3 Ways to Go Gray Gracefully (without a Demarcation Line)!

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Do you want to go gray but you’re afraid of sporting a skunk stripe while your dyed hair grows out? 

Well,  I’ve got great news for you:  You don’t have to!

Today I’m going to share with you three different ways you can go gray “in secret” from dyed hair with NO demarcation line between the dye and your naturally silver hair! 

Make sure to scroll to the end for a BONUS method!

How to Go Gray Gracefully

All of the methods below are fantastic ways to go gray gracefully, as your transition will be more subtle than if you went gray completely cold turkey:

Here’s how to do it:

Stop dyeing your hair (obviously 😉)

Let your gray roots start to grow in – but disguise them with root spray or root powder and/or wide headbands.

Once you get to the point where you really can’t disguise your roots, you have two choices: a) start wearing wigs or b) start wearing hairpieces.

If you choose to use wigs:

• It’s super easy – just wear wigs until your gray hair is fully grown out to the length you desire, and then reveal your glorious naturally silver hair to the world.
  
• You can wear wigs that are the same shade as your natural color, or wear a variety of wigs in different hair shades.  Have fun with it!  Keep people guessing!

If you choose to use hairpieces:

• Once your gray roots have grown long enough to pull them back to the nape of your neck, use a hairpiece in a shade of silver that matches your roots.  
  
• You can choose messy buns, ponytails, etc.  Have fun with it!
  
• Once your gray hair has grown out to the length you desire, you can stop using the hairpieces.

Whether you choose to go gray with wigs or hairpieces is totally up to you  – some people find wigs more comfortable than hairpieces, but the opposite is also true.

So before you spend a lot of money on a human hair wig or hairpiece, you might want to try them on at a reputable wig salon to see which one you prefer.

Where to Buy Wigs:
Paula Young
Wig.com
Ebonyline
Uniwigs

Where to Buy Gray Hairpieces:
Amazon
Ebonyline
Juvabun

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#2: Dye Strip Method

Now, this crazily brilliant method might be the right choice for you if you:

• do NOT want to go gray cold turkey and risk a skunk stripe
• do not want to cut your hair short
• are OK with continuing to dye for a while
• want something that you can do at home or at the salon
• do NOT want to do a full-on salon transition

The dye strip technique is a little involved, so check out this blog post for the full instructions.

In the meantime, here’s the quick, condensed version of how to do the dye strip method:

1. Part your hair to the side and only color a small strip of hair at the crown of your head (about 1 ½” wide by 5” long)
2. Dye the roots of ONLY that strip of hair as needed. In the meantime, your gray hair will grow out underneath that dyed strip.  
3. When your gray hair has grown out enough that you feel comfortable showing it to the world, you’ll flip your part so that the gray side shows.
4. And then you’ll simply let that dyed strip grow out underneath your gray hair.  Nobody will be the wiser!

Crazy, right? But it works!

Will some gray hair show?  Yes! But it will end up looking more like silver peekaboo highlights and there will NOT be a harsh demarcation line like you get when you go gray cold turkey.

If you want to see an example of someone who had great success with the dye strip method, check out the video I did with Diana, the lady who introduced me to this method.

If you decide the dye strip method is for you, here’s a printable PDF of the instructions!

#3: Salon Transition

A salon transition is when you go to a professional and let them transition you to gray hair using salon methods.

This is a great option for women who:

• do NOT want to go gray cold turkey and risk a skunk stripe
• want to have a seamless transition to gray hair
• want a quicker transition
• have healthy, undamaged hair
• have lighter-colored hair
• feel nervous about going gray and want the help of a professional

There are many different salon methods, but the most common ones are balayage, highlights, lowlights, and gray blending (which is a combo of highlights and balayage).

(You can find out more about these techniques in my book – which provides details on ALL the various ways to go gray and the pros and cons of each method).

Most methods of going gray at the salon involve bleaching the hair to the lightest color possible (usually a light yellow) and then toning the hair to make it appear gray.

This is where it gets tricky:

Your hair can become quite damaged from the bleach if you have any of the following:

• Damaged hair
• Fine hair
• Thin hair
• Curly hair
• Brittle or fragile hair
• Dark brunette hair

It can also be expensive and time-consuming as you often have to buy special products to use between visits and may have to go back to the salon for follow-up treatments.

BUT – for a lot of women, especially in high-profile professions (like actors or lawyers), the risk of damage is worth it to avoid a skunk stripe. 

If you want to move forward with a salon transition, make sure to find a reputable salon that has experience doing these types of treatments.

Here are some tips:

• Ask for before and after photos, and read online reviews.
  
• If you need to find a good stylist near you, make sure to check out my International Gray Friendly Salon Directory – these are salons that have either been referred to me by women who have had great experiences with them, or the salons themselves have reached out to me and asked to be listed. (Not all of the salons in the directory do professional gray hair transitions, however, so make sure to ask them before you book an appointment)

Bonus Method: Going Gray with a Buzz Cut

Video: How to Go Gray Without A Skunk Stripe

If you prefer video, here’s a video I did recently that lays out all your options:

Conclusion

Going gray doesn’t have to be scary – surprisingly, it can actually be fun! But if you’re worried about the process, and about people commenting on your transition, then going gray gracefully in secret might be the best way for your to proceed.

If you have any questions, make sure to comment below! I’d love to hear from you.