10 Gray Hair Mistakes
I'm lucky I started graying in my early 20's! Can you feel the sarcasm? After coloring my hair for over 15 years, I decided it was time to embrace the gray hair.
My tipping point was my fashion-forward stylist, who noticed my gray hair (after not coloring it for a month) and told me I should consider letting it grow out. I took his advice and let my hair grow out, but it was not without a struggle. It took a while until I looked at myself in the mirror and did not equate gray hair to mean that I was old or ugly.
Slowly I embraced the gray hair, wearing it as a badge of honor, showing the world that gray hair can be cool.
Here are some pics of my hair. It’s still not all over gray, but it’s coming along nicely.
Mistake 1: You are not using the right hair tools
You will need help smoothing out your gray hair that can get dry and wiry hair while you blow dry it.
Fix It:
Throw out your old paddle brush for a boar bristle brush when you blow dry your hair. The natural boar bristles will grip the hair better than a paddle brush and leave your hair smoother as well. And best of all the boar bristle will distribute the natural oils in your scalp to the ends of your hair making it sleek and shine more. The Rolls-Royce of Boar Bristle brushes than choose the Mason Pearson brush. That may not be in your budget, and a Denman boar bristle brush may be more of your liking. And hey they both work well on your hair.
Mistake 2: You're Not Using Hair Oils
Before having my gray hair, I would not even consider putting oils in my hair. But as my hair has changed, so has the texture and moisture of my hair. It's not dry and wiry.
Fix It:
Regardless of whether you dry your hair naturally or blow dry, put a few drops of oil like Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil. Put it on damp hair and focus on the ends to make them smoother. You can also use Shiny Silver Ultra Shine oil, which is a less expensive oil and does a great job of nourishing your gray hair.
Mistake 3. You're Using Products That Turn Your Hair Yellow
There are a couple of reasons why your gray hair is turning yellow. It can be hair products you put on your hair or the styling tools you're using that are causing your hair to become yellow. Say you are curling your hair, but put in a styling product beforehand. The combination of these two could be causing the curling iron to burn your hair, thus making it look yellow.
If your hair is turning yellow and you are using heat tools, you may choose to skip using silver-enhancing hair products. Silver-enhancing products won't erase patches of color. Instead, it will sit on top of the yellowing hair. You're just putting color on color.
Fix It:
Choose curling, flat iron tools where you can change the heat setting. Also, ensure you protect your hair before you flat iron, dry, or curl it using styling products with built-in heat protection. A great product to choose from is Kenra Platinum Blow-Dry Spray.
Instead of the Silver-Enhancing shampoo, choose a clarifying shampoo. Use it no more than twice a week and not on consecutive days. I'm a fan of Living Proof Restore Shampoo. Another budget-friendly option is Loreal’s Restore Shampoo.
Mistake 4. You're Not Gentle With Your Hair.
As you age, your hair changes consistency. It loses elasticity and is more prone to breakage. A cotton or flannel pillowcase will cause more damage to your weak gray hair. Cotton pillowcases also rob you of the natural oils in your hair.
Fix it:
Change your pillowcases to a silk pillowcase to prevent hair breakage as you move your head when you sleep. There are many silk pillowcases, but I prefer Pure Silk Pillowcase. You can also spend a bit more on this pillowcase, they offer a wider range of colors and prints. You can also tie a silk scarf around your hair, but I tried this, and that darn scarf was off my head the first time I changed my sleeping position!
Mistake 5. You're Using Purple Shampoo Everyday
Purple shampoo is great for gray hair as it will get rid of the dingy hue that your gray hair can take on over time. Using purple shampoo daily will lead your hair to take on a purple hue, not quite what you want for your gray hair.
Fix it:
Choose a shampoo you can alternate with the purple shampoo you currently use. I like using Miracle of Aloe's Softly Silver; it makes my hair feel softer. You can also choose to do a once-a-week deep conditioner to help with the dryness.
Mistake 6. You Don't Filter your shower water. (AquaBliss)
So this is not over the top to add a filter to your shower. Trust me, it's all about chemistry and your hair. Minerals and hard water will make your hair look dull and brassy. You are probably showering with water that has chlorine in it. Chlorine will damage your gray hair, making it look wirier than it already is.
