Graying Gracefully: Beauty Tips for Gray Hair

From the time I was little I knew I was destined to have a head full of gray hair. At the age of 42 my father had a beautiful salt and pepper head of hair, although there was much more salt than there was pepper. And from the time I can remember, his mother had a full head of white hair, not a dark strand anywhere. My brother and I were, and are no exception. At the age of 14 he developed a beautiful streak of gray in the crown of his head. Now in his mid 30's that gray is more prominent, and more of a silvery white than gray. I noticed my first strand of gray hair in my mid-20's. It started around the same place as in my brother's hair, near the crown. Possibly if it had started in the back I wouldn't have been so troubled. Early on, I made every effort to hide the gray. First I plucked out the gray strands as they came in (didn't help of course), later I tried hair dyes, hair color sprays, mascara to touch up my roots and even wore scarves and wide headbands hoping no one would notice the gray.

Over the last few weeks I've noticed articles/publications and television shows announcing that gray is beautiful. Some have even gone so far as to say that gray is the new black. In other words, black clothing was once a tabu and now is a fashion statement. So tell me something I don't know! I discovered a few years ago that I was more happy, confident, and quite frankly, more beautiful with my natural/gray hair.

Deciding to keep your gray hair can be a very liberating process. Nonetheless, there are some things you should do and changes you should make to adjust to your new hair color.

1. Get a good haircut. Gray hair can be stunning and sophisticated with the right haircut. But without a good haircut, gray hair can make you look older and ungroomed. You can go short, medium or long, just choose a cut that compliments the shape of your face and your new hair color.
2. Change shampoo/conditioners. Gray hair can be unruly and rebellious. Consequently, you will need to use a deeper conditioner than you are used to. Because some gray hair has more of a yellow tone, you may also want to try a violet/blue shampoo that brightens the gray. If you want to darken your gray somewhat, try a color enhancing shampoo and conditioner. I use Radiant Brunette by Suave. It gives my gray a deeper, and less prominent tone.
3. Access/make changes to your wardrobe. Certain colors look better on blondes than on brunettes and vice versa. It's no different with gray hair. There are certain colors you should or should not wear now that you have gray hair. Get a consultation from a color consultant, or find a trustworthy friend who will be honest about what colors look good on you. You and your friend can spend the day with you trying on many different colors and shades of blouses/tops (do this without makeup). Ask your friend to rate the color on you using a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being the worst and 10 being the best). This will help you to determine what colors best compliment your new hair color. I used to look great in gold, orange and brown tones. Since going gray (or more like salt-and-pepper), I've found that these colors aren't as complimentary. Silvers, reds and blacks tend to be more suitable for me now.
4. Get a make-up makeover. Along with making changes to your wardrobe, you may also have to reassess your makeup choices. Once you've determined what colors in your wardrobe look best on you, you will have an idea of what kind of makeup works best also. Will you do better with a softer more peachy color, or something cooler with more of a blue/violet undertone? Once you have an idea of what might work, visit the makeup counters and have fun. As with my wardrobe, I was more fond of natural tones like golds, browns and bronzes. With my new hair color, I opt for more deep reds or burgundies.

Other things to consider include eyeglasses and earrings as well as other accessories. Above all, make sure you are really ready to go gray. More important than having the right haircut and wearing the right colors, is having the right attitude concerning your gray hair. No matter how great it looks, if you aren't happy and confident with your gray hair, it won't be a positive experience.