Our hairs undergo a natural life cycle of dying and being regenerated. However, as hair follicles age and go through this natural life cycle, it produces less melanin and this less color, producing that striking silver or gray hair strand.
While many might see gray hair as a sign of getting old and as a signal that hospice care might be around the corner, some see it as a rite of passage. Gray hair can signify wisdom and maturity, a sign that says, “I’ve been through a lot, and I have a few stories to tell.” There’s absolutely no reason to be ashamed of it (although there’s nothing wrong with hiding it too if that’s what you prefer).
Transitioning to Gray Hair
We all know that waiting for the natural cycle of hair to transition fully to gray hair can leave your hairstyle looking awkward and could take years and years to be predominantly gray fully. Waiting for the hair’s natural cycle could make your hairstyle look unkempt and wild.
To make the transition easier, we recommend that you find a hairstylist that has experience with gray hair and pay for service that allows you to color your hair gray.
Since gray strands are usually drier than pigmented hair, it can be hard to maintain. Asking a professional to help you can make your transition from black hair to gray hair a lot smoother with the bonus of making your silver hair look vibrant and alive.
But depending on genetics, other people transition faster into gray hair and might not need a hairstylist to help them get through it.
Dyeing hair to gray and hair maintenance costs will cost a lot of money in the long run. We recommend that you let your hair run its natural life cycle if you are not prepared to shoulder this commitment.
Taking Care of Gray Hair
There’s a wide variety of ways of taking care of gray hair. Just because they’re gray doesn’t mean they can’t look good on you.
Use the Right Shampoo
Using the right shampoo can make or break gray hair upkeep. Depending on your hair, you might need to use different shampoos, but you usually have to use blue-hued shampoos and conditions to keep your gray hair vibrant and alive.
Ask your hairstylist for help when choosing a shampoo, they can always recommend a good one if you’re overwhelmed by the choices.
Another thing to keep in mind is to pick shampoos and conditioners with hydration effects since gray hair tends to be drier than pigmented hair.
However, not all hydrating products are made equal, so we highly recommend that you avoid products that have Dimethicone. This ingredient is not water-soluble, so in high quantities, it can go into your hair even after washing it out.
Brush Your Hair
Brushing your gray hair every night before going to bed can help distribute natural oils from your scalp to your hair’s ends.
The natural oils from your scalp to your hair can help your hair become smoother, softer, and glossier since hair follicles produce fewer oils as they age, brushing can help alleviate this issue.
Although you can use any brushes out there, we recommend using a Boar bristle brush or a wooden comb in conjunction with a nylon bristle brush.
Avoid Plucking
If your gray hairs are starting to appear, it might be tempting to pluck out a strand or three, but it is best to leave them alone.
Plucking out your gray hair with a pair of tweezers can spell disaster because it can cause your roots to get inflamed, trauma, scarring, and infections leading to hair follicle damage and can make your hair look thinner.
It is always better to have gray hair than hair thinning due to plucking, and it is a wrong way to stop gray hair anyway since another one is going to grow back in its place.
Using UV Protection
Gray hairs lack pigment, and thus, their colors are easily changed by external factors, such as styling products, air pollution, and especially UV light. So it’s always a great idea to protect your vibrant gray hair with UV protection products for hair during hot summer months.
Transitioning to gray hair can be an exciting endeavor. And there are plenty of ways to make transitioning feel comfortable, so you must sit down with your hairstylist and colorist to plan out your hairstyle and hair upkeep.
Committing to having gray hair might be a huge commitment, but if done correctly, can pay dividends on your look.
