Silver hair and gray hair are more than just a trending color for Gen Z to try on for a few months. It’s a naturally occurring indicator of the elegance of aging. As you age so will your hair, and if you’re not on board for spending hundreds of dollars at the salon or buying at-home hair dye kits monthly, let this be your sign to embrace the gray. To clear up any confusion — and for the purposes of this story — we use “silver” and “gray” interchangeably to describe this natural hair process.
Caring for silver hair doesn’t have to be hard but it does require certain attention and the use of the right products. If you want your gray hair to stay bouncy in texture and dazzling in color, consider creating a hair regimen with an extra serum or hair mask treatment. For brassy silver hair, the use of a purple shampoo (and conditioner) will be a must for keeping hair that bright gray. There’s a lot more to it, and we’re detailing the essential tips and recommended products that’ll help you develop a simple silver hair care routine. No more hiding behind hair dye or debating on making a change, it’s time to live your best gray-haired life — you did spend all that time and energy growing your mane. Besides, silver hair doesn’t need to be in style for you to make a statement.
Silver hair and gray hair occur when hair follicles (the part of the hair that lies beneath the scalp) are no longer able to produce pigment. According to Harvard Health, this has everything to do with genes and general aging. Per a study published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), factors like genetics and stress can determine when your hair will start turning gray, however, there is no way to prevent or reverse gray hair. That’s why when the time comes, or if it’s already here, just rock it. After all, silver hair is a gorgeous look.
When your silver hair is natural and growing right out of your head, the maintenance process is a little easier compared to those who are trying this style on via hair bleaching and coloring. The routine would be similar to regular hair care maintenance in the way that you’d buy products dedicated to your hair type. For example, most curly-haired folks will buy co-washes, deep conditioners and oils for their specific curl type. Silver hair needs products that will keep the color bright and the texture hydrated. According to an article in Wiley Online Library, as we age so does our hair. With time the size, shine and feel of our hair can be altered, which is why a silver care routine needs to include moisturizing products and one’s dedicated to the vibrancy of grays.
To keep your silver hair looking its best, invest in dedicated hair care products designed specifically for silver or gray hair. Try the L’Oréal Paris Ever Pure Silver Care Sulfate Free Shampoo with Peptides which is made for all shades of gray and differing hair types to gently cleanse hair without fear of stripping strands of the hydrating natural oils that gray hair needs. Gray hair is nourished and revived with the added peptides that leave strands feeling as soft as silk.
No silver hair care plan is complete without a hydrating conditioner. We recommend the L’Oréal Paris Ever Pure Silver Care Sulfate Free Conditioner with Peptides for a healthier-looking mane that keeps silver and grays bright and strands with a silky, soft feeling. Silver strands are strengthened and nourished for a brighter, more voluminous mane. You can find the new silver hair care shampoo and conditioner online and in-store at Walgreens and Kroger.
Silver hair — like blonde hair — is prone to brassy tones over time from the natural oils on the scalp, sun exposure and water quality, per a study published by Wiley Online Library. To counteract any unwanted yellow or orange hues you’ll want to introduce a purple toning product in your silver hair care routine. Two to three times a week, swap out your silver shampoo and conditioner for a purple toning product. Try the L’Oréal Paris Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo and L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Toning Purple Conditioner to neutralize the brassy tones on your strands and return hair to its preferred cool-toned silvery hue.
Heat styling tools can cause damage to any hair type, and silver hair is no exception. Resist the urge to use a flat iron, curling wand or blow dryer daily to keep heat damage away. When you do use heat styling tools make sure to apply a heat protectant spray like the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free 21-in-1 Color Caring Spray, Leave In which has endless (okay 21) different ways that it can benefit hair. And yes, heat protection is one of them.
Avoid hair products that contain harsh chemicals like sulfates and ammonia, as these can strip away your gray hair's natural oils and dull its shine. Instead, create a routine with sulfate-free products that are color-safe and formulated to maintain the vibrancy of your silver hair. If you feel like your hair is lacking the luster it needs, use the L’Oréal Paris EverPure EverPure Sulfate Free Simply Clean Elastic Fiber Masque. This in-shower hair treatment is made with natural ingredients that give you shiny and ready-to-style hair in five minutes.
Gloss treatments can work wonders for silver hair, providing a boost of shine and enhancing its natural luster. Look for toning glosses specifically designed for silver or gray hair, like the L’Oréal Paris Le Color Gloss Toning Gloss in Silver, Silver Slate, Silver Opal or Silver White. These treatments add vibrance and counteract dullness, ensuring your silver hair looks breathtakingly beautiful.
Next: Why You Should Never Pluck Your Gray Hairs, According To A Derm
Written By: Alexis Gaskin, Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn, Senior Art Direction: Melissa San Vicente-Landestoy, Senior Visual Designer: Hannah Packer, Associate Creative Producer: Becca Solovay, Makeup Artist: Jonet Williamson, Hair Stylist: Akihisa Yamaguchi, Wardrobe Assistant: Victoria Ochoa, Digital Tech: Kyle Thompson, Model: Roxanne Hancock
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