Several years ago, my husband and I went through several months of treatment and recuperation with my husband's colon cancer. While he was recuperating at home, I started doing his haircuts. Now that he has been "clean" for several years, I still do it because it is more economically feasible. Both he and I are completely silver, or so I thought.
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I homeschool my daughter, and in one of the stories that we were reading (Neighbor Rosicky by Willa Cather), a 1920's frontier woman covered her graying hair with a brew of strong tea. I tried it, and it works! It doesn't completely cover the gray, but it does make it less noticable, and only costs the price of a tea bag per day. Nancy from PA
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I am getting grey hair. What can I do?
By joan from Roswell, NM
Purchase a semi-permanent hair color to cover the gray. The semi-permanent is a temporary color and will wash out after about 4-5 shampoos.
If you like the results then you can go with a permanent hair color that uses peroxide.
Pluck the grays out with a tweezer until your hair starts to thin, then start dying it.
* Use a sulfate-free shampoo made specially for color-treated hair or the dye will quickly fade!
I plucked my gray hairs out for over 15 years until I finally had to start dying my hair!
---> I like what MCW said too!
For years I used Loreal Preference to cover my grey hair. I picked the lightest shade as I believe it helps to keep the wrinkles from looking so prominent. Touch up to my mousy/grey hair was every 6 weeks. I finally got tired of that so I got a good haircut and let my hair go back to natural mousy and grey. And guess what, it looks so nice it matches my brown eyes and looks like it was professionally highlighted. No more coloring, expense, etc. Happy in Ohio
I like henna, and use Light Mountain brand, which I buy at a local food co-op. It isn't that expensive, and I only use 1/2 package at a time. I usually apply it every 3 months or so, and I have quite dark brown hair. It is messy, though, so just put newspaper everywhere in the bathroom, and be sure to wipe up any spots if they splatter.
I do not recommend plucking the gray hair out unless you have so much extra hair that you don't care if it permanently thins out! Plucking 'any' hair on your body continually over time damages that hair follicle to the point where the hair will no longer grow from it :-o
I go to the hairdresser every four weeks and have color put on. My hair grows fast and I do not like any light roots showing. If your hair does not grow fast, you can go longer.
FLAUNT IT! Grey hair is beautiful! Look at Paula Deen, EmmyLou Harris, Heloise, just to name a few. Look for hair products specifically designed to make grey hair more beautiful. I get compliments on my grey hair! Maybe you will too. Besides, I hear it's all the rage now, and people are even asking for grey hair at salons. I just read that yesterday.
Deeli, oh Deeli, I wish that were so. For if it worked as you declare, there'd be no place for my tweezers to go. But alack and alas, I have to say that my chin gets attention most every day!
Life is cussid like that - I have very sparse eyebrows.
Joan, there are enough expenses in life without wasting money - we all recognize "dyed" hair when we see it sand anyway Sharmayla has a very good point, though I may be biased speaking as a gray/white non colored!
Popet, oh Popet ;-) Chin, nose and ear hairs arrive in females because of hormonal changes and just keep a comin' ;-) Not to be mean but I'll venture to bet you were an eyebrow plucker and that's why yours are now sparse. The same thing happens to the hairs on our head as happens with the eyebrows that are continually plucked. I know from whence I speak having been a hairstylist for 35 years and a second generation hairstylist at that ;-)
I do like your poem though and agree about natural color :-)
Sorry, and ya'll can call me vain if you like but grey is not ALWAYS beautiful. There is nothing more unattractive when we all walk out of the salon looking just alike, grey with a VERY short neckline cut or tight permed. When I have to find a new hairdresser if I walk out looking like everyone else I don't go back. I colored for years and when I decided to let it all grow off I looked tired and dull and my hair had no body. When I colored it again people raved at how attractive it was. I'll probably go to my grave as a blonde. Yes, grey can be beautiful on some but not all. The right color job can do wonders.
Why is this a problem? I have seen teenagers who have a beautician dye their hair silver on purpose. You are right in style! Don't call it "grey" call it "silver". My hair is silver and gold (blonde) so I call it "electrum" color.
Eyebrows eventually stop growing back too. I am 62 years old and haven't had to pluck my eyebrows in about 10 years, which is kind of nice because my brows now have the permanent shape that I like.
I need to know how to naturally let my gray grow out faster, but healthy and shiny!
By ann lehman
Ann, It will take several months to get your hair feeling soft, shiny and healthy. Just take a daily multi vitamin and hair will grow faster. Also, eat a lot of nourishing vegetables or lots of mixed salads.
