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The Gorgeous Way to Gray
Survey shows tightwads outnumber spendthrifts 3 to 2
WebMD Feature from "Prevention" Magazine
By Jolene Edgar
Silver is chic, trendy, and yes, can even look
youthful if you do it the right way.
Wash
that gray out of your hair? More of you are saying,
"No way!" According to L'Oréal, nearly half of women
over age 40 are no longer hitting the bottle.
Besides being profoundly liberating (no more pesky
roots!), going gray makes a statement of supreme
confidence: This is who I am, and I'm proud of my
natural beauty.
It
can also look pretty darn fabulous: Think Meryl
Streep's chic silver cut in The Devil Wears Prada,
Jamie Lee Curtis' stylish silver pixie, or Emmylou
Harris' stunning salt-and-pepper mane.
Still, if you want to give gray a try, you'll need
to know how to avoid the awkward growing-in stage
that occurs when you stop dyeing your hair; the mere
thought of clashing incoming and outgoing tones
keeps many women from returning to their roots. But
fear not; this step-by-step guide will help you look
terrific every minute of the way to gray.
Step 1: Go Gradually
Wait
until your roots are at least 60% silver before
giving up your dye job, so your new hue will look
symmetrical and natural as it grows in, suggests
colorist Jennifer J., owner of Juan Juan Salons in
Beverly Hills, CA. But don't give up color
altogether just yet. "The contrast in texture and
tone as your hair grows can look unkempt," she
notes. During this phase, which can last up to a
year, get a do-it-yourself highlighting kit or ask
your colorist to weave in a few fine highlights or
lowlights (darker streaks) to add dimension and
blend in roots.
Step 2: Consider a New Cut
Cropping your hair above your collarbone during the
in-between period will lessen the contrast between
silver and pigmented strands. Layers can also help
camouflage multiple hues. "A choppy cut looks
youthful and helps hide your roots," says Jonathan
Gale, a colorist at the John Frieda Salon in Los
Angeles. When your gray has grown out, don't regress
to a matronly 'do. "For gray to look glamorous and
chic, your cut should be contemporary," says Mark
DeVincenzo, creative director at the Frédéric Fekkai
Salon in New York City.
To
enhance silver strands, which absorb light, making
your mane look dull, style hair straight (use a
flatiron or a dryer and a round brush) to promote
shine. Once your hair is completely white, talk to
your stylist about adopting an above-the-shoulder,
layered style that provides movement and softly
frames your face.
Step 3: Pick Silver-Specific Products
When
hair turns gray, the protective cuticle thins out,
which can make strands coarse and prone to breakage.
Keep tresses soft and healthy by doing the
following:
-
Choose a moisturizing shampoo to soften and
smooth hair and make it appear more lustrous.
-
Wash hair with a formula geared for gray once a
week to counteract yellowing caused by sun,
pollutants, hard water, and smoke. But don't
overdo it: Many of these products contain a blue
tint that can cause a purplish cast.
-
Apply a clear gloss or glaze monthly to coat the
cuticle and boost shine.
-
Opt for gels and mousses that are clear: The
dyes in colored stylers can tarnish gray hair.
5 Tips for Sterling Silver
1.
Maximize manageability
Used weekly, Clairol Nice 'n Easy ColorSeal
Conditioning Gloss ($4; drugstores) has safflower
oil to control coarse strands.
2.
Restore softness
Non-color-depositing Pantene Pro-V Silver
Expressions Conditioner in Sterling to Snow ($6;
drugstores) smooths hair without tinting it blue.
3.
Beat brassiness
The chamomile-derived azulene in Phyto Phytargent
Whitening Shampoo ($24; beauty.com) helps remove
yellowing residue.
4.
Boost shine
The luminosity-enhancing silica and rice bran oil in
Aveda Brilliant Emollient Finishing Gloss ($23;
aveda.com) take tresses from dull to dazzling.
5.
Decrease dryness
Daily washing and styling can dry out hair; by
absorbing excess oils, Bumble & Bumble Hair Powder
in White ($19; bumbleandbumble.com for salon
locator) lets you skip a day or two (spray powder
directly onto scalp and brush out excess)
©
WebMD. All rights reserved.
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"For gray to look glamorous and chic, your cut
should be contemporary" |
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