MY State of Gray... Updated
I noticed my first chunk of gray hair when Whitten was 6 months old. I was 29. I had dark brown hair. My hair is very straight and grows very quickly.
I went every 2-3 weeks for permanent color for 25 years.
Here is the story of how I went gray….
Since I went gray/white, right around 59-60, I go every 5 weeks for highlights, toner and a haircut. I have gone from light brown highlights to platinum highlights over about 8 years. Probably in the next year or two, I will stop the highlights all together. I think it will be light enough all over to let it go.
So my hair has been colored and blown dry forever, and is still in good shape. The actual hair is thin and straight. But there’s TONS of it. Some of that I owe to good genes, but here’s what I owe the rest to…
Two areas where I have help are in the supplements I take and in the foods I try to eat. I started taking a lot of supplements when Covid showed up and I saw a difference in everything. Hair, skin and nails. I take the following supplements and regularly eat the following foods, which are all shown to help your hair, skin and nails to be healthy and to grow.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin C
Liquid Vitamin D with K
Fish Collagen
Zinc
Green Tea
Flaxseed
Chia Seeds
Berries
Sweet Potatoes
Protein - powder, chick pea, quinoa and meat (2/3 x week)
Avocados
Nuts
Here are the products I am currently using on my hair. I do not wash it every day. In fact, I go 3 days without washing it, if I can. I wear it up a lot. I alternate products, depending on how long it’s been since a washing or salon visit.
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shampooing…
This is a protective shampoo for colored hair. My stylist recommended it to me and I do like it. I use this regularly when I am not having scalp or yellowing issues. When I stop with the highlights, I will probably use something more basic.
Now this I love. It smells wonderful and is a great exfoliating scalp scrub. You use very little for a huge lather. It is very helpful for dry or oily scalp and dermatitis. It comes in a medium size tub and lasts me almost a year. I use it once a week. It your hair and scalp both feel wonderful after this treat.
I have been using this for years and it’s great stuff. It really works. It truly helps with yellowing. Worth every penny.
conditioning…
I also love this product. It also smells divine and makes your hair feel very soft, hydrated and easy to come through. A little goes a long way. This line is cruelty free and is generally clean.
I have been using this for years now and love it also. This is a pigmented color enhancing conditioner for cool blonde or platinum tones, that also makes wet hair easy to comb through.
My stylist used this on my hair one day and I said “What was THAT?” It smells divine and makes my hair feel like “buttah”. Such a treat for your hair. It’s an antioxidant hair butter that fights frizz. I love it and use it maybe once a week. This is a cruelty free line, but I think it’s only moderately clean.
Styling…
This is a lightweight, water-wicking, rapid dry towel that I use instead of a heavy thick bulky towel. And you don’t have to blow it dry, as long. They have turbans too, if you’d like that better.
This blowdryer/brush combo dries my hair really fast and it looks so silky and shiny afterward.
However, I cannot get as much body and lift when I use it. My hair itself looks silky, but the style is flat.
So I’ve just been using this if I’m in a hurry and just need to get my hair dry. If I really want it to have volume (I’m telling you my hair is flat and straight), I will use a my cheap blowdryer first and round brush.
I have to section my hair into 5 sections to dry it, one section at a time.
I know these Dyson dryers are outrageously pricey. But I used one when we were in Charleston last week and just loved it. Our hotel had them! It dries it so much faster and is supposedly better for your hair. I found refurbished ones on EBay for half the price. I’m thinking about it!? Anyone have luck with Ebay Refurbished?
Every so often, my wet hair needs a couple spritz’s of this to comb through. I try not to use a lot, but it does a great job. I think it’s not a truly clean product.
I use a plastic pick like this to comb through wet hair. Less breakage.
And last but not least, I have to finish with hairspray. Or I might as well not style it. It has broom-like tendencies.
This is also by Davines and is a natural medium hold spray without alcohol. It helps my hair keep its’ style and helps me cover my cowlick in the back. And it isn’t stiff as a brick, like Aquanet from 1975.
Remember, these products all last me a long time. When you only wash it 2-3 times a week - some of these things last 6 months to a year.
You probably know this if you have gray, white or blonde hair, but if you don’t want it to get yellow or too brassy, WEAR A HAT IN THE SUN!
This is a great post that Cindy Hattersley did recently on caring for gray/white hair too! She has great info, including some about taming frizz and some good glosses. I don’t have good experience with that - no frizz happening around here. It’s stick straight.
Next we will talk about my latest painting projects and I have another trip to the low country - Palmetto Bluffs, SC to be exact. I am tagging along on a work trip with Chip. The weather is not looking great but it is a beautiful place, so hopefully it will clear up for us! I may or may not get that article out before I leave this weekend.
See You Soon.