Going grey

UNITED STATES: Young, dynamic, flexible – when people are looking for a new job, these are the qualities they try to present to employers. Older candidates are often worried that grey hair does not fit this image. But thanks to a new fashion trend, they may no longer need to hide their silver strands.

Only a few years ago, everyone from actresses to managers dyed their hair to appear youthful. When Nicole Kidman went to the premiere of her film Australia in 2008, she hadn't dyed her greying hair. The press reported this round the world. One of the journalists even said that Kidman had broken "the last taboo".

Pop stars Lady Gaga and Pink have been seen with "skunk streaks".

Now grey may be the new blond. Did it really all start with a hair-dyeing experiment gone wrong? "It-girl" Pixie Geldof claims that's how she became inspired to experiment with "granny chic". Another follower of the trend is “fashion mascot” Tavi, who is only 13 years old, but already a well-known blogger on style. Kate Moss and Kelly Osbourne have gone grey, at least temporarily. And pop stars Lady Gaga and Pink have been seen with "skunk streaks".

Increasingly, young customers at Manhattan's style salons are asking for grey streaks. Silver-haired models are walking the runways. If you don't like dyeing your hair, you can order grey clip-on strands or even wigs online. As with all trends, it's hard to tell where this one will stop. But as salon owner Victoria Hunter told The New York Times: "When one gets on the bandwagon, they all do."