Gray hair is something you never see coming. I’m not speaking from personal experience, but as a woman in her 30s, I would be lying if I said it wasn't something I think about often. While plenty of women choose to embrace silver strands, there are many others (including myself) who want to keep them at bay for as long as possible. And, for this crowd, we have a few tips on the best low-maintenance ways to do it.
Get a single-process color service at the salon.This seems like the most obvious answer, but it’s one that hair colorist Nicole Tresch of the Rita Hazan Salon highly recommends, so long as you stay on top of the regrowth. “You will see [your roots] stronger as you get regrowth, which can come as fast as a week to ten days,” Tresch told Allure. To mask grays between salon visits, try covering the gray hairs with easy-to-use products like the Rita Hazan Concealer Touch-Up Spray or Root Concealer Temple + Brow Touch-Up Stick.
Go for highlights or a brass break.If you aren’t majorly gray, getting highlights might be the best option for you. “Colorists can go heavier in those areas [where there’s only a few grays] to really make them look like highlights,” says Tresch. ”This is very low maintenance.” Tresch also says it’s also great if you don’t like the idea of lifting your base color. To keep highlights looking fresh, use color-preserving shampoos and conditioners like the Kenra Color Maintenance Shampoo and the RUSK Sensories Brilliance Color Protection Leave-In Conditioner. Another option for barely-there gray hair is to get a brass break. This involves getting your roots lightened, which, in turn, makes gray hairs less noticeable. Tresch also suggests using a gloss or toner like John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss or dpHUE Color Boosting GLOSS+ Deep Conditioning Treatment to easily camouflage sparse gray hairs.
More info on gray hair, so you can stop freaking out:
- Scientists Have Finally Identified the Gene That Causes Gray Hair
- Can You Cover Up Gray Hair With Potato Skins?
- Gray Ombré Is the Next Hair Trend You're Going to Be Obsessed With
Get creative.Sure consulting a colorist or grabbing a box of dye to do it yourself are both easy routes to mask grays, but why not switch up your hair completely? Tresch suggests changing your part to the side that contains less gray or try hairstyles like a topknot or braids that cover your roots completely. Your last resort: Throw on a headband to effectively cover hairline grays.
Now try these products your hair will thank you for:
