Hairdos and Don’ts

Hairdos and Don’ts Graying Gracefully

By Sarah Batrous

Most people start finding gray hairs in their 50s. Typically, it’s a strand or two before it starts to fan across the roots, shiny and obvious. The go-to response is to permanently dye your hair, but as the roots grow back out, you’ll be back in the salon or buying box dye every three-four weeks. So, you have two options: letting hair gray naturally or dyeing it entirely. Let’s talk about it!

Letting Hair Gray Naturally

The time and effort needed depends on the state of your hair right now. If your hair is colored, this process could take years to complete due to how fast your hair grows and if you want to cut it as it changes. If your hair is uncolored, it can take six months to a year to complete based on how much graying you have right now and the speed of growth. Tonya Raybon, the owner of Raybon Salon, boasts 15 years of experience and says not to get discouraged. “Trusting the process is a term we use with all transitions. You must be patient and open to options. Also, hair ties and hats are a fun option,” she says. Your hairstylist can recommend new hairstyles that will help you feel confident and make the graying look as natural and put-together as possible. Using your personal style, lifestyle, and face shape, a new hairdo can do wonders.

Dyeing Your Hair

Dyeing your hair for that silver look is a process in itself. Depending on the color of your hair now and whether it’s dyed already, your hairstylist can recommend lowlights, highlights, blending, toning, or a mix of all these options. Knowing what you want going in will help your stylist to best achieve the desired look as quickly as possible. The most important part is to understand that this process might not be a one-and-done deal. Coloring your hair depends on where your hair is right now and where you want to be. Depending on this, it will take several visits across a few days to weeks.

Let’s Talk Upkeep

Stylists recommend deep conditioning treatments and regular trims to keep your hair healthy. A “purple” shampoo that tones and brightens your hair could keep the color looking vibrant and healthy. A focus on treatments for smoothing and glossing gray hair can keep it looking light, shiny, and frizz-less. Purchasing hair products that are meant to support dyed or fragile hair can help keep your locks from drying out.

The Psychology of Change

Like with any major life event, learning to accept change requires a lot of selfexploration and relying on others for a sense of community. Melissa Shaw, LCSW-BACS, a Prairieville-based clinical social worker and therapist, shares her thoughts on the mindset surrounding silvering hair and how best to accept it. “The way to comfortably go through this change is to review how you perceive gray hair, the role that hair color plays in your identity, how vested you are in this change, and how realistic your expectations are for transition phases and time,” explains Shaw. “When ready to proceed, having supportive friends who know how to filter their thoughts and comments or friends making similar changes will contribute to a higher ability of adapting well.” Allowing yourself to gray gracefully is a step forward in the cycle of life. Growing to love yourself and your body as it changes is a lifelong process. “Embracing aging does not mean accepting defeat. If anything, it affords the ability to grow into yourself and be comfortable in your own skin and hair,” assures Shaw.