If you’re wondering whether gray hair is truly different from other shades, the answer is yes. But of course, we think the differences are both beautiful and manageable.

That said, there are some things you’ll want to know so you can manage its uniqueness and ensure your transition to a naturally silver mane is as effortless as possible. And, if you’re already loving your naturally gray tresses, you’ve probably noticed that it requires some TLC that’s a little different from your pre-gray shade. Regardless of your experience or stage of your gray hair journey, we’ve got insights below to help you shine as you embrace your gorgeous gray hair. 

But it looks gray, right? That’s what's so interesting. Melanin is the substance in your body that creates your hair, eye and skin color. In the case of your gray hair, they’re simply strands that lack melanin. The less melanin is present, the more the strand appears as translucent white hair. Test it yourself: Hold one strand in the light and you’ll see it’s translucent. Not all of your strands may be going through the de-pigmentation process at once. A lot of us are partially gray and have a mix of pigmented and unpigmented strands. In the case of "salt and pepper hair" this is a mix pigmented hair and a mix of depigmented strands. If you have a naturally brown base town, you might be more of a "cinnamon and sugar" versus a true "gray" tone.

That’s why blondes and redheads generally don’t have that salt-and-pepper look. Instead, their locks gradually fade to white. That’s also why natural gray tresses have so many different undertones. They’re translucent and merely reflecting natural variances in base color.

Thanks to gray hair actually being translucent hair, it picks up natural light, which gives it a gorgeous radiant shimmer and that natural platinum blonde look other people have to pay for. Score one for the Silverists. And while dyed hair can look opaque, flat or dull (because light doesn’t easily shine through it), naturally silver highlights look beautifully mult-dimensional and rake in the compliments.

At Silverist, we’re constantly asked about whether your hair’s texture changes if you decide to rock naturally gray hair. Good news: it's not true that gray hair is always a more coarse and wiry texture. In fact, compared to the texture of frequently dyed hair, gray hair will likely feel softer and more flexible. It is also true that with melanin loss and potentially also a dryer scalp, your hair texture may feel more coarse and less manageable to the hair you had in your childhood or early adulthood.

Frequent use of permanent hair dye can also make it harder for our hair strands to hold their natural shape and texture (waves, curls, coils) so that the hair has a straighter texture. A lot of us experience our natural hair texture for the first time in a long time when we stop dyeing with permanent hair dye and realizing that we may have naturally wavy/textured hair!

Countless women who’ve ditched the dye can attest to the stunning transformation that happens when naturally gray locks recover from the toxic hair dye cycle. As you stop dyeing hair, each gray hair loses the layer of dye around it, revealing a finer, natural texture. Then something beautiful happens. As your scalp recovers from frequent exposure to permanent hair dye, new, naturally silver strands begin growing back looking fuller, thicker and healthier than before.

The different textures you might be feeling come from comparing your natural hair with processed dyed hair that’s been enduring chemicals while trying to cover it in color.

It’s all about the science. De-pigmented "gray hairs" do have slightly thinner cuticles (the outer part that protects inner layers) and are more porous, which is more than cool cocktail party trivia. It actually means it’s harder for these types of locks to retain moisture, which is why they’re more prone to dryness and dullness. Also, our scalp tends to be less oily as we age, which can contribute to drier strands. This simply means that subjecting natural gray to drying conditions or situations, like over-shampooing, can cause them to become even drier or more brittle. Honestly, aren’t we all a little high maintenance? So treating our natural gray a little more luxuriously so their inherent beauty shines through just makes sense. 

You know how your fave white T-shirt literally reveals everything and tells you when you’ve not treated it properly? Same things hold true for your glorious grays. They’re light color means you’re more likely to see issues like heat damage or product build-up. Think of it like holding a hot iron onto your T-shirt too long, which creates that yellow heat stain. That can also happen to your naturally gray hair when you hold heat styling tools on them for too long. Product build-up? Yep, we can also see that. 

That’s why it’s super important to protect your natural grays against completely avoidable damage from UV rays or heat. Protect against sun damage with sun hats, scarves or UV sprays designed specifically for hair. 

Build-up can be a bit trickier because you’ll need to hunt down the source of the problem. Certain factors like the hardness of your water or the types of products you use can cause gray tresses to look dull. Treatments, like toning or clarifying shampoos, can be a fast and easy fix. Purple or blue shades can help correct yellowing or a clarifier can help prevent build-up, revealing naturally shiny, gorgeous grays.

Despite the admittedly emotional transition phase between your natural base color and rocking your natural gray hairs, the destination is worth the journey. 

To us, the issue isn’t so much how to hide, mask or cover your transition, because yes it can be done albeit with effort, but the freedom that comes from letting your natural silver shine through. At the very least there's no more worrying about your roots showing through or thinking about your next haircolor appointment! It can also be one of the most beautiful journeys you can take to let the real you shine through. Many women find that once they've joined the silver-haired tribe, they also feel a tremendous sense of authenticity.

Your mindset, your makeup, your fashion, your hairstyle, your routine. When you own your naturally gray hair, it’s normal (and liberating) to feel a certain confidence and newborn state of mind that naturally ignites other parts of your life. That’s just one aspect of what’s possible to change. Because naturally gray hair can have more volume, more fullness, more dimension, more shine, you’ll feel a greater sense of confidence and what might have once been a source of shame or embarrassment now makes you feel proud.  Because natural grays are so different — in the best ways possible — infuse this good energy and positive mindset wherever you can. 

Remember, silver isn’t just a shade of hair, it's a shift in how you show up and shine out in the world. And we got you.