As a lifelong brunette girlie, I spotted my very first grey hairs in my early twenties – rude, honestly. From that moment on, I spent decades in a constant battle with my roots. You know the drill: splurging on full heads of highlights at the salon or panic-buying box dye to hide the silver sneak attacks.
Fast forward to eight months ago (April 2025), when I finally decided to do the unthinkable… and let my grey hair shine. Was it easy? Absolutely not. Going from dark brown to a mixed silver grow-out is a journey – emotionally and visually. But after two rounds of highlights to gently lift me into a lighter overall shade, I’m now two months in with NO permanent colour or bleach. Yep, I said it! (I’ll be sharing more details and pics in another blog, promise.)
That said, I didn’t do this alone. These are the actual magic products that have kept me sane – and silver – along the way.
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First things first: this shampoo is PURPLE purple. Slightly terrifying the first time you squeeze it out, but trust me – it’s a total lifesaver if yellow or brassy tones are ruining your silver dreams.
It lasts FOREVER, even if (like me) you go heavy-handed on the ends, because it works like a quick toner. Fanola Purple Shampoo cleans the scalp beautifully, though it can be a bit drying on the lengths – nothing a good conditioner can’t fix.
The reviews don’t lie, and yes, they recommend gloves. I… do not wear them. My hands turn purple and I just wash clean with soap, so no drama. I’ve tried other shampoos in between, but I always come back to this one – it’s great value and seriously delivers.
2. Bleach London Fade to Grey Toner
Honestly? A dream toner.
I started out with the Lavender Grey (also gorgeous), but found Fade to Grey worked better with my natural regrowth, which leans more slate grey than platinum. If your greys are lighter, lavender might be your perfect match.
The kit comes with a separate conditioner sachet that smells amazing and feels super nourishing. Definitely follow the instructions – but full disclosure, I leave mine on for about an hour.
The result? My roots blend seamlessly into my bleached ends, and all those yellow and orange tones disappear. I genuinely think I’ll keep using this even once my bleached ends are fully grown out and chopped off – I’m obsessed with the shade.
3. Scott Cornwall Colour Restore Toner
This is my in-between hero – the toner I use as a conditioning treatment between Bleach London sessions.
It works beautifully alongside the Fanola shampoo, bringing moisture back while boosting shine and tone. The bottles are on the smaller side (I always order two because I refuse to run out), but you only need a small amount. Focus on the ends and work it through no need to be super precise. It’s a gentle toner, less about drastic colour change and more about restoring and enhancing what’s already there. I’ve tried both Iced Platinum and Cool Ash, and for me, Cool Ash wins – it complements my more slate-grey regrowth perfectly.
Final Thoughts
I mix and match these products depending on what my hair needs, and together they’ve made my grey-growing journey so much smoother. If you’re thinking about embracing your silver, or you’re already mid-grow-out and feeling overwhelmed – I hope this helps you find your perfect combo.
Because honestly? Silver and grey don’t just exist… They slay.
The Hive by Melissa 
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