Gray Hair and Age Milestones

It’s funny how the older you get the less important the non-milestone birthdays become. Turned 59? Yawn. But 60? Hot damn! I turned 60 last week, with more gray hair than last year and more to come.

30s and 40s

Turning 30 or even 40, you feel a sense of dread about getting older. But that makes sense with more responsibility with kids and/or aging parents. We may have a few gray hairs here and there, but not enough to notice a shift in hair health or overall color.

50s, 60s and beyond

A couple decades later, things start to change. 50s and 60s bring on a different hair quality. Salt and pepper strands become more salty (attitude as well 😏), making dark hair color more muted. For me, it’s a slate gray crown with whiter highlights. But it doesn’t stop at color; your hair quality changes as well, due to hormone changes and age.

Unlike my persona, my hair has decided to become more immature with age. I really do like and embrace my graying hair, but those grays can be so damn unruly, like a toddler being forced to eat a plate of peas. What is up with that?

Here are the geeky details:

• Gray hair gets wiry due to the loss of melanin. This loss causes the cuticle (the outer covering) to become more tightly closed and less pliable.
• Tight coils often have low porosity, so gray hair has even less! That means it’s even harder for moisture to enter the hair shaft.
• Age brings on reduced sebum production by the scalp, which exacerbates dryness.
• Hair dye requires longer processing time to penetrate gray hair. This can dry out hair even more. Make sure your hair is in good condition prior to coloring to withstand the process better.
• Hormonal changes in women have the effect of declining keratinocytes, which are the main protein source for hair.

So now you know the details…what can you do? Here are some tips:

Shampoo and Conditioner

Use a moisturizing shampoo that is sulfate-free and has hydrating ingredients like argan oil, shea butter, and keratin. Make sure to use a matching shampoo and conditioner SET. These products come in sets, as they are designed to work together to open and close the cuticle at the right times in your wash session. This is even more important with grey tresses. Grab my Ingredient Top Tips to help you pick good products .

Use a leave-in

There are some styling products that swear you don’t need a leave-in layered underneath. On a recent vacation, I forgot to bring my leave-in. Day 3 of my wash & go brought dryness, less pliability and more tangles. I won’t make that mistake again.

Deep Conditioning

As more gray appears, consider doing regular deep conditioning. As a lazy natural myself, I let go of deep conditioning for the most part but I’m bringing it back into my arsenal. Let your hair dictate when it’s needed. If hair dries out well before the next wash day or if styles aren’t lasting, a deep conditioning treatment (with heat from a heat cap or hood dryer) can help infuse moisture.

Reduce Heat Styling

Lower the temp on your hair dryer and flat iron, if you use them at all. Some influencers say air-drying is a problem for coily hair; let your experiences be the judge. My experience has been mixed—my hair feels more moisturized after air drying, but I do use a blow dryer at times if I want my wash and go to last longer. If you can, air drying as long as possible and finishing with an appliance may be a good compromise.

Protein Treatments

Graying tresses can be more breakable. A protein treatment every 4-8 weeks can help strengthen hair and improve elasticity.

Reduce Sun Exposure

Gray hair is more vulnerable to UV rays, so protect your hair from the sun with a hat, scarf, or umbrella.

The name of the game for gray hair is the same as any hair issue. Learn to decode what your hair is telling you and act accordingly. This way, you will create a regimen that is personalized and keeps your hair thriving.

Just like so many things as we get older, we must meet our body where it’s at. This realization makes it easier to deal with changes that come about with age. We need to take care of our bodies with exercise and a healthy diet. Handle stress through getting away from toxic people and situations. Get off your phone and get enough sleep.

Gray hair is a fact of life and can be beautiful and expressive if you want it to be. It’s about adapting your regimen to accommodate the changes and being consistent.

Learn the 4 pillars of moisture maintenance for coily hair. This applies even more as it starts to go gray.

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