Your hair may look thinner
So when you stop coloring your hair may have a noticeable loss of actual volume and the appearance of it.
Hair dyes can cause hair damage. Practicing hair-friendly techniques like limiting heat styling and conditioning the hair can help minimize damage whenever possible. Dyeing your hair closer to its natural color may also limit time exposure to hair dyes and help minimize damage.
Unfortunately, hair Color damages your hair. When you dye your hair it lifts the cuticle, altering the hair in a way that will never completely revert back to it's natural virgin state. However, the hair that grows from your scalp will grow out normally so only the hair that has been dyed is affected.
Like we said earlier, your hair texture could change when you start dyeing your hair. One thing that will definitely change though is the fact that the dye will make your hair more dry. This can be fixed by upping how often you deep condition your hair—start doing treatments twice a week.
Typically, white people start going gray in their mid-30s, Asians in their late 30s, and Blacks in their mid-40s. Half of all people have a significant amount of gray hair by the time they turn 50.
Some women may begin going gray in their 30s or 40s. But for others, the process may begin as early as when they're 20 years old. For some women, hair can be a form of self expression. When it begins to turn gray, some women think nothing of it or even realize that they love their new silvery strands.
"The best way to grow out your natural color, especially coming from a highlight or balayage look, is to have your colorist gloss down your hair back to the natural level of the roots to allow the natural root to blend as it grows," says IGK Hair Care founder Chase Kusero.
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.
Dying your hair will not affect new hair growth or cause permanent thinning, but damage to the color-treated hair may increase shedding and breakage. People who frequently color their hair often experience thinning hair or hair loss due to breakage and increased shedding instead of permanent hair loss.
Generally, it's safe to re-dye every 6 to 8 weeks.
Grey hair is healthier than artificially colored hair, easier to manage, and not to mention more affordable (for more tips on how to manage your hair see "Hair's Dirty (Half) Dozen").
Grey hair and genetics
The average age for grey hair varies greatly, and one of the main causes of grey hair in your 20s is genetics. The age at which a person's hair turns grey is influenced by the IRF4 gene, and one specific variant (rs12203592) is a marker for premature greying.
Vitamin B-12 is the most common culprit, with folate, copper, and iron deficiencies increasing your risk, too. Dietary supplements may help these deficiencies and you might see your natural hair color start to grow back after several weeks.
Don't assume that grey hair makes you look older
Hair naturally loses pigment as we age, but stylist Paul Falltrick points out that the notion that grey hair makes you look older is increasingly becoming a misnomer: "Grey shades can be stereotyped as ageing, but a clean-looking grey is stunning" he says.
Just like the hair on the head, the hair on the rest of the body, including the pubic area, is subject to graying. As people age, their skin produces less melanin. Melanin is the pigment responsible for giving skin and hair its color.
Silver grey hair will look best on olive and fair skin with yellow undertones. If you have a pink tone, your skin may appear red and irritated with a cool grey hue.
A new study shows that stress really can give you gray hair. Researchers found that the body's fight-or-flight response plays a key role in turning hair gray. Your hair color is determined by pigment-producing cells called melanocytes.
Once you have processed or color-treated hair, it can never go back to being virgin. That's right, once you've dyed your hair, even just once, you lose your virgin strands forever.
"You must understand that it will take some patience during the transition," says Kandasamy. "You will have to grow your roots at least one to two inches. That means you will have to wait anywhere from two to four months to allow your hair to grow an inch or two. (If you can, wait even longer)."
What researchers have discovered is that when you change your hair color, your personality changes as well. If you become a blonde, you're more likely to be more fun, more exuberant, and more concerned with your appearance. Researchers have found redheads are more likely to exhibit more passion and more sparks.
Our best overall pick is Biolage Haircolor, a henna dye that's free from harmful chemicals including ammonia and PPD. We also love Madison Reed Radiant Hair Color Kit, which is free of ammonia, parabens, resorcinol, PDD, phthalates, and gluten, plus the added benefit of being packed with hydrating ingredients.