French blending: the chic, low-maintenance way to embrace your grays

Embracing our grays has never been more in vogue. And the latest trend in seamlessly incorporating those silver strands into a stylish, easy-breezy 'do is the très chic French blending technique.

How it works

Created by L'Oréal Professionnel, French blending strategically places color to blend your grays into the overall hue, resulting in a bespoke, modern look. 'It's much softer and more modern,' explains L'Oréal ambassador Krista Bartik. 'Instead of covering grays, we blend them into the overall color using depth and dimension.'

Bartik notes there are three types of French blending to choose from, depending on the number of grays: first blending, retouch blending, and total blending. First blending adds subtle lowlights and blended clusters, ideal for those just starting to gray. Retouch blending maintains a soft blend, focusing on the regrowth line and adding dimension to lengths and ends. Total blending makes the biggest impact, combining techniques for a diffused, natural finish.

Adapting to hair texture

While French blending generally works for all hair textures, colorists often have their own approaches. 'What changes is the application,' agrees Bartik. 'I adjust my formula, sectioning, and saturation based on the hair's texture, so the blend looks seamless based on the client's hair type.'

For straight, wavy, curly hair

On fine, straight hair, French blending is kept delicate with minimal baby highlights to avoid harsh lines. For wavy locks, the natural movement helps color blend effortlessly. Colorist Jenna Perry places soft, ribbon-like highlights through bends and finishes with a cut enhancing movement for a sunlit, effortless look.

Curly and coily hair is also forgiving, with the natural curl pattern creating built-in dimension. Perry recommends a comb-through technique to ensure every strand is evenly saturated.

French blending vs. gray blending

The main difference between the two techniques is precision. Gray blending diffuses natural grays into the rest of the hair, while French blending is a more strategic, hand-painted placement. 'Both share the same philosophy,' says Kadi Lee. 'The better question is, do you trust your colorist to achieve a desired goal?'

Maintaining gray hair

Whether natural or blended, gray hair requires a special regimen for best upkeep. It tends to be drier, coarser, and more prone to yellowing, so the right products and treatments make a significant difference. Regular gloss treatments, moisturizing at-home products, and color-protecting masks can help extend the life of color and keep grays looking their best.