How men can go grey gracefully, like Cillian Murphy

The Pierce Brosnans and George Clooneys of the world are often lauded for their suave silver fox hairstyles. The same isn’t always true for women. Just ask Sarah Jessica Parker, who was lambasted for exposing a smattering of grey roots when filming season one of her hit series And Just Like That.

The point being that we’ve become accustomed to women dying their hair from the moment the first grey hair shows itself – and even years before. Anything to the contrary has historically been seen as letting oneself go; thus when actresses like Andie MacDowell stop dying their hair back to its 20-something hue, it’s seen as a “brave” move.

My guess is that men are more likely to step into their grey than women for a different reason altogether. Typically, men are subject to the opposite prejudices to women when it comes to colouring their hair. When a man dyes his hair he can be accused of trying too hard to hold onto his youth – a tragic faux pas in the unrelenting quest for agelessness.

Frankly, treading the tightrope of acceptance and active participation in maintaining one’s looks is a minefield for all genders. So when Cillian Murphy attended the premiere of his new film, Small Things Like This, on Thursday evening looking as fresh with grey hair as he did with boyish brunette, it’s an invitation to embrace the shade so many try to cover up with age.

If you’re not entirely convinced on all-out grey, then one way to transition into silver is to add some blonde pieces very subtly throughout. Thanks to flash cameras on the red carpet, at certain angles it appeared that Murphy had gone for what colourists call “gronde” - a melding of blonde and grey that can be extremely flattering. Though, his long standing hair stylist, Gareth Brommel, tells The Telegraph Murphy is 100 per cent grey and the confusion is merely a case of “bad lighting”.

If, however, gronde is more appealing to you than a full head of silver, then provided you don’t overdo it, a few artfully placed blonde pieces can be a more graceful way to lean into your greys than covering the whole lot in brown.

“Whenever I colour men’s hair blonde I always opt for balayage [hand painting hair] as opposed to traditional highlights with foils – it’s a more lived-in, undone look,” says Cetera Lamb, a celebrity hair colourist at John Frieda. “When you balayage the hair it doesn’t have to go right up to the root, it’s feathered into the hair in a more natural way, picking up areas that the sun would hit – it’s a cooler and more bespoke look,” she explains.

A key thing to consider is to leave negative space between the blonde. “When the sides remain grey it’s more natural looking,” explains Lamb, who cites Murphy as the perfect example of how to execute a colour change in your late 40s.

Hair stylist Andreas Wild, who works at Larry King’s Notting Hill salon, says Murphy’s cut helps give it the gravitas it needs. “His haircut is similar to Brad Pitt’s hair in Fight Club. The short back and sides with his new colour makes a cool statement.”

The key, emphasises Wild, doesn’t lie in one element. Colour, cut and styling play their part in making a dramatic hair colour change work. “If you go for a big colour change like this you need to work with styling products so the hair doesn’t look so clean and pristine – otherwise it can come off more like a business haircut.”

“Men aren’t always used to using hair styling products but when you go for a strong statement like Cillian Murphy has done, it’s vital you think about cut and texture,” he says. “With this style, I would use a mousse when blow drying the hair and finish with a styling cream to separate the hair and   give it the feeling that it’s not freshly washed – you’re aiming for a slight air of messiness,” adds Wild.

Not all men want to embrace the grey, but going back to brunette isn’t without its challenges, says Lamb. “What is super important when covering grey with a darker shade is to steer clear of warm tones,” she says. Lamb explains that if a colour isn’t cool-toned, it can have an ageing effect on men. “At John Frieda we have a specific salon hair colour created for men that has ashy undertones. This always looks more natural on men – too warm and it’s an instant giveaway,” she adds.

The cool tones Lamb is referring to can be a challenge for naturally grey hair, which can appear brassy over time if you don’t care for it with toning products. By incorporating a violet shampoo into your routine every other day, you can offset the unflattering tobacco shades that come through when the hair is exposed to hard water minerals and sunlight.

The finished effect? Nonchalant, cool and well on your way to silver fox territory, just like Murphy.

Three men’s product heroes for maintaining grey hair

Olaplex No4 Blonde Enhancer Toning Shampoo

£28, Cult Beauty

This will stop grey from getting brassy (yellow).

Wella Shockwaves Volume Mousse

£3.55, Boots

A lesser known must-have for men with length on top, giving it lived-in volume.

Larry King Social Life for Your Hair

From £12, Larry King

A styling cream adds definition and texture to a flat hairstyle.