Although many people still don’t feel comfortable with them, it’s becoming more and more common to see people who don’t dye them, taking ownership of this natural change. We know that it is not so easy to maintain them, but with a few tips, white hair can be particularly cute.
The first: what is gray hair? These are hairs that produce less melanin, so they lose their pigment. Although we know that they are linked to the passage of time, they can also be due to genetic factors, stress, certain pathologies (such as vitiligo for example), endocrine problems or even nutritional deficiencies.
The process is different in men and women: “Gray hair starts to appear on average 10 years earlier in men,” says Vesna Dragicevic, dermatologist at Clínica Alemana. In this regard, dermatologist Dr. Pilar Bofill of the Universidad de Los Andes Clinic explains: “In older women, the hair loses its pigmentation and the decrease in estrogen levels facilitates the overexpression of male hormones, and there may be have hair loss. thicker in areas influenced by these hormones.
But not only age influences its appearance. Regarding the effect of stress, dermatologist Dr. Florencia Conti points out: “Research has determined that acute stress induces hyperactivation of the sympathetic nervous system and the release of norepinephrine, which induces stem cell depletion and loss of pigment. in the hair”. The specialist adds, “Furthermore, a study has shown that stress causes the chemical noradrenaline to be released in the follicle. Noradrenaline affects the melanocyte stem cells that live there. detach from the hair follicles.Hairdresser Diego Marcon agrees: “Gray hair can appear due to stress and often the origin is in the lack of vitamins in the body. On this subject, Marcon provides an interesting fact : After the pandemic, many people acquired more gray hair, because they were exposed to less sun and, therefore, less vitamin D.
Gray hair is not easy to manage, but there are many products on the market today that allow you to maintain healthy, shiny and silky gray hair. An alternative is the use of shampoos with blue/violet pigments, which help prevent white hair from taking on the yellowish color left by exposure to calcium in the water, obtaining a more silvery appearance; but professionals warn that it should not be applied excessively, as the hair may acquire a bluish tone.
On the other hand, to avoid unpleasant frizz which is also a problem linked to gray hair, a good tip is to use moisturizing shampoos and specific reconstruction products, since the hair dries out due to lack of melanin and becomes more brittle. porous. Another relevant recommendation is not to expose gray hair too much to the sun, as this can make it more yellowish.
In case you also want to dye your hair, Dr. Dragisevic recommends: “It is important to have the work and advice of a good hairdresser to care for and not damage the hair, because some dyes contain paraphenylenediamine and paraaminophenol which, in some cases, can cause an allergy or allergic contact dermatitis. In addition, there are natural or vegetable dyes such as henna and chamomile”.
Home tips for gray hair
Hairstylist Carola Andrews gives us some homemade tricks for taking care of gray hair that are pretty easy to do in the comfort of your home:
Avocado masks for better hydration
(Apply to clean, freshly washed hair without using conditioner)
Blend an avocado. Apply this paste to all hair from root to tip except for those with oily roots. in this case, apply from the middle of the hair to the ends. Leave on for half an hour and rinse.
*Only if after rinsing the grease is not well out, you can apply a shampoo, but without working it but only to absorb the excess. Then apply a minimal amount of conditioner to seal the cuticle. Rinse again.
Oil for better hydration
The avocado mask process is repeated, replacing it with argan, olive or coconut oil
Apply to all hair from roots to ends, except those with oily roots; in this case, apply from the middle of the hair to the ends. Leave on for half an hour and rinse.
*Only if after rinsing the grease is not well out, you can apply a shampoo, but without working it but only to absorb the excess. Then apply a minimal amount of conditioner to seal the cuticle. Rinse again.
Vinegar baths for shine
Mix half a cup of vinegar with a liter of water. Apply to hair after washing with shampoo and conditioner. Rinse.
Products for the care of your gray hair
NaturVital Silver shampoo for white and gray hair
Neutralizes yellowish tones giving a silver tint with a bluish tint. Does not stain skin and adds shine while enhancing hair tone
Elgon Colorcare silver shampoo.
Shampoo with violet pigments capable of eliminating unwanted yellow reflections caused by photo-oxidation in blond or white hair, providing shine and luminosity.
Argan Mask Kanechom
The argan oil present in its formula repairs the hair providing it with nutrition, softness, vitality and an anti-frizz effect.
Kérastase 8H Magic Night Nutritive Serum
It is applied at night with the aim of reversing the loss of nutrients that occurs during the day, leaving hair soft and shiny.
*Prices for products in this item are effective as of September 1, 2022. Values and availability may change.
Source: Latercera
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
