As women age, gray hair often becomes a milestone we dread. That first gray strand is often met with apprehension and dismay. You might feel like keeping the gray will make you look old so you should color your hair to look younger. But what if you could keep your gray hair AND look younger?
Gray hair is stunning and symbolizes the wisdom gained with experience.
So many women feel like their natural gray hair is aging them, but you can embrace it without looking old or worn. Looking your best doesn’t mean you have to be high maintenance or use expensive treatments. You can find the look that expresses who you are and is flattering for your natural hair color, skin tone, body type and face shape.
I started Dressing Your Truth to help women let their inner selves shine through by embracing their beauty Type. This blog will answer, “Will gray hair make me look old?” and “How can I look younger with naturally graying hair?”
If you want to know how to go grey without looking old, keep reading! This blog will boost your confidence and help you rock the gray.
Why Do People Associate Gray Hair with Old Age?
There is a market that benefits from making you feel like you need hair dye to cover your gray roots. Between box dye advertisers and hairdressers, gray and white hair has been tied to looking drab and frumpy. People are afraid gray hair could hurt their chances of employment or that gray hair would make them invisible to society.
Because of this mentality, many women color their hair until they are very advanced in age and no longer able to keep up with their dyed hair. With only the very elderly wearing gray hair, people tend to associate gray hair with advanced age rather than another hair color.
Yet, many people are going fully gray in their 20s and 30s!
So, gray hair is not actually a color resigned to the elderly. Gray hair is a natural color that many young people are masking. And, with the right hairstyle, gray hair doesn’t have to look frail or frumpy.
How to Go Gray Without Looking Old
With the correct haircut and style, you can honor the movement of your face and your overall energy in a simple way that prevents your gray hair from making you look older than you’d like.
Whether you have a full crown of gray hair or are just starting to see some signs of it, you have the power to determine how you embrace it.
Gray Hair for Type 1
The Type 1 is bubbly and full of light energy. Think of the element air for your style. Your haircut should have a lot of random movement and wispy layers or texture. Your overall look should be fun and playful to naturally complement your buoyant personality. You may love short hair (like a layered bob) because it won’t weigh you down!
Gray Hair for Type 2
The Type 2 is flowy and emotive. Water is the element that embodies the Type 2 style. Your style should soften your features with soft wavy hair or naturally curly hair. A tousled look is perfect for reflecting your easygoing nature. Your players should elongate the cut, whether you have short or long hair. The color gray naturally reflects your energy, so you really have an edge with this color!
Gray Hair for Type 3
The Type 3 is dynamic and passionate. Fire is the element that depicts the Type 3 style. Naturally gray hair should not fade your look-your hair should look edgy with spiky layers or an asymmetrical cut. Try jagged or long, shaggy bangs to frame your face. Look at what this Type 3 woman did to look her best with gray hair:
Gray Hair for Type 4
The Type 4 is bold and consistent. Earth is the element that best expresses your natural style-specifically, think of stones. Your gray hairstyle should be a polished and clean cut. Reflective gray hair on the Type 4 can offer a stunning look that suits your reliable and perfectionist nature. A neat and tidy short hair style can be very flattering for your Type.
Tips on How to Not Look Old with Gray Hair
Want to grow out your gray hair gracefully? You can!
Here are some awesome tips for looking youthful with naturally gray hair.
Wear Your Silver Hair with Confidence
Do you have a mental image of who you want to be? Premature graying shouldn’t change your plans. Visualizing your future self achieving success with grain hair can go a long way in changing your perception of your hair. Be confident in your look and flaunt your gray hair. Own it and never apologize for going gray.
Do NOT ask anyone for advice on your hair.
You don’t need negative feedback that could destroy your confidence. Mother Nature is the best colorist out there, and you can rock this look if you want to!
Keep Your Hair and Scalp Healthy
Hair naturally gets brittle and thin with age-especially if you don’t take care of it. If your hair looks dried out, it will automatically make you look older (no matter what color it is). Thin hair or hair loss can occur when the scalp, hair shaft or hair follicle is damaged. Taking care of your hair will help you look younger.
So, use products that keep your hair healthy and moisturized. Avoid overusing heat tools and styling products that tend to dry out hair. Protect your hair from the sun and the elements. Use a weekly or monthly hair mask on damp hair to help strengthen and treat dryness as needed.
