How to Color Gray Hair
About one in five Americans use hair color, and most of them use it to cover gray hair. Most people dread finding their first gray hair. Salt and pepper hair can often make many women look older than they feel, as gray hair is usually associated with age, however, gray hair can strike at any time, whether you are 29 or 49. Gray hair appears when the hair loses all the pigment that gives it color. Coloring gray hair is one of the most common, easy and best solutions. Once you decide to color your hair, it's important to remember that gray hair reacts differently to color than normal hair and hence you should understand the process of selecting a hair color and how to color gray hair.
Hair Colors For Gray Hair
Semi-Permanent Color: If your hair has just begun to turn gray and you have never colored your hair before, it is best to start coloring gray hair with a semi-permanent hair color. Most of these temporary colors will not lighten your general hair color and will blend easily with the gray hair by infusing it with a small amount of color resembling highlights. This kind of color makes the gray fade out gracefully without noticeable outgrowth. For a natural look, choose a shade that matches your own or a slightly lighter version of it.
Permanent Hair Color: Semi-Permanent colors are okay if you have 20% to 30% gray hair. If, almost 50% of your hair turns gray or if your hair is particularly coarse or curly, a permanent hair color is the only option that will be able to give you the best coverage. Permanent hair colors generally come in a two-part package. One part is usually in a plastic squeeze bottle. This is peroxide - usually 6% dilution - in a cream or lotion base. To this, you add a cream, powder, or liquid that provides the actual color. Following package directions, combine these two ingredients and use the mixture immediately. Since you are using peroxide, you can lighten your hair all over if you like.
There are two big advantages to this when you have gray hair: First, there will be less general contrast, so when the gray hair reappears, they won't be so noticeable. Second, when the roots grow out, they will look darker, not lighter. Light roots can be very aging; everyone can see that you're trying to cover the gray. But, if you want the best possible coverage of your grays, a darker color may be a better choice. With more coverage to start with, gray hair will be less obvious follow each coloring. But, you will need to color your hair regularly to avoid telltale roots.
Tips On How To Color Gray Hair
In today's day and age, with tons of options for hair coloring ideas, changing hair color is as easy as changing your clothes. While some people prefer to get it done at salons, you can color gray hair at home easily.
Pre-soften Gray Areas: If you are covering gray hair at home, most stylists recommend softening your gray hair before starting to color them. By doing this, the gray hair will absorb hair color faster. All you need to do is use V20 peroxide (generally 5-6% dilution) which is available at any beauty supply shop, and apply the peroxide on the areas that are gray and comb thoroughly. After five or ten minutes rinse it off. Towel dry your hair and then apply color.
Timing: One very important point to remember for coloring gray hair is that gray hair usually takes longer to absorb hair color or hair dye. So, when coloring your hair, apply color to the gray areas first. It can take up to 45 minutes for color to penetrate gray hair; with careful timing, you can achieve even coloring throughout your hair. For example, many coloring products develop in 25 minutes. So, begin to color the gray areas 10 or 20 minutes early. Then, apply the color to the rest of your hair. When you rinse the hair color off, the results should be uniform.
Method: When it comes to the method of coloring gray hair, it is important to remember to apply the color mixture to dry hair beginning with the roots and working your way down to the ends of your hair. Part your hair in sections to make sure you saturate and cover every strand. Once you have done that, secure the hair with a clip and use a plastic head wrap or a shower cap to cover the hair. After the indicated time has passed wash your hair, preferably with a shampoo for gray hair and keep rinsing it till the color product is removed and water runs clear. Don't forget to condition your hair with a deep conditioning product. Most at home hair color kits come with a specially designed conditioner to soften your hair and replenish hair moisture.
One thing you have to remember is that you will have to keep retouching your hair every 4 to 6 weeks to avoid telltale roots. Also, it is very important to use hair products that are specifically designed for gray hair care to maintain the color for a longer period. Now that you know how to color gray hair, go ahead and add color back into your life!
