Brighten Gray Hair in 3 Easy Ways Without Color

Brighten Gray Hair in 3 Easy Ways Without Color

To brighten gray hair seems like an oxymoron, but there are ways to perk up aging hair without hair color. Read on to learn three ways to brighten gray without dying.

Whoop, whoop, happy Hump Day hotties and welcome to this Wednesday’s Q&A with Ask the Pro Stylist. Melody left a question on my Facebook, in essence asking how to brighten gray hair. I have a lot to say on the subject, but I will keep it simple and concise.

I am growing my long hair out to gray, and my bangs are already gray. When it all grows out, is there any way to perk up the color without permanent hair color? I can’t find any gray hair color out of a bottle.

I am not an advocate of ever going gray. Next to wrinkles and sagging skin, gray hair is the biggest aging culprit, adding 10 years easy. However, some people are comfortable with maturing, and that is great, so read further for my answer on how to brighten gray hair.

I am also not an advocate of any hair color that comes in a box. As a professional, licensed and working hairstylist, I never promote or endorse boxed hair color brands found in a pharmacy. They lead to more mistakes; damaged hair and the inevitable and costly color correction. However, there are alternative ways to brighten gray hair.

First I suggest visiting a salon for a healthy haircut. Reshape the hair, and remove some of the processed hair that is growing out to begin to blend. I don’t mean chopping off inches, just a good, modern hairstyle that is both flattering and easy to style.

Next consider highlights. Gray hair can most certainly be highlighted and it doesn’t come with the pressure of touch-ups to conceal the grays at the root area.

Lastly, purchase and use a shampoo and conditioner that will brighten gray hair (Gray hair tends to be more coarse and wiry, so it needs to be conditioned.). My top three choices are as follows:

1. I recommend Paul Mitchell’s Platinum Blonde Shampoo to brighten gray hair and remove brassiness from natural or died blondes.
2. Shimmer Lights is a salon favorite, especially for those weekly blowout clients with bright white hair.
3. BioSilk Cleanse Silver Lights Shampoo also aids to brighten gray hair, and the Farouk brand is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Be sure to visit your salon professional to find one of the choices above to brighten gray hair, or ask them what system they recommend. If you have a question similar to Melody’s please email me at DeirdreAHaggerty@gmail.com.

©Deirdre Haggerty, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this article may be reproduced without prior written permission and consent from the author.