Precious metal jewelry has flattered faces with warmth and sheen since the days of Cleopatra. Now, due to popular demand, hair colorists are replicating that expensive shimmer with metallic highlights and glosses.

“Inspiration comes from models and celebrities with sought-after hair color, including Jourdan Dunn, Karlie Kloss, Lily Donaldson and Chloë Moretz, who have moved away from the ombré look to softer tones that are picked up in the layers and textures framing the face,” says Melanie Smith, senior colorist at Hari’s Hairdressers on Kings Road in London, which introduced “New Metallics” last fall.

“This perfected metal tone I have created for Hari’s is neither ash nor blonde but bronze,”says Melanie Halacoglu, head color technician at the salon. “I incorporate ‘face framing’ to keep a youthful glow around the face. My clients can’t get enough of it!”

Top New York colorists are also heavily into metals — and their versions are even more bling-y.

Take the Marie Robinson Salon in the Flatiron District, which is famed for its prowess with platinum. Robinson gave actress Michelle Williams the unusual silvery shade pictured in her Louis Vuitton campaigns.

Robinson is a fan of the trend. “It can be very pretty and enhance the skin,” she says. “You may only need a lipstick, or less color on the cheeks.”

To achieve Cartier-worthy tones, she lightens locks — either with highlights or allover color — and then adds the special effects. “You need to lift the hair to a pale, almost white color, if you want silver or platinum,” she explains. “Or do palest yellow blond hair for rose gold or bronze.”

Manic Panic is one of her go-to brands: “If you want a rose-gold effect, you can mix Manic Panic’s ‘Cotton Candy Pink’ with a small amount of ‘Tiger Lily,’ ” says Robinson. “For a silver result, use ‘Virgin Snow’ alone or, for a deeper silver, use ‘Blue Steel.’ ”

Mauricio Bermudez, a colorist at Suite Caroline in Soho, uses metallic-y toners and glosses. “You can have tri-reflective hues, almost like car paint,” says Bermudez. “We do
the balayage technique, hand-painting highlights, and afterward have fun adding in color with these tonal glazes.”

The effects, however, can be fleeting. Bermudez recommends using gentle, sulfate-free shampoo to avoid stripping the color, while Robinson suggests weekly glosses.

Then again, fly-by-night color has its advantages. “It’s a way for people to be adventurous without being super committed to it,” says Bermudez.