by Danita Jolly

Created on: June 10, 2008   Last Updated: June 11, 2008

Let's color that Gray! I was a colorist for over ten years, it was such a delight to experience that immediate gratification that only color can do. It can make you look years younger in a two hour period of time. You can take off your hat and face the world with new hi-lights. Some women impressively can wear gray hair in a remarkable manner. This seemingly is a rare instance more than the standard. As we gray, the appearance of our skin is left feeling sallow and ashen. There lies within each of us, a level of acceptance regarding that gray hair that demands our attention. Whatever you do, do not pull out your gray hair! This only leads to a bad habit, and the realization that the given texture of gray hair remotely resembles that of a wire. Leaving them to grow back in the direction of the heavens, that which the strongest hair spray could not hold down. Gray hair can be beautiful, sophisticated, and sexy some do say. Although, if you look in the mirror and don't feel this way when your gray hair is screaming at you, then I say hurry right down to a salon and make yourself feel better.

There are a variety of ways to go about doing this depending on your level of commitment. You can tone your gray with a semi-permanent. This service would be a good first introduction to color. It's like the equivalent of putting on one coat of fingernail polish vs. two. There is no ammonia and only a small amount of peroxide. Your gray will only be slightly toned and leave the rest of your hair soft and shiny. Semi-permanent will also fade away, not leaving you with a strong grow out line. You are free to decide to keep coloring or not, without a commitment to any maintenance program.

Next, you can cover 100% of your gray with a permanent hair color. This will give you maximum coverage. These products will normally have ammonia and a higher percentage of peroxide which can leave your hair dry if you color too often. You will also have a strong demarcation line as it grows out. Depending on your percentage of gray, you will be engaged in a 4-6 week maintenance program.

Another color option is hi-lighting. This can be a great way to add more than one color, with the variety of color to camouflage the gray. In this way, you are only selectively adding color by foiling them into the hair in pieces. It's a process that adds multiple dimensions to the hair. Depending on the colors used, a maintenance program on average would consist of every 6-12 weeks.

I have personally been responsible for bringing people right out of depression due to their hair color. Gray hair is a clean pallet, ready and waiting for you to rejoice in expressing your individual personality through color. Live, laugh, love and color without a doubt!

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