​When I wake up every day, I find many strands of hair on my pillow. I also have the habit of cleaning my house every other day since hair is responsible for half of the dirt and grime on floorboards. Just two years ago, I had never even thought that my lustrous hair would one day fall out or turn grey. Given the thick patches my parents had before they turned 50, the reason for my hair loss being genetic didn't seem very likely.

Many of my colleagues, some of whom are years younger than I am, have the same concern. The pressure from working in the news cycle may be a reason, but we are not alone. A recent survey by the China Association of Health Promotion and Education reveals that China's hair loss population stands at a whopping 250 million, most of them between 20 and 40 years old.

Among this population, men accounted for 160 million – that's some 23 percent of Chinese men. The majority of them are reportedly starting to deal with hair loss at 30, two decades earlier than the previous generation.

"When we make the clinical rounds, we can see more young patients with thinning hair, so it does exist," Yang Shuxia, a dermatologist at the Peking University First Hospital, told CGTN.

A white paper by Alibaba Health Information Technology Company last year showed that the post-1990s generation accounted for 36.1 percent while the post-1980s made up 38.5 percent of the hair-shedding population.

Baldness is becoming increasingly common among university students. According to a study at Tsinghua University in late 2017, 60 percent of students reported thinning hair and 40 percent claimed to notice receding hairlines. The survey, which polled 4,000 students, defined stress, insomnia and irregular living patterns as major causes for going bald.

Another survey, conducted in 2015, concluded that the bald patches on Chinese men added up to one quarter of Beijing's land area. This "bald wave" has spawned a new lucrative business – the hair loss treatment industry. Statistics from health departments show that consumption by China's urban residents on hair care is rising each year at a fast clip of 30 percent. In the next decade, the country is expected to see an annual growth rate of 260 percent in the business of hair nutrition, restoration and transplantation.
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Take a closer look at the consumer data: On JD.com, sales of hair-growing shampoos surged by 136 percent in the first quarter of 2018 year on year. Another e-commerce giant Taobao reported in 2017 that hair products, including vibrating hair brushes, herbal remedies, Minoxidil and adhesive hair pieces, were among its top 40 bestselling lines, over 40 percent of sales of which were made by consumers under 30 years old.

Actually, many millennials are aware of the reasons for hair loss. Many of them interviewed by CGTN attribute the condition to irregular daily routines, staying up late and stress amid hectic schedules at work and pressure from a high cost of living in a metropolis.

"Excessive anxiety can, in a way, interrupt the normal growth cycle of hair," said Yang Shuxia. However, she underlined that if you notice excessive hair loss, you don't have to panic. Instead, try to notice if you've undergone significant changes for the past few months such as experiencing constant anxiety, signs of fever, irregular daily routines or rapid weight loss, and then wait for three months to see if those symptoms go away. 

If so, then hair loss may be due to external factors – notably a scalp disorder called "telogen effluvium," which could be managed with changes to habit. If that's not the case, then you should consider seeing a doctor.

Reasons for hair loss can be many, from genetic to environmental. Pattern hair loss is inherited while alopecia is due to problems with your immune system, but loss as a result of stress or other habits are not permanent. For many in the fast-paced modern workplace, it's simply a part of growing up. Less anxiety may help bring your lush look back. 
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This article is from CGTN

Attaining and maintaining gorgeous, shiny hair—or at least finding a natural way to sufficiently hydrate parched strands and banish that itchy scalp—is probably somewhere on just about everyone's list of beauty aspirations. But since your real life to-do list is likely a mile long, a fast and easy solution would be nice. Unfortunately, many shampoo and conditioner combos just don't cut it—at least not on their own. Luckily, there's an affordable trick. Enter: argan oil. 

What is argan oil?

This liquid gold is derived from the kernel fruits of argan trees in Morocco, where it has been used as a natural topical and internal remedy for thousands of years. What makes it so beneficial? Studies show that 99 percent of argan oil is made up of triglycerides, or essential fatty acids, which have been shown to decrease skin inflammation and irritation. The remaining 1 percent is a powerful combo of botanical compounds, like antioxidant vitamin E. All of which is to say, argan oil is basically a hair hydrating hero. 

Benefits of argan oil for hair.

