JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<select style="font-size: 20" id="subject" name="subject">
     <option hidden value="hello">I just want to say hello =]</option>
     <option value="quote">I'd like a quote</option>  
     <option value="general">General</option>   
  </select>

CSS

select {
    color: grey;
}
option:not(:checked) {
    color: black; /* or whatever your default style is */
}