Should Guys Color Their Gray Hair?
August 06, 2011, By Jeff Waddle 1 comment
If you’re lucky enough to still have a healthy head of hair, it might be starting to show its age. Sooner or later it happens to all of us. Like weeds in a yard, gray hair can take over.
Some guys look distinguished with a touch of gray, but others look, well, older. Age (or the appearance of it) can be an advantage, but for some men competing with younger guys in the job market or even on the dating scene, gray hair can undermine their confidence.
Guys who want to be gone with gray need to do something once reserved for women only—color their hair. If that thought strikes fear in you, try not to worry about it. The process is simpler than you might think. Just be sure to weigh your options carefully.
Test the Waters First
Your gray hair didn’t just appear overnight, so unless you don’t care that people know you’ve colored your hair, you’ll likely want to address the gray gradually. Jeff Whitford, owner of hair-coloring specialist salon Hairtique in Cincinnati, advises guys with unwanted gray to get professional advice and approach the gray subtly.
“The secret is to keep it natural looking and just tone it down a bit at first,” says Whitford. Since most men’s gray hair is not one solid color but rather a mix of lighter and dark shades, he recommends a “gray blending” treatment that’s offered by stylists and salons.
Gray blending and similar treatments are what’s called a semi-permanent coloring that can cover gray but will not lighten hair. The color will fade and need a new application in four to six weeks. Prices vary, but expect to pay more than the $10 to $15 you’d pay for men’s DIY coloring kits available at drug stores.
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