Regardless of the color or style of your hair, getting a blowout or new trim at the salon is a terrific experience. As stylists are the greatest, there’s nothing better than a fresh, healthy look, let’s face it. However, it’s still crucial to take proper care of your hair in between appointments, particularly if you’re rocking gray. You want to make sure you’re not doing anything unknowingly harming your hair because as you age, your hair can grow coarser and drier as its color changes. Learn from beauty professionals what styling errors to avoid if you have gray hair by reading on.
Table of Contents
5 Styling Mistakes You Should Never Make If You Have Gray Hair, Beauty Experts Say
1. Avoid overusing purple shampoo.
While purple shampoo is effective for neutralizing yellow tones in gray hair, using it daily can lead to unintended results. Watson Anthony, editor-in-chief for Hairstyle Camp, advises against daily use, as it can potentially tint your hair a light shade of purple. Instead, incorporate it into your routine every few washes to maintain the desired tone without overdoing it. Dawna Jarvis, a former salon owner and master stylist, recommends using it in conjunction with a clarifying shampoo to remove buildup before applying the purple shampoo to cancel out any yellow tones.
2. Prioritize hydration for gray hair.
Gray hair tends to retain less moisture and can feel coarse, making hydration essential. Cody Renegar, a celebrity hairstylist, recommends Aveda Blue Malva shampoo and conditioner for its gentle cleansing properties and hydrating benefits. Adding a weekly conditioning treatment can further replenish moisture and improve the texture of gray hair, especially when used after using purple shampoo.
3. Limit heat styling and use protectants.
Excessive heat styling can exacerbate brittleness and lead to breakage in gray hair, which produces less natural oil. Watson Anthony advises minimizing heat styling and opting for heatless alternatives like overnight braids or heatless curlers. When heat styling is necessary, using a heat protectant beforehand is crucial to prevent damage and maintain hair health.
4. Avoid products with powder bases.
Gray hair tends to need more shine and less product buildup. Reigan Roan-Zapatier, a hairstylist, recommends steering clear of dry shampoo or texturizing sprays with powder bases, as they can contribute to dullness and scalp irritation. Excessive buildup from these products can lead to dullness, dandruff, and scalp inflammation over time.
5. Refrain from plucking gray strands.
Resist the temptation to pluck gray hairs, as it can cause damage to hair follicles and prevent regrowth. Dawna Jarvis emphasizes that plucking gray hairs may result in permanent damage to the follicle, leading to hair loss. Embracing the natural color-changing process or opting for alternative methods of managing gray hair is preferable to risking damage from plucking.