I'm letting my hair grow naturally gray, but have taken vitamins for years and Vitamin E. My hair is soft and has a nice shine. I also do not use harsh chemicals on my hair or hair spray and keep split ends trimmed. I use baby shampoo for my hair and there's no residue build up that loses shine on hair. Also, hair conditioners can cause a build up too and in that case I was advised to use Neutrogena Shampoo a few times as it deep cleans the residues from hair. A hair dryer is seldom used and only when I'm in a hurry. Good luck.
Depending on your water, you may need to use a shampoo for gray or blond hair. I use one called Silver Fox and there are others out there. Gray hair must be kept clean to look nice. I wear mine in a bun or a braid, or twisted around somehow. I use Tate's conditioner to keep it under control. Good luck--it will certainly look better than dyed. You will need to change your make up too so you don't look too washed out. I have found I can wear colors I could never wear before, but look awdful in some of my old favorite colors.
To make your hair to grow faster is massaging your scalp to open up the pores. You can get scalp massages and the beauty shop or do it your self. Just use what ever you want, like olive oil or look around for scalp massage cream. It's so relaxing and it really works if you keep doing it and you'll see new hair growth. You need to work on your scalp where the hair grows from.
I started having scalp problems with hair color and decided to go grey. When the color grew off I looked washed out and tired. I used Roux for a while which gave it some shine but it still wasn't what I wanted and I still looked washed out. And I got tired of putting that on my hair every time I shampooed. I went to the beauty supply store and bought a demi color in light blonde. It's not as harsh as it has no ammonia in it and washes out in a few weeks. I didn't want the color to touch my scalp so I mixed it in a bowl and painted sections on my hair with a brush I also got at the beauty supply store. I painted a few sections on my bangs with an old, washed mascara brush. I now love my hair again; it looks like low-lights and I still have a lot of grey. I actually like my grey just not a full head of it. Now I don't look so washed out and I've gotten some good comments. I got this idea from a web site.
Hi Ann, I'm in my 50's and grey hair set in when I was in my late 20's. It runs in our family. I tried dying it for awhile, years ago (hated all that trouble) and one day my husband asked me to leave it grey.He loves it and I always get a lot of compliments on it. Be proud of that grey. I'm sure you worked hard for it! I only use hair products specifically made for grey hair. The shampoos are usually a purple shade.They also make conditioner and if you have a hard time finding them, any good hair dresser will carry products for grey hair. About once a month I use a cleansing shampoo like Nutragena(might have spelled that wrong).It will take away any built up residue. Good luck. We "grey" women have to stick together!
Just shampoo and condition. Grey hair goes through lots of stages of greying, and each one is full of interest. In no other colour do you get such depth and varying shades. Enjoy!
Congratulations. My hair was very dark (almost black) and I colored it for years. Hated the idea of putting those chemicals on my head. Finally decided last year to let it grow out. I cut it short and it took me 3 months. Actually my husband was not too crazy about the idea since he is blond and you cannot see the gray in his hair. Everyone else loved it and I got lots of compliments. I always had healthy, shiny hair but the gray is definitely different. Naturally, the hair has lost it's pigments so keeping it shiny is a challenge. I do not wash it every day although I do rinse it in the shower. My hair is also thick and very straight and has it's share of cowlicks. All in all, I love my gray hair which grew in salt and pepper. I don't recall seeing any senior citizens with natural dark hair. I will turn 65 next month and I'm thrilled that I don't have to put that junk on my hair every 4 weeks.
As we age, this suggestion is an important one. Do not wash your hair daily but rinse it when you shower and add a conditioner daily. It makes your hair shiny and manageable and look fresh.
My friend decided she was done being a natural redhead that was done often. Her natural red gave way to grey. It was a couple months of frequent hair cuts (short) that had her hair where she wanted in short time. What reside had stayed after the first 6 weeks looked like natural highlights. The next cut took that growth out too.
I am 56. My hair still grows about 1 inch a month, so no more than 2 months goes by without a proper razor cut. Still a natural red head but the frequent trims keep it red, the grey stays in as high lights.
One thing, hair length and certain colors at certain ages needs to be watched closer. Some styles of grey will age you past your grandmother. If you have a youthful style but the grey color screams 30 years older, you don't want that!
Wow thank you for the info. I've been battling my hair with frizz and trying different shampoo and conditioner's for it, so thanks again!
What can you do for grey hair that is starting to yellow?
I use Generic Conditioning Shampoo from Sally's. Compare it to: Clairol Shimmer Lights Original Conditioning Shampoo. Takes away the yellow. Adds sparkle and shine. So the bottle says. I use it once a week and it keeps my gray hair from getting dull. Works for me.