When applied to skin and hair, even a few drops of argan oil can work wonders. "It's great for many conditions, especially dry, damaged hair because its trove of fatty acids lock moisture into the hair follicle," says Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., an American Board Family Medicine physician and mbg Collective member.

And let's face it, avoiding split ends and frizz is tough when everything from blow drying and straightening to drying wet hair with a towel can cause damage. Thankfully, argan oil nourishes the entire strand from root to tip.

People also rave about argan oil's ability to increase hair growth, but at this point, no research can definitively back up those claims. It has been proved, however, that a daily scalp massage can stimulate hair follicles and increase hair growth and thickness. And since compounds in argan oil reduce hair loss and breakage, the combo may just be ideal for improving the thickness and texture of hair.

The fatty acids also help decrease any inflammation in the scalp due to dryness and may reduce hair loss associated with scalp irritation and inflammation, explains Gandhi, which is great news for those who suffer from dandruff or scalp burn. Basically, argan oil is an all-in-one solution to your hair woes—it tames frizz, hydrates skin on the scalp, and repairs damage from everyday styling.

How to use argan oil for hair and scalp health.

1. As a natural heat shield and split end treatment.

Since it's light and rich, argan oil can be used daily. "I use it on the ends of my hair to protect from heat styling damage," explains Gandhi. Instead of spraying a chemically laden product before straightening, blow drying, or curling, try applying a bit of argan oil. The protective oleic and linoleic fatty acids will coat strands, preventing the outer layer, or cuticle, from lifting—all of which lead to split or broken ends. Even if you're not styling, adding a touch of argan oil to wet hair is great for hydration and shine, as the oil has been shown to slow the loss of moisture.

Try it: Pump a dime-size amount of argan oil into your palm, rub your hands together, and pull them through the bottom 2 inches of your hair. Adjust for length and texture.

2. As a soothing hair mask for an itchy, flaky scalp.

For a dry, sunburned, or flaky scalp, try a weekly leave-in argan oil conditioning treatment. "Argan oil is full of antioxidants and vitamins A, C, and E, so it's great topically on skin," says Gandhi. This DIY hair mask kills two birds with one stone—it deeply hydrates your scalp and conditions hair in the process. It will leave your locks feeling silky, smooth, and nourished. And don't worry about it getting on your face or neck, as argan oil has wonderful anti-aging properties and can be safely used to alleviate skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and even acne.

Try it: Split your hair into two parts like you're making pigtails. Pump a quarter-size amount of argan oil into your palm and rub your hands together. On one side, start from the scalp and massage oil down to the tip of your hair. Add more oil if necessary. Repeat on the other side of your head, then massage and work the oil all over your scalp. Wrap your locks in a top bun, pop on a shower cap, and let that argan oil work its magic for 20 to 30 minutes.

3. As a conditioner booster for ultra-dry hair.

If you find your hair particularly dry, brittle, or tangled and need a simple fix, try combining a few drops of argan oil with your existing conditioner on a daily basis (or however frequently you wash). It's high volume of fatty acids works to smooth frayed hair cuticles (the outermost part of the hair shaft). Plus, the boost of vitamins will leave locks shiny and nourished.

Try it: Pump the desired amount of conditioner into your palm, then add 3 to 5 drops of argan oil. Apply to your hair as you normally would and allow it to sit for about 5 minutes before rinsing. 

What to look for when buying argan oil.

When purchasing argan oil, look for 100 percent organic argan oil without any fillers, water, alcohol, preservatives, or additional chemicals. "And make sure it says 'Made in Morocco,' because that's where it naturally originates," explains Gandhi. It should come in a dark glass bottle, like olive oil or wine, and be kept away from the sun. Don't forget that a little bit goes a long way, so even though it may initially seem like a pricey purchase, it's often worth the money. Plus, you can use it all over your face and body, too, making it an incredibly versatile purchase.


This article is from MindBodyGreen

That’s the conclusion of three experts with diverse experiences in the CBD space participating in last week’s Well + Good Talks panel discussion at Made by We in New York City. They emphasized that the challenge for brands in the skyrocketing CBD trade is demystifying exactly what they’re selling amid a flood of hemp-related products.

