A color once staunchly avoided at all costs, with the rise of wellness, self-acceptance and bold fashion moves, this shade has easily become more socially acceptable and even covetable.
There comes a time in every client’s life where they need to decide which path to take when it comes to their gray hair. As a stylist, you can help guide them based on their current percentage of gray and long term goals. The main solutions are either to embrace it, blend it, or completely cover it. Keep reading to learn more about the best options for each!
Embrace
Silver, pewter, gray, ash — there are so many names for the beautiful spectrum of this shade. If your client has chosen to embrace their gray hairs from the get go, your main concern will be discussing discoloration and the health of the hair. Gray hairs can often become yellowed and more “wiry” when styling. Therefore urging them to pick up Wella Professionals Invigo Blonde Recharge Cool Blonde Purple Shampoo is a great place to start to cut down on discoloration and impart a soft, silky finish.
If your client has previously covered their grays and has now made the choice to shift to a natural finish, you’ll need to consult them on next steps. While stripping the hair of color through a lightening process is the quickest, it can also be the most damaging. Consider suggesting they first switch to a semi-permanent color to begin to blend root coverage and add highlights or lowlights to break up the line of demarcation from the grow-out process. As they begin to transition, products that moisturize and are targeted for color-treated hair are key to keep strands looking their best.
Blend
As clients look for new options like that don’t require a touch up every 4-6 weeks, blending new gray growth with highlights or a semi-permanent gloss are an ideal solution. By adding highlights near the crown and face frame, gray hair won’t appear as stark and can cut down on the need for a complete cover up. If this is the route your client wishes to take, using a mix of foiling methods, from traditional weaving to baby lights can easily help blend. Although upkeep is more minimal than root touch-ups, clients should visit the salon every 8-12 weeks to retouch or add highlights. For more blending ideas, be sure to check out the latest Luxelight technique to get the look.
Cover
For some, covering their gray is the only option they wish to explore. Depending on their percentage of gray, you’ll want to develop a set routine with them to make standing appointments every 4-6 weeks for root touch-ups. If they are unable to stick to this schedule, a blend of permanent color and highlights to break up the harsh grow out is their best option. Additionally, consider formulating a slightly lighter color to paint around their hairline to ensure the contrast isn’t as stark. For touch-ups between salon appointments, Wella Professionals Insta Recharge Powder Root Concealer is a perfect at-home option to instantly cover new growth without compromising professional results.
