Many women turn to coloring from the first gray hair. But more and more of them are choosing to let nature take its course. If you choose to drop the dye, this is what you need to do to go gray with style.
1 – When should you definitely go gray?
This is a completely personal decision. Typically, Mike Liang, a colorist at the Julien Farel Restore Salon & Spa in New York, suggests waiting until 80% of your hair is depigmented or white. If your hair starts to get increasingly dry, brittle, damaged, or your scalp is often irritated, you should consider dropping the dye.
2 – This will save you
Whether you make an appointment with your colourist for highlights, a color or for the roots – or that you adopt the more economical solution by doing this at home – maintaining a color is expensive. Stopping dyeing your hair can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year.
3 – Your hair could go through a delicate phase
Giving up dyeing requires patience, especially during the intermediate period, which lasts two to three weeks. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to ease this transition without using permanent dye. Clairol’s chief colorist James Corbett recommends using a semi-permanent gloss such as Clairol’s Natural Instincts to facilitate the growth phase, or opting for subtle streaks around the face to make the demarcation line less visible. You can either do a few strands around your face to increase the brightness, or touch up the roots if you are looking for a quick solution (these dyes are washable).
4 – Your hair may look more sparse
According to James Corbett, dyeing makes your hair appear thicker for two reasons: it swells the cuticles, giving each strand more volume and creating an illusion of depth and luminosity, which makes your hair appear to have more body. It�s for this reason that when you stop dyeing your hair, your hair looks much less voluminous.
5 – You may want to change your makeup
The color makes your complexion brighter. When you give up the color, your skin may appear a bit dull and you may feel the need to apply more makeup. “Especially at the start, you will probably want to have more contrasting lips and eyes to bring out your features,” continues James Corbett.
6 – The texture of your hair will change, for better or for worse
“Depending on their natural texture, your hair may become rougher or brittle when you get gray,” says Mike Liang. “Dyeing can be beneficial to the texture of your hair since the fatty lipids it contains tame rebellious strands and frizz,” adds James Corbett. But the health of your hair can also improve if it has been damaged by color. ”
7 – You will have to find the right products
When your hair turns gray, it’s important to find shampoos and conditioners with moisturizing ingredients. Mike Liang recommends Julien Farel’s Hydrating Shampoo, which is supplemented with hyaluronic acid, a molecule that loves humidity and can retain up to a thousand times its weight in water. You may also need a new styling product. “After you stop the color, you may need an ointment, foam or texturizing spray to get your hair back in shape and body,” says James Corbet.
�8 – You should do new exercises
Even if we associate gray hair with old age, but it is not because you have chosen to live with your natural color that you should necessarily feel old. “Some women are looking for other ways to feel young, such as engaging in new exercise routines,” said James Corbett.
9 – And you may also change your wardrobe
“A change in hair color sometimes results in a complete overhaul of your look,” says James Corbett. The color of your hair is an important part of your image, especially if you are identified with a very particular color. “You may feel the need to wear a daring necklace or to choose eye-catching bags to be able to feel yourself again.”
10 – You may want a new haircut
“When a woman regains her natural color, she often wants a bolder or more sophisticated hairstyle to perpetuate an appearance that reflects her personality in this new chapter in her life,” says James Corbet. And if you are wondering if you can still wear long hair after 40 years, the answer is yes!