More and more everyday women, as well as a number of female celebrities, are opting not to hide their grey hair, but to embrace it. And embracing it doesn’t mean letting it grow out, throwing all caution to the wind, and neglecting the color or treating it like an afterthought. Instead, celebs like Sarah Jessica Parker and Andie MacDowell are paving the way toward a deeper understanding of how beautiful grey can be, and how it deserves its own unique hair care tips and routine.
If you’re thinking of going grey, or have been grey for some time but aren’t sure how to make your hair shinier and full of vitality, here are four age-defying ways to look youthful with grey hair over 50.
Prevent Brassiness
Brassiness isn’t an equal opportunity destroyer of hair color that comes for both red and blonde shades and grey. Brassy grey hair can take on a yellow tinge and lose all signs of brightness. Some ways to combat this include:
** Apply a heat and UV-protectant spray to hair before spending time outdoors, as UV light is known to strip blue from grey hair and make it look yellowy.
** Use a heat protectant before styling your hair with a blow dryer or other heated tools. And, if possible, keep the use of these tools to a minimum.
** Wash your hair with a purple-toned shampoo and conditioner once in awhile as maintenance to help remove brassy tones.
Use a Hydrating Shampoo
Remember when you thought shampoo formulations for dry, normal, and oily hair were just a recommendation and that all shampoos were the same? This isn’t actually true, and it becomes even more important as we age to use a hydrating shampoo that contains nourishing oils. This is because mature, grey hair tends to be on the drier side. A hydrating shampoo and conditioner are important in your routine.
Consider a Keratin Treatment
If your greys are mostly unmanageable and wiry, a serum may help. But if you’ve tried everything and still aren’t getting your strands to behave, you can consider a keratin treatment that involves applying a protein-rich keratin formula to your hair to help hydrate strands and make them glossier and easier to style.
Change Your Makeup Routine
The last tip actually has nothing to do with your hair, but can make a big difference: change your makeup routine so that it suits your new hair color. Similar to how you might switch lipstick and eyeshadow shades if you were transitioning from brunette to blonde, certain makeup colors can wash out your skin when you have grey hair. Try easing up on powder (which can make your skin look cakey and ashy). Wear blush to bring color into your face and snag a few bright lipstick colors and a lighter eyeliner than you might ordinarily wear. These cosmetic changes can help balance your grey hair and make you feel your best.
Grey hair can look chic, shiny, and fabulous. But remember to treat it the way you would any other colored shade and give it the proper hydration and maintenance that it needs.
