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The Best Colors to Wear With Gray Hair [And a Few to Avoid!]

The Best Colors to Wear With Gray Hair [And a Few to Avoid!]

While others believe that gray hair can make them look older, with the right color choices, you can look fantastic! You just have to dress in a way that complements your unique features. Wearing the right colors is a great place to start.
Best Colors To Wear With Gray Hair
Best Colors To Wear With Gray Hair
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It’s official: You’ve got gray hair. No matter how much you may have fought against Mother Nature, she’s finally won.

In reality, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Gray hair can be beautiful, it’s a sign of wisdom, maturity, and distinction.

You don’t have to hide your gray hair, in fact, you can flaunt it!

How to Dress for Your Gray Hair: The Best Colors to Wear

Below are some of the best colors to wear when rocking your gray hair.

Black: Classic and Distinguished

Black is always a classic choice and will make your gray hair stand out in a very distinguished way. The contrast between your hair and the color of your clothing will be very striking. Contrary to popular belief, black can be a very flattering color on anyone, regardless of their age or skin tone.

It’s that one color that never goes out of style and always looks good. If you’re looking to make a bold statement, or if you after a sophisticated and timeless look, go for black.

Black tops or shirts paired with darker pants or skirts can create a very sleek and polished look. If you’re going for a more casual ensemble, try a black t-shirt with some colored jeans. Add some pizazz with colored accessories, such as belts and/or scarves.

Beige: Light and Airy

Beige is another great option for those with gray hair. The color is light and airy, making it perfect for summertime outfits. Beige also pairs well with many different shades of gray, making it a very versatile color to work with. The nude, sand, and cream tones in beige clothing will help to brighten up your look and give you a youthful appearance.

A beige top or dress would be perfect for a summer day, paired with some white jeans or shorts. You could also try a beige cardigan over a colorful dress to add some contrast.

Blue: Brighten Up Your Look

Blue is a great color to wear if you want to brighten up your look and add some brightness to your gray hair. Its versatility also makes it a great choice for any age group. You can go with light blues for a more feminine and delicate look, or dark blues for a more masculine and powerful appearance.

A blue blouse, dress, or top can be paired with skirts of all lengths, as well as jeans and slacks. For a professional look, try pairing a blue blazer with a white dress shirt.

A blue top or dress can help you brighten up your complexion and make your gray hair look more vibrant, rather than looking washed out and dull. Thus, makes you look overall younger.

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When in doubt, classic black is always elegant and draws attention away from gray hair.

Purple: Glamour and Sophistication

A great color to wear if you want to add some glamour and sophistication to your look is purple. This deep, rich color can be very flattering on those with gray hair. It also makes a bold statement, so if you’re looking to turn heads, this is the perfect color for you!

Purple comes in various hues, so you can find the perfect shade to match your personality and style. Whether it’s royal purple, lavender, orchid, or grape, there is a shade of purple for everyone.

Pairing a purple top or dress with some complementary accessories can really make you look like a glamourous goddess. For example, try pairing a purple dress with some sparkling diamond jewelry.

Red: Bold and Warming

Red is a color that can be very flattering on those with gray hair, as it brings out the warm tones in your complexion. It also makes a bold and powerful statement, so if you’re feeling confident, go for red!

Like purple, red comes in many different shades to suit any taste. You can go with a bright cherry red or try a darker wine color for a more elegant look.

A red dress or blouse is perfect for special occasions, such as weddings, parties, and holidays . It can also be dressed down for everyday wear by pairing it with some jeans or slacks.

Green: Refreshing and Invigorating

Green is a great color to wear if you want to add some warmth to your look. The color is perfect for fall outfits, as it pairs well with various accessories. Green also has a refreshing and invigorating effect, making it ideal for summertime outfits as well.

A lighter shade of green can make you look more vibrant, while a darker shade of green gives you a bolder, more powerful look.

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Whites and pastels tend to make people with gray hair look washed out and can add years to your appearance.

Colors to Avoid When You Have Gray Hair

The wrong colors can make you look older than you are and can even wash out your features.

Below are some of the colors you should avoid when you have gray hair.

White Washes You Out

White is a color that can often make you look washed out and older than you are. It’s best to avoid wearing white clothing when you have gray hair. Not only will it not complement your hair color, but it will also make your hair look dull and lifeless.

