Pose & style reference · Hair colours
Gray hair (grey hair)
Also called: grey hair, ash grey hair, silver-grey hair, 灰色の髪
In short
Gray hair, also spelled grey, sits between white and black and comes in shades from pale ash to dark charcoal. In anime and manga it can show age, but on young characters it usually reads as calm, detached, melancholy or simply cool, and ash grey is a popular fashion dye colour.
Reference photos
Photos are shown from mfan8.com with credit to the photographers and models. Tap a photo to open the full set.
What gray hair signals
Natural grey hair is a sign of ageing, so it is the obvious choice for mentors, parents and veterans. On a young character the meaning changes: grey suggests someone muted, tired, serious or emotionally guarded, and it carries a quiet, low-key coolness that suits loners and strategists.
Grey also fits industrial, post-apocalyptic or rainy settings, where a desaturated palette helps the character belong to the world. In fashion, ash grey is chosen for a modern, edgy look rather than to look older.
Shades of gray
| Shade | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Ash grey | Light, cool grey with a faint blue or green cast |
| Silver-grey | Bright grey with a strong sheen, close to white |
| Steel grey | Medium blue-grey, cool and sharp |
| Smoky or taupe grey | Grey with a brown or purple undertone, soft and warm |
| Charcoal | Dark grey, nearly black, serious and heavy |
| Salt and pepper | A natural mix of grey and darker strands |
How to colour gray hair
Pure neutral grey makes hair look dead. Give it a temperature: cool grey with blue-violet shadows, or warm grey with taupe or brown shadows. A slightly tinted highlight keeps the hair shiny and distinct from white.
Grey sits close to many skin and background values, so the hair can melt into its surroundings. Strengthen the contrast between the shadowed underside of the hair and the face, and use a darker shade where the hair meets the background.
For salt-and-pepper hair, paint the overall mid-grey first, then add thin darker and lighter strands, concentrated at the temples.
Gray hair in photos, wigs and dye
Grey hair takes on the colour of the light even more than white hair does, so a mixed lighting setup can make it look blue on one side and yellow on the other. Use one consistent light colour when shooting a reference.
Dyeing to grey requires lifting the hair to a very pale, even blonde first, then toning; any leftover yellow turns grey into green or beige. Grey toner fades fairly quickly. For cosplay, a grey wig avoids the process and holds its shade.
FAQ
Is it gray or grey?
Both are correct. Gray is the usual American spelling and grey the usual British spelling.
What does grey hair mean on a young anime character?
It often suggests a calm, detached, melancholy or cool personality rather than age.
Why did my grey hair dye turn green?
Leftover yellow in lightened hair mixes with the cool grey toner. The hair needs to be lifted paler before toning.