by Emily Pertee

Created on: February 12, 2010

Just the mere thought of waking up one morning, and out of the blue saying, "I can't wait till my hair turns gray!" Have you ever heard anybody make a comment like that? This is a choice everyone has to make for themselves, but striving to maintain a youthful and healthy appearance as we grow older is of great importance to us all, men and women both. Beautiful colors fill our world with decoration, from blossoming trees, to flowers that warm our land scape. Why not keep your hair full of color and vibrancy? It will warm up the tones of gray hair in a soft inviting way. You have the opportunity and choice to change nature's course.

Our lifestyle reflects on the way we see ourselves. Our appearance greatly affects the way the world sees us. Dyeing our hair tells the world we haven't given up on the fight against aging. We are only as old as we feel! Gray hair, depending on the shade, can be quite beautiful on some people, then there are some shades that can appear dull and lifeless. Ask for advice from your friends and family. You personally may not be a dull and lifeless person at all, but that's what your image could be portraying. Growing old gracefully means adapting to it at a slow and gentle pace.   

Coloring your hair only enhances your individuality, just like going shopping for clothes. What feels flattering to you is going to create more self-confidence in yourself. Coloring and high-lighting techniques have come along way in creating muti-levels of different colors to use in the hair. Gray hair tends to be very resistant and hard to manage, feels wiry and course, and grows out in unbalanced patches throughout the hair. A strand or two here and there is a sure sign that more gray hair is on the way.

If you want to gracefully grow into a more even and balanced gray , start with high-lighting (lighter shades of blonde or caramel) or low-lighting (darker colors) with a high-lighting cap or foil method of alternating thin strands of color throughout the entire head. This creates a camouflage effect until all the gray has grown in evenly. This is for someone who is afraid of drastic changes all at once. Subtle changes can add shine, bounce and life back to your hair and personality.

If you prefer to get rid of all the gray or change your hair color completely, then pick a shade closest (within 5 levels) to your actual natural hair color. This will ensure a more natural looking you in the end result. Distribute the color all over your hair in one step. After drying your hair with the new color, you can even add a few high-lights throughout your hair to give it a more multi-level natural look. It comes down to what kind of look you are trying to obtain.

It's discouraging to your spirit to see a gray hair, so why not use corrective measures, or in this case, corrective coloring to paint a more beautiful you. Looking and feeling ten years younger is worth saying goodbye to the gray hair.

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