Ever wondered why some women’s silvering hair gleams with health while yours feels lackluster? The answer might lie in a few common hair care mistakes you may not know you are making! Our research team share 5 of the hidden habits that are ruining your silver hair shine- and what you can do about it.
1. Silicone Sabotage
Silicones initially make your hair look smooth and shiny, but they build up over time, leading to dull and yellowed silvering hair. This dullness results from the waxy buildup and the long-term damage caused by depriving hair of moisture and nutrients while it's coated. Instead, try our SHINE & DEFINE Dry Finishing Oil. It's silicone-free and delivers glossy shine without the residue. Shine & Define is absorbed into the hair shaft, nourishing and improving hair quality with every use.
Find out more about silicones in our article The Silicone Cycle.
Shop for your Shine & Define.
2. Hot Hot Heat!
Blow dryers and hot tools can damage silvering hair, making it dry and brittle. Excessive heat strips moisture from the hair, leading to breakage and split ends. For silvering hair, it’s crucial to keep the temperature of styling tools around 365°F (185°C) to minimize damage while still achieving effective styling IF you need to use heat. Note: damage comes not only in the form of dry and dull hair, but for silvers, heat can burn leaving hair yellowed.
Instead of high heat, consider these non-heat styling alternatives: heatless curlers (foam or fabric curlers), braiding, velcro or magnetic rollers, wrap-drying, or blow drying with cold air.
Your hair can be styled without heat! Bring on the shine!!
3. Over-Washing
As we grow past 30, our scalps naturally produce less sebum (the natural oil that keeps hair moisturized and naturally protected). Over-washing your hair strips these essential oils, leaving hair dry, susceptible to breakage, and bereft of shine.
To avoid this, consider washing your hair less frequently and choose shampoos that are colorless (white hairs expose everything!) and gentle, like baby shampoos. If you are athletic (sweat) or use styling products and need to wash more often, avoid shampoos with harsh cleansing ingredients - especially sulfates (e.g., sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate) which are so strong that they strip away natural oils with the sweat and product.
And of course, steer clear of products containing silicones, as they can cause buildup that can take up to 4 washes to remove, drying out hair and contributing to the dulling Silicone Cycle.
4. Not Protecting Hair from the Sun
Silvering hair, being melanin-free, is more vulnerable to UV damage. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can significantly affect hair health by:
👉breaking down the protein structure of hair, leading to increased dryness, brittleness, and a loss of shine
👉causing the hair to lose its tensile strength as well as shine, resulting in split ends and weakened hair strand
👉increasing hair's permeability, degrading keratin, the vital protein in hair, leading to significant structural damage
But we love the sun! We can't just stay indoors all day!
To protect your hair, consider wearing hats or scarves to shield your hair from direct sunlight. Alternatively, opt for updos to minimize the amount of hair exposed to the sun.
We all love the sun, but as grown-ups, we know it can be damaging to our skin. Now you know it's also a culprit for diminishing hair's natural shine.
5. Rough Pillowcases
Friction from rough cotton pillowcases can cause breakage and tangles and frizz.
Simply switching to silk pillowcases or using a headscarf at night can make a huge difference in decreasing damage, dullness and frizz. This small change helps maintain smooth, shiny hair, reducing the wear and tear on your delicate silvers.
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It's time to amplify the beauty of our silvering hair by giving it the care it deserves. Avoid these common pitfalls, and you’ll find your shine again.
Knowledge is power.
We've earned every one of these silver strands, it's time to show them off.