The global legal cannabis industry is expected to triple by 2022 to $32 billion, according to research from Arcview and BDS Analytics, with beauty and personal care expected to nab a fair share of sales. The Brightfield Group projects revenue in the CBD sector will hit $22 billion by 2022. Despite the large figures, CBD beauty remains a nascent segment subject to misunderstanding, fear and hype.

A Well + Good study of 1,000 readers, who are leaders in embracing wellness trends, revealed one in four have tried CBD, suggesting the ingredient isn’t quite as ubiquitous as the buzz around it implies. Senior editor Jessie Van Amburg said they want to grasp the science behind CBD-based products. That’s been a tall order, especially because there are a myriad of products on the market with questionable claims.

A lack of federal regulation has made CBD marketing a free for all. When Anthony Saniger, founder and CEO of Standard Dose, was prepping the launch of his online resource—and soon to be physical store—centered on CBD products, he discovered brands with misleading packaging. “They didn’t say truthful things,” he said. “They listed a certain milligram of CBD, but they didn’t have anything [in the product]. They were saying, ‘We cure everything,’ which is kind of snake oil.”

To cut through the clutter, Saniger said Standard Dose features a glossary of terms on its website. Brands available on the site not only provide their lab testing, but Standard Dose conducts its own to verify the testing results supplied by brands. Saniger asserted, “I tell people to double check that the product is a really good product and does not have THC because, if it does, you may get high.”

There’s a need for more transparency and greater testing in the industry, stressed Chelsea Leyland, a medical cannabis and epilepsy activist. “In terms of purchasing, you have to see first if there are even cannabinoids in the product,” she said. “I feel fed up and disappointed when I see companies calling themselves a CBD product when, in fact, it is mascara with a hemp oil in it. You are essentially lying to the consumer.”

Leyland pointed out hemp was legalized in the U.S. last year upon the passage of the Farm Bill, which played an enormous role in setting off the current CBD rush. “So, when you see products in a gas station or Whole Foods, they are derived from hemp,” she explained. Although CBD is derived from hemp, hemp oil without it has infiltrated the consumer goods universe.

Beyond not getting what consumers pay for, Leyland underscores the dearth of regulation and testing can be dangerous. She said, “You need testing to ensure quality and testing for metal since cannabis sucks up toxins from the ground.”

Compounding the problem, the experts agreed that, without the proper product vetting, users could potentially apply or ingest THC and, as a result, have an undesired high. Van Amburg said, “CBD is not supposed to get you high, but there is a study talking about how, when some CBD products were sampled, some of them had 53% THC.”

As CBD products spread, Mary Pryor, co-founder and CEO of Cannaclusive, recommended caution in selecting an outlet for purchasing them. “Here are some red flags…bodega CBD, normally not the way to go,” she said. “The reason is because that CBD is being sourced from places where there is not a regulated market, and there are a lot of additives or concerning growing procedures.”

As the industry gets sorted out, one myth being debunked is that sales will be driven only by millennials and gen Z. Saniger admitted his initial playbook was hyper-focused on young consumers. But after an 80-year old woman asked him about CBD for arthritis, he shifted gears to be age inclusive. “It is not the trendy thing to just add to your coffee to have fun,” he said. “It can help with serious issues people are dealing with and, hopefully, [there will be] trials to help figure out how to cure these things.”

Peering ahead, Pryor said the industry will be delving into the wide array of cannabis components such as THCA, THCB, CBC and CBG in addition to CBD. She said, “This is what everyone is working on now. Most pharma companies are paying to get greater extractions to get hybrid versions. That’s the next wave. People are looking outside just the CBD category.”

Saniger is dialed into finding out how terpenes, which give cannabis its odor, can be mixed with cannabinoids for custom blends. “Everybody’s combination is very different, and I am excited to see what those differences are and how we incorporate them into products,” he said. “I’m looking for how we can have better absorption rates, especially in beauty products. Also, how we can get smarter using technology that will help develop those things, especially in the beauty space.”
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This is from Beauty Independent

You’ve likely long been touting the benefits of professional beauty products, due to their better ingredients and less harsh chemicals. But how much of that is truth versus marketing hype? One hairstylist, Jacqui Swanson (@jacqui.swan) of Jacqui Swan in Visalia, California, decided to put her hair on the line and test how much, if at all, her hair would be affected by drugstore shampoo. Well, the proof is in the pudding, as they say, and after a week of using the non-pro stuff, her hair color had dramatically faded and her hair felt brittle and way less healthy. We talked to her about why she wanted to do this challenge, and if she would ever try anything like this again. And be sure to check out the highlights section on Swanson’s Instagram page @jacqui.swan for the Shampoo Challenge for yourself and to share with your clients.

