gray hair

The transition to gray hair

Is it time to stop coloring and make the transition to gray hair?

As we age, the graying of your hair is bound to happen, and it’s different for everyone. Some start as soon as their 20s and as late as their 70s, but just about everyone will end up with gray hair at some point in their lives. This piece is going to help you decide if the time is right to stop coloring your hair and make the transition to gray hair.

Why does it turn gray in the first place?

Easy answer: Genetics! Without getting into too much science and detail, because you know I can, let’s give you the basics. You can also read more information here.

Cells called melanocytes manufacture and deposit pigment into the hair as it grows (anagen phase).  At the end of this phase, the hair stops growing for a few months (telogen phase) before it is ejected from the follicle and the follicle goes dormant. There is a phase in-between those two but we don’t need that here. Some of those melanocytes die every hair cycle. When the stem cells making the melanocytes run out, so does color production.

Stress IS NOT A FACTOR! Sorry for yelling. Please stop blaming your children or your in-laws for your gray hair. It’s just not their fault. You can blame them for your hair falling out though, as stress can increase hair loss. BE CALM! Sorry, again.

Is it time to stop coloring?

Well that depends. Here are some pros and cons for you to help in the decision making process of the transition to gray hair.

Pros:

• First of all, the financial benefit is obvious here. Money is saved by not coloring your hair.
• Chemical damage is minimized. The haircolor service you get will determine the amount of damage. With gray hair already dull and coarse you may find styling your hair easier without the additional damage of hair coloring, also who doesn’t want healthy hair?!
• The two pros above also create a time savings. Less time spent in the salon or, gasp, coloring your own hair, and less time spent styling.
• Especially relevant, all of the great compliments. “I love your natural gray!” “Wow, how brave of you!”  “This look totally suits you!” You’ll love hearing these.

Cons:

• Ugh, that grow out/in period. Waiting for it the color to grow out and the gray to grow in can be a long process and it may be easier just to cut it short at some point.
• You may feel like it ages you. Nobody wants to feel old. That’s the whole reason for covering your grays in the first place, isn’t it?
• There may be some additional costs. You may want to start your hair color’s transition by “blending” the colored and gray hair. As a result, this can be expensive, some of the options here may cost more than just coloring your roots.
• Especially relevant, all of the great compliments. “I love your natural gray!” “Wow, how brave of you!” “This look totally suits you!” These will probably suck to hear sometimes.

Using these lists should help you figure out if growing into your gray hair is right for you. Good Luck!

WAIT! Those lists didn’t help! How do I know when?!?

This one is really easy to answer because you already know. Take a good long look at your hair and your soul and the answer will come to you.

Finally, making this decision isn’t easy, so it needs to feel and be the right time for you. Prom night anyone? Ahem… as I was saying: You’ll know before anyone else, you will have had it with coloring, and it will just feel right. Maybe, your personal aesthetic taste will change. Most of all, the decision comes from within, whether you do it or don’t. By all means ask questions, get opinions, start to do it then stop. However you go about it, it will be in your eyes and mind and heart that it is the right time.

Furthermore, when you feel confident enough to do it, you will.

If you would like to talk with us one on one about making the transition to gray hair please contact us or book a Consultation appointment.