Vanessa Valez, (@VanessaVelezHair, @Vaness513) of The Hair Shop, Bayonne, NJ, says "Gray is a big trend at the moment and my client is definitely a trend setter. My older clients gasp when they see that this is the trend because they come so frequent to try and cover their gray!" But Valez loves "this look on young people because it's so different but not as loud as a bright or pastel color. It's almost like you can get away with it in a business like environment!"

Valez has been coloring Nina's hair for over 4 years. "She is a natural level 7 and would get a full head of highlights eventually leading to a double process blonde. Within the last 6 months, she went from a golden blonde to a cool blonde to an even cooler icy toned color to now a dove gray.  Her hair is in healthy condition because I stay away from lightening the ends. Nina uses Shimmer lights shampoo at home. One time she left it on for too long and it turned pink/purple in the back of her head. In the 'before' picture, after pre lightening her roots, you can see a subtle shade of pink that was left over."

Here she offers the HOW TO:

Natural level 7:

Retouch application for Blonde

Prelighten roots with  Wella Blondor 20 volume developer for 45- 50 minutes (with a plastic cap).

Shampoo and towel dry. Apply Wella Color Touch 2oz 9/01; 1/2 oz 9/0. Process for 15 minutes on roots first then draw through to the ends.

Blonde Ice:

Same retouch application 

Apply Redken Shades EQ 1/2 oz 9 T; 1/2 6 T ; 1/2 9N drop 9B.

Process for 15 minutes at room temperature.

Gray:

Blend Color Touch 2 oz 7/89 (with a drop of Redken Shades EQ 9T. Apply to ends first process and then to the rest of th hairl. Process for a full 20 minutes at room temperature.

"Our next step is to go a deeper gray and probably back to light once the summer hits."