grey highlights on dark hair

31 Striking Grey Highlights on Dark Hair You’ll Want to Copy Immediately

Grey highlights on dark hair are no longer just for covering up grays—they’re a fierce, fashionable statement. Whether you want to add a touch of silver sophistication or a bold pop of icy edge, grey highlights offer the perfect contrast to dark locks. Here are 31 stunning grey-highlighted hairstyles to inspire your next salon visit.

1. Ash Grey Babylights on Jet Black Hair

A woman with jet black hair styled in subtle ash grey babylights, captured in soft lighting to highlight the cool tones.

Ash grey babylights add soft shimmer and depth to jet black strands, giving your hair a smoky, sultry finish without overwhelming the base color.

2. Silver Money Pieces on Dark Brown Waves

A woman with dark brown wavy hair featuring bold silver money pieces that frame her face.

Framing the face with silver money pieces creates an instant brightening effect, especially flattering on tousled dark brown waves.

3. Charcoal Balayage on Espresso Hair

Espresso-colored hair styled with a seamless charcoal balayage on medium-length layers.

For an edgier take, charcoal balayage weaves seamlessly into espresso-toned hair, providing a grunge-glam vibe with low maintenance.

4. Icy Grey Ombre on Shoulder-Length Hair

A shoulder-length hairstyle transitioning from dark roots to icy grey ombre tips.

An icy ombre transition from black roots to pale grey tips adds dimension and drama to shoulder-length cuts, especially with a textured lob.

5. Smoky Grey Highlights on Long Layers

Long layered dark hair enhanced with smoky grey highlights that add movement and shine.

Long layered cuts come to life with smoky grey streaks, which add motion and mystique without overpowering the base color.

6. Steel Grey Highlights with a Blunt Bob

A sleek blunt bob haircut accented with sharp steel grey highlights for contrast.

This high-contrast combo is sharp and modern—perfect for making a statement with minimal styling.

7. Platinum Silver Peekaboo Highlights

Hidden platinum silver peekaboo highlights subtly emerging from beneath dark top layers.

These hidden silver strands peek out subtly from underneath dark hair, offering a playful surprise with movement.

8. Graphite Streaks in a Low Ponytail

Dark hair pulled into a low ponytail with distinct graphite streaks adding a sleek, modern edge.

Enhance a sleek low ponytail with bold graphite streaks running through the lengths for a cool, futuristic finish.

9. Dusty Lavender-Grey Blend

A unique blend of dusty lavender and grey tones softly blended into dark base hair.

Add a whisper of color to your highlights with a dusty lavender-grey hue—a moody twist that’s still professional.

10. Frosted Grey on Curly Black Hair

Naturally curly black hair touched with frosted grey highlights that enhance texture and definition.

Grey highlights accentuate curls beautifully, especially when placed strategically to catch the light on every spiral.

11. Gunmetal Highlights with Side Bangs

Side bangs look even edgier when accented with cool-toned gunmetal highlights for a rockstar vibe.

12. Muted Silver Highlights on Short Curls

Short curls given dimension with muted silver highlights lightly scattered throughout.

Natural curls look defined and bold with muted silver touches, enhancing texture and contrast.

13. Ice Grey Tips on Dark Shag Cut

A textured dark shag cut with cool ice grey highlights concentrated on the ends.

A modern shag with ice-grey tips screams ‘effortless edge’—a trend-forward pick for style risk-takers.

14. Salt-and-Pepper Dimensional Highlights

A salt-and-pepper effect created with alternating grey and black strands in a voluminous style.

For a more natural transition, a mix of salt-and-pepper hues offers graceful aging or just an elegant high-contrast effect.

15. Slate Highlights with a Middle Part

Straight dark hair parted down the center and enhanced with cool slate grey highlights.

Keep it cool and chic with slate highlights, especially when styled with a center part and glossy finish.

16. Blue-Grey Lowlights

Subtle blue-grey lowlights placed underneath dark hair for hidden depth and dimension.

Dark hair takes on new depth with blue-grey lowlights tucked underneath for subtle intrigue.

17. Light Grey Face-Framing Layers

Face-framing layers colored in light grey to brighten and soften dark base hair.

Brighten your complexion instantly by painting the front layers a soft, luminous light grey.

18. Holographic Grey Blends

A multi-tonal holographic grey effect giving shimmer and movement to dark layered hair.

A multi-tonal mix of silvery hues creates a holographic shimmer on dark strands—ideal for festivals or night outs.

19. Metallic Grey Highlights with Volume

Thick, voluminous dark hair styled with eye-catching metallic grey highlights.

Big, voluminous styles look stunning with metallic grey weaved through, catching every bit of shine and shadow.

20. White-Grey Highlights in a High Bun

A high bun hairstyle featuring clean white-grey highlights that wrap around the base.

Give a sleek high bun more character with stark white-grey strands wrapped around the base.

21. Grey on Raven Hair with Curtain Bangs

Raven black hair styled with curtain bangs and streaked with dimensional grey highlights.

Curtain bangs with grey highlights on raven black hair channel retro glam with a twist.

22. Ash Grey on Braided Styles

Dark braided hair woven with ash grey highlights for a bold, textured look.

Braids get a major upgrade with ash grey highlights that run through each plait, creating mesmerizing contrast.

23. Grey Frosting on Long Straight Hair

Long straight hair enhanced with delicate strands of grey frosting for a soft sheen.

Minimalists will love grey frosting—fine, icy strands painted throughout long straight hair for subtle shimmer.

24. Pewter Highlights on Pixie Cuts

A short pixie cut given edge with shimmering pewter highlights throughout.

Short hair, don’t care. Pewter tones make pixie cuts pop with fierce energy and futuristic vibes.

25. Silver-Blue Mix on Tousled Waves

Tousled dark waves colored with a dreamy blend of silver and blue tones.

Silver and blue hues together provide a dreamy oceanic aesthetic that plays beautifully with dark tousled waves.

26. Bold Silver Stripe Underneath

Dark hair with a single bold silver stripe hidden underneath for a dramatic contrast.

Opt for a single, chunky silver stripe underneath your hair for a hidden hit of glam.

27. Ultra-Light Grey with Tapered Ends

Grey highlights that lighten toward the ends pair perfectly with tapered cuts, creating a gradient look with movement.

28. Iridescent Grey Layers

Layered dark hair glowing with iridescent grey tones under soft lighting.

Add shine and mystique with iridescent grey highlights, perfect for dark layered hair with volume.

29. Grey Color Melt on Natural Black

A soft grey melt seamlessly blended into natural black hair for a fluid ombré.

Let the grey tones melt naturally into black hair from root to tip for a soft, smoky ombré effect.

30. Dove Grey with Tousled Texture

Dark tousled hair with soft dove grey highlights for an airy, beach-inspired finish.

This understated tone adds quiet luxury to wavy dark hair, especially when styled for a beachy, undone look.

31. Cool Silver Highlights with Loose Braids

Loose braids detailed with cool silver highlights for an elegant, boho look.

Loose braids get a celestial upgrade when laced with cool silver highlights—ideal for weddings or casual wear.

Why Grey Highlights on Dark Hair Are a Must-Try

Grey highlights on dark hair blend elegance, edge, and effortless cool. Whether you prefer icy silver tones or subtle ash greys, there’s a version to match every mood and style. These looks not only elevate your hair but make you stand out in the best way possible. For more sun-inspired transformations, check out our guide on 31 Sun-Kissed Beach Blonde Hair Looks for a Glow-Up.

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