Remember that old rule book that says grey hair makes you look older? Salma Hayek just ripped it up. The actress is fully embracing her silver strands at 58, and looking better than ever.
Arriving for Paris Fashion Week, Salma headed for the Balenciaga FROW with her brunette hair sprinkled with silver stardust and worn long and loose. (Looks like the accompanying rulebook – Bobs Are Mandatory When You Hit 50 – has hit the shredder, too.)
While she’s mostly retained the dark brown hair that’s been her signature since the days of Frida, she’s now shaking it up with a ever-more visible scatter of salt and pepper.
The long silver look is one to celebrate, says award-winning hairstylist Phil Smith. 'For years, people said that older women shouldn’t have long hair, but thankfully, more and more of them are ignoring that advice. It's become far less of a hard and fast rule among my clients. Long hair is sexy hair and Salma just looks amazing – no one would be able to say with a straight face that she’s too old for this look. The length flatters her so well.'
While dye has a place in Salma's hair regime, there’s been an intriguing new addition to keep her greys under control, if not hidden. ‘I do not dye my hair,’ she recently revealed in a Vogue Beauty Secrets video about her makeup regime. ‘I also do makeup on my hair.’ (Yes, really!)
Holding Benefit Rollerlash mascara, Salma strokes it quickly around her front hairline and explains the reasoning for this rather unconventional method. ‘Sometimes [the greys] are ribbons. Or sometimes you don’t want the white. I use this [mascara] and it keeps it out of your face.’
Benefit Cosmetics Roller Lash Super Curling & Lifting Mascara
Wacky, but we can’t deny it’s a nifty little hack which gives good root coverage when you’re in a pinch. The resurgence of brown mascara may just have found a new use for those of us not quite as raven as Salma.
Another thing helping Salma’s transition is excellent haircare. Greying hair goes hand in hand with a drier texture, but adding in a few upgrades to a styling regime means that silver can easily be polished up.
'The secret is in adapting as your hair changes, switching up your cleansing and styling routine rather than sticking with something you've used for years.' says Phil. 'You can't expect to keep getting the same results from a shampoo and conditioner when your hair's needs have changed.'
He continues: 'Sometimes, grey hair can be coarser and drier than younger hair, so it’s vital women learn how to care for their new texture and find products to put moisture back in.' He recommends his new Phil Smith Professional Haircare Deep Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner as perfect for this – 'there's hyaluronic acid for hydration, while biopolymers fight frizz and leaves hair sleek'.
The right styling will make all the difference to how healthy and shiny grey hair looks, he says. 'You need to invest in a good hairdryer with a very defined nozzle and a quality paddle brush that’s made with pure bristle to smooth out the cuticle and minimise frizz. A good blow dry like Salma’s will get you a long way.'
The GHI's winner for the best hair dryer.
Grey hair also needs be fed with nourishment from the root, Phil says. 'Remember, scalp care becomes more important than ever as you hit your 40s or 50s if you want to keep growing healthy hair. Our scalps won’t keep producing as many natural oils as we age, so how you care for it needs to keep pace with the changes you make in your skincare routine, as you seek out more nourishing night creams and serums.'
He calls his new Hydration Scalp Treatment 'a facial for your scalp', using hyaluronic acid to moisturise and sugar beet for stronger hair. 'Just apply a few drops directly to the scalp and hairline before styling,' he adds.
Want more tips on getting the best from greys? Read our expert guide to wearing grey hair, including the best GHI-tested products, to ensure you embrace silver the most modern, youthful way.
