As a forty-five-year-old woman with gray hair, I’ve learned that even with my hair color treated, white hair can still look lifeless and be prone to dryness and yellowing.
Fortunately, there are a few simple techniques to bring out the color and add shine and softness to gray hair. You might as well give your grays the “wow” factor if you decide to show them off. This is the method.
Why Gray Hair Needs Special Maintenance
Graying is a natural and unavoidable process, unless you turn prematurely gray. As a matter of fact, gray hair is actually a stage in between before our hair entirely whitens. The general gray appearance is caused by a mixture of white hair without any pigment in the strands and pigmented hair.
Even if more and more women are accepting their graying hair, the white strands must be gently cared for to stay bright and free of yellow undertones. Furthermore, because fewer oil glands are producing their hair, gray hair might actually seem coarser, even if the excessive coarse texture associated with it is a fiction. Since this is a normal part of aging, products that make up for it can significantly improve the appearance of gray hair.
8 Tried and Tested Gray Hair Tips
The majority of our problems in our world have answers, and gray hair is no different. You will notice the change sooner than you might think if you follow these guidelines if you are still unsure about what to do with your gray hair:
1. Double Cleanse with Shampoo
For dryer hair types, select shampoos. Make sure to focus on the roots of your hair rather than the ends when shampooing it twice. The first cleanse will guarantee that your scalp is spotless, and the second will get rid of any buildup that may have remained on your hair. The suds in your rinse will softly wash the remainder of your hair.
I had amazing results when I started double cleansing. I prefer to avoid the possibility of discoloration, thus I make sure my goods are clear or white. Philip Kingsley’s moisture-balancing shampoo will do wonders for your hair.
2. Use a Conditioner for Your Hair Type, not Your Hair Color
Apply a conditioner suitable for the texture and type of your hair. Choose stronger conditioners if your hair is thick and naturally coarser; otherwise, avoid using too much conditioner on fine hair.
The only thing I’ve changed since my hair became gray is that I now moisturize twice and let the second conditioner sit for five minutes before rinsing.
I use a wide-tooth comb to untangle any knots in my hair after applying conditioner to the middle to ends of my hair. After that, I rinse, reapply conditioner, and wait five minutes before washing again.
I prefer to use white goods for shampoo in order to prevent discolouration. Once more, for finer hair, Philip Kingsley’s Moisture Balancing Combination Conditioner is hard to better. Choose Philip Kingsley Moisture Extreme Enriching Conditioner if your hair is thick and coarse or extremely dry. It will assist restore the moisture levels in dryer hair types while keeping them bright and silky.
3. Apply Leave-In Conditioner to the Ends
The moisture content and sheen of your gray hair will change if you use a leave-in conditioner on the ends. I thought using “leave in” conditioner would make my hair seem like I had a build-up of products, but all I noticed was that my gray hair was softer and silkier.
After giving it a try, I continued to give my hair a silky, smooth finish as it dried. Although there are many wonderful products available, I believe that Kerastase Citaplasm is the best because of its gentle purple hue, which effectively offsets any yellowing. It functions as a heat shield as well. For people with gray hair, this is the best product I’ve found that works the hardest.
4. Never Forget to Heat Protect
Heat styling can dry out your hair, leaving it coarse and lifeless. To reduce the damage, you must apply a heat protector in addition to a leave-in conditioner.
Though there are many available, Wella Thermal Protect is excellent. Again, the somewhat purple hue is ideal for gray hair types, and the spray bottle facilitates simple distribution throughout your hair’s layers.
5. Approach Heat Styling with Caution
Reduce the amount of heat on your salt and pepper hair to maintain it lustrous and hydrated. In order to prevent burning, which could cause split ends, discolouration, and worse, try to use heat on a medium setting.
I use a lower heat setting on my straightening irons from time to time, but never more than once a week. Occasionally, I also let my hair hang loose to give it a respite from styling.
My white hair can also be styled by letting it air dry naturally and using curling tongs on a medium setting. Fortunately, Cloud Nine, my preferred brand of hot styling equipment, permits this. I get gorgeous, bouncy waves from this till my next shampoo.
6. Prevent Yellow Staining on Gray Hair
You are likely to get yellowing and discolouration if you have more white hair than dark. It’s unavoidable, especially if you work in a dirty atmosphere, swim in chlorinated water, or reside in a hard water location.
If any of these apply to you, using a purple shampoo every other wash will help you maintain the whiteness of your gray hair by preventing yellowing and/or color loss. One of the nicest shampoos I’ve ever tested is the L’Oreal Colour Correct Anti-Brassiness Shampoo, and it’s reasonably priced.
Additionally, there are several excellent gray hair rinses and light toning shampoos available that can be helpful. Toning Shampoo by Bold Uniq is one of my faves. Avoid using any blue toners, regardless of brand, as the combination might turn hair strands green.
If you’re unsure, choose products designed specifically for gray hair. There may occasionally be a slight purple tint left on you, although this rarely persists beyond a few washings. The following time, cut down on how long you leave the product in your hair if this occurs. Since each person’s hair has a different porosity, start with the shortest amount of time and work your way up if needed.
7. Use a Nurturing Mask
Regardless of whether you have gray, white, or salt and pepper hair, always use a hair mask after using blue shampoos. Regrettably, they tend to dry out your hair, so if you can, use a mask afterwards to improve the condition of your hair.
Once more, choose a mask based on the type of hair you have, not its color. Kerastase Masquintense is my all-time fave. One is for thick hair, and the other is for fine hair.
8. Set the Scene
You now possess the knowledge required to manage your gray hair. You’ll be shocked, though, to see how well-chosen clothing and makeup can truly bring out the color of your hair.
As we age, it may be very simple to fall into a rut, particularly with regard to color, makeup, and attire. Choosing to embrace your natural hair color can be a great way to experiment with different styling techniques. Inspiring blogs and influencers abound, is stocked with styling, hair, and makeup advice to get you going. This makeup tutorial will help you get creative with your look.
I know a lot of ladies who, by choosing to embrace their graying hair and stop dying it, have completely changed. It’s simply another hair color, after all.
Since hair is a component of our bodies, we cannot ignore the importance of maintaining proper cleanliness, eating a balanced diet, and drinking up to two liters of water each day. This will assist in maintaining the health of your newly growing hair. You’ll be proud of your silver strands and have noticeable gray hair if you also put the above advice into practice.