What motivated you to do the Seven Day Drugstore Shampoo Challenge?
There was a week in the salon where four new clients in a row showed me these beautiful photos of bright blondes and vibrant vivid tones with all the hopes and dreams of having that hair when they left the salon that day. Expectations were running high. After explaining what their hair would have to go through to achieve their dreams, they were all on board. But when I asked what shampoo they used at home, two said Pantene and the other two said Head & Shoulders. And one of those two didn’t even use conditioner because the bottle says 2-in-1! When I was trying to explain what it means to take care of their hair once they get home, it was like I could see their ears close. They were no longer listening. I was frustrated. While venting to a fellow stylist a few days later I said, “I know what I’ll do, I’ll use what they use and show them it’s wrong!”

What were the criteria for the Challenge?
Wash my hair hot water every day for seven days with drugstore shampoo and conditioner. Style it with non-professional products every day as well. I knew I was the perfect candidate because I have the same hair as most of my clients: a natural level 4 that’s lightened to a level 9.

What did you expect to happen to your hair after seven days? Why would you want to risk potential damage?
I expected it to feel like crap. Very dry and stiff. I knew that even though I was putting my hair at risk of feeling horrible, I also knew that any damage could be easily reversed with the right treatments. I was actually more excited to show how it would look after using great hair products.

How quickly did you notice a change in your hair? Did you notice your hair health or color change first?
I very quickly noticed a change in the quality. I normally can get away with blow drying it with my fingers and it looks nice. Not in this case. My ends looked frayed, as if I needed a haircut, but I had just got one two weeks before. It only got more tangly and more unmanageable with every wash. I noticed the hair health first, but the color was visibly different after one wash, and after two washes the vibrant pop of color was gone.

Which products did you use, and was any one better than the others?
I purchased Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner, Head & Shoulders Green Apple Anti-Dandruff 2-in-1, Pantene Leave On Detangling Milk, Dove Dry Shampoo and a Garnier Fructis Damage Repairing Treat. Not “Treatment.” “Treat”—whatever that means.
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• The Fructis Mask was garbage; it didn’t do anything. But what do you expect for $3.00?
• The Pantene leave-in wasn’t the worst product I’ve ever tried, but knowing what a good leave-in conditioner will do, it doesn’t stack up.
• I hadn’t used Head & Shoulders in 12 years, and I have to say they have improved their formula. I used it two times and I didn’t get the buildup I remember (but I only used it twice), and I wasn’t nearly as itchy as I expected I would be (I have a horrible dandruff). But I also believe it isn’t an everyday shampoo. You should be switching between it and something else. And first and foremost it is NOT a conditioner! Two-in-one’s are junk.

The main thing I noticed about all of the products was the strong smell. They really get people with the smell. It makes them believe it’s working. But do you really want to wash your hair with perfume?

I can see in your before and after picture that your color definitely faded over the course of seven days. How much of that do you attribute to using these products vs. actually shampooing your hair every day? How often would you shampoo your hair regularly?
Water is the enemy. You want to keep water especially hot water away from your hair as much as possible. Pair that with basically washing with dish soap and say sayonara to your hair color. I am on the opposite side of the spectrum. I should wash my hair more. I say I wash my hair every three or four days, but it’s really like every five.

Do you think that this fade would have been just as prominent on someone who didn’t have a vibrant color, but more of a natural color?
Vibrant-toned hair definitely sees a more dramatic depletion in color, but any way you swing it hair color is going to fade, whether it’s natural or vivid. But when you’re investing a lot of money to get it done, take care of it. Would you put your designer bag in the washing machine?

