Going gray is inevitable.
According to the Library of Congress, everyone’s hair will go from black, brown, blond, red or any other hue to gray over time. Every decade after 30, the chances of going gray increase 10-20%.
“The process of hair changing from darker color to white or gray with age is mainly due to genetics. It can be inherited from either parent,” dermatologist Dr. Jennifer Chwalek told Insider. She said that as we age, there’s a decrease in the enzyme catalase, which “allows the build-up of hydrogen peroxide in the hair bulb, which damages and destroys the melanocytes, or the pigment-producing cells, of our hair.”
Vogue magazine reported there are some things experts say you need to know about how to transition to gray. Here are three takeaways.
Let the roots grow out
“I require my clients to grow their roots about 3 to 4 inches,” Paris-trained hair colorist Jack Martin told the magazine. “This is because I want to see the pattern of their gray clearly so we can mimic it and match it to a tee.” He said you can cover your roots in the meantime using a temporary root concealer, which is easy to apply at home.
It can take hours or even months to finish the process
Nikki Ferrara, colorist at New York’s Serge Normant at John Frieda, told Good Housekeeping that going gray isn’t a quick process.
Completely transitioning from color to gray can take six months to a year. As far as a salon-dye process, Martin said it can range from six to 14 hours to transition.
You must maintain the gray between salon visits
Grays can need brightening, so a purple shampoo can help. Using one will “help fight brassiness and make your gray the most beautiful it can be,” celebrity hairstylist Michael Duenas told Prevention. “The brighter and prettier your gray is, the easier the grow-out process!” You can also visit the salon about every six weeks for upkeep.
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