Try to avoid wearing white tops, blouses, or dresses when you have gray hair. If you have to, make sure to pair it up with colorful accessories to brighten up your look.

Learn more about not looking washed out with gray hair in this guide.

Same for Pastels

Pastels are another color family that should be avoided when wearing gray hair. The light and airy colors can often make you look washed out and drained.

Try to avoid wearing light pink, baby blue, pale yellow, or other soft pastel colors when you have gray hair. Stick to darker shades instead for a more flattering look.

Browns Add Years to Your Appearance

The wrong shades of brown can also make you look older than you are. The wrong shades of brown can be too somber and drab and can often make you look dull and uninteresting. Too light or too dark of a brown can be unflattering, so it’s best to stick to medium shades of brown.

Other Helpful Tips to Help You Choose What to Wear:

Accessories are a great way to brighten up an outfit and add some personality. It can be a lovely scarf, necklace, or belt.

Don’t be afraid to add color and print to your outfits, as they can help you look younger and more vibrant.

When in doubt, go with black. Black is always a safe color to wear, and it will never go out of style.

Experiment with different textures and patterns to see what looks best on you. Textured fabrics, such as lace or suede, can be very flattering. Patterns such as stripes and florals can also make you look younger and more stylish.

Avoid matchy-matchy outfits, as they can often look dated and stifling. Try mixing and matching different colors and textures to create a more exciting look.

Pay attention to the fit of your clothing. Make sure that clothes are not too tight or too loose, as they will not look flattering either way.

Be brave and have fun with your clothing! You might be surprised at how great you look in something you would never have thought to wear before.

Conclusion

As we age, our skin becomes paler and less vibrant. To help combat this, try to wear colors that will add some warmth to your look. Colors like orange, yellow, and red are perfect for this. Opt for brighter hues that will help brighten up your complexion.

You’re not limited to these colors. Feel free to play around and try color hues that you feel most confident in. At the end of the day, if you’re happy with you’re outfit, it shows in your face – and that’s what matters!

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Scott Grant, CSA®, SHSS®

Scott Grant, CSA®, SHSS®

With over 20 years of experience and certifications as a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® and Senior Home Safety Specialist (SHSS)®, Scott Grant provides reliable recommendations to help seniors maintain independence through informed product and service choices for safe, comfortable living.

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5 thoughts on “The Best Colors to Wear With Gray Hair [And a Few to Avoid!]”

  1. Judi Page

    I think you need to take peoples skin and eye colouring into consideration, just as colour analysis does. And whether they have warm grey or cool grey hair. Hair isn’t actually grey, it’s a mixture of white and your normal coloured hair.
    I have warm grey hair, a pale skintone with slightly warm undertones and dark brown eyes. Black is too strong and too cool for me. Beige looks dreadful, washes me out completely, just all blends in with my face and hair and makes me look older. But baby blue is acceptable, not too light or icy. Aquas are great, I like some darkish red, fairly strong pinks, blues of most shades are good. Yellow is totally out but always has been for me. White is good in the summer.

  2. As your skin color changes a bit and there are many shades of grey hair, it is hard to make broad statements about the colors that will look great on you. Work with colors that have always worked for your coloring and adjust them to that new hair shade and skin tone. Coral, periwinkle, and the right shade of blue-green pretty much look good on anyone. Thank you. for saying that black can look good on anyone.
    Remember that changing the lightness and darkness of your hair changes your contrast. If you had dark hair and it goes light grey, silver or white it will change how much contrast you have in hair, skin, eyes, etc.. This affects the amount of color contrast you should wear.

  3. Lynda

    I would never wear Black it makes me look like I have been recently dug up!
    The only Black garment in my wardrobe is a pair of trousers kept for funerals. Other peoples.

  4. Dave

    I like these Ideas, I’m trying to figure out how to dress my age, while crossdressing with my beard. I guess you can say I’m gender blending as I age

    See I turned grey early in life, and the womens clothing that I wore when I was younger, don’t look the same on me today.

  5. Lizzy

    You don’t seem to mention grey clothing – like a grey sweatshirt. I love grey – I’m salt and pepper still.

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