C ontrary to popular belief, going au naturel takes more work than you think. It can be big commitment and take a lot of patience. There are a few tips when embracing the gray that make sure the transition from colour-treated to completely naturally occurs without any doubt or discomfort. Book a consultation with your stylist who will help you with your expectations while providing a plan to help you achieve your gray goals. Your stylist will be able to help you avoid stark gray roots and a lengthy, awkward grow-out phase with strategically placed highlights and toning treatments. Opting for a short cut in the beginning will make the process easier but many don’t want to lose their length. One thing is for sure: going from coloured hair to natural gray requires a transition stage that can be slightly less noticeable by getting a chop. Use the right shampoo to remove brassiness. “A toning shampoo can help keep things cool or warm, depending on your objective. Purple shampoo is the best choice 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,” said Sandra Weeks, owner of Sherwood Styling. “Why purple shampoo? It’s basic colour theory: yellow is opposite from purple on the colour wheel, indicating these two tones cancel each other out.”
Weeks explains that’s also why blue shampoo is not the choice for gray hair. If we look that same colour wheel, we know that yellow and red make orange and red and blue make purple etc. So, when someone with yellow-y gray hair uses a blue shampoo, they’ll get green hair. Blue shampoo is not designed to be used on gray hair; its function is to neutralize orange tones in brown hair. It’s also important to note purple shampoo will only work for gray hair that is a level eight or higher (which in this case, means lighter), so if you have darker gray hair or dark hair with just a few grays, purple shampoo may not work for you. Surprisingly, it’s not so straightforward – this is why we always recommend a visit to your stylist first. “When you decide you’re ready to go natural, a step in the right direction would be to start going lighter so the
roots grow in a little more gracefully. Note that this may depend on how dark your hair currently is. It can be very damaging to lighten your hair drastically, so be patient,” says Weeks. The texture of gray hair is quite different from the hair you remember from when you were young. Gray hair is typically more coarse, frizzy and dehydrated and it’s recommended you use a haircare line with moisturizing products that will keep it silky and shiny. Going natural doesn’t mean you’ll look older. Wear your gray with confidence and remind yourself you’ve earned every glorious strand!
Use a good-quality purple shampoo, look for one that has high moisturizing qualities to combat both brassiness and keep your hair silky and shiny.
SPRING 2023 www.pei-living.ca
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