How do you think stylists can best talk to their clients about the problems of using drugstore product? How do you educate vs. sell?
That’s exactly why I did this. I was struggling to find a way to get the point across. As stylists, we can give our clients all their hair dreams. But if they don’t maintain it properly at home, when they come back, they may complain that it didn’t last, like we did it to them. Many of my young clients come in every three months. That’s four days out of 365 that I’m taking care their hair. They are taking care of it the remaining 361 days. It truly isn’t about me making money off of you buying products or forcing you to spend a bunch of money. I don’t care where you go: Find professional hair brands you like, find good deals and use them!

The response from clients has been amazing! “You convinced me, I need to take better care of my hair!” many have said. Is the answer that every stylist needs to do this to show their clients? I don’t know, but this has been the biggest conversation starter for me to get clients to open their ears to what we’re saying.

What was your biggest takeaway from this experiment?
That people wanted to know how to take care of their hair without knowing they wanted to know. It’s all about getting the conversation started. The amount of messages from girls with questions about what they should use for their hair situation shows they just haven’t been taught how to care for their hair with the hair trends they want. Maybe messaging someone is easier than asking in salon.

Would you ever try anything like this again? (At-home hair color, for example?)
My hairstylist says no. [laughs] But really, that’s a tough one. As a working hairstylist I know if I colored it with at-home color how hard it would be to come back from that and my hair wouldn’t make it. And that’s damage only a haircut will help. But I am thinking of some ideas for future experiments. This was way fun!
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Have you ever been more reluctant to shampoo your hair than after this challenge?
I don’t think it’s possible for me to wash less than I already do. [laughs]  But no, it didn’t. It definitely made me appreciate professional styling products more than ever.


This article is from Beauty LAUNCHPAD

Six years ago, I was 30 and had a healthy, thick, wavy black mane.

Today I’m 36 and half my hair is gray and wiry.

My son, Gus, was looking at a picture of me from when I was 30 and asked: “Dad, how did you get so old, so fast?”

Great question, son.

Going gray didn’t happen overnight. I remember spotting a few gray strands in my late twenties. A few years later, I saw some more. Then one day I woke up, looked in the mirror, and saw as much salt as pepper.

I’ve never freaked out about going gray and have never thought about dyeing my hair back to its youthful color. Even in high school my friends described me as grandpa-like, and I actually always looked forward to getting older.

But while I’ve never worried about going gray, I have been curious about it.

What caused me to go gray at such a relatively young age? Was it stress? Genetics? A combination of both?

And now that I have gray hair, do I need to do anything different with my hair care and grooming to make it look its best?

To answer those questions, as well as get the scoop on dyeing your hair for those men who’ve considered it, I did some research and talked to Thad Forrester, owner of Hudson / Hawk Barber & Shop.

Why Does Hair Go Gray?

Each one of your hairs grows out of a hair follicle, and each follicle contains cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce two types of pigments, or colors: eumelanin, which is dark brown or black, and pheomelanin, which is reddish yellow. Eumelanin and pheomelanin blend together to give you your hair color. (Dermatologists will often refer to eumelanin and pheomelanin simply as “melanin.”)

When melanocytes in the hair follicle start to die, the strand of hair gets less melanin as it grows and takes on a more transparent color. Gray hair is hair that’s still getting a bit of melanin, but not enough to lend the hair its youthful hue. White hair is hair that’s not getting any melanin at all. Once a melanocyte cell dies, there’s no resurrecting it — it’s dead forever, and it will never produce melanin again. Barring some breakthrough in bioengineering (or dyeing your hair), once hair goes gray, it’s gray for good.

Besides giving hair its color, melanin also helps make hair smooth and lush. Consequently, gray, melanin-deprived hair often gets a wiry or coarse texture and it becomes increasingly difficult to style and manage.

So that’s the mechanism behind hair going gray — its pigment-producing cells die. But what causes those melanin cells to expire in the first place?

Scientists don’t really know.

Age certainly plays a factor and is of course why we associate going gray with getting old. As you get older, all of your body’s cells start to die and malfunction, including the cells that make hair color.

But some people go gray sooner and some people keep their color well into old age.

What gives?

There’s a popular theory that stress causes people to go gray. To bolster this argument, you’ll often see side-by-side pictures of American presidents the day they started their term and the day they ended their term. The President of the United States is arguably one of the most stressful jobs a person could have, so if a man grays considerably during his administration, we figure it was the stress that caused it, right?

