Okay ladies, give me the scoop on dealing with gray/silver hair.

[OceanAnnie]

I do not believe so. Some may - but the 2 I mentioned I do not believe they do.

Here's the Sexy Hair Concepts (I really like this one)

I've been tempted to try the pigmented shampoos, but I'm scared to get henna by mistake. I always heard that if you use henna you have to let it grow out before you can use color again. (I don't know if it's true.)

I wonder how pigmented shampoos would do on highlighted hair?

 

[Aimeedyan]

Get yourself a pigmented shampoo. Sexy Hair Concepts makes them, Goldwell makes them (both can be found at ULTA or: )

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1&fgtp=

What color is your hair?

Anyways - the Goldwell is nice. Ive seen it completely cover grey and brighten people's natural hair.

Or - you could go with a 'gold' to then make it appear as highlights on your hair.

I cant stress pigmented shampoo and conditioners enough. Used daily until you reach the color you want - and then once every 3 - 4 days, it maintains that color. And simply deposits color on your whole head, making the gray fade/blend in.

If you decide to just color it - no over the coutner / drugstore stuff. You know how we talked about dog food quality, and the difference between grocery store, and 'good brands'? Same rings true for hair products - TRULY. Find a salon that uses Shades EQ - by Redken. No lift, deposit only. So you can also blend in (but Shades EQ works even BETTER with the pigmented shampoo!)

So - salon products ONLY. Theyre worth the little bit more youll spend.

Never even knew pigmented shampoos existed. I have dark brown hair naturally.

I use Matrix Sleek.Look shampoo and conditioner and it changed my life. Okay, that's a little over the top but it truly made a huge difference.

So I would use this pigmented stuff every day for awhile and then move to every few days once I like the color?

I don't have much gray right now because I ripped it all out about an hour ago so I would need to wait for more to grow in before using a pigmented shampoo, right?

 

[CathrynRose]

I've been tempted to try the pigmented shampoos, but I'm scared to get henna by mistake. I always heard that if you use henna you have to let it grow out before you can use color again. (I don't know if it's true.)

I wonder how pigmented shampoos would do on highlighted hair?

No - no - no - this is NOT that. Its NOT Henna!

Another great brand I forgot (and I use...duh!) is Sunglitz:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=sunglitz&category0=

I have highlights and lowlights, and use pigmented Shampoo. I like the 'ashy' highlights, and hate brassy - so I use a Violet or Blue. If you prefer Gold highlights, get yourself a gold.

Sunglitz I actually mix a gob in my hands, with my 'regular' shampoo cuz it's HIGHLY pigmented. I had a lovely shade of teal, the one time I used blue on my blonde highlights.

So - YES - you can use it on highlights.

ANother wonderful brand for highlights is Redken- Blonde Glam. They come in 2 conditioners--- Pure Pearl & Pure Gold.

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1

 

[scrump]

Though I was born with some gray, I have noticed a LOT of gray coming in especially these past 3 years (I'm in my early 30s). I can't stand the thought of coloring every x weeks, I am way too lazy. So I don't color, and don't ever plan to. In fact, I can't wait to go completely gray.

 

[CathrynRose]

Never even knew pigmented shampoos existed. I have dark brown hair naturally.

I use Matrix Sleek.Look shampoo and conditioner and it changed my life. Okay, that's a little over the top but it truly made a huge difference.

So I would use this pigmented stuff every day for awhile and then move to every few days once I like the color?

I don't have much gray right now because I ripped it all out about an hour ago so I would need to wait for more to grow in before using a pigmented shampoo, right?

Youre a perfect candidate! And no - you dont need to wait for it to come in. It enriches, and add depths and shine to your hair - no matter what (ever feel like your hair color is just 'blah'? Thats what this gets rid of, as well.)

And sleek look freaking rocks!!!

Yes - pigmented everyday, until you get what you like - then, every few days or so.

 

[OceanAnnie]

No - no - no - this is NOT that. Its NOT Henna!

Another great brand I forgot (and I use...duh!) is Sunglitz:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=sunglitz&category0=

I have highlights and lowlights, and use pigmented Shampoo. I like the 'ashy' highlights, and hate brassy - so I use a Violet or Blue. If you prefer Gold highlights, get yourself a gold.

Sunglitz I actually mix a gob in my hands, with my 'regular' shampoo cuz it's HIGHLY pigmented. I had a lovely shade of teal, the one time I used blue on my blonde highlights.

So - YES - you can use it on highlights.

ANother wonderful brand for highlights is Redken- Blonde Glam. They come in 2 conditioners--- Pure Pearl & Pure Gold.

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1

Ok. Thanks! I know so little about these kinds of products. Babe in the woods.

 

[CathrynRose]

Although my hair has been referred to as 'bad bleach job' and trailer park by some *ahem* - I feel you'll see different.

BTW - Im not attempting to look 'natural' I like panels of color.

 

[solferino]

I don't deal with it- gray pride. Or gray is the new blonde. I used to color it, but because I keep my hair so short and get it cut every 4 weeks, maintaining it was a PITA.

 

[Disney Doll]

I'm letting my gray grow in. My neighbor across the street has a GORGEOUS head of silver hair. I am hoping that mine will do the same thing as it gets grayer.

I used to color it, and it just got too annoying. I figured I earned the gray hair, I am keeping ti and wearing it proudly!

 

[CathrynRose]

Those of you who decide to purchase one of them - let me know how they work out for you.

 

[nannerbadnanner]

No - no - no - this is NOT that. Its NOT Henna!

