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

[claudia]

I have been coloring my hair for 25+ years and unfortunately for me it grows so fast that I need it colored every 2 weeks or the roots are showing. Way too expensive for me to get it done in a salon.....so I do use L'Oreal Preference and a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, but what I do is every month I treat my hair by using Elemis Frangipani....while my hair is wet I apply it all over then wrap it in a thin towel and use a portable hair dryer...the old fashioned one with the cap...sit under it for 15 minutes or so and it leaves my hair silky soft. I would imagine if you only need to color every six weeks or so you would only have to use it every 3-4 months.

 

[powellrj]

my roots need done right now. I use to color my hair, but now I color and highlight it. I get lots of complements on it, so I guess its ok. I tried letting it go grey several years ago, but too many people told me I was too young to look that old, so I went back to coloring it.

 

[CheshireVal]

No greys yet, but I used to dye my hair with drugstore stuff (Feria by Loreal). I never had any problems.

Some people just can't afford $80-$100 every month at the salon.

 

[dejr_8]

Why is it men look so good when they go gray/silver and women just look old

My wife would take exception to that statement. She has a full head of silver/gray hair since she was about 35. People come up to her at work (she is in a retail situation) to complement her on hair color.

My opinion, let it go silver.

 

[Hixski]

No greys yet, but I used to dye my hair with drugstore stuff (Feria by Loreal). I never had any problems.

Some people just can't afford $80-$100 every month at the salon.

I just won't pay that kind of cash when Loreal works great. I don't have much grey at all but I dye my hair because I have so many colors in my hair that I try to blend them all together. The underneath of my hair is a light brown. The top layer reddish blonde. I get white blonde natural highlights. My hair looks much better when I blend the colors a bit.

 

[RUDisney]

My wife would take exception to that statement. She has a full head of silver/gray hair since she was about 35. People come up to her at work (she is in a retail situation) to complement her on hair color.

My opinion, let it go silver.

It depends on how your hair goes gray. One of my grandmothers had a beautiful head of silver/white hair. The other GM had mousy-colored gray hair. I'm hoping that one day I will take after Dad's Mom in the silver/white department.

 

[crz4mm2]

I'm not going gray or silver or whatever. Not willingly anyway~~ I have been coloring my hair for 20 years. I started going gray at a young age. I get highlights sometimes too. I have done my own color and have went to the salon. I am currently going to the salon, but did my own the time before last when my hairdresser was on maternity leave.
I use professional products when I do my own, but it sure doesn't last as long (read- fades out) as it does when the hairdresser does it. Not sure why.

I don't want to look older than I am. Maybe when I am 60? I will let it go gray? Not likely

 

[Todd&Copper]

I noticed a stray white hair on my 33rd birthday last year. I pulled it out and a couple of months later, I noticed two more around my faceline. I use a drugstore haircolor - I like Loreal - but I choose a color close to my nautral shade, just a hint lighter. I am a medium brown, and I choose a golden med. brown, which is like one shade lighter. I always receive compliments on the health of my hair when I go in for cuts/styling. The stylist always asks me what I use to wash it, and the truthful answer if whatever I got as a "freebate" item at Rite Aid or Walgreens that month!

 

[froglady]

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!

A woman after my own heart. I tried lowlights for a while, but my hair wasn't holding the color. I decided that once my youngest was in MS, I would let nature take its course.

Of course, DH was salt & pepper when I met him at age 29, and his hair is now completely white, so he didn't care.

DD has had streaks of grey since HS, and she considers it a test of a guy's worthiness. If the grey bothers him, it's a deal breaker. If he loves it, she keeps him around for a while. DS also has a few grey hairs.

 

[Crankyshank]

I started going grey at 19. I went grey before my own Mother
I've had no problems with at home coloring, and have gotten lots of compliments, particularly after I switched to L'Oreal Natural Match.

 

[SydneyBristow]

I've had a stark white patch of hair in the front of my head since I was 18 years old, thankfully it's on the underside of my hair. Now at 37 I have a few more white hairs popping up on the top of my head. So I've been coloring my hair for many years now and have no plans to stop.

I've done it myself out of a box, went to Sally's and have gone to a salon through the years. I just used a box of semi permanent last night and it came out great, I like it because it doesn't dry my hair out.

 

[solferino]

I've had a stark white patch of hair in the front of my head since I was 18 years old

I have a friend who has one of those, right near the middle of the hairline at her forehead. It is awesome against her black black hair. There's no way you could fake that, I love it on her.

Mine is mostly silvery white along the front hairline, and salt and peppery in the back.

 

[CathrynRose]

No greys yet, but I used to dye my hair with drugstore stuff (Feria by Loreal). I never had any problems.

Some people just can't afford $80-$100 every month at the salon.

I work in an upscale salon - where highlights will run you $110. HOWEVER - a full color - every 6-8 weeks (2 months!) is only $45. Thats less then Starbucks everyday - kwim?

The thing is the product IS better. Theyre not using a generic peroxide (generally drugstore box peroxide is 20-30 volume * both bleachable lifts, if you think of the strength of them in those terms * ) If you went to Sally Beauty Supply even (or heck, you can eBay Matrix, etc colors, online) and used a 10 volume peroxide (deposit only) it would be better then those boxed colors. Im VERY anti boxed colors - as you might have noticed.

