Grey Hair

How to Grow Out Gray Hair

When you think about the transition between coloring your hair and letting your hair grow out to its natural gray, one main concern is how awful it will look during the process. No one wants that line of definition that draws attention to our hair, but there's no way to completely avoid the growing out process short of shaving your head and starting from scratch. However, if you aren't ready for such a drastic step, here are a few steps to help make the transition a little less dramatic:

Go Lighter
Before you start the growing-out process, change to a blond or light brown shade, so the new light gray, silver or white growth won't be as noticeable. When choosing your new shade, be sure to pick a color that complements your skin tone.

Camouflage New Growth with a Rinse

Even with the lighter color, and shorter hair, as your hair grows the gray will still show. It won't be as noticeable as gray against a darker shade, but it will still be there. Natural sunlight or bright lighting will highlight the gray even more. If you would rather camouflage the new growth a little more, you can temporarily hide it by using a non-permanent hair color rinse. This will wash out over five or six shampoos so it will have to be reapplied until the old color is cut off and the gray is completely grown out, but it does help ease into your new look with your dignity intact.

Highlight Your Hair

Another way to ease into letting your gray hair grow out is to have your hair highlighted. You can start out with heavy highlights and gradually decrease the highlights as your gray hair comes in. Talk to your hair care professional and ask for her advice as to the best approach.

It Takes Patience

No matter which approach you take growing out your gray hair, it will take patience. During the process you're sure to get comments from family and friends. Some will think "It's great!" while others may say things like, "You're too young for gray hair." As you go through the months it takes to grow out, remember that it is your hair. Don't let peer pressure sway you from what you really want. If you do, you may have to start all over again!
Many women are very happy with their new look when they return to their natural color--even though the natural color is now gray. Salt and pepper, white or silver hair may be a dramatic change, but your natural color is the right one for your skin tone and often makes you look younger than if you dye your hair.