1 mins
THE GREY Pound
Nancy Stripe of Stripe Colour Studio shares why you need to embrace the grey to boost your business
I’ve been in hairdressing for 24 years, and from the beginning, worked with a broad range of clients. Our core services were simple, root touch-ups, blow-dries, and the longest appointment, a full head of highlights. Root shadows weren’t even a concept yet, and an all-over gloss was considered a luxury add-on.
Fast forward to 2025, and the industry has changed. The balayage boom of the 2010s led to longer-lasting, high-end colour work. But one shift no one saw coming was the rise of grey blending. Grey hair used to be associated with older clients, and the idea of a woman embracing her natural grey was almost taboo.
That mindset never sat right with me. About six years ago, I started noticing that my fashion-forward clients were asking how they could work with their grey rather than fight it. It felt fresh, stylish, and sophisticated. That’s when it hit me - society’s perception of grey hair in women was unfair. Men with silver hair are seen as distinguished, while women are made to feel like they’ve “let themselves go.” As professionals, we have the power to challenge this outdated thinking. There’s nothing wrong with wanting full coverage, but no woman should feel ashamed for embracing her grey.
I built my business around this shift. These services come at a premium because they require more colour, more time, and serious expertise. Most of my clients return every 10-12 weeks for maintenance, incorporating modern tones and techniques to keep their grey looking intentional and beautiful. Interestingly, only about 1% of my clients opt to grow their colour out completely, most prefer a blend that enhances their natural shade. We have a six-month waiting list for new clients, and my Embrace the Grey course in person and downloadable are selling fast.
Encouraging your clientele to embrace their greys is not financially detrimental to the business, you’re not ‘killing off’ colour clients. Quite the opposite. Grey blending isn’t just a trend, it’s a movement and with the right techniques, approach and attitude it is highly lucrative for salons. It might just be what saves us in hard times.