Grey Glamour…

Seeing your first few grey hairs? Or maybe wondering whether to stop coloring and let your natural silver shade shine through?

 Grey Glamour…

The pandemic trend for flaunting your grey hair has taken off with many celebrities and influencers championing the look. Andie MacDowell’s appearance on the red carpet last year with a stunning mane of greying curls caused a media stir, inspiring many women to follow her lead.

Some people love their naturally grey hair but despite its growing popularity, many of us still dread the first appearance of those silvery strands, says me, Tshidi. But love it or hate it, there’s plenty you can do to ensure your hair looks polished, chic, and modern.

What causes grey hair?

“One of the main culprits is melanin – or lack of it”, explains Tshidi. “As we get older, we produce less melanin. The color of our hair depends on melanin, so as it decreases, the color in our hair does too and it starts to look grey.”

Does stress cause grey hair? The jury’s still out on that one says Tshidi. However, one thing’s for sure – your genes will play a part. If going grey is a family thing, it will probably happen to you sooner rather than later.

Grey just got cooler…

Going a gorgeous natural grey also means you’ll need to review your choice of haircare products.

First of all, just to explode a couple of grey-hair myths: grey hair isn’t ‘dead’ and it probably won’t be coarser than your other hair. However, grey hair may feel dry because as we get older (when our hair usually starts to go grey) we also produce less of the oil that helps to make hair shiny.

So, what to do?

“Grey hair can also be quite fine, so a volumizing shampoo plus an intensive moisturizing in-salon treatment could work really well combined with a weekly at-home hydration mask,” says Tshidi.

Tshidi adds, “Grey hair lacks pigment which makes it more prone to sun damage so it’s important to use UV protective products throughout the year. I like L'ANZA Healing Colorcare but do ask your stylist for their advice and recommendation. Protect the hair from chlorine too and always rinse it immediately after you leave the pool. Counteract any yellowy tones with a purple shampoo such as L'ANZA Silver Brightening Shampoo. It’s specifically formulated to make silver hues clearer and brighter, contains natural Voila & Lavender as toning agents and the Sulfate-free formula keeps hair color lasting longer – again, ask about which products will be best for you.

Not sure about the natural grey thing?

We’re definitely neutral on this one says Tshidi. We love our clients’ naturally grey hair, but we also love coloring and highlighting those greys to achieve a different look altogether. It’s your choice entirely, and if you’re not sure, book a complimentary color consultation (Whatsapp 074 141 1946 OR aboutthehair.booksy.com to book) and we’ll chat through your options.

I often recommend grey blending to my clients when they first start to see grey. It’s a popular option that blends greys with lowlights and highlights for a really natural look. This is lower maintenance than a solid color as your roots won’t grow out so obviously and the greys blend in with the mix of light and darker colors. In a similar way to balayage highlights are blended seamlessly in to break up blocks of color and ensure your hair looks multi-dimensional

If you’d prefer to go for a full cover-up and opt for a solid color (ask us for advice) to hide those silver strands, we’ve got root top-up options for in-between appointments.

Add some color to grey days…

If you decide to follow Andie MacDowell’s stunning lead and go grey, remember you don’t have to live with the grey shade nature gives you. It’s rare to be naturally blessed with a beautiful natural silver color, and we can give nature a little help to enhance your natural grey tones. Ask your stylist for their recommendations.