How To Go Gray & Look Great!
Are you tired of coloring your hair and are thinking about letting it go natural? Let’s Discuss!
I am joining these great silver haired queens to talk about our journeys into the “state of gray” and how we keep it looking shiny and healthy!
I noticed my first chunk of gray hair when Whitten was 6 months old. I was 29. I had dark brown hair. My hair is very straight and grows very quickly. 😳
I went every 2-3 weeks for permanent color for 20 years. 💲💲💲
Here is the story of how I went gray…. This will give you some idea of how to accomplish it, if you are considering it. It can be done much much faster than the way I went about it. Look at your parents’ hair and that will give you an idea of what it’s going to look like. My mom gave up coloring her dark brown hair around 50 and she has gorgeous white hair.
Since I went gray/white, right around 59-60, I go every 5 weeks for highlights, toner and a haircut. I have gone from light brown highlights to platinum highlights over about 8 years. It’s been a veeeerrryyy gradual process, for me. Right now, my hair is a slightly warmer than cool white.
My goal was, in the end, for my white hair to read platinum blonde, when I stopped the highlights completely. My thought now is this - it is what it is and I don’t care how it reads. Probably in the next six months, I will stop the highlights all together. I think it will be light enough all over to let it go. It’s mostly white from the part down to the ears. Then it will be a cooler white.
Gray and white hair does not have to be drab and if you take care of it, get a good cut and style it well, you can be very striking! I get compliments on mine all the time.
So my hair has been colored and blown dry forever, and is still in good shape. The actual hair is thin and straight. But there’s TONS of it. Some of that I owe to my genes, but here’s what I owe the rest to…
Two areas where I have help are in the supplements I take, and in the foods I try to eat. I started taking a lot of supplements when Covid showed up and I saw a difference in everything. Hair, skin and nails. I take the following supplements and regularly eat the following foods, which are all shown to help your hair, skin and nails to be healthy and to grow.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Liquid Vitamin D with K
Fish Collagen
Zinc
Green Tea
Flaxseed
Chia Seeds
Black Beans
Berries
Sweet Potatoes
Protein - powder, chick pea, quinoa and meat (2/3 x week)
Avocados
Nuts
Almond Milk
Broccoli
Spinach
Here are the products I am currently using on my hair. I do not wash it every day. In fact, I go 3 days without washing it, if I can. I wear it up a lot. I alternate products, depending on how long it’s been since a washing or salon visit.
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shampooing…
This is a protective shampoo for colored hair. My stylist recommended it to me and I do like it. I use this regularly when I am not having scalp or yellowing issues. When I stop with the highlights, I will probably use something more basic.
I have been using this for years and it’s great stuff. It really works. It truly helps with yellowing. Worth every penny, in my opinion.
Now this I love. It smells wonderful and is a great clarifying and exfoliating scalp scrub. It removes product buildup too. You use very little for a huge lather. It is very helpful for dry or oily scalp and dermatitis. It comes in a medium size tub and lasts me 6 - 9 months. I use it once a week. Your hair and scalp both feel wonderful after this treat.
They make a travel size too! So great when going on a beach vacay.
*Ladies - I used to have to use a Mousse when styling, to give my flat hair some lift. With this product, I no longer need that. My hair is not weighed down at the roots with product! 😬
conditioning…
I also love this product. It also smells nice and makes your hair feel very soft, hydrated and easy to comb through. A little goes a long way. This line is cruelty free and is generally clean.
I have been using this on and off for years now and have decided that this is the best one. This is a pigmented color enhancing conditioner for cool blonde or platinum tones, that also makes wet hair a dream to comb through.
You can use it as a mask and leave it on your hair, or use it on damp hair in the shower. Let it sit on there for 4-5 minutes.
You can get a great small packet to try it, that is also great for travel.
My stylist used this on my hair one day and I said “What was THAT?” It smells divine and makes my hair feel like “buttah”. Such a treat for your hair. It’s an antioxidant hair butter that fights frizz. It is a heavier product, so I would use it when you don’t have to have a great style that day. I love it and use it maybe once a week. This is a cruelty free line, I think it’s relatively clean. Oi.
Styling…
This is a lightweight, water-wicking, rapid dry towel that I use instead of a heavy thick bulky towel. And you don’t have to blow it dry, as long. They have turbans too, if you’d like that better.
This blowdryer/brush combo dries your hair really fast and it looks so silky and shiny afterward.
However, I cannot get as much body and lift when I use it. The hair itself looks silky, but the style is flat.
So I’ve just been using this if I’m in a hurry and just need to get my hair dry. If I really want it to have volume (I’m telling you my hair is flat and straight), I will use a my cheaper blowdryer first and a round brush.
I have to section my hair into 5 sections to dry it, one section at a time.
I know these Dyson dryers are outrageously pricey. But I used one when I was in Charleston this past spring and just loved it. Our hotel had them! It dries so much faster and is better for your hair. I found refurbished ones on EBay for half the price and am reaally considering it!
Or maybe it’s on my Christmas list…
Every so often, my wet hair needs a couple spritz’s of this to comb through. I try not to use a lot, but it really does a great job. It’s not a clean product, but is great for frizz or comb-thru.
I use a plastic pick like this to comb through wet hair. Less breakage.
And last but not least, I have to finish with hairspray.
I know - you’re saying “Who uses hairspray anymore?” ME!
Or I might as well not style it. It has broom-like tendencies, in wind, rain or humidity.
This is also by Davines and is a natural medium hold spray without alcohol. It helps my hair keep its’ style and helps me cover my cowlick in the back. And it isn’t stiff as a brick, like Aquanet from 1975.
AG makes good styling products that my former stylist used on my hair and they are now organic and vegan, generally clean and a little less expensive. I am going to try the new product above and see how it works…
Remember, you will be saving hundreds of dollars on coloring your hair!
Spend some of it on good products, that make your hair look shiny and healthy. Hair and teeth are two things that can really help you look your best as you age.
These products all last me a long time. When you only wash it twice a week - some of these things last 9 months to a year.
I found tons of great styles for gray and white hair! Here are a few of my favorite sources… Some of these are so chic. I toy with chopping mine off at least once every 6 months!
Summertime tips for gray/white hair
If you have gray, white or blonde hair, if you don’t want yellow or brassy, wear a hat in the sun. My favorite hat for gardening is this one, and these are two of my faves if you are more dressed up - this one and this one…
Mineral deposits can discolor your hair too. Always rinse your hair after swimming in salt water or a chlorinated pool, and wash it as soon as you can.
Try to avoid direct heat as much as you can - let your hair air dry and style it dry - it takes less time and less heat. This is smart year round, but especially in the summer.
Wear it up when you can - you will sweat less.
Put it back in clips when you put on makeup! If you get anything with heavy pigment in it, like mascara, blush or lipstick, it will drink it up. And obviously, it really shows!
Now you can “head” over to visit these ladies and get more white and silver wisdom from them too. Let’s see what Cindy, Jan and Susan have for you on the subject.
Cindy Hattersley Design 😎
Silver Is the New Blonde 🤍
Une Femme D’un Certain Age ☀️
If you need straightening tools or more frizz products, check with these ladies for those tips too. Those are things I have no experience with - no frizz happening around here - it’s stick straight.
When you read this I will be taking a break in Bermuda with Chip, who is there on business. We are celebrating our 40th anniversary, a year later, where we went on our honeymoon. Follow me on Instagram to see the trip and I will blog about it later. I still haven’t shown you beautiful Sea Island!
See You Soon.