every six weeks.
20. Toffee Lowlights on Blonde
Toffee lowlights give flat blonde its depth back. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then weave level seven toffee lowlights through the interior and gloss the whole head a level nine beige. It suits fine to medium density and warm skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Refresh the lowlights every twelve weeks and gloss every eight.
21. Mocha Brown Gloss
Mocha brown is a level five with a neutral cool reflect, and a gloss is enough when the gray is under thirty percent. I cut the perimeter at the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then apply a level five mocha demi at the bowl for twenty minutes. It suits medium density and neutral skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush. Gloss every six weeks and trim every ten.
22. Money Piece on Brown Hair
A money piece on brown hair brightens the face frame without touching the rest. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then lighten the two front sections from root to end to a level nine and tone beige. It suits medium density and most skin tones. Blow-dry the front out with a round brush. Refresh the money piece every ten weeks and gloss every eight.
23. Hair Color for Older Women Going Fully Gray
Growing out to full gray is the hair color for older women that needs the most planning. I cut the perimeter at the chin on dry hair with soft layers to drop old color faster, then weave level nine ash highlights through the colored lengths so the band disappears. It suits fine to medium density and most skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and use a violet shampoo weekly. Gloss every eight weeks.
24. Golden Blonde Shoulder Cut
Golden blonde is a level eight with a gold reflect, and it suits skin that has gone sallow. I cut the perimeter at the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then lift to a level eight and tone gold at the bowl. It suits medium density and warm skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Retouch the roots every eight weeks and gloss every eight.
25. Espresso Brown With Face Frame
Espresso is a level three brown, and a lighter face frame keeps it from closing in on the face. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, apply a level three neutral permanent, then paint level six through the front pieces. It suits medium to thick density and deeper skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush. Retouch every five weeks and gloss every eight.
26. Smoky Lavender Gray
Smoky lavender is a sheer violet demi over natural gray, and it reads silver indoors. I cut the perimeter at the jaw on dry hair with soft layers, then apply the lavender demi at the bowl for fifteen minutes. It suits fine to medium density and cool skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and use a violet shampoo weekly. Gloss every five weeks because the lavender fades, and trim every eight.
27. Neutral Blonde Foilyage
Foilyage gives the soft placement of balayage with the lift of foils. I cut the perimeter past the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then paint level nine neutral blonde through the ends and face frame inside foils, leaving the roots soft. It suits medium density and neutral skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Refresh every fourteen weeks and gloss every eight.
28. Chestnut Brown on a Bob
Chestnut is a level six warm brown with a soft red reflect. I cut the perimeter at the chin on dry hair with two layers, then apply a level six chestnut permanent at the root and a demi on the ends. It suits medium density and warm skin tones. Blow-dry with a paddle brush and finish with serum. Retouch every six weeks and gloss every eight to keep the red from fading.
29. Rose Gold on a Lob
Rose gold is a sheer pink gold demi over a level nine blonde. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, lift to a level nine, then apply the rose gold demi at the bowl for ten minutes. It suits fine to medium density and cool or neutral skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush. Refresh the rose gold every four weeks because it fades fast, and retouch every eight.
30. Hair Color for Older Women Highlights on Dark Brown
Dark brown takes hair color for older women highlights best in a level seven, two levels up and no more, so the foils look lit rather than striped. I cut the perimeter at the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then foil fine level seven highlights through the top and face frame. It suits medium to thick density and most skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush. Refresh every twelve weeks.
31. Cinnamon Balayage
Cinnamon balayage is a level seven red brown painted through the ends of a level five base. I cut the perimeter past the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then hand paint the cinnamon through the mid-lengths and ends, leaving the roots natural. It suits medium density and warm skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Refresh the balayage every fourteen weeks and gloss every six.
32. Soft Black Gloss
Soft black is a level two with a neutral reflect, and a demi keeps it from going flat. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then apply a level two demi at the bowl for twenty minutes. It suits medium to thick density and deeper skin tones. Blow-dry with a paddle brush and finish with serum. Gloss every six weeks and trim every ten.
33. Ash Blonde Lob
Ash blonde is a level nine with a green violet reflect, and it reads cool next to gray. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then lift and tone ash at the bowl. It suits fine to medium density and cool skin tones. Blow-dry with a paddle brush and use a violet shampoo weekly. Retouch every eight weeks and gloss every eight.
