Gunmetal Gray
The “granny” trend is still going strong, but mostly because creative stylists like Christina Kreitel, Owner of Voleri Studio Salon in Spanish Fork, UT, have put interesting spins on this stormy shade. “With “granny gray” in such high demand, I wanted to come up with a silver that truly was a showstopper,” notes Christina.
After working with six color lines and dozens of formulas, she found the ultimate combination with Kenra Professional’s SM Series. “The inspiration for my colors comes from my life and the things I see on a daily basis,” shares Christina. “I was watching my husband, who is an avid gun collector, and one of his rifles is a gray-blue shade—I thought, ‘that would make the most badass gray yet!'” So Christina got to work and crafted the ultimate gunmetal gray, which her client absolutely loved.
So how can you keep this color vibrant longer? “Typically her color lasts her to each appointment with a little fading. Even when it does fade, the blue in the color keeps her hair nice and ashy,” notes Christina. “I just retouch her gray and let her roots grow out. However, this time I left the blue booster out and it gave her a really nice dusty gray finish!”
Christina’s Tips for Success!
1. For a color like this, Christina tends to charge $80 for the original lifting and an additional $10 for every extra ounce of lightener needed. She charges $5 if Olaplex is used, and adds $70 for the final color. “All around, this whole color transformation cost $250. Every person is different when it comes to price, but once the lightening is done, the cost isn’t nearly as much to keep up,” notes Christina.
2. It’s important to charge what you’re worth. “I charge what I do because getting the color isn’t enough. Keeping the integrity of the hair is a true art, and it costs money to apply the right treatments. In order to get these shades without damaging the hair, a quality product must be used,” she says.