Hair often gets an unflattering brassy look because of hard water, environment or products. Use a purple shampoo to neutralize your color if your hair starts to take on a yellow appearance.
Wear Complimentary Clothing Colors
The color of your clothing should match your Energy Type color profile. The right clothing style will complement your gray hair while matching your Energy Type to complete your look.
- Type 1: Wear tinted colors that are lightened with white (bright and fresh).
- Type 2: Wear tonal colors that are mixed with gray (soft and muted).
- Type 3: Wear darkened colors mixed with black (rich and deep).
- Type 4: Wear saturated colors that are bold and clean (bold and saturated).
Wear Fashionable Clothing
Getting older doesn’t mean you should suddenly start shopping in the matronly section of the clothing store. Choose clothes that fit your body shape and make you feel fantastic. Have fun with your clothes and be confident in your choices!
The perfect clothing style for you is going to reflect your inner personality. If you aren’t boring and frumpy, then your clothing shouldn’t be either!
Thicken Your Eyebrows
Thick eyebrows are in right now, and they will help draw people’s attention to your eyes. Use thickened eyebrows to frame your face and look youthful.
To thicken your eyebrows, you can use a powder or pencil that is a slightly darker shade of your gray hair color. Use an eyebrow wand (similar to a mascara brush) to straighten your eyebrows and help draw out the hair texture after you’ve thickened them with color.
Take a selfie with your phone and see how your final look appears. The picture can sometimes reveal that your brows are too defined or crooked. Once you get the hang of it, your eyebrows will become an easy part of your normal routine.
Take Care of Your Skin
Just like dry hair, damaged skin is one of the fastest ways to look old. Take care of your skin to retain a youthful appearance. To do this, you will need to:
- Drink LOTS of water
- Wear sun protection
- Eat foods that support the skin
- Manage your stress level
- Get adequate amounts of sleep
- Use gentle facial cleansers
- Moisturize with quality products
In order to really support your skin, these behaviors have to become part of your normal routine. It will take months or years for your skincare routine to make a difference, so stay consistent!
Pursue Physical Fitness
If you aren’t a gym regular, you should be! Getting fit is one of the best things you can do for your mental health and physical well-being. Working out will help you look and feel younger.
Studies have shown that regular exercise helps people experience a higher quality of life and keep their independence for longer. According to the CDC, you need:
- At least 150 minutes each week of moderate activity like brisk walking (for example, 30 minutes for five days a week or an hour three times a week) OR 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity like jogging or swimming.
- At least two days a week that focus on muscle-strengthening activities.
- At least three days a week with activities that focus on improving balance (like standing on one foot).
- Moving every hour to avoid sitting in one place for long periods of time (even if you have a desk job).
You may not feel like you have time to fit in workouts, but it’s essential to your health and should be a priority. Doing anything is better than nothing, so even small changes can help improve your fitness. On days when you can’t make it to the gym, park further away and take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Final Thoughts
It’s your personal choice how you want to express your Type of beauty when it comes to your hair color.
I firmly believe if a woman wants to see the most dramatic change in her look, she needs to get a haircut, color and style to match her Type. Doing that alone can take a decade off your appearance!
Looking young and energetic doesn’t mean you have to eliminate your gray hair completely. Go with what supports you! Knowing who you are makes it possible to show off your inner beauty to others.
Discovering your Type is the first empowering step to creating a style that lets your true beauty shine. I offer a free Before & After course to help you discover your Type of beauty and find a look that embodies who you are. Learn how to love your hair, your look and your life!
Going Gray? Here are Extra Resources!
- How Susan Rocked Her Type 3 Gray Hair! Before & After
- 4 Types of Skin: Which One Describes You?
- Lifestyle: How to Transition to Gray Hair: Tips for All 4 Energy Types
- Lifestyle: Get a Fantastic Hairstyle For Your Type-Even if You Don’t Color It
Want to Find the Perfect Hairstyle for Your Gray Hair? (We know you do.)
We made it easy to find the best hairstyle that will work for you. Just take the 9-question quiz to get your results!
Let’s celebrate your grays and get you feeling incredible with a new hairstyle you’ll love!
