Gray Eyes: How Rare Is It and How To Style Them

In the world of different eye colors, you’ve seen light blue eyes, green eyes, hazel eyes, amber eyes, and brown eyes… but what about gray eyes? Maybe you’ve met someone with gray eyes, or maybe you have them yourself and are wondering how rare they really are.

Because gray eyes aren’t very common, it can be tricky for people with this eye color to know how to choose the right accessories (like glasses). After all, let’s face it. You want your glasses to pair perfectly with your eye color, face shape, hair, and other characteristics that make you you.

Today, we’re bringing you the complete guide to gray eyes, including the best ways to style this eye color.

How Rare Are Gray Eyes?

Gray eyes are extremely rare. In fact, current estimates tell us that only around three percent of the worldwide population has this eye color. This is because there’s a highly uncommon combination of genetic factors that leads to being born with gray eyes.

If you’re of European descent, you might be more likely to have gray eyes than the rest of the world. People from Russia, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, for example, have more gray-eyed children than the rest of the world’s population combined.

If you have gray eyes but aren’t quite sure about the details of your heritage, it could be worth taking a DNA test to see how things stack up and where your lighter eyes are stemming from.

What Makes Gray Eyes Unique?

Gray eyes have a truly unique, one-of-a-kind look, but there’s more to them than meets the eye (pun intended).

Sensitivity to Light

People with gray eyes (and light eyes in general) are typically more sensitive to light than people with more common eye colors. This is because their irises have less melanin, which means they are more lightly pigmented and more easily irritated by light. Eye colors with larger amounts of melanin, like people with darker eyes that have plenty of brown pigment, are often less sensitive to bright light.

“Chameleon” Eyes

Gray eyes often look like they’re changing color in response to light. Because of the unique pigmentation of this rare eye color, grey eyes often reflect more vibrant colors around them, responding to the hues of clothing, makeup, lighting, and more. Sometimes, they may appear to be darker grey.

A Deeper Look

A person with gray eyes might look like they have a deeper gaze, namely because of the presence of little flecks of other colors in their irises. This makes those with gray eyes more prone to being seen as mysterious and alluring —which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

How To Style Gray Eyes

So, you have gray eyes. Now what? Here are some of our top tips for making the most of your eye color.

Makeup

If you have gray eyes, you have a special ability to look stunning with a wide variety of shades of makeup — but there are still certain colors that we think pair especially well with this eye color.

If you want a more subtle, natural look, reach for makeup that has more neutral tones. Taupe, beige, and softer brown colors can help keep the focus on your natural beauty without overpowering the unique hue of your eyes.

On the other hand, if you want a bolder, more dramatic look that leaves a truly lasting impression, consider using some lilac or lavender-colored eyeshadow. These colors can help your gray eyes pop by contrasting the depth of your irises with the richness of the purple shades.

We also always love to recommend the smokey look to make your gray eyes appear even more dramatic and mysterious. By blending shades of gray, black, and silver (it doesn’t hurt to look up a YouTube tutorial if you need help), you can make your eyes look striking.

Glasses: The Basics

Choosing the right glasses makes all the difference when you want to accentuate your eyes and draw attention to them — especially when you’re working with the rarest eye color.

Lucky for you, you can make a wide range of glasses work well for your eye color.

If you want to keep things subtle and neutral, consider wearing a pair of white plastic frames for a bright, clean contrast that highlights the cooler tones in your eyes. Or, sync up the color of your frames with your eyes (gray on gray) for a monochromatic, sophisticated look with less contrast.

You can also try a pair of cobalt or purple frames to help make your eyes stand out. These rich colors can work to bring out any of the blue undertones in your eyes, adding a layer of vibrance to your look. Burgundy frames are another option that can create the same effect while also adding some warmth to the final look.

When it comes to frames, we’re big fans of round glasses for people with gray eyes. This shape works well with almost any face shape and gives you a cool, classy look that’s just a bit bookish. The combo of gray eyes and round frames makes you look intellectual, mysterious, and confident —like a Ravenclaw or a teenage detective.

Hairstyles

Your hairstyle and color is another great way to help accentuate your eyes and tie your whole look together. If you aren’t satisfied with your current hairstyle, we definitely recommend staying open to dying your hair to help it better harmonize with your eyes.

If you’re not naturally blonde, bleaching your hair platinum or ash blonde can look amazing with gray eyes. Even more unconventional shades like blue or lavender can be gorgeous with the gray.

What Are the Best Glasses for Gray Eyes?

You know the basics of choosing glasses for gray eyes, but let's dive a little deeper into the fun specifics. We think your glasses should feel like a centerpiece that ties your look together, and there’s plenty of room to get expressive and creative.

Frame Styles

Earlier, we talked about how round frames are one of our go-to picks for folks with gray eyes. However, there are plenty more frames that look incredible with this eye color.

Starting with cat-eye glasses, this classic option pretty much always looks stunning. This style is retro but timeless, and they give you that intellectual look that really never goes out of style. The Wanda is a stylish pair of cat-eye frames with plenty of character and feminine flair. Made from durable hand-polished acetate, our frames will last a long time and stand up against trends.

We’re also fans of geometric frames for gray eyes. Hexagonal and octagonal glasses add a bit of extra dimension to your face and can help highlight the uniqueness of your eye color. If you’re going for a cool, sophisticated, and intellectual look, these shapes might be perfect.

Last but not least, a pair of rectangular glasses gives you a great balance between classic and modern while still letting your eyes be the star of the show. These frames are a bit simpler than our other picks, but that’s not a bad thing. The simplicity gives you room to show off with your makeup, your hairstyle, your accessories, and, of course, your eyes.

Choosing Lenses

If you have gray eyes, chances are good that you’re a bit more sensitive to light than the average person. This sensitivity is a key factor to keep in mind when you’re shopping for glasses — certain lenses will probably serve you better than others.

A pair of lightly tinted glasses can do wonders for you when you’re out in the sun or exposed to other sources of intense light. These glasses can also be a statement piece, boosting your confidence and giving you a refreshing new look. However, bear in mind that they will have a bit of color to them, which might make them less of an everyday staple and more of a once-in-a-while accessory.

If you want lenses that support your sensitive eyes but still work for everyday wear, consider photochromic lenses. These lenses are designed to respond to light, changing from untinted to tinted based on where you are.

Wrapping Up

If you have gray eyes, you’re a rare one —and that’s something to celebrate. Having unique features is a blessing, not a curse, and it gives you a unique opportunity to express yourself. Wearing a stylish pair of glasses that complements your eye color can boost your confidence, tie your look together, and make you feel proud of your one-of-a-kind eyes.

Pair Eyewear makes it easy to find the perfect frames to match your distinct style. We’ve got high-quality frames in every shape, but it’s our unique top frames that really make our glasses stand out. Explore all of our eyewear options and Top Frames to find exactly what you need to make your gray eyes stand out more than ever.

Sources

Gray Eyes (Pictures, Genetics & Facts) | Vision Center

Photophobia (Light Sensitivity): Symptoms, Causes & Treatment | Cleveland Clinic

Shedding Light on Photophobia | NCBI

Eye Colors: Hazel, Green, Amber, Blue, Grey & Brown | Cleveland Clinic