Well, maybe. And maybe not. While there’s plenty of anecdotal evidence that stress causes people to go gray, scientific studies that have looked into the matter have been mixed. There’s some evidence to suggest that stress hormones could disrupt melanin being delivered to your hair strands, which would cause it to go gray, but again, it’s not conclusive. With the graying of presidents’ hair, it could just be a function of getting older; 8 years is a fairly long time, after all.

So stress may or may not play a role in when you go gray. The most significant factor, according to science, is likely your genetics. If your parents went gray at a young age, then the chances of you going gray young are increased.

So what do you do when you start going gray yourself? Should you dye your hair? If you don’t dye it, do you have to change anything with your hair care? Let’s explore those questions. 

Should You Dye Your Gray Hair?

To dye or not to dye. That is the question.

Graying hair is less disconcerting to men than losing hair, and unlike Western women, who are pressured to maintain their youthful looks, and hair color, for as long as possible, we males generally have the luxury of letting the aging process take its natural course. Gray hair is distinguished on a man. It makes him look wise, seasoned, and sometimes even sexy.  

But if you’re in your 20s and 30s, gray hair can feel like it’s prematurely taking the sheen off this last season of youthful virility. And an older man who works in a youth-driven industry, or is back on the dating scene after being divorced or widowed, may also feel pressure to look less stodgy. If you fall into these categories and/or simply feel the desire to dye your hair, keep the following considerations in mind:

If there are just a few spots of gray on your head — like at your temples — you might consider dyeing only those patches with something like Just for Men AutoStop. With this kind of product, you don’t have to dye all of your hair (though you can), just the parts that are going gray. It’s relatively easy to use (you just comb it in and let it sit for 10 minutes before you shower), and it lasts for up to 8 weeks.

If you’re already pretty salt and peppery and you want to color all of your hair, do so gradually. If you go from George Clooney to Keanu Reeves overnight, people are going to notice. To gradually color your hair back to a more youthful color, try something like Just for Men Control GX which is hair dye in a shampoo; as you use it over the course of a month, more and more of your gray is colored, and you can stop once you’ve achieved the desired effect.

A lot of men’s drugstore/DIY hair dyes don’t actually cover all of your gray, and that’s okay; it can look more natural to still have some showing.

The downside of off-the-shelf/DIY hair coloring products, especially if you’re dyeing all your hair and want close to 100% gray coverage, is that you’re limited in the colors you can choose from. As Thad explains, “Natural hair colors and tones are extremely varied, but [men’s] color dyeing products give you like four color options to choose from — black, dark brown, light brown, and blonde. If you color with a product like that, it’s not going to match your natural hair color and things are going to look off.” When your hair’s a monotone color, it looks flat and fake, like you rubbed your hair with shoe polish.

Thad says if you truly want a better-looking end result, you need to visit a professional who specializes in hair color: “The reason women look great when they color their hair and men typically look bad is because women pay a professional a lot of of money to make it look as natural as possible, while a man will typically opt for the DIY approach. Professional hair colorers can do a better job of matching natural hair color compared to what you can get out of a box.” Traditional barbers typically aren’t trained in hair coloring, so you’ll need to visit a salon.

But before you book an appointment with a hairdresser or pick up a box of Just for Men, consider the many downsides of coloring your hair (always thoroughly read through the Amazon reviews for dyes to understand what you’re getting yourself into):

1. You have to dye your hair every 3-8 weeks. Every month and half or so (depending on how fast your hair grows, how often you get your haircut, and how frequently a particular formula of dye is applied), you’re either going to have to visit a hairdresser to dye it, a process that can take up to an hour, or go through the rigmarole of dyeing your hair at home (which is considerable: you’ve got to apply vaseline around your hairline to keep it from staining your skin, clean up stains on your countertops and hands, and so on).

2. You have to keep dyeing it for-ev-ver (or until your age surpasses your vanity). To keep your hair colored, you’ll have to keep up the dye jobs indefinitely. Once you stop, your hair, especially if it’s gone predominantly gray, will look funny growing back. Before you start dyeing, imagine yourself signing a contract with Just for Men, agreeing to use their product until 2050. As that’s essentially what you’re doing, if you’re not comfortable with that commitment, think twice about starting to color your hair.

