The Beauty Diary: How to deal with grey hairs and regrowth
Grey hairs and regrowth are inevitable – but while many of us can’t see hairdressers right now, one expert has a tip that tackles it free of charge.
Grey hairs: Eventually, we all get them.
For some of us they arrive sooner than others, but when they do you’re faced with two options.
Embrace them — after all, silver is sexy and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Or you can choose to cover them.
It’s estimated around 75 per cent of women in Australia dye their hair, with the majority doing so to keep grey hair at bay.
Jaye Edwards, celebrity colourist to the stars, explains greys develop as a result of our production of melanin, the pigmentation cells responsible for hair colour, slowing down.
“As a result, usually by our thirties, we start seeing sparkles of white hair coming through, and by our fifties many of us can expect to be up to 50 per cent grey,” he told news.com.au’s The Beauty Diary.
If you’re like me, you choose to dye them. I’ve always loved playing with the colour of my hair and the fact it covers my greys is a bonus.
However maintaining colour and covering greys hasn’t been easy in recent weeks thanks to Sydney’s lockdown so I have some pretty impressive roots at the moment – and I’m not alone.
Australians affected by hairdresser closures in Victoria and the ACT as well as NSW are in a similar situation – even celebrities such as Samantha Armytage and Jessica Rowe are in the same boat.
But unless you’re one of the lucky few who’ve managed to snag an exemption to visit a hair professional (the little-known restriction hall pass appears to be given to those appearing on TV, according to former Bachelor star Abbie Chatfield), you might be starting to reach a stage of desperation now. I know I am.
But there are some easy options to get you through lockdown, and some of them can be used once we’re out the other side to prolong the time between colours, saving a bit of cash.
“Your first option is of course to embrace your greys,” Jaye, who runs 8 Edwards and Co salons across Australia.
“We are seeing more and more women opting to keep their greys and blend them in, rather than covering them entirely.
“For those wanting more coverage, you have a few options. A toner is great for someone who is blonde wanting to add reflection and blend their grey regrowth.
“A permanent colour root shadow is a great full coverage option to completely eliminate greys.”
However, Jaye – and other hair experts – are warning against reaching for a box dye at home, suggesting instead to contact their usual colourist for kits specifically catered to your hair.
“These are a way better option than resorting to packet colours which contain high amounts of chemicals like ammonia, which are terrible for your hair.
“The pigment also builds up, making it very difficult for a professional to reverse the damage.”
In contrast, professional kits come with tutorials, educating users on sectioning and application.
“My top tip would be to keep it simple, touch up your hairline and part for now, as these are the areas people see most,” Jaye said.
He also suggested using a barrier cream to avoid staining your skin, such as pawpaw ointment or vaseline.
If you’re not keen on attempting to colour your hair at home, even with professional help, Jaye suggests trying a root touch up spray.
“Less is more,” he said, adding you should hold a sheet of paper in front of your face to shield it when applying.
“Be extra delicate around your part and hairline, you really want a fine mist for the most natural result and to avoid colour transfer.”
Take note of that colour transfer tip, as I’ve tried these root sprays a few times and always end up with an awkward brown smudge across my forehead.
If you’ve been heavy handed with the root cover up spray like I have in the past, Jaye suggests using a hairspray to seal in the colour and limit hair movement so it’s not brushing across your face.
And for a really simple option, Jaye says try experimenting with a new parting or some hair accessories. A simple pony can often hide grey patches while flipping your parting can also do wonders.
You can also now book in for a hair appointment after October 14, when hopefully salons can start taking business again, under new restrictions.
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