Going Gray Doesn’t Mean Giving Up. Here's How To Keep It Looking Great

No matter what age you are, you deserve to look and feel your best. And if you’ve decided to let your hair go gray, you still have plenty of options that will help you look your absolute best at any age. “Going gray doesn’t mean giving up,” saidTim Foster, stylist and colorist atDistrict on 50th in Minneapolis. “I think it shows confidence.”

Many stylists agree that gray can be the ultimate power color. Tom Smith , stylist and trend forecaster, said, “Going gray can be incredibly liberating. It has the power to look incredibly sleek, sharp and chic.” Tarryn Feldman said, “Embracing gray hair can be a beautiful and empowering experience.”

Stylist Bradley Leake , owner of the Santa Monica salon Brdy Jay , commented, “A trend we love to see is embracing natural hair color. Gray is just that — it’s natural, and it’s beautiful, and I think gray is having its own moment right now.”

But that doesn’t mean it that it doesn’t need good care. Below, experts reveal the ways to go gray gracefully.

The science of gray hair

Yes, graying hair is a product of aging, but many people don’t realize what’s actually happening as the color of their youth is replaced by something different. “The biggest misconception about gray hair is that it is actually gray in color,” Smith said. “It’s actually the gradual halting of pigment production in the follicle of each hair, one strand at a time.”

Smith suggested taking a closer look to understand what’s happening: “If you look closely at a head of gray hair, you’ll see it’s not just one color, but a mix of your original darker color and scattered colorless strands. That’s the reason some people’s gray hair looks more charcoal or slate-colored, while others’ looks creamier or more beige-toned.”