3. It costs $$$. Getting your hair colored at a salon can cost $25-$100. That’s really going to add up over time, which again, can be decades.

4. Dyes can be harsh on hair. Hair dye contains chemicals that can sometimes make your hair fall out. Gray hair ages you, but so does thin hair.

5. No matter how natural the hair color, dyed hair never looks completely natural on a man. No hair dye — even those created by a salon — completely matches your original hair color, and even when it’s close, it still doesn’t look quite right, at least on older guys: our brains are used to seeing older women with colored hair, but don’t expect to see older men with such, so when you see a guy with a 50-year-old face, but completely jet black hair, it just registers as being a little off. You realize he dyes his hair, calling attention to it, and his age, and making him seem a little vain and insecure — the very opposite effect from what he’s looking for!

For these reasons, Thad and most male barbers recommend that men who are starting to go gray just let the process take its course. “It’s just easier to manage than dyeing your hair, [and] it looks good, and shows a lot of confidence in a guy,” Thad said.

Embracing the Silver Fox: How to Take Care of Gray Hair

As mentioned above, gray hair is caused by a reduction in melanin. Besides causing your hair to turn gray, a decrease in melanin also makes your hair wiry and harder to manage. So if you decide to embrace your gray hair, there are some changes you’ll need to make to your grooming routine to ensure your new silver mane looks its best:

1. Opt for a shorter haircut. If your hair is still thick, despite the fact it’s going gray, Thad says you still have a lot of options on how to cut and style it. “There are a lot of men with longer gray hair that look good.” (Paging Sam Elliott.) If you’re going to go longer with your gray mane, ask for a cut with more texture. A textured cut involves the barber cutting your hair at an angle which gives it some volume and movement compared to cutting your hair straight across.

While it’s possible to go long with gray hair, Thad likes to steer men with graying locks to cuts that are short on the sides and a little longer on the top (think Clooney). “I like to use clippers on the sides and the back and use some textured cuts on the top,” he said. “A short haircut lets you hide or blend the gray more compared to longer haircuts. Short gray hair is also easier to manage and style than long gray hair. Also, there’s something about a short haircut that takes the years off of a man’s face, so if you’re worried about gray hair making you look old, a shorter haircut can counteract that.”

2. Use a product with a bit of shine. As gray hair loses its natural shine (thanks to the lack of melanin), Thad recommends avoiding completely matte hair products when styling: “Matte products make your hair look a bit dull which is something you don’t want to do when you have gray hair because gray hair is already dull.”
Thad likes semi-matte hair products for gray hair, which have some shine, but not so much that it looks unnatural. A couple specific recommendations from Thad were Cardinal Atlas texturing clay and Firsthand Supply texturing clay.

One product that I’ve had success with on my gray hair is Mitch Construction Paste. It holds my hair without getting crunchy, has a bit, but not too much, shine, and includes conditioning ingredients to reduce some of the wiry-ness of my grays.

3. Don’t shampoo your hair as frequently. Thad told me that most men, including men with no gray hair, shampoo their hair way more than they need to. But shampooing your hair less frequently is even more important when you have gray hair. “Every time you shampoo your hair, you’re washing away your hair’s natural oils. You only need to shampoo your hair a few times a week. This is especially true for men with gray hair since gray hair is already naturally drier,” he said.

Instead of shampooing every time you shower, do it every other day or so.

4. Consider a hair oil. To tame the wirey-ness of your gray hair, try a hair oil, which softens and moisturizes the hair. If you’re having trouble with the coarseness of your gray hair, Thad recommends rubbing in a few drops after you shower.

5. Consider using shampoo and conditioner made especially for gray hair.Once a week use what’s called a “purple shampoo.” It’s called a purple shampoo because it’s, well, purple. They’re designed to make your gray hair look bright and vibrant rather than dull and yellow. Thad recommends talking to someone who specializes in hair color before you start using a “purple shampoo,” though, because while “They can help remove brassy tones from your hair over time . . . it’s possible to overdo it with these shampoos.”

If you reduce how often you shampoo, and use the right hair product and perhaps a hair oil, your gray hair will be in good shape, and you can confidently step into your maturity and enjoy your status as a silver fox.


This article from the blog Art of Manliness
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