White Hot Hair

by Kerry Andersen

As women age, hair dye has traditionally become a key part of their anti-aging routine to cover up gray locks and disguise the passage of time. During the pandemic, many hair salons were closed, and women had to learn how to handle hair color chemicals themselves or just let it all go and embrace their silvery natural hair color. Celebrities like Jane Fonda, Jamie Lee Curtis and Sarah Jessica Parker all unveiled new white hot hair during the pandemic and made going gray stylish for all of us.

Ginger Vine Salon owner Allison King Everage says, “The pandemic allowed people time away from the world to grow out their hair and embrace a more natural low maintenance look.” If you’re not ready to go totally gray just yet, there’s a process called ‘gray blending’ that starts to slowly weave your natural gray hair into your current color much like natural highlights for a more subtle approach. Going gray is not for everyone. Everage says, “Most clients love the transition to a new lower maintenance look, but some miss the smoother texture that hair color gives them and are switching back to covering the gray.”

The trend even has some younger clients weaving silver shades into their natural hair color for an edgy modern look or intentionally choosing the drama of all-over locks in differing hues of gray. It’s important to ask your stylist what shade of gray or silver will flatter your skin tone. A cool toned platinum blonde will work for some while those with warm skin tones will want to keep their natural roots and blend the new color in for a more natural look. To make sure your new gray color holds, delay washing for two to three days after your color appointment and avoid extremely hot water.

If you do decide to ditch the hair dye and embrace your natural gray or choose to go gray intentionally, Everage says it’s important to change the way you care for your locks too because natural and gray hair require a bit of TLC. These are her tips for rocking a head of white hot hair:

Use purple shampoos to keep silver and gray hair from turning yellow and to boost shine (try Aveda Blonde Revival).

Turn down the temperature on your styling tools to 380 degrees or below. When tools are too hot, they can damage hair and leave it looking yellow.

Use salon shine treatments and toners to help with a healthy transition to your natural hair color.

Beware of damage. Dying your hair gray requires extensive bleaching which can weaken your strands. Switch to products that pamper bleached, dyed, and processed hair.

Ginger Vine Salon is located at 4720 Nelson Road (Suite 150) in Lake Charles. Visit gingervinesalon.com for hours of operation or to make an appointment. The salon is closed on Sunday and Monday.