Fix It:
Put a filter on your shower to filter out minerals and hard water. The best I've found is the AquaBliss Shower Filter. This does not change the shower head, so your water pressure is unaffected.
Mistake 7. You're Not Prepared for the Pool or Beach
You have sun protection when you go to the beach or pool, but you also need gray hair protection! Chlorine will make your gray hair duller, and it can give it a green tinge to your gray. Salt water can make your hair look brassy.
Fix it:
Before you head out to the pool or the beach, put conditioner on damp hair before you get there. The conditioner will prevent you from soaking up salt or chlorine in your hair. I’ve also tried this product from Aveda to help protect my hair when I am out at the beach. If you can't do this before each pool or beach outing, consider using a hair treatment to eliminate the discoloration. Try Rita Hazan Breaking Brass Gloss.
Mistake 8. You've Layered Your Hair Too Much
Layers are all fun until you start graying. The more you layer your hair, the more styling time it usually takes. Meaning you will put more heat on your hair, causing it more damage. And the extra layers will highlight the wiriness of your gray locks! It will also make your hair look less shiny and healthy because the layered hair will scatter light instead of reflecting light.
Fix it:
Ask your hairdresser for a precision cut instead of a layered cut. What's a precision cut? Its a haircut with a little layering. Razors are the latest trend with hairdressers. Don't let your hairdresser anywhere near your hair if they have a razor in their hand unless you want unruly gray hair.
Mistake 9. You're Using the Wrong Towel to Dry Hair
Regular cotton towels will cause more damage to your weak gray hair. The friction will cause more breakage and frizz.
Fix it:
Throw out your regular cotton towel for a microfiber towel. I use Aquis Original Hair Turban. I love that it dries my hair faster, so I use a hairdryer less. It’s super light, and I can wear it while I get dressed and put on my make-up. Using a microfiber turban-style towel also means less friction and, thus, less frizz.
Mistake 10. You're Using Hair Products with Alcohol
Hair products with alcohol are a no-no for gray hair. As gray hair already struggles in keeping moisture and adding alcohol to your hair will only dry out even more and make it look even wirier.
Fix It:
Spritz or run the ends of your hair with an alcohol-free shine spray/oil. Apply hair shine every day, but pass on it if you are not washing your hair as the oil will cause your hair to look weighed down.
Tools I use On My Gray Hair
Dyson Hairdryer - This hair dryer dries my hair fast but also leaves my hair smooth and soft. The best part of the dryer is the fly-away attachment that leaves my hair smooth and puts down those pesky gray hairs that like to stick out! If the Dyson is not in your budget, try this hair dryer that has great reviews as an alternative to the Dyson.
Ceramic Flat Iron - Croc Classic Nano-Titanium Flat Iron - I like this flat iron because I can control the temperature, and it turns off automatically after a specific time, so no more worrying if you leave the flat iron. I can count the times I've returned home thinking I had left my previous flat iron on!
Temporary Spray Color - L'Oreal Paris Hair Color Root Cover-Up Hair Dye
I used this product when I was still in the early stages of growing out my gray. I would use this only if I had a special occasion. I do not use it daily because I work out, and the color rubs on my hands if you touch your hair.
Gray Hair Myths Exposed
Plucking gray hairs won't bring in more gray hair growth. Plucking your hair can damage your hair follicle, and the hair may not grow back in the worst-case scenario. But plucking gray hair will not affect the other hairs around that plucked hair.
You can't give yourself gray hair. It’s common to hear people say that stress has caused them to gray early. No scientific evidence has shown stress linked to gray hair, but it has been linked to temporary hair loss. If you suffer from hair loss due to stress, once the hair starts growing, it can be less pigmented.
The sun does not cause you to gray, but it can cause wrinkles.
Coloring hair causes your hair to lose its color pigmentation over time. Hair dyes can cause your hair to be dry or brittle, but no, it’s not causing you to go gray.
How to Go From Dyed Hair to Gray Hair
Get a good haircut, and if you are willing to get an edgy cut your gray hair will look chicer.
If you have dark hair, you may consider l0-lites or hi-lite to help soften your gray roots. Many will call it quits because they can't stand how their roots make them look.
Choose your hair products wisely. Earlier, I listed several products to help you keep your hair shiny and healthy.
Embrace your natural beauty, and remember it’s just hair, so do not let your identity be tethered to your looks!