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Welp. If there’s a fact of life that is pretty unavoidable, it’s the reality that, at some point in your life, you will end up with a head full of gray hair. In fact, many studies indicate that once you reach the age of 30, the chances of more gray coming in increases by 10-20 percent for every decade.
once you reach the age of 30, the chances of more gray coming in increases by 10-20 percent for every decade
What causes gray hair?
The long short of it is, as we get older, the pigment cells that give us our natural hair color begin to die; when that happens — yep, you guessed it, gray hair.
While things like having a Vitamin B12 deficiency, being stressed out and definitely genetics can all play a role in premature graying, there comes a time in all of our lives when either we commit to constantly dyeing our hair (which comes with its own set of health risks“> or making peace with the natural progression of grayness.
If you are considering transitioning to color-free gray hair, here are some tips on how to make the transition so much easier on you.
How to Transition to Gray Hair
Use products that are specifically made for gray hair
First up, one of the best ways to bring out the best in your gray strands is to be intentional about using products that are designed to bring out the best in that particular hue. For instance, shampoos that are branded as a “purple shampoo” is ideal because they help to neutralize the brassiness that can sometimes come with having gray tresses. For example, a really popular brand is OGX’s Blonde Enhance + Purple Toning Shampoo. If organic is the way you’d prefer to go, another great option is Ethical Brand’s Organic Berry Blonde Shampoo.
Apply a leave-in conditioner
I’ve got a few gray hairs running around on my head and something that I’ve noticed is they are a bit more “rebellious” than my other hair. This is the case because gray hair tends to be much drier. That’s why it’s important to apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair. Oh, and if you’re someone who likes to seal your hair on wash days, try and give apricot oil a shot. It’s loaded with omega-3 and 9 fatty acids along with Vitamin E which can help to make your gray hair super soft.
Stay away from mineral oil
Speaking of oils, one that is not the best for your hair, no matter what hue, is mineral oil. Not only is it so heavy that it weighs your hair down, it can also cause lots of build-up and even make your hair pretty stiff over time. As far as gray hair goes, because it needs to absorb as much moisture as possible, you want to avoid anything that will prevent your cuticles from being penetrated with the moisture that it needs. On the top of the list, that would be mineral oil, so make sure that you avoid any product that contains it at all costs.
Consider taking the highlight approach
One of the best hacks for easing into having a head full of gray hair is to add some highlights to your hair. It’s a great way to blend your grays into the rest of your locks; especially if you’ve got grays that are “chunky” (several in one place”> instead of evenly dispersed throughout your hair. A bonus to taking this route is it can also give your hair the appearance of having more volume. Yep, highlights can be a win/win on a lot of levels.
Get some layers
“Flat hair” can age you, no matter what color your hair may be. That said, something that can make it look more youthful is to get your hair professionally cut into layers. It doesn’t have to be anything super dramatic — just a look that will give your hair more flow and movement (grays included”>.
Eat more copper (to slow down graying”>
Copper helps to slow down the graying process because it helps to boost melanin and collagen levels in your system. Foods that are high in copper include dark chocolate, dark leafy greens, shiitake mushrooms, almonds and cashews and liver.
Try a couple of essential oils too
While we’re on the topic of slowing down the graying process the natural way, there are some essential oils that can work in your favor too. One is tea tree oil (it’s antiseptic properties help to keep your hair follicles really healthy”>. Another is orange essential oil thanks to the Vitamin C in it that also strengthens your hair follicles in the process.
Stop plucking so much
When it comes to this final point, please believe that I’m preaching to the choir when I say that you should stop plucking out your gray strands. For one thing, it’s not going to stop your gray hair from coming back. However, what it can do is damage your follicles to the point where no hair comes back at all — and trust me, it’s better to adjust to having gray hair than to having no hair at all. I believe you totally get where I’m coming from with this too, y’all.
