How to Choose a Hairpiece Color for Gray, Silver or Salt-and-Pepper Hair
The short answer: match the JuvaBun Messy Bun to the hair at your crown, in daylight. Not sure? Send us a photo and we'll pick your shade.
4.8 stars from 8,000+ Messy Bun reviews
Screens shift color, so treat photos as a guide and check your own hair in daylight.
Which gray shade fits me?
The JuvaBun Messy Bun comes in 19 shades. The four above are the ones to look at when your hair is gray, silver or on its way there: all-over silver points to Silver Gray, gray mixed with darker strands points to Salt And Pepper, and fully white hair points to White. Some of our other pieces call Silver Gray "Light Gray"; it's the same shade. If your hair looks clearly gray, start with the three gray shades before Platinum Blonde.
How to tell which one you have
- Look in daylight. Stand near a window, with no flash and no bathroom bulbs. Indoor light can make gray look yellower or darker than it really is.
- Check your roots and temples, then the back. Many women find their temples are lighter than the rest of their hair. That's normal, and it's why the front alone can be misleading.
- Take a daylight photo of the back of your head. Ask someone to snap it, or hold your phone up behind you. That's the hair your bun will sit against.
- Match the hair around the bun, not the ends. Ends can be lighter, darker, or still carry an old color. The bun sits at your crown, so match the hair right around it.
What if my hair is between shades?
Pick the shade closest to the hair where the bun sits. As a rule of thumb:
- Mostly gray, but darker strands still clearly show at the back? Salt And Pepper is usually the closer match.
- Only a few dark strands, and the overall look is silver? Go with Silver Gray.
- Torn between Silver Gray and White? Look at your daylight photo again and ask one question: does the hair near your crown read silver, or white?
- Cool silver or warm silver? If it looks steely or icy, start with Silver Gray and send us a daylight photo so we can confirm. If it leans creamy, compare Silver Gray with Platinum Blonde in your daylight photo.
- Gray with a warm, brownish tone? The Messy Bun doesn't come in a brownish gray. Send us a daylight photo and we'll tell you which of its shades comes closest. (Our Small Messy Bun does come in Brownish Gray.)
If you color your hair, match the color you have today where the bun sits, not the color you're growing into.
Can JuvaBun help me find my shade?
Yes. Find My Shade gives you two ways to get an answer:
- Take or upload a photo. It's read on your phone and never saved.
- Answer 3 quick questions. No photo needed.
You'll see your matching Messy Bun shade with its swatch photo, and a button to that shade.
Not sure? Send us a photo and we'll pick your shade. Send it to our team here, and we'll tell you which shade to choose.
What if the shade isn't right?
Gray comes in many tones, so we make this part simple. If the color isn't right when your bun arrives, we offer an easy shade exchange. Every Messy Bun also comes with our 60-day guarantee. Just contact us and we'll help you sort it out.
How does the Messy Bun work?
Make a small bun with your own hair, then wrap the JuvaBun Messy Bun around it like a scrunchie. No clips or pins needed, so there's no tension on thin or fine hair. Bobby pins ship in the box if you'd like extra hold. It's synthetic hair, about 60 g, and wraps on in about 30 seconds.
Gray hairpiece questions
Is Light Gray the same as Silver Gray?
Yes. Light Gray and Silver Gray are the same color under two names. On the Messy Bun it's called Silver Gray, so that's the shade to choose.
My temples are whiter than the back of my head. Which do I match?
Match the back of your head, near the crown. That's where the bun sits, so that's the hair it needs to blend with.
Which shade is best for salt-and-pepper hair?
Start with Salt And Pepper, made for gray mixed with darker strands. If the dark strands are only a few and your hair looks silver overall, Silver Gray may be closer. Send us a photo if you'd like us to choose.
Can I find my shade without sending a photo?
Yes. Find My Shade can match you with 3 quick questions and no photo. If you do use a photo there, it's read on your phone and never saved.
What happens if my gray shade doesn't match?
You get an easy shade exchange if the color isn't right, and every Messy Bun comes with our 60-day guarantee. Contact our team and we'll help you get the right shade.
Ready to see your shade?
The JuvaBun Messy Bun comes in Silver Gray, Salt And Pepper, White, Platinum Blonde and 15 more shades, made for thin, fine and graying hair.
$34.99, or Buy 2 Get 2 FREE.
4.8 stars from 8,000+ Messy Bun reviews · 60-day guarantee · Easy shade exchange · As seen on CBS, USA Today, NBC and Fox News · Free US shipping on orders $55+