I am lucky. I didn’t get my first gray hair until I was in my mid 40’s, but gray hairs are a little bit like rabbits. They seem to multiply overnight. As it turns out, that’s not so far off the mark. According to a study published in “The British Journal of Dermatology”, gray hairs do actually grow faster because their cells are twice as active. Oh, joy, you say? Just to add fuel to the fire, we also appear to be going gray earlier which kind of makes the battling gray hair landscape look a little grim. But don’t despair. There are a few bright spots on the horizon.
Gray Hair Is In Vogue
Letting your gray show has never been more fashionable. Older actresses such as Diane Keaton and Helen Mirren have long realized that gray hair can look fantastic. Now, younger celebrities like Rita Ora and Zosia Mamet have jumped on the gray hair bandwagon. If you are thinking about going gray, make sure to work with a colorist so that the transition isn’t harsh. No one looks good with 2″ gray roots and brown hair.
Gray Hair May Be Preventable
It used to be thought that gray hair was simply a matter of genetics. If your Mom went gray at 30 so would you. Scientists now realize that gray hair is only about 30% genetic and 70% environmental — meaning that lifestyle choices like diet, exercise, stress and exposure to pollution can affect how fast your hair turns gray. As of yet, there is no pill that works to prevent gray hair (although there may be one soon), but making the following tweaks will certainly help to keep the gray hairs at bay:
- Exercise for 45 minutes, 3x/week: Reduces stress and helps to turn back the clock for both your skin and your hair.
- Stop smoking: Smokers are 2 1/2 times more likely to have gray hair. Yikes.
- Eat foods rich in anti-oxidants and Vitamin B-12: Those who don’t eat foods like blueberries and eggs have more gray hairs.
- Wear a hat: When the sun bleaches your hair, the oxidation leads to damaged pigment cells which results in more gray hair.
Gray Hair Can Be Covered At Home
Battling gray hair is not only time consuming, it’s expensive. Going to the salon every month can really add up. And let’s be honest, if you have dark hair, it’s every two weeks. Thankfully, there are some really good temporary fixes on the market that can extend the life of your color. My friend Jules swears by the Rita Hazan Root Concealer, but there are also powders such as ColorWow Root Cover Up and pens such as TouchBack Marker that work well too. One of the easiest fixes to hide incoming gray hair is to zigzag your part and/or cut bangs (this has saved my butt since most of my gray hair is around my face). And, if you are looking for something more permanent, Clairol Root Touch Up by Nice ‘n Easy is what every colorist recommends.
Bottom line, gray hair is not the death knell of your youth. It’s your choice whether to let your gray hair fly or fight it tooth and nail. However, if you do decide to embrace your gray, you may need to brighten up your makeup with a little bronzer and a bold lip which would put you right on point for fall.
