Stop Covering Up: How to Care for Gray Hair
Gray strands don't just come with age-they can pop up at any time, whether you're 18 or 68. Society tells us to color and cover, but do you ever get tired of constantly dyeing your whole head of hair, not to mention the chemicals, money, and time spent doing it? One of our fabulous mentors once told us, "Women don't go gray-they go silver." Here, four hair-care tips for maintaining and embracing the silver fox in you.Related: See how gray looks on you in our free hair makeover salon.
Yellow Tones
You'll need to invest in special shampoos and conditioners designed to keep your sensitive white locks from turning brittle or yellow. Clairol's Shimmer Lights shampoos and conditioners are formulated to lessen yellow, brassy tones in gray hair.
Protect Your Scalp
In addition to seeing a few stray grays, you might notice your hair is significantly dryer. Mele recommends using essential oils to soften wiry hair and rebalance the oils on your scalp. Peppermint is especially great for dry hair, and rosemary for oily strands. Apply at night and brush through.
Preserve Your Hair Strength
Since gray hair tends to be drier, restore moisture by treating your mane to weekly deep-conditioning treatments at home. Choose rich, moisturizing formulas for color-treated hair, or try a hair product line created especially for aging hair. (Check out Redken's Time Reset collection). Avoid perming and too-frequent use of heat tools, as these can dry out hair even more.
Choose the Right Cut
"My stylist, Sean James, keeps my cut edgy and contemporary - otherwise I can go Bea Arthur very quickly," says actress Jamie Lee Curtis. A short, sassy cut can add a lot of flair, so be sure to keep your new style simple. Related: Read These Tips Before Your Next Salon Visit
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