Do you think that your hair makes you look older than you really are? If you’re worried about gray hair, or the brittle texture aging hair can have, it’s easy to feel self-conscious about your appearance. But just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean your hair can’t be healthy, shiny and stunning. Here are some of the common signs of aging hair and how to treat these conditions.
Gently Color Graying Hair
That first gray hair you find can be the first hint that your hair is aging. If you’re like the average person, you probably spotted your first white strand when you were in your thirties. But gray hair can also start in your twenties or even your teens. By the time most adults reach their forties, they can expect more gray hair as this is typically the time of life when cells no longer produce pigment.
If you don’t like the look of your gray hair, you can always color it. But be careful to select salon treatments that nourish and protect your hair during and after the coloring process. If you’ve been coloring your hair for several years, it may be brittle and dry from the peroxide and ammonia contained in permanent hair dyes. With a gentler treatment and salon products that rejuvenate your locks, you can make your hair healthy again. After your next color treatment, start protecting your hair with Kérastase’s Bain Chromatique Riche shampoo to lock in the color and rejuvenate your hair.
Grow Out and Nourish Gray Hair
On the other hand, gray hair can be exceptionally attractive. In fact, it’s even stylish today as more and more people, including celebrities, are strutting their gray locks. If you do plan to let your hair grow out and be totally gray, it can take six months or more for your natural gray hair to grow in, so you’ll need to be patient. Cutting your hair shorter can help in getting rid of hair that’s been chemically colored so that your new growth starts blending in faster.
However, gray hair is also vulnerable to yellowing. Restrict the amount of time you spend in direct sunlight since too much UV radiation can yellow your hair. One way to prevent this from occurring is by wearing a scarf or hat. Chlorine can also result in gray hair turning yellow. So thoroughly rinse your hair with water after you swim to prevent your hair from soaking up chlorine. Wearing a swim cap is also recommended.
Strengthen Brittle Hair
As you get older, your hair can become brittle from losing some elasticity. If your hair has been subjected to hair straighteners, bleaches, permanent dyes, and too many chemicals for a long time, it can break. Brittle hair is hard to style and develops a lot of split ends over time. Start using protein-rich products instead of harsh chemicals or heat regimens. Luxury hair care products are specially formulated to strengthen brittle hair and eliminate breakage.
Another problem with aging hair is that it tends to be wiry and stubborn, even as it’s brittle. That’s why it helps to use hair products that contain silicone, such as our Kérastase hair products. When deciding on hair products, always look for the word ‘silicone’ on the label. Also, add Kevin Murphy’s Leave-In.Repair treatment to your routine to reduce breakage.
Counteract Thinning Hair
Even younger people can lose from 60 to 100 hairs each day. But hair loss becomes more of an issue as you age. To treat hair thinning and reduce hair loss, use shampoos that are sulfate-free. Also, reduce your use of heating tools to style your hair. Eating a protein-rich diet can also help in fighting hair thinning.
Moisturize Dry Hair
Dry hair is another common concern for people as they age. As you get older, your scalp produces less oil, but that scalp oil is what keeps your hair looking soft, shiny and healthy.
Avoid hair products containing strong chemicals or high alcohol content because this can lead to brittle, dry hair. Drugstore hair products generally contain ingredients such as drying alcohol, sulfates, and other harmful ingredients that can damage your hair. Our selection of Kevin Murphy hair moisturizers soften hair, smooth hair cuticles, naturally repair chemical damage, and reduce breakage.
Deseo Salon & BlowDry in Denver carries the top hair care products to nourish aging and gray hair. If you’re going to spend the rest of your summer swimming, take a minute to read about tips and products to protect your hair from drying out. Our stylists can also recommend the right routines to keep your hair healthy and easy to style. Book an appointment with one of our professional stylists to get the right treatments and styling for your unique hair.
Frequently Asked Questions: Caring for Gray and Aging Hair
At what age does gray hair typically start, and what causes it?
Gray hair can begin at almost any age, some people spot their first white strands as early as their teens or twenties, though the thirties are most common. The primary cause is that hair follicle cells gradually stop producing melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color. By the time most adults reach their forties, significantly more gray growth is typical. While genetics plays the largest role in timing, stress and certain health conditions can also accelerate the process.
How can you color gray hair without damaging it further?
If you’ve been coloring your hair for years, it may already be brittle and dry from the peroxide and ammonia in permanent dyes. Choosing gentler, salon-grade color treatments that nourish the hair during and after the process is essential. Following color with a protective shampoo like Kérastase’s Bain Chromatique Riche locks in color and rejuvenates the hair’s condition. A professional stylist at a Denver salon can recommend treatments that balance color results with hair health.
How long does it take to fully grow out gray hair, and what helps the transition?
Growing out chemically colored hair to reveal natural gray can take six months or more depending on your hair’s length and growth rate. Cutting your hair shorter during the transition helps eliminate the dyed portions faster, allowing natural gray growth to blend in more quickly. Patience is key, but the result can be stunning, especially as gray and silver tones become increasingly fashionable among people of all ages.
Why does gray hair turn yellow, and how can you prevent it?
Gray hair is particularly vulnerable to yellowing from two main sources: UV radiation from sun exposure, and chlorine from swimming pools. Prolonged sun exposure causes the hair’s melanin-free strands to oxidize and take on a yellow or brassy tint. Chlorine has a similar effect. To prevent yellowing, limit direct sun exposure or protect your hair with a scarf or hat, and always rinse your hair thoroughly with fresh water after swimming. Wearing a swim cap also helps.
What causes hair to become brittle as you age, and what products help?
Hair loses some of its natural elasticity as you age, especially when combined with years of exposure to chemical treatments, bleach, permanent dyes, and heat styling. This leads to brittle strands that break easily and develop split ends. Protein-rich hair products designed to rebuild the hair’s internal structure are the most effective solution. Products containing silicone, like Kérastase’s professional line, help smooth and strengthen brittle strands, while Kevin Murphy’s Leave-In.Repair treatment is recommended to reduce breakage.
How can you reduce thinning hair that worsens with age?
Some daily hair shedding is normal at any age, but hair loss accelerates as you get older. The most effective steps include switching to a sulfate-free shampoo, reducing your reliance on heat styling tools, and maintaining a protein-rich diet to support hair growth from within. Sulfates strip the scalp of natural oils, leaving hair follicles weakened and more prone to shedding. Combined with professional products targeted at thinning hair, these changes can make a meaningful difference.
Why does hair become drier with age, and how can you restore moisture?
As you age, your scalp produces progressively less sebum, the natural oil that keeps hair soft, shiny, and moisturized. At the same time, years of exposure to harsh chemicals, drying alcohols, and sulfates found in drugstore products compound the dryness. Switching to professional-grade moisturizing products, such as Kevin Murphy hair moisturizers, helps smooth cuticles, naturally repair chemical damage, and reduce breakage. Avoiding products with high alcohol content or sulfates is equally important.
Where can Denver residents find expert care for gray and aging hair?
Deseo Salon & BlowDry in Denver carries a curated selection of professional hair care products specifically suited for gray and aging hair, including Kérastase, Kevin Murphy, and Oribe formulas. Their stylists can recommend the right shampoos, treatments, and styling routines to keep your hair healthy, strong, and looking great regardless of your age. Located in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood, Deseo serves clients from across the Denver metro area.
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