Experts have praised Queen Letizia of Spain as ‘trend setting’ and ‘relatable’ after the royal became the latest high profile woman to embrace her natural grey hair during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The mother-of-two, 48, has been showcasing her salt-and-pepper locks on recent engagements, with strands of grey visible across her dark hair.
The move comes months after influencers and stars around the world began eschewing their hair dying routine during quarantine, includng Four Weddings and a Funeral actress Andie MacDowell, 62.
Stylists told FEMAIL the former journalist was ’embracing her authentic natural beauty’ by letting her grey hair show, with celebrity hair stylist Tom Smith saying: ‘Lockdown has helped Queen Letizia get used to her natural tones and she is feeling empowered and confident.’
Experts have praised Queen Letizia of Spain, 48, as ‘relatable’ after the royal became the latest high profile woman to embrace her natural grey hair during the Covid-19 pandemic
The mother-of-two, 48, has been showcasing her salt-and-pepper locks on recent engagements, with strands of grey visible across her dark hair (pictured left, in February 2020 and right, in June 2021)
Before the Covid-19 pandemic struck in March 2020, the former journalist was renowned for her glossy brunette locks.
The royal was unafraid to try out different shades during her time in the royal family, from showing off soft caramel highlights in 2012 to deep brown tones in 2018.
But earlier this week while attending a Memorial for the victims of terrorism in Madrid, Letizia showed off the grey streak across her hair.
Stylists suggested Letizia has been embracing her natural colouring amid the Covid crisis.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic struck in March 2020, the former journalist was renowned for her glossy brunette locks (pictured left and right, in February last year)
The royal was unafraid to try out different shades during her time in the royal family, including showing off soft caramel highlights in 2014 (pictured)
Tom said: ‘People are no longer afraid to show off their grey hair and the pandemic has helped them embrace their roots like never before. Queen Letizia of Spain has chosen not to dye her roots as she is embracing her authentic natural beauty
‘For years people have maintained their hair regularly and for years did not know what lurked underneath the hair dye’.
He continued: ‘Queen Letizia looks more youthful and radiant with the shimmer of grey coming through’.
‘Queen Letizia is making a bold statement by showcasing her grey roots in public as the world’s media will critique her. The change in beauty standards means grey hair is no longer a taboo. Grey hairs have become part of a person’s identity.’
Over the weekend, Queen Letizia was unafraid to show off her salt-and-pepper shaded hair while attending a memorial for victims of terrorism in Madrid
Meanwhile he added: ‘If Queen Letizia wanted to dye her hair she has the best pick of the world’s most talented hair experts on hand if she so wishes.
‘Her outfits are smart and elegant and you can see takes pride in her appearance therefore sporting grey hair is by choice.
‘There is a big trend to keep your grey hair post lockdown and she is certainly embracing her new found freedom. Many people are not ready to ditch the grey and actually want it as the focal point!’
Meanwhile James Johnston revealed: ‘I think the lockdown has encouraged us all, men and ladies to embrace are natural selves.
‘The Multi tonal grey regrowth is stunning in its own way. Not only does it reflect a modern society of not caring and being who we are, it also sets the trend for wearing salt and pepper hair, showing off the natural grey in a cool way.’
Celebrity stylist James Johnston told FEMAIL those aspiring to become a ‘silver-fox’ like Andie MacDowell could blend out regrowth with highlights or low lights
The American actress shot to fame after starring in the hit film alongside Hugh Grant, in which she showed off dark brown curly locks
His comments come as social media users proudly showcased their grey locks online, including Georgia Zaris, 51, who lives in Surrey, (left) and Alex Duvall, 33, from California (right)
He continued: ‘A lot of people pay a lot of money in salons to have grey toned hair, if you can get it naturally and you’re fully confident to wear it, I say ditch the dye, ditch the regular 5 week regrowth maintence appointments and let’s embrace are roots!’
Queen Letizia’s choice to showcase her lighter roots comes months Actress Andie discussed her salt-and-pepper hair during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, and revealed her daughters even thought she looked like a ‘bada**’.
‘Obviously I’ve stopped coloring my hair, I don’t know what’s going to happen in five years, I might color my hair again, but I’m enjoying it right now,’ she said.
‘And what happened was I wasn’t coloring my hair, and it was like half-colored back here, and then you could see my roots. And my daughters kept telling me I looked “bada**” and the idea that I could look bada** really appealed to me, so I went for it.
Meanwhile retired actress Georgia Zaris, 51, who lives in Surrey, has revealed she is ‘happier than ever’ after lockdown forced her to embrace grey hair after two decades of covering up (pictured left, with dyed hair, and right, her natural colour)
‘I’m enjoying it. I’m salt and pepper. It’s silver. It’s not grey, it’s silver. I’m enjoying it right now. And it’s not that I’m letting myself go, I don’t think of it that way.’
The actress recalled a trip to the grocery store, where she shared a moment with a man over their similar hair color.
‘When I first did it, I went to the grocery store because we have no place to go, and I thought I looked good. And I saw a man there, a silver fox guy… immediately just put my shoulders back and I was like, and so am I, you know… We both just shot a look to each other and I was like, “I’m a silver fox.” So that’s where I am right now.’
Alex Duvall, 33, (pictured) decided to embrace her gray locks – and saved herself more than $2400 a year in trips to the salon
Social media users have followed in her footsteps, with influencers like Georgia Zaris, 51, who lives in Surrey, and Alex Duvall, 33, from California, have revealed they’ve saved thousands of pounds after ditching the salons and box-dyes to embrace their natural grey.
Earlier this year, James advised against ditching the dye completely, telling FEMAIL that often a little dye can help hair transition into its new colour.
He said: ‘When transitioning from coloured hair to grey natural, opt for highlights to break up the old dye line and blend it in.’
Meanwhile he revealed or similarly opt for low lights could also break down the grey regrowth.
Celebrity hairstylist Tom Smith agreed, saying: ‘Gradually transition away from dyed hair can involve converting your colour appointments from a full tint (which colours every strand on the head) to highlights or low lights, preserving more of your natural colour in between.
‘You can spend a years worth of hair appointments, gradually reducing the amount of dye that you add to the hair and eventually grow out all of the block dye.
‘This can be a very soft, slow way of embracing your natural hair colour, but some people prefer to have a dramatic colour correction to make a statement with the change of look’.