Silver Fox shampoo works well also. Pantene had one for extremely bleached hair that left beautiful silver highlights.
There is a shampoo/conditioner called Pure Blonde. It is in a tube and looks purple but does not color your hair purple.
I think I got it at a hair supply store. My hairdresser recommended it and it does the job.
Do you smoke? The nicotene will make your hair yellow. My mom had the prettiest silver & white hair when she stopped smoking for awhile & it went right back to nicotene yellow when she started smoking again!
Use a bluing shampoo and/or conditioner as already recommended. A clarifying shampoo once or twice a week will help greatly to remove chemical buildup too :-) Sometimes medications will yellow hair but a lot of times it can be caused from the environment from bad air quality (smog) and, of course, smoking or being around the smoke from other people smoking around you.
You can also use a couple of drops of Mrs. Stewart's Bluing which is used to brighten whites in the washing machine. Just add it to your normal shampoo. My husband's grey hair started yellowing this summer from being in the sun. I have also used the generic brand of Shimmering Lights from Sally's. I too am a blonde but a bottle blonde and I use a couple of drops of a purple solution I buy at Sally's to put in my hair color to prevent brassiness.
I have never been able to find the "purple shampoo" as I call it except at Sally's. I sell Avon and they used to carry it, but don't anymore.
I use yellow out. You can buy it at a beauty supply store. If that do not work use Shimmering Light, but don't leave it on more than four or five minuetes or it will leave you hair purple.
Will a vinegar rinse change the color of the white (grey) in my hair?
The vinegar rinse will whiten gray hair.
Vinegar does nothing for most people. It won't hurt it I'd you want to try, but most likely you won't see any difference.
Vinegar will not change the color of your grey/white hair. It's acidic property does have the ability to help strip the hair of hard water deposits. The removal of these deposits, particularly if they are heavy, should result in shinier, more translucent hair that might appear a bit brighter.
Not really, it does not do much to change the color of the white/grey in your hair. You can try to use hydrogen peroxide to change the color of the white-grey in your hair. it will lighten your hair naturally if you leave it in. This can also add highlight to your hair. I am not sure what you are really looking to do but it sounds like you'd like to change some of the grey colors in your hair.
No I do not want to change the color of my Grey hair , it's just some of the chemicals I have used on my hair has some of it with high lights of brow and I don't want that. Is it any help for that?
Have you used color enhancing shampoos on your virgin gray/white hair? Do they add color and do you have to use it for a number of shampoos in order to see results?
By Betty
Ask your hairdresser to add in lowlights to the bottom layers of your grey hair. While the first instinct of many people is to add highlights, lowlights will create depth in the color and enhance its natural beauty. Wash your hair with shampoo formulated specifically for grey hair. This shampoo enhances the natural color and protects it from yellowing.
Condition your grey hair with conditioner formulated just for grey hair. This conditioner not only protects it from yellowing but combats dryness as well. Use a purifying shampoo once a month to remove any buildup on your hair. The trick to enhancing grey hair is to keep its natural tone and not allow it to be altered by yellow and brown buildup caused by polluted air. Keep your hair trimmed. Trimming hair prevents breakage and helps it grow in healthier, enhancing its beauty.
Go to a beauty supply store to purchase shampoo especially made for grey hair.
Does anyone have any tips for long gray hair? I would like suggestions for attractive styles for older women and tips for keeping it looking healthy. Thanks.
By Sherry from Greer, SC
The best suggestion I can give as I was a hairdresser is to find a good straight on face picture of yourself that you can cut up. After you cut the picture out completely only leaving your face and shoulders but no hair other than if you have bangs, then take the photo and start browsing magazines, newspapers, etc for hairstyles even look on line for them and dont discount wigs as an option for this. When you find a photo of a hair style that you like take the photo of yourself and lay it over the face of the model in the picture. This may not be a "perfect fit" but it will give you a pretty good idea of what you will look like with that specific style. This seems to work well using the computer as you are able to pull up wigs and hairstyles alike to " try out " your new style.
Once you find something pretty close to what you like and that will fit your lifestyle try going to a wig shop and trying on some wigs, this will give you a very good idea of the look on you. Once you do find a style make sure to get a picture as there is nothing worse than trying to describe a hairstyle to a hairdresser that has never seen the style as well as how to cut it in for you so the photo is the best and if it is a wig that you like the style of use your cell phone or digital camera and take a picture of it on you to show your stylist. Hope this helps and good luck on your new look.
