How to manage gray hair? - Garnier How to manage gray hair? - Garnier

How to Manage those Pesky Gray Hairs

Gray hair happens. But that doesn’t mean you have to live with it.
Why does your hair turn gray? What’s the best shampoo for gray hair? What’s the best hair color for gray hair? 

To help you embrace the gray, we’ve rounded up our top tips to keep your salt-and-pepper strands looking sleek!

Why does hair turn gray? - Garnier

Why Does Hair Turn Gray?

Melanin is the pigment that gives your hair its color. What causes gray hair is when the hair follicles lose their ability to produce melanin. Without melanin, those follicles appear white or gray.

While many of us may go gray eventually, premature graying is likely linked to genetics. But other factors may speed up the onset of gray hair, including poor nutrition, smoking and stress.

Gray Hair Care

Gray hair has a personality and texture all its own. Often at odds with the rest of your hair, with a little TLC, gray hair can be soothed and smoothed.

Gray hair tends to be drier and coarser, which makes proper hydration super important, says Dr. Madfes. “Due to less protection from a tight outer layer, gray hairs are more susceptible to external damage, UV exposure and processing. The hairs are brittle, drier and have a tendency to break easily,” she says.

What’s the best shampoo for gray hair?

Look for formulas that provide protection against breakage. Whole Blends Honey Treasures shampoo is enriched with Beeswax and Vitamin A to seal in moisture and form a barrier against breakage.  
Dr. Madfes recommends using a nourishing conditioner to keep hair soft and supple, and go the extra mile with a weekly hair mask to help provide proper hydration. 

Deep-down hydration is important to tame unruly grays. For a quenching overnight treatment, apply Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Intensely Smooth Leave-In Conditioning Cream and cover your hair with a shower cap before bed. The next morning, wash it out with Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Shampoo. This is a yummy shampoo for gray hair because it’s infused with Argan Oil, Vitamin E, plant protein, and conditioning agents. For best results, follow up with Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Conditioner.

Shampoo for gray hair - Garnier

How to Cover Gray Hair

When coloring gray hair, you can get salon-worthy results from the comfort of your own bathroom, as long as you choose the right products for your hair’s evolving needs.
Best hair color for gray hair - Garnier

Nourished hair means better color. To cover gray hair, check out Garnier Olia Ammonia Free Hair Color in 1.0 Black. This oil powered gray hair dye will ensure brilliant color and healthier hair. 

If you’re looking for the best way to cover gray on dark hair, try a nourishing color creme. Garnier Nutrisse Nourishing Color Creme in Medium Natural Brown 50 (Truffle) for instance, is infused with avocado, olive and shea oils to allow the formula to deeply penetrate hair fibers so color can adhere better and longer.  
If you’re dealing with stubborn grays, you’ll want the best gray hair dye for 100% coverage on resistant grays. Thanks to its CoverPlus Technology, Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Coverage in Deep Dark Brown (Sweet Pecan) is the ultimate cover up for gray hairs that also provides intense moisture for nourished and healthy-looking locks.

Dying Gray Hair

When applying hair color to cover gray, saturate the hair completely and give the dye a little more time to absorb. A color cap can help here. With regular dying, gray hair tends to become more receptive to the color as its texture changes and softens. This also means that you will want to give your hair some extra love by moisturizing it as much as possible with the help of hydration boosting shampoos, conditioners and leave-in mask treatments.

How to Help Reduce the Appearance of Grays

- Don’t smoke. Premature hair graying, as well as hair loss, is more prevalent in smokers, found a wide-reaching scientific study.
- Eat a nutritious, balanced diet. A lack of Vitamin D3 and calcium have been found to be present in cases of premature graying.
- Don’t sweat it. Stress can contribute to hair loss. And here’s the kicker: gray hair doesn’t fall out as readily as dark (pigmented) hair – that’s according to the Canadian Dermatology Association. So if you’re losing hair to stress, you may find that even more grays reveal themselves!
- Make peace with your grays. It may be tempting, but don’t pluck them out!  According to Garnier consulting dermatologist Dr. Diane Madfes, after plucking “the follicle can become damaged and not regrow”.
- Healthy body, healthy hair! It’s like your momma always told you: get your exercise, and get your beauty sleep. Your hair – and your stress levels – will thank you for it! 

How to reduce gray hair - Garnier