The Gray and Silver Hair Trend - It's Real, and It's Empowering - Discuss

[Jelcee42]

I think the color is now “platinum” lolz. Gray is beautiful. I’m not even 40 and have plenty, mainly in my beard. If Women collectively said f-ck coloring, another industry would be brought to its knees.

[Alison H.]

Alison H. I'd really like to try that hair treatment, but am really concerned about it weighing my hair down - making it look oily or leaving a residue so it won't hold a wave/curls. My hair is naturally straight and fine, though I have a lot of hair, and it is pretty sensitive to oily treatments. Does it wash out well, without a rigorous scrubbing?

It does wash out well, in my experience! Granted, I don't use the oil every day or anything. But a single wash with shampoo gets it out — I just go lighter with the conditioner afterward, at least on oil treatment day.

My hair is a little on the coarser side, however — and wavy/curly (depending on if I bother to dry it with a diffuser or not LOL). It is NOT all that thick, however; I have some thyroid-related thinning that's worse (or better) at times.

You could try using it lightly at first. I coat the crap out of mine when I do it, but again, my hair has gotten a bit coarse with age (and the silvering...)

*Mo

I can absolutely understand the desire for gracefulness and aging naturally — I feel the same way about it. I still love putting streaks of bright color in my hair, but not so much that it covers my silver. I REALLY love the tinsel effect, honestly.

The funny thing is that younger generations are doing this to their hair through artificial means (extensions). Apparently, tinsel hair is a big trend?

Guess I'm cool now.

[Mo]

Hey everyone!

Yes, I have noticed this trend in almost all the middle-aged women in my family, and their reasoning for this is that they prefer the natural ageing process and that it looks 'graceful'.

Coming from an Asian background, I can confidently say that at least most of the Gen X women in my family drool over 'gracefulness'.

[atskitty2]

Alison H. I'd really like to try that hair treatment, but am really concerned about it weighing my hair down - making it look oily or leaving a residue so it won't hold a wave/curls. My hair is naturally straight and fine, though I have a lot of hair, and it is pretty sensitive to oily treatments. Does it wash out well, without a rigorous scrubbing?

[Wednesday L.F.]

Wow! Thanks.

[Alison H.]

An oil-based lube for hair?
I'm intrigued. Any specific one you recommend?

YES! The one I've been using is Chiavaye — we actually reviewed it a while back. It's made up of 6 oils (sunflower seed, grapeseed, coconut, almond, evening primrose, and vitamin E) and has no smell, so it's not like it makes your hair smell bad while you're letting it soak in.

I've been saturating my hair and scalp with it (applying it to dry hair) a couple times a week, leaving it in for about an hour or 90 minutes (usually while I'm on the bike or working) before washing it out. It is so freaking soft afterward. It's good for taming curls/frizz but I use it VERY lightly if I put any in my hair after it's clean (like just a few drops — not much).

I'm hoping, too, that it makes it healthier over time. It does seem thicker — not sure if that's just because it's moisturized more now?? Or if that part is all in my head. I'll monitor that over time, but it's definitely improved the texture.

Kayla Lords I know what you mean about playing with color. Manic Panic and Arctic Fox are both really good brands that last well (just watch the blues... those tend to be the hardest to remove/fade later on, for some reason...). I've always been a Manic Panic fan, but Arctic Fox smells like grapes and it's a nice scent — and surprisingly the smell seems to last through a few washes.

[Kayla Lords]

I'm following up because when I last posted in October 2021, I was in the growing-out stages. I'm now fully gray/silver/some original brunette still showing through. I'm not a fan of it for myself. I want to dye my hair -- though not a natural color, to cover up the gray. I plan to start trying the vivid colors this year -- purples, blues, maybe even rainbow.

When I look at myself in the mirror with all this silver and gray, I don't feel like I recognize myself. I don't feel old or anything, just like I'm looking at someone else. So I'm ready to dye it again but it's time to have fun with it, lol.

[Wednesday L.F.]

An oil-based lube for hair?
I'm intrigued. Any specific one you recommend?

[Alison H.]

I've noticed mine changing texture over the last couple of years too. The silver ones definitely do — they are not all wire-like, but many are. They're literally like tinsel strings.

Even the hair that's natural in color, it's just gotten... coarser.

I kid you not, I've been doing weekly hair treatments with an oil-based lube — yes, that kind of lube — and it is doing wonders for its texture.

I don't know that grey/silver hair makes a person look older. I think a lot of that has to do with personal style. Dressed more youthfully, you look younger, regardless of what your hair is doing. And actually, from what I've read online a LOT of younger women are actually going silver on purpose — so if anything, it just looks trendy these days LOL!

[atskitty2]

Claret !! So good to see you!
A woman I used to work with has let her locks go natural. She has a gorgeous head of naturally curly hair, that she'd kept dark brown for years. She cut it, and let it go to it's natural salt/pepper look and it's amazing on her. I wish I found inspiration in that, but I just don't! Kudos to you for doing it, and loving it!
Part of it for me is that I have straight hair, and it's halfway down my back. I curl it or flat iron it mostly when I'm not working, but I have no desire to cut it. At my length, the growing out process would be terrible, I think.

I definitely have noticed a change in texture though.