Purple shampoo is the best toner to use when it comes to gray hair because it neutralizes brassiness caused by heat styling, medications, product buildup, sun, salt, chlorine and environmental pollutants. If this all sounds familiar and you’ve been mulling a lower-maintenance look, keep reading for tips I learned from my colorist, Lucille Javier of Mark Ryan Salon in New York City, and bicoastal colorist, stylist, and hair extension expert, Reece Walker. I know it’s hard but trying to cut out direct heat is good for a healthy transition. Let your hair breath and grow naturally so you are able to see your new curl pattern come through.
I thought Abbie would simply dye my hair back to its original shade, but you can’t color dark red hair a lighter shade in one step. The first couple of years I grew out my hair gray, I was convinced my experience transcended purple shampoo—since then I’ve tried and tested every natural purple shampoo known to man. Definitely cut out the use of any other styling tools such as curling and straightening tools. After time, you will definitely start to see the difference and your hair will thank you for it.
The next few appointments will typically require a root touch-up to tone down the natural red color, followed by stripping out light brown and playing with cooper tones to match the natural color more closely. Like me if you always blow dried after every wash, then try blow drying every other wash day to start with then gradually cut down. I started out hiding a few gray hairs, and by the time I was 50, I was using store-bought color every six to eight weeks with trips to the salon for a more professional look every three or four months. African American women were challenged what hair is acceptable in society, where in the 1950s, it was expected for Black women to straighten their hair.
If you’ve never lightened your hair before, you could find yourself in the salon for an unexpected length of time during the gray transitioning coloring process. As silly as it may sound, returning to my natural texture has given me a fresh perspective on beauty, self confidence and being a part of an amazing curly community. My eczema has completely gone (from my scalp that is), and parts of my hair that were broken from the relaxer (my nape in particular), have grown significantly. We cover everything from clean beauty to sustainable fashion to natural wine, organic mattresses and more.
If you’re starting with an unnaturally dark color on lighter hair, the journey to a more natural hue will definitely be a journey.
Should I let my hair go natural?
It’s about finding a hair color strategy that supports your lifestyle and helps you feel confident every time you look in the mirror. Another potential advantage of transitioning back to your natural hair color is that you’ll see healthier strands. Luckly, I did a lot research online and through a few trial and errors, I found what products and routines work for my hair type. I had previously thought about going natural but wasn’t sure as I had heard a lot of stories about how hard natural hair is to manage and how long it takes to wash and style.
Keep reading for the pros and cons of going back to your natural hair color, plus how to do it safely. A conditioner with moisture will likely be best for a while on the rest of the hair since that has been color-treated. With a thick head of hair and baby blonde goals worthy of a Finnish tot, I’ve hit the bleach bottle pretty hard over the years, whether with densely applied highlights or double-process sessions. For many women, coloring their hair is about more than just covering grays it helps them feel polished, youthful, and put-together.
Some women love the freedom of embracing their natural color, while others feel their best keeping up with the dye. Of course, some women choose to keep coloring their hair, especially if they’re navigating thinning hair. Plus, they’re sharing tips for speaking about natural-looking hair color with your colorist, what a reasonable transition timeline looks like, and the importance of maintenance throughout the process. If you’ve been bleaching your hair for years but have naturally dark hair, Walker warns against dramatically darkening it on the first appointment.
Going back to your natural hair color can allow the hair to have a softer outgrowth and can even help to strengthen the hair, says Gutterman. Let’s talk about both options, the pros and cons, and how to make the transition if you decide to go for it. If you’re starting with an unnaturally dark color on lighter hair, the journey to a more natural hue will definitely be a journey. As I got older, coloring my hair also helped with the texture swelling the hair and giving it more body, which was great for my thinning hair.
Will I look older if I let my hair go grey?
Because of this mentality, many women color their hair until they are very advanced in age and no longer able to keep up with their dyed hair. Avoid overwashing hair, too, to preserve strength, hydration and colour, especially if you live in a hard water area. He explains that painting the baby hairs and delicate strands around the hairline with light grey and blonde tones creates a halo effect that makes going grey that bit more seamless. With the correct haircut and style, you can honor the movement of your face and your overall energy in a simple way that prevents your gray hair from making you look older than you’d like.
It’s your personal choice how you want to express your Type of beauty when it comes to your hair color. So many women feel like their natural gray hair is aging them, but you can embrace it without looking old or worn. To give grey hair some gleam at home, a hair glaze offers luminosity and colour that lasts beyond a single rinse. Being open to new ideas in terms of styling can also help grey hair to look modern, according to award-winning colourist and founder of STIL salon Christel Barron-Hough.
As for cuts, some simple tweaks can be all that’s needed to make your grey hair look chic, while switching up your at-home haircare regime will not only help you maintain gleaming colour but also cater to your hair’s changing needs (our lengths often become noticeably dryer after the menopause).
How long does it take to fully transition to natural hair?
Before I began my transition, I watched your video about your hair journey and laughed so hard because I could so relate to everything you were saying; especially pertaining to breakage. I was reading about your transition and I haven’t had a relaxer in about 3 years, but I would texture soften my hair and use flat irons, a lot. I had too much new growth to successfully wrap my hair, but not enough natural hair to wear natural styles. However, with the right practices and natural hair styling products, you can rock your desired look without sacrificing your hair’s health.
When you’re transitioning, your new growth may seem as if it’s taking over your head, but you’ll be surprised how much natural hair can shrink up especially after you trim off the relaxed ends. By the time I hit my one year anniversary, I was mostly natural so it didn’t really feel like I was transitioning anymore. If you’ve been using relaxers for a while now, then going 100% natural may feel like unfamiliar territory. Also, I was texturizing prior to my transition so my hair was not completely straight, and I had some natural hair in the back because the texturizer didn’t take at all.
Your natural hair journey can be a source of empowerment, but it’s okay to feel a little uncertain at the beginning. You’re likely hitting around three inches of new growth, with the relaxed and natural hair having wildly different textures. Living a healthy lifestyle by soothing stress and loading your plate with healthy, well-balanced meals will go a long way to helping you get long hair. Frustration, self-consciousness, and resetting expectations are part of a lot of natural hair journeys.
But, how often should you trim your transitioning hair? The answer to that is up to you as long as it’s on a consistent schedule. If you’ve never managed your natural hair before, it takes some time to find out what it likes and needs. By understanding the steps involved and using quality products from Cécred, you can ensure a smooth and healthy transition from relaxed to natural hair. Transitioning to natural hair is a journey that requires patience, dedication, and the right hair care routine.