gray hair

Caring for Gray Hair

Gray and white hair behave differently from your pigmented hair. It may be curlier, straighter, or wirier than the hair of your youth. It is also drier, more delicate, and prone to breakage or yellowing. Despite your best efforts, it may also be resistant to coverage when chemical dye processes are attempted. Some of these changes may require you to manage your own expectations and learn how to work with the hand you have been dealt, but many of the challenges can be overcome by making some adjustments to your usual routine. Take charge of your gray hair by embracing its differences and nourishing it daily. Gray hair, dyed or not, can be healthy and beautiful!

  1. Condition, condition, condition. Your gray hair requires more moisture than your once youthful, delicate curly locks. Natural oils, honey or agave treatments, deep conditioning protein packs, as well as daily leave-in conditioners can all help optimize the health of these fragile strands.
  2. Apply color to gray or white hair first, and let it sit longer to ensure penetration of the dyes. Some salons recommend application of a peroxide solution to gray hair prior to coloring, in order to prepare the cuticle, but use caution as this could be more damaging to the hair.
  3. If your gray covers more than 35% of your scalp, consider using a clarifying shampoo or vinegar rinse about once a month so to remove mineral build up that can cause discoloration of your hair.
  4. Be mindful that heat can be more damaging to white hair. Minimize its exposure to extreme high temperatures found in many straightening processes particularly.
  5. Protect your hair from harmful UV rays! Wear a hat, swim cap, or scarf if you plan to spend a lot of time in the sun. Use conditioning and styling products that contain UV-absorbing ingredients, such as cinnamidopropyltrimonium chloride or octyl methoxy cinnamate, which have been found to significantly reduce the negative effects of the sun on the mechanical properties of the hair. In addition to maintaining the mechanical integrity of the hair, these have been found to reduce yellowing of white and gray hair.
No comments yet.