I use professional products when I do my own, but it sure doesn't last as long (read- fades out) as it does when the hairdresser does it. Not sure why.

See the peroxide lesson above & below.

10 volume - deposits
20 volume - lifts 1-2 shades, and deposits
30 volume - lifts 2-3 shades, and deposits
40 volume - lifts 3-4 shades, and deposits

So - if you get 'natural light brown' at the drugstore - and it contains a 30 volume, youre lifting your hair 3 shades, then dropping the color on it. So when the color fades, youre left with that non-descript 3 lifted shade of color.

But when your stylist does your hair, and youre only depositing color, she will use a 10 volume - which doesnt lift, so even as the color fades, it just fades... wont leave you with that weird non-descript shade.

Make sense?

AND - if your stylist used a product like Shades EQ (or Goldwell Colorance & Sebastian Cellophanes is another) those are SIMPLY deposit, no peroxide colors. Which are fantastic for gray and fantastic for actually making yor hair healthier, simply by filling in the 'pores' in your hair, actually -sealing- it closed, if you will.

I have a friend who has one of those, right near the middle of the hairline at her forehead. It is awesome against her black black hair. There's no way you could fake that, I love it on her.
.

Like Stacy London on What Not To Wear! Love her gray stripe!

 

[NY Disney fan]

I am jealous of those women (and men) whose hair turns this beautiful silver white all at the same time. There are tons of men where I work where their hair has turned completely white and they all have young baby faces. These men are in their early/mid 40's.

 

[CheshireVal]

I work in an upscale salon - where highlights will run you $110. HOWEVER - a full color - every 6-8 weeks (2 months!) is only $45. Thats less then Starbucks everyday - kwim?

Well, that's my problem. I prefer highlights, but I have to do them myself because I can't afford what my salon charges.

I don't need full color.

 

[solferino]

Like Stacy London on What Not To Wear! Love her gray stripe!

Yes, just like Stacy's. I love my gray, but really wish it was as unique as my friends stripe.

 

[claudia]

AND - if your stylist used a product like Shades EQ (or Goldwell Colorance & Sebastian Cellophanes is another) those are SIMPLY deposit, no peroxide colors. Which are fantastic for gray and fantastic for actually making yor hair healthier, simply by filling in the 'pores' in your hair, actually -sealing- it closed, if you will.

How would I know what shade to get if I purchased it on ebay? They have a ton of stuff available, the products that you have listed above, but I have no idea what items or color to purchase. I use natural light brown from L'Oreal, but would definitely like to try the products that you mention....also, I am pretty much all grey in the front and mixed in the back.

 

[Buckalew11]

I just used Shades EQ on my hair this morning. I think it is the most awesome product on the market. I'm sure every company makes similaiar product that is very good but Shades EQ really delivers. I have seen it take horrible , damaged dry looking hair and make it look healthy.

I keep my prices reasonable enough that people do not (I hope) have to make the decision of "can I afford this?" or "how long can I stretch this out".
Some people will pay whatever the cost, some will stretch it out and walk around with terrible hair for weeks at time because they can't afford or do not want to pay the higher prices.
The way I look at it is these people are MY clients. They make my living for me. I in turn keep them looking good and feeling good about their appearance. All of my clients are repeats clients (esp. now that I work at home--you have to coming to my house for a reason) and that, to me, means MY name is on their hair. I do not want clients to walk around with 2 inches of new growth because they can't afford to come in and have their touch ups.
In my opinion it is a win-win situation for both of us. And in the end, I do not feel like I'm losing $$ either as they may see twice instead of once in a 2 month period.

I have nothing against boxed color as long as people do not expect miracles from the box. Don't try to take your dark brown hair to a blonde with a box of home color. At home hair color has come a long way as has salon color. Always changing, always improving.

 

[CathrynRose]

Well, that's my problem. I prefer highlights, but I have to do them myself because I can't afford what my salon charges.

I don't need full color.

Our salon charges $45 for partial (whole crown) highlights. You should call around. And highlights are definately not once a month. You should really call around... i think you could find somewhere in your price range. And it's worth it, IMO.

However - thats the one thing with drugstore vs salon - bleach is bleach. You might get a slightly more conditoning bleach in a salon, but bleach it bleach.

If youre not having problems placing highlights - and your hair is doing okay - then stick with what youre doing, if you cant afford to maintain at a salon.

I used to foil my whole crown - by myself! Us stylists are creative (and flexible) folk!

How would I know what shade to get if I purchased it on ebay? They have a ton of stuff available, the products that you have listed above, but I have no idea what items or color to purchase. I use natural light brown from L'Oreal, but would definitely like to try the products that you mention....also, I am pretty much all grey in the front and mixed in the back.

If you went to Sally's - all professional hair color is numbered the same.

Levels (1-10)
N - Neutral
G - Gold
R - Red
etc, etc...

You'd find the level and tone you want - and go from there.

A level 5G - at Sally's is going to be a Level 5G Matrix.

 

[nataliela]

Around 16 had a few strays everyone once In a while, I am now 23 and noticing them popping up in one area. On one side of my head I am about 10% gray, while on the other I am like 2%? Is this normal?