Gray highlights while transitioning (dye, lighten, color, highlighted)

[winterbird]

I'm about 10% gray mostly concentrated around the hairline and front of my head at the roots about 2 inches (when not colored), plus about 15 strands of root to tip in the back. It is a beautiful platinum (more white than gray) against my natural black hair. I would love to bite the bullet and dye all of my hair this color. But I wear it long and have been told it would be extremely damaging for a whole head bleach and dye. So, alternately, I would love to add the same color highlights throughout my hair (which is thick, wavy, and mid-back length). By highlights I mean just add this color lightly sprinkled through some top layer strands for a highlight effect. Has anyone done this?

I'm assuming I would have to lighten the sections I want highlighted and then try to match those same strands/sections with a platinum color to match where I'm graying. I think this would damage just the strands/sections I select.

Any suggestions, tips, experiences with lightly bleaching then adding gray for a highlighting effect? I would greatly appreciate it!

[HoneyWest]

My mom didn't realise how much gray she has until covid when her salon was closed. She let it all hang for 6 months and couldn't take it any longer so she had highlights and lowlights, gets alot of compliments and looks amazing, she is over 55 with long hair down to her waist.

[aquietpath]

To go to platinum from natural black hair is going to rough on your hair, but it can be done. "Lightly bleaching" is going to bring your black hair to brown/red, not platinum. To completely remove any pigment in your hair you'll have to leave the bleach on a lot longer. Just be aware that the highlighted strands will be much weaker and require more conditioning and gentler treatment to prevent dryness and breakage.

**During the first seven stages, your hair will go through various color changes, including some that may be less than desirable. If your hair is black to begin with, it will be dark brown after the first stage. Subsequent stages result in red-brown, red, red-orange, orange, yellow and platinum. The lighter your hair is to begin with, the fewer bleaching stages you will need.