I can’t remember when I spotted my first grey hair, but the moment when I first realized I had chunks of it growing in I remember vividly. I was driving home from work one day and it was particularly sunny out. The sun was streaming in the window and I caught a glimpse of my hair in my rear-view mirror. It was shimmering! When I got to the next stop light, I realized that the shimmer was not just a trick of the light, but in fact was a ton of stark white hairs growing in around my temples.  I’d been highlighting my hair for years but had only recently decided to take a break from coloring and the lack of blonde highlights made the contrast between the grey hair and my natural brown color quite evident. At only 25, grey hair was, in my opinion, not an option. And so my obsession with fixing this “problem” began.

Causes

Apparently, it’s not that uncommon to start seeing grey hair in your twenties (but try telling that to the 25 year old who still feels like she’s 18). In fact, it’s only getting more common and researchers say stress, diet, and environment are likely culprits.

In some cases, a simple vitamin deficiency can be the cause. Grey hair can be caused by a deficiency in B12, B5, B6, Folic Acid, and/or copper. Do not discount a B Vitamin deficiency as it is more common than one might think.  The Birth Control Pill has been linked to deficiencies in B vitamins and thus if you’ve been taking it for years, you might want to add a supplement.

Solutions

Cover It: If you want to cover your grey, there are an endless number of dyes and products to help you do that.

  • Permanent Color:  If you are more than 30% grey you’ll probably need permanent color to cover your grey. We recommend seeing a hair colorist for the first application of permanent dye to find the right color and then you can try it at home.
  • Demi-Permanent Color: If you’re just beginning to see grey, you will want to steer clear of permanent dye as long as possible since it’s such a huge commitment. For an at home option, try a demi-permanent color like Clairol Natural Instincts. The color washes out in about a month so you won’t have lines of demarcation and if you aren’t crazy about the color, you can try a new one next month.
  • Highlights and Lowlights: Another option for those with just a little bit of grey is to highlight and lowlight around the grey to blend it in. Highlights and lowlights grow out more naturally than all-over color, so you won’t have to visit the salon as often. That said, do leave this trick to a professional as it’s too hard to see what you’re doing on your own!

Embrace It: We read an article on FindaBeautySalon.com about how to embrace your grey hair and really loved their advice so much we decided to spread it. After all, covering up grey hair is costly and requires a lot of time and maintenance, and we don’t know many modern women who are running around with a ton of money and effort to throw at something that’s natural, not a threat to your health, and is objectively just as beautiful as any other “look”!

  • Use the Right Shampoo: If you’re going to embrace your grey, you want to make sure you use the right products to bring out its shimmer. A blue or purple tinted shampoo will help keep grey hair bright and prevent dulling.
  • Try Blending: Rather than dying over your grey hair, ask your stylist to highlight around the grey to blend it. You’ll end up with a gorgeous multi-tonal look.
  • Work It: You know how Lady Gaga can make anything look cool? It’s all about attitude. If you’re embarrassed by your grey hair, others will sense that and consider it a “problem” too. But if you have fun with it and flaunt it, other people won’t perceive it as a “problem.”
  • Cut it: Grey hair tends to be more brittle and harder to keep long. If you’re extra careful with your hair care, then long grey hair is beautiful and we think you should go for it. Otherwise, you may want to cut your hair a bit shorter to keep it in good shape. Consider a fun spunky cut to keep the look youthful.