Highlights for grey hair (or lowlights, or foils, or balayage or ombré or other colour changes), are your grey hair’s best friend. If you’re not thrilled about your grey locks, start exploring your options.

We all know that any hair colour looks better, and more natural when there is a variation of tone. This is because hair naturally takes on different tones on different parts of your head; mainly because of exposure to the elements, but also just because our body chemistry is so complex. On your hair, the universe likes a bit of chaos.

If you decide to colour your hair at home, make sure you always buy a product that includes highlights; for example, L’Oréal’s Home Colour & Highlights Kit If you can’t get this type of product where you live, you can use two slightly different hair colours. Put one colour through your hair (light brown perhaps) and when it’s dry, comb the second, lighter colour through to achieve a blended, high-lighting effect (maybe a copper). A little sun-kissed perhaps.

If you really want to go for highlights in your grey hair, best to start by visiting a hairdresser. Using bleach on grey hair can be fraught with difficulty, not the least being increased frizziness and breakage. But if you decide to go it alone, be aware that highlights in grey hair can turn brassy or yellow; use a purple shampoo and toner to banish the brassiness. This Joico combination does a great job.

For the best effect, use a combination of highlights and lowlights. Lowlights are actually a few shades darker than your own hair and the combination of the two can hide your grey hair completely. If that’s what you’re after.

It’s well worth a try for such a great effect and it’s a winning combination that requires far less maintenance than all-over colour or just highlights. You’re not trying to keep up with your root re-growth.

Be brave, be daring and if necessary, be eccentric. Grey hair is something new for you, so play around until you have what you want …