As we get older, our scalps produce less oil and – as a result – gray hair may seem drier… though gray hair is finer than colored hair. Finer hair just means the diameter of the hair is thin as the result of a narrow follicle. Gray hair is also more fragile and prone to breakage than when it had pigment.
To make thinning hair less noticeable, try these options: Medium to Dark Brown: Darker shades reduce scalp visibility. Balayage or Lowlights: Adds depth and dimension, making hair appear fuller. Ash Tones: Cooler shades reflect light, reducing the look of thinning.
Gray hair is thinner than hair with natural color because its cuticle is thinner. Your hair needs that natural protection from water, ultraviolet rays from the sun, humidity, chemicals, and heat styling. Without that barrier, your hair loses water. So your gray will feel dry, fragile, and coarse.
As we get older, our scalps produce less oil and – as a result – gray hair may seem drier… though gray hair is finer than colored hair. Finer hair just means the diameter of the hair is thin as the result of a narrow follicle. Gray hair is also more fragile and prone to breakage than when it had pigment.
The average age of onset of hair graying appears to be mid- to late forties; however, this varies with race, with the average age for Caucasians being mid-thirties, that for Asians being late thirties, and that for Africans being mid-forties.
Is it better to go lighter or darker to cover grey hair? As for your permanent colour kit choice, for the best grey coverage, Josh recommends choosing a shade close to your natural root colour (that's the colour between the greys.) "Make sure to never stray more than two shades away from this,” says Josh.
The fix: Volumizing shampoos, conditioners and mousses are unlikely to have much effect, Cohen says. But a dry texturizing spray “will add thickness and makes hair look temporarily fuller,” she says. To slow hair loss and stimulate new growth, over-the-counter minoxidil is an option.
To create the illusion of thicker hair, consider opting for a slightly darker hair colour. Darker shades tend to absorb more light, making your hair appear denser and fuller.
According to Bellemare, purple shampoo is a great option for those with gray hair as it can help neutralize yellow tones. This brassiness can develop from environmental factors such as pollution, UV exposure, hard water, heat styling and product buildup, says Bellemare.
Pixie cuts are very popular styles for thinner hair types, especially when textured by your hairstylist. The cut-in texture creates extra movement to the hair that tricks the eye into believing there is a fuller scalp.
Stay Close to Your True Color
Dark, rich shades may look beautiful on fine hair, but as your hair grows out, light-colored roots will create the appearance of bald patches. If your hair is naturally light-colored, opt for a shade that's the same shade or slightly lighter than your natural color.
Gray blending is a hair coloring technique that involves blending gray hairs with your base color to help soften the contrast between shades. Typically, the process involves either highlighting your hair or adding lowlights.
Avoid very severe cuts. As with hair colour, a softer haircut can instantly lift the face and looks incredibly elegant as we get older. “Opt for softly layered styles, rather than blunt cuts,” says Hayley Gibson-Forbes, director at S J Forbes. “A blunt bob with no layering, for example, can look very severe.
That said, certain conditions may temporarily restore pigmentation. For example, if greying is caused by a vitamin deficiency, stress, or an underlying medical condition, addressing these issues may slow or even partially reverse greying. However, the complete reversal of naturally aged hair remains a challenge.
If your skin has warm undertones such as yellow, orange or olive, it's best to opt for neutral grey colors such as glossy gunmetal greys and platinum silvers. In case your skin undertone veers towards cool and neutral such a beige or pinks, then true metallic silver hues are tailor-made for you!
Hair products with alcohol are a no-no for gray hair. As gray hair already struggles in keeping moisture and adding alcohol to your hair will only dry out even more and make it look even wirier.
Red: a bold and daring choice that can create a stunning contrast with grey hair. This shade is perfect for those with warm skin tones. Purple: a unique, eye-catching shade that can add a pop of colour to grey hair. This hue is perfect for those with cool skin tones.
There's no hard-and-fast rule about when (or if!) you should stop coloring your hair and go gray; it's ultimately a personal choice.
Melanin is what gives your hair (and skin) its natural color. People of African descent, Thai, and Chinese people, go grey more slowly.
Generally, people start seeing grey hairs appear around their forties and fifties, but some can experience greying as early as their twenties or thirties. Unfortunately, it is all down to genetics, so there's no way to predict when grey or white eyebrows will appear.