Keep your grey hair looking healthy
Hairstylist Daniel Lynes offers his advice for keeping your silver looking super
Stroll down the hair aisle at any chemist and you’ll see box after box of dye stamped with the words ‘100% grey coverage’.
For years, covering up even the slightest hint of silver has been the norm for millions of us, but now there’s a new generation of women who are choosing to embrace their natural hair colour.
Women like Vogue deputy editor Sarah Harris, whose stunning silver locks cascade down to her waist.
“I never really considered dying my hair,” says Harris, who went grey aged 16.
“My mother spent some years dying hers and I remember her six-weekly trips to the hairdresser for touch ups – it was a commitment that I never saw me having.
“I think it’s so empowering to finally see more and more women of every age embrace their grey hair, but I can understand the nervousness around it in a society that’s largely obsessed with looking young.”
Harris is one of a group of silver-haired sirens who has worked with Dove to come up with 10 new shade names designed to prove that grey isn’t just one colour, from dark Chrome Your Own Way to silvery I Am Titanium.
“Our hair colour is dependent on how much melanin each hair strand has,” explains Daniel Lynes, Dove lead stylist.
“As we get older, the pigment cells in our hair follicles, which make melanin, gradually die.
“When there are fewer pigment cells in a hair follicle, that strand of hair will no longer contain as much melanin and will become a more transparent colour – like grey, silver, or white – as it grows.”
The reason the shade of grey varies between each person is because it depends on how much melanin that person’s hair follicle has, Lynes says:
“Grey hairs occur when there is some still natural colour left in the hair. Once this colour has completely gone, the hair will turn white.”
Wherever you are on the spectrum, everyone wants their hair to look strong and healthy, and silver strands come with their own concerns, so it’s a good idea to consider how you’re looking after your crowning glory.
Here are five expert tips for how to get your grey hair looking its best…
People can go grey hair at any age, Lynes says. “This is mainly determined by our genes, however nutrition and health can also have a big impact.
“Caucasian hair seems to go grey earlier, however, on average most women in their 30s will start seeing a few grey hairs.”
Ready to embrace your greys? You don’t have to go cold turkey and ditch the dye over night.
“For those wanting to go natural, speak with your stylist about what works best for your hair.
“It may be adding highlights to break up the darker tones or you could go bold and cut it all off!”
“Silver hair can become quite dry and wiry, because it doesn’t hold moisture,” Lynes says.
“So always use moisturising hair products to keep silver hair soft and healthy.”
It’s important to tailor the products you use to suit your hair type.
“If you have fine hair, use light products that won’t weigh your hair down, making it look dull and flat – something that fine silver hair can be at risk of,” says Lynes.
“Go for light, volumising products to give your hair extra life and bounce.”
Whereas if you have medium to coarse hair, he recommends an oil-based conditioning system.
“Many people are off-put by oil, thinking it means greasy, but oil gives your hair a natural softness when your hair is more coarse – helping to keep your hair smooth and sleek.”
Just like blonde hair, grey can sometimes be prone to yellowish tones.
“To keep silver hair vibrant, use violet toning products to neutralise brassy tones, while also keeping your hair moisturised,” Lynes recommends.
While many of us neglect our scalp by lathering up and rinsing too quickly, being heavy-handed isn’t a good idea.
“There’s no need to roughly scrub your scalp or hair when washing,” says Lynes.
“Massaging in your shampoo will gently exfoliate the scalp without damaging hair.”
How to Keep Your Hair Healthy This Winter
The winter is definitely not our friend when it comes to keeping our beauty at its best. Cold air outside combined with hot air inside can cause excess dryness… especially with your hair. Your hair is more prone to breakage in the winter, which can lead to that dry and brittle hair look that no one wants. Keeping your hair sleek and shiny all year long might mean you have to give a little extra TLC to your hair care routine in the winter, but it’ll be worth it:
Don’t go outside with wet hair
That means building in the extra time in the morning to let your hair air dry before rushing out the door. When you go outside in the cold with wet hair, your hair is more prone to breakage, and dyed color will fade more quickly.
Shower in colder water
Showing in steaming hot water is enjoyable in the winter, but it’s not great for your hair. Lower the temperature of your shower back a few notches to prevent brittle and dry locks.
Let your hair go natural
Using heated styling tools every day might be a part of your morning routine, but consider letting your hair go natural for the winter. Excess heat on your hair can lead to split ends and breakage.
Use oil-based treatments
Hair masks will be your best friend this winter. Oil-based hair treatments will restore moisture and leave your hair looking and feeling silky and luscious. Try making a DIY hair oil mist to keep your strands healthy and shiny all day!
Wash your hair less
AKA- stock up on dry shampoo. Washing your hair every day can strip your hair of its natural oils and lead to dryness. These natural oils are extra crucial in the winter, so skip the hair washing every day and reach for dry shampoo instead.
Get your hair regularly cut
The key to healthy hair is getting it cut regularly. The same goes for keeping your hair soft in the winter, too. Dry, split ends develop regardless, so getting a regular haircut ensures your hair will always look its best.
Deep condition
Leave-in conditioners will prove to be extremely helpful in the cold months. Use a leave-in conditioner once a week to restore moisture in your hair. Soft, moisturized hair also means less static hair, which often happens in the winter.
Wear a hat
Wearing a hat in the winter isn’t just helpful in keeping our ears warm, it keeps our hair healthy, too. A hat will block snow and cold wind from reaching your roots and making your hair that much more prone to dryness and breakage.
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