How to Treat Gray Hair

While there is no guaranteed method of reversing gray hair, there are many options available for covering it. If you wish to be discreet, and cover your gray hair at home, many over-the-counter products are available. There are several types of colorants, ranging from temporary color to permanent color. Therefore, it is best to determine which product is best for you based upon your personal needs. This may depend on the amount of gray hair that you have, as well as how often you wish to apply the color.

Things You'll Need

• Temporary hair color
• Permanent hair color

Instructions

1. Try a temporary color first. This is the best way to try a color out without committing to it. It will also give you a chance to see how resistant your gray hair is to coloring. When choosing a shade, try to match your natural color. If you are looking for a change, it is better to choose a shade lighter than your natural hair instead of darker, because a darker color may look fake. Temporary color typically lasts until your next shampoo, so if you hate the results, there is an escape.

2. Consider going permanent if you love your new shade. Reapplying hair color after every shampoo is expensive and burdensome, so if you are ready to commit to a color, go ahead and take the plunge. Permanent hair color can be found at any grocery store, and there are many affordable options. Gray hair tends to be more resistant to color, so you should apply hair color to the gray first, and then apply the color to the rest of your hair. This gives the color more time to develop on the gray hair.

3. Take a trip to the salon. If you are having trouble finding a shade that you like, or you simply don't trust yourself to do it at home, a professional colorist may be the best solution. A professional may offer you several options, ranging from dyeing your hair one color to mixing it up with highlights and lowlights. This can be much more expensive than doing it yourself, but if you are unlucky at home, the cost of correcting your hair color will be expensive as well.

4. Make your gray hair work for you if all else fails. Gray hair can be beautiful if you take the right approach. During the transition to gray, there are many things you can do to keep your hair looking its best. First, consider a layered haircut to hide the contrasting shades that occur during the graying process. Next, keep coloring your hair until at least 60 percent of your roots are gray. This will allow a more natural look as the gray hair grows in. Finally, be sure to use products that will elicit softer, shiny hair, such as conditioning shampoos and hair glazes.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid coloring your hair with henna or progressive color. You will not be able to use permanent hair color if you have these products in your hair.

• Read all labels and warnings on any hair care products that you use. Remember to follow directions on allergy testing. This is an important step in coloring at home.

References

• Gray Hair Treatments
• The Gorgeous Way to Gray

Resources

• Loreal Paris: Coloring Gray Hair