As you age, the pigment cells, called melanin, in your hair follicles start to die. As you lose the amount of melanin in your hair follicle, you also lose the color, producing gray hair. Gray hair has a coarser texture and it's more brittle, making it more prone to breakage. Care for your gray hair properly to keep it healthy and looking its best.
Step 1
Wash your gray hair with a moisturizing or clarifying shampoo. Follow with a moisturizing or clarifying conditioner. Look for ones made specifically for gray hair. Avoid the yellowing effect gray hair sometimes gets by mixing a shampoo containing blue tints, often called a whitening or violet color shampoo, with equal parts of a regular moisturizing shampoo. Once familiar with the product, reduce the amount of regular moisturizing shampoo you use until you achieve the desired result with the bluing tints shampoo. If your hair gets a purplish cast, switch back to using just a clarifying or moisturizing shampoo for awhile instead of a shampoo with bluing tints.
Step 2
Condition your gray hair weekly at home with a deep-conditioning treatment. Choose a formula made for color-treated hair. Schedule appointments with your hair stylist for regular deep conditioning treatments. Ask your stylist how often she suggests you get deep conditioning treatments; it varies with individual hair needs.
Step 3
Set up a regular schedule with your hair stylist if you choose to dye your gray hair or wish to gradually go gray. He can recommend a series of treatments to cover the gray, blend it in or gradually decrease your hair coloring treatments.
Step 4
Avoid heat styling and perms on gray hair, as it is more delicate than most hair.
Tips and Warnings
- Eat avocados, recommends Dr. Mehmet Oz. Avocados contain a component in melanin, which may help to slow the graying process.
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