There comes a time in almost every woman’s life when she wonders what to do about the gray hair that seems to becoming ever more present. Should she cover it or embrace it? The answer to that question is a very personal one and depends on a number of factors, including whether or not you’re still working or dating and need to cover the gray. Graying doesn’t have to occur with advanced age, either. It can happen early in our lives, even in our teens.
If you’re leaning toward just letting it grow out, it can be tough emotionally. It could take years, the gray filling in unevenly (which is pretty common) and you might not like the kind of gray you end up with. Also, if you’ve been coloring your hair, you could be using a color that contrasts significantly with the gray. You do have options, however, that can ease the transition.
If you’re now getting a single process permanent color, you could try foiling the same color, rather than getting an all over treatment. It’s akin to highlighting, and can mask the gray quite well. It would blend in the gray and break up the stark line at the roots. You would have to have a treatment about every six to eight weeks, maybe two or three times, before gradually letting the gray fill in.
Another alternative, albeit one many women would probably not opt for, is to use color sticks to cover the gray at the hairline and part, where it’s most noticeable. Sprays and powders can also be used but they can sometimes come off on your pillow at night. After half of the gray has grown out, have your hair trimmed to cut off more of the color. Then get regular trims as the gray grows the rest of the way.
If, in the end, you decide to continue with color but want to make the gray less obvious as your hair grows, try highlights and low lights. For the lowlights, use a shade similar to your natural hair color to break up the gray, and then add highlights, to add dimension. The double process highlight-lowlight service costs a little more than the single process coloring, but needs to be done less often, so the cost of the service may come out to be the same.
If you’re thinking of going gray, but aren’t sure it’s for you, talk to your hairdresser. She’ll listen to you and offer the best possible advice for your situation.
