Learning to take care of gray hair works wonders on the look, feel and texture of your silver locks. There are so many ways to care for your hair that will keep wiry, unruly and frizzy aspects of gray hair to a minimum, while boosting the shiny, lustrous and luminous experience of going gray.
Here are some tricks that we love for natural maintenance and care for your gray hair:
1) Moisture:
Gray hair tends to be more dry, so sealing in moisture is a crucial first step. Don’t over shampoo, as this strips the hair of natural oils from the scalp that moisturize your locks. Shampooing your hair 1-3 times per week should be perfect. Make sure you are using very moisturizing conditioner, and perhaps include a weekly hair mask in your regimen. Seal in moisture after the shower with a good leave-in conditioner, hair oil or moisture serum. This will calm unruly hair and soften your strands. We recommend Phytovitamin Tonic, a vitamin and nutrient concentrate made from a spagyrically processed blend of herbs that helps to balance scalp oils. Dry scalps and hair will be replenished with naturally occurring oils that are often removed by hair cleansing, bleaching, coloring, perming and from normal daily exposure to the sun and elements.
2) Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse:
This is a great option if your hair could use a pick-me-up but it’s not shampoo day – a great way to attain silky clean hair without the suds. We recommend one tablespoon in a liter of water as a periodic rinse. Another option is to mix a bit of apple cider vinegar into a dollop of shampoo. This clears build up from environmental toxins and hair products. It also seals the hair cuticle, making your grays silky, shiny and frizz-free.
3) Blending Grays:
Naturcolor is an herbal-based permanent hair color gel designed to change or enhance existing hair color while blending in gray. It is designed for those who are ecologically minded, as well as those that may be coloring their hair for the first time. This is a great option for those who are looking to blend rather than cover their natural hair, embracing beautiful grays while also getting creative with color at home. Find your perfect color using our color finder.
The “N” (Natural) Series was specially formulated with the strongest pigments to “cover” gray. If your goal is to cover gray, begin with the choice of a color in the “N” series. The other color groups (C, M, R, D) are made with lighter pigments. They will color in a more transparent effect and are also designed to be mixed with the “N” Series when special custom tints or highlights are desired.
4) Supplements:
Make sure to eat a well-balanced diet, rich in nutrients, protein, vitamins and minerals so that your body has the resources that it needs to grow lustrous, healthy hair. Supplements like fish oil, Vitamin E, biotin, zinc and collagen can help hair to grow fast, luminous and strong. Hydration is the final ingredient your hair truly requires for growth and moisture. Most of us are under hydrated. A good rule of thumb is to drink at least half, or even all of your body weight in ounces (i.e. a 140 lb person would drink 70-140 ounces of water per day).
5) Styling:
Make sure to brush gray hair every day in order to distribute scalp oils down to the hair ends. Be careful not to over-style gray hair as it can lose strength and elasticity fairly easily. Try to avoid using too much heat, as it may cause damage.
A good protein treatment every 4 to 8 weeks can work wonders on damage control if you love heat styling and don’t want to give it up. A protein treatment is a conditioner that binds proteins to the hair cuticle, to make up for any proteins that may get stripped away via heat or chemical styling. Adding protein to your hair regimen helps the hair to maintain elasticity, structure and integrity. There are many pre-made protein treatments out there, or you can try some DIY protein treatment recipes at home.
Embrace Your Beautiful Grays!
Self expression is the best part of having beautiful hair. Your gray hair is beautiful, and so uniquely you! We love the results of blending grays with our NaturColor line as an alternative to fully covering up your gorgeous natural hair.
There has never been a better time to go gray gracefully, naturally and stylishly. Learn how to love your gray mane as much as we do in our blog on (LINK) how to How to Embrace Your Gray Hair. Empower your locks to express your inner radiance and wisdom. Show off those hard-earned silver strands!