Another great brand I forgot (and I use...duh!) is Sunglitz:
http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=sunglitz&category0=

I have highlights and lowlights, and use pigmented Shampoo. I like the 'ashy' highlights, and hate brassy - so I use a Violet or Blue. If you prefer Gold highlights, get yourself a gold.

Sunglitz I actually mix a gob in my hands, with my 'regular' shampoo cuz it's HIGHLY pigmented. I had a lovely shade of teal, the one time I used blue on my blonde highlights.

So - YES - you can use it on highlights.

ANother wonderful brand for highlights is Redken- Blonde Glam. They come in 2 conditioners--- Pure Pearl & Pure Gold.

http://search.ebay.com/search/searc...ftrt=1&ftrv=1&saprclo=&saprchi=&fsop=1&fsoo=1

Thanks for the tips! I have the same problem as aimeedyan so this is great info. Do any stores sell this stuff or is buying online the best option?

 

[CathrynRose]

Thanks for the tips! I have the same problem as aimeedyan so this is great info. Do any stores sell this stuff or is buying online the best option?

I know ULTA has some of them.

But if you like to eBay, Ive always had good luck, as well.

 

[chris1gill]

When it hits the roots, forget it! Start going to get it dyed.... I guess I was about 34 when I started dying it....

 

[jennobrn01]

Just turned 30 and Natural Match Dark Ash Brown is my friend. I seriously love Natural Match! Glossy results - and I receive many compliments on my hair color. It's as close to my natural color as any dye job I had done professionally.

 

[ShesAPirate]

I'm 35, and I've been coloring my hair myself (every color imaginable, by the way) since I was about 16. With the drug-store stuff, no less. And my hair is very soft and shiny - so I think it varies from person to person.

Lately, I've been using Nice & Easy Root Touch-Up about once a month, and then a few times a year, I'll do my whole head. The Root Touch-Up works great for me -- no mess or unnecessary chemicals on the rest of my hair.

This is one woman who's not going gray gracefully. Works for some, yeah - but not for me!

 

[nicolemomof4cuties]

My hair started coming in WHITE about a year ago. Last Sunday my cousin was brushing it and was like WHOA! your hair is coming in really white areas now! So apparently I am going to have to start dyeing it. I am only 27 but my Mon and her Grandma were completely white-headed by 30 so I guess that it is par for the course.

 

[bigmerle1966]

I thought about coloring my hair but I have what my sister calls skunk stripes and I kind of like them. Maybe one day I'll decide to get a wild hair and color it red.

 

[RNMOM]

I too greyed early. I dyed it for years then decided I didn't like the way it felt. I let it grow out and have been through various degrees of salt and pepper and now am fading into silver. My original color is just this side of black /dark brown. I get compliments on my hair often. I have even been asked if I color it.

Grey is a 4 letter word but still, I can live with it.

 

[talulabelle]

I started seeing a few stray greys at 18. It became many stray greys at about 30. It became noticible greying at the temples at 35. Now if I didn't color I think the entire front would be large white skunk stripes (3 of them, temples and widows peak) with very salt and pepper all over. I'm 38.

I have it professionally dyed my natural color then have blonde highlights put on top of it (especially in the greying areas - then it is not as noticeable when the grey starts growing in, it fade into the blonde more)

I am too cheap (and don't have the time) to have it done often. I stretch out the times in between with Nice and Easy Root Touch Up. (This stuff is so great, it has definately been life changing for me!) If I didn't have the root touch up, I would be letting the grey grow in by now, because I just would not be able to afford to keep it up. It drives my hair dresser NUTS. But it is great for me. I think my hair is much healthier because it is not getting processed all over every 4 weeks, just the roots. The professional highlights are maintained through the rest. It really does just blend in. I would say that I root touch up about every 4 weeks, about 5 times before I break down and go back for an all over color and cut. My hair grows fast. I get a bob when it is cut and it grows just past my shoulders by the time i go back for color. I get it colored and rebobbed. Each time my hair dressor says "Now, you will be back in 6-8 weeks right? You won't put it of this long?" and I nod and say , "OK". I'm back in 4-5 months. The only place you can see the color difference is underneath my thick hair in the back at the roots. If I parted it , you would see the colored hair and the few inches of salt and pepper coming in at the root. The hair dresser always points to that in the mirror and says that is why I need to come in more often, but I never part my hair there, so it doesn't matter. Everything that shows it touched up every few weeks.

Once my roots start coming in all white I am giving up the color. I cant stand seeing an entire stripe of white down someones part because they are due for color. I mean at some point it's like- who are you kidding? I also think there comes a time where your face looks younger with all grey. It is a contrast thing. Like if your hair is grey and a traditional symbol of age, your face will look younger against it. If your hair looks like it is 25 and dark, then in contrast agaisnt it, you 60 year old face will look REALLY old.

 

[cccm]

Technically it is not gray, but as my stylist tells me "unpigmented".

I have it and have had it for at least 10 years. Just a little, with more growing in all the time. It depends on your genes and such for when it starts happening, any patterns and when you will go all gray/silver.

Tomorrow is my day to get my hair highlighted. I am going with three colors, blonde, brown and an auburn. Love the way the color looks.

The salon I go to fixes a lot of folks hair, both store brands and other salons. So you do have to be careful and trust the folks you go to. I've seen some pretty icky hair when I've been there and they do an amazing job getting it healthy. They only use Redken products (have been Redken's salon of the year for several years).