34. Mahogany on a Shoulder Cut
Mahogany is a level five with a red violet reflect and it holds better than copper. I cut the perimeter at the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then apply a level five mahogany permanent at the root and a demi on the ends. It suits medium to thick density and cool skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Retouch every five weeks and gloss every eight.
35. Gray Roots Blended Into Blonde Ends
Blending gray roots into blonde ends works when the natural gray is already light. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then weave level nine highlights from the root an inch into the gray and gloss the whole head a level nine beige. It suits fine to medium density and most skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush. Refresh every twelve weeks.
36. Sandy Blonde Pixie Bob
Sandy blonde is a level eight neutral and it blends into gray at the temples. I cut the nape with graduation on dry hair, let the front fall to the cheekbone, point cut layers through the top, then lift to a level eight and tone neutral. It suits fine to medium density and oval or round faces. Blow-dry with a flat brush pushing the front forward. Retouch every six weeks.
37. Light Brown With Blonde Babylights
Light brown with blonde babylights is a level six base with level nine foils so fine they read as sun. I cut the perimeter past the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then foil the babylights through the top and face frame. It suits fine to medium density and neutral skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Refresh the babylights every twelve weeks and gloss every eight.
38. Clear Gloss on Natural Color
A clear gloss is what I do when the client wants shine without color. I cut the perimeter at the shoulder on dry hair with long layers, then apply a clear demi at the bowl for fifteen minutes to close the cuticle. It suits every density and every skin tone, including hair that is half gray. Blow-dry with a round brush. Gloss every six weeks and trim every ten.
39. Dimensional Brunette With Lowlights
Dimensional brunette uses two levels of lowlight so the hair does not read as a single block. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then weave level four and level six lowlights through a level five base. It suits medium to thick density and most skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Refresh the lowlights every twelve weeks and gloss every eight.
40. Older Women Hair Color Ideas for Thin Hair
Thin hair needs older women hair color ideas that add visible depth, so I place lowlights at the root. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with no layers to keep the ends full, then weave level six lowlights at the root and gloss the length a level eight. It suits fine density and most skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and a root lifting mousse. Refresh every ten weeks.
41. Vanilla Blonde Bob With Fringe
Vanilla blonde is a level ten with a soft beige reflect. I cut the perimeter at the chin on dry hair with no layers, cut the fringe at the brow with point cut ends, then lift to a level ten and tone vanilla at the bowl. It suits fine to medium density and cool or neutral skin tones. Blow-dry flat with a paddle brush and use a violet shampoo weekly. Retouch every six weeks.
42. Walnut Brown on a Lob
Walnut is a level six neutral brown with a soft gold reflect, and it covers gray without going dark. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then apply a level six walnut permanent at the root and a demi on the ends. It suits medium density and neutral skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and finish with serum. Retouch every six weeks and gloss every eight.
43. Cool Platinum Bob Over 70
Platinum over seventy works when the natural hair is already white, because the toner does the work. I cut the perimeter at the chin on dry hair with no layers, then apply a level ten cool toner at the bowl for ten minutes. It suits fine to medium density and cool skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush rolling back and use a violet shampoo twice a week. Gloss every six weeks.
44. Burgundy Red on a Chin Bob
Burgundy is a level four red violet, and it reads deep rather than bright. I cut the perimeter at the chin on dry hair with two layers, then apply a level four burgundy permanent at the root and a demi on the ends. It suits medium to thick density and cool skin tones. Blow-dry with a paddle brush and finish with serum. Retouch every five weeks and gloss every six to hold the red.
45. Low Maintenance Gray Blend
The low maintenance gray blend is the color older women can stretch to four months. I cut the perimeter at the collarbone on dry hair with long layers, then weave level nine highlights and level seven lowlights through the top and gloss the whole head neutral. It suits fine to medium density and most skin tones. Blow-dry with a round brush and use a violet shampoo weekly. Refresh every sixteen weeks.
Gray comes in fastest at the part and temples, and on a dark single process that regrowth line can show by week four, so the formula has to stretch the root. For hair color for older women I match the regrowth tone first and the fashion shade second, then seal with a clear gloss. A sulfate-free wash is what gets you the full six weeks. oval face haircuts stay the shape I reach for most, and the same length rules apply whether the hair is gray, blonde, short, or long.
