Hairstyles for Grey Hair

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If your hair has turned gray--in middle age or prematurely--and you plan on keeping it that way, don’t listen to the naysayers who insist that you must color it or cut it short. Many women and men are embracing their gray hair and even flaunting it. You can wear your hair long, despite dictates that proclaim any woman over the age of 40 must have cropped hair. This isn’t true. You can wear your gray hair however you choose although you may find that your non-pigmented hair is a bit contrary and significantly different in texture than your dark hair.

Up-do

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An upsweep is always beautiful on any woman and is especially attractive and elegant on a gray-haired woman. It looks refined. Again, the upsweep provides volume and height, which will make you look younger and it will make you appear as though you have more hair than you do. A French roll or chignon is very sophisticated looking.

Volume on Top; Layers

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Consider a hair style that gives you volume on the top, which will draw the eyes of others upward rather than downward. If you have gray hair--unless you are prematurely gray--then you are probably of a certain age, and the best way to camouflage sagging skin is to draw attention upward, which will give you the illusion of having tighter skin. A layered style will provide volume. Ask your hairdresser to cut some layers around your face, this will conceal wrinkles on the sides of your face if you are a woman of a certain age. Bangs are a great way to disguise forehead wrinkles.

Curls

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If your hair is naturally curly, let it curl. It may, in fact, tend to curl better now that it has turned gray and has become a more wirey consistency. Getting layers cut will help promote curl. Curls give volume, which is flattering to many.

Thickness

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When choosing a style for your locks, keep in mind that your hair has probably become thinner as you have gotten older. Gray/white hair will make your hair look even more sparse than it actually is. Ask your hairdresser about volumizing and moisturizing products and techniques that will give your hair the appearance of more bulk. Gray hair is often frizzy hair. Use anti-frizz products that will tame your hair without flattening it. Thirdage points out that gray hair is going to be a stiffer texture than pigmented hair, and the hair shafts will thin out, so you may have to switch what types of products you are using.

Recommendations

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If you're going to go gray, go for it, but you may want to do it gradually by having low-lights or highlights added so the transition is more gradual and graceful. Alternatively, have your hair cut short so it will make the transformation easier. If you are still indecisive about going gray, do not pluck your gray strands as they come in. The hair will grow back in and it will still be gray, according to Louis Viel of the Miano Viel Salon in New York City and Goodhousekeeping Magazine.