If you’ve recently transitioned to grey hair, you might be wondering if your best colours have changed too. Maybe you used to know exactly what looked good on you—perhaps warm browns, rich oranges, or earthy greens—but now you’re not so sure. Grey hair can feel like a big shift in your overall look, but here’s the truth: you don’t have to lose your sense of style or confidence! In fact, this could be the perfect time to refine your colour palette and bring out your natural beauty in a whole new way.

As a Certified Online Colour Analysis Expert, I’ve worked with countless clients over the years, and I’ve seen firsthand how transformative a well-chosen colour palette can be. Whether you want to get your colours done to discover your ideal shades or you’re a stylist looking to expand your skills, I’m here to help.

​Let’s explore why transitioning to grey hair can affect your best colours, how to adapt to these changes, and how I can support you in looking your absolute best—or becoming a pro at helping others do the same.

When your hair transitions to grey, the coolness of your hair colour often increases but if your skintone and eyes are still warm then you don't go fully cool - now you have elements of warmth and cool in your colouring. This can make some of the colours you’ve always loved feel a little off. For example:

But don’t worry—the core of who you are hasn’t changed. Your skin undertone remains the foundation of your best colours. If you’ve always been warm, you’ll still look fantastic in warm shades. The key is to adjust how you wear those colours to accommodate your new hair tone.

​For example, someone who used to wear deep Autumn tones like rich browns and rust might now suit the softer, more muted shades of Soft Autumn—think warm taupe, olive green, or soft coral. If your skin has taken on a slightly cooler undertone, you might lean toward a palette like Soft Summer, with its smoky blues, mauves, and muted pinks.

Helen is not just a client—she’s a fellow colour consultant who trained with me in my Certified Online Colour Analysis Expert Program. Recently, Helen brought her updated pictures to our support group, seeking guidance on how to reanalyse her seasonal flow after her hair transitioned to a stunning steel-grey. As a professional herself, Helen knew her original Autumn palette might need adjusting, but she found it difficult to pinpoint exactly where she now belonged.

Helen’s case was a challenging one, requiring a slow and careful approach. Together, as a group of experts, we meticulously examined her photos and features, taking our time to test different palettes. There were lots of suggestions that Helen was now cool but I could see that her warm undertones still shone through, but her cooler grey hair introduced new dynamics to her colouring.

After much deliberation and detailed analysis, we concluded that Helen has soft-muted colouring in the tonal system, with elements of both warm and cool. On the 16-palette Seasonal Flow system, Helen now fits within the Gentle/Soft Autumn palette. This placement honours her natural warmth while accommodating the cooler, softer qualities brought about by her grey hair.

Neutral Base Colours:
We swapped out her deep chocolate browns for softer neutrals like warm taupe and muted greys. These shades harmonized beautifully with her steel-grey hair while maintaining a connection to her natural warmth.

Accent Colours:
Helen’s earthy greens were replaced with softer, muted olive and sage tones. We also introduced dusty coral and warm rose, which brightened her complexion without overpowering her softer colouring.

Avoiding Overly Warm Tones:
​While Helen’s skin still leaned warm, colours like mustard and mahogany now felt too intense against her cooler hair. We focused on shades that balanced warmth and softness.

In the 16-palette seasonal flow system, we consider not just warm vs. cool, but also the intensity (soft vs. bright) and depth (light vs. deep) of your colouring. This system allows for even greater precision, especially for clients whose colouring may have shifted due to grey hair.