My Hair Don't Care - Karen Lockyer Make Up Artist

My hair don’t care what anyone else thinks.

It is a personal choice what you decide to do with your hair colour, young or old. I have personally chosen to add a little colour to my hair to keep some of my strawberry tone, I have the sort of hair that is fading slowly and still not entirely grey even at nearly 62. Times have changed and I now feel that unlike my mother’s generation the guilt is on continuing to colour not the other way around. I say forget the guilt and do what the hell you want it’s your hair and ageing story after all.

Hair Story

Hairdresser Lisa Baker explains grey hair changes texture & it’s a common misconception that hair becomes more course it’s actually the the opposite! The hair loses melanin & becomes softer it also needs moisture because as we age, we stop producing the natural oils our hair needs this can make it feel coarse, dry & lacking in shine. Lisa suggests Investing in good moisture shampoo & conditioner and having the correct styling products will help with frizz or dryness. The hair can become limp if you already have fine hair & volume enhancing products & blow drying will certainly help.

I do love how women are embracing their silver hair, even if my hair is not there yet I do think the impression of looking older is in the mind. Wear it with attitude and the soft shade can only be flattering. I love the fact that light hair is a perfect canvas to add a bit of vibrant or pastel colour too. The best people to voice their opinion on this are those who have made the transformation to a Silver Sister themselves. I have chatted to a three women about their silver journey and talked to the professionals to get their take and a bit of advice on the subject. Please read on…

Hair Chat

Cella 52 teaches Clubbersize and often adds a vibrant colour to her hair, I asked her how it makes her feel and how others react to it. “I love the vibrant colour in my hair, because although I have learnt to embrace the grey the blue is like the part of me that is still 21! People have said they love the colour and wish they had the courage to do the same!
Cella Di Palma

Mel 54 Drama teacher says “I went full silver in my late 40s. I got my first silvers when I was about 14 and enjoyed them immensely. This was in the 80s, I had waist length hair and people would often ask where I had had my silver highlights done! I continued to enjoy my ever-increasing silvers through my 20s. When I was nearing 30, I had a crisis of confidence. My first marriage had ended, and I felt stressed, old (silly, I now know…) and my confidence plummeted. My hairdresser suggested trying a colour and that was that. I continued to colour for the next two decades. Hard work and a lot of money!! Going full silver was a jump into the unknown. I had a pixie cut, so it didn’t take too long. My family supported me, and it was the right decision for me! So much easier, less time consuming and my hair feels great!

I’m not sure whether I am treated differently, but that could be that I am oblivious as I am more confident in who I am (another bonus of ageing!) People often comment on my hair and it is almost always complimentary. When it was dark brown it was not a talking point, it was just there- people would comment on the style, but not the colour. Since going silver I have had complete strangers asking where I had it coloured! I’ve had people ask whether the colour is difficult to maintain! So I sometimes do have to say it is all natural and I don’t have to do anything to it! Not everyone thought I was doing the right thing when I stopped colouring. I had comments about the likelihood of looking old (so what?) letting myself go (go where?!?) looking less attractive (my husband disagreed…) and all of that nonsense. I did have to remind myself it was my hair, and I could do what I want with it! On the whole, most people have been supportive. Two of my sisters have also taken the plunge and none of us regret it. We really are the silver sisters! If it was guaranteed to be temporary, I may consider a crazy colour. One of my sisters does this and it looks fab. My daughter also encourages me to give it a go. The thing is, I actually love the colour of my hair now-grey, white, silver, arctic blonde (😂) whatever you want to call it! I am lucky that it is the colour it is and I just embrace it. But never say never – I might try rainbow stripes when I’m 90!”
Mel Gordan

Julianna 52 model-Yes, my hair colour is always a talking point! But it’s always positive. I’m never told I look old. I’d started to get a white streak around 16, but I suppose it was around aged 30 that I’d get a few comments about dyeing my grey hair. I never really considered it, mainly because I actually liked my new colour , once I’d got used to not being a brunette more. I think it’s taken a while for this hair colour to be seen in a younger, more desirable way. Hair trends and lockdown have all helped to create more acceptance of this colour. I think my hair has helped me to build up more work because it’s very distinctive.

I have had colours put in for modelling jobs, like colour toners and I use a pink conditioner that can give a hint of soft colour. I don’t tend to use a vibrant colour as it can take a while to get out, which is tricky for work. I have had orange and bright pink in the front though for work, my hair is porus and the colour takes very well. I did really lijke the colours and would definitely try more often if I wasnt modelling as they’re so quick and easy to use now!
Julianna Formicola

The Professionals say

I have chatted to 3 Professional hair stylists to get their opinion on hair colour;

Jo McKenna is based in London an experienced hairdresser and session stylist working in the media with models and celebrity clients.

Louise Smith is the owner and head stylist of Toni and Guy Salisbury she leads a busy team in this well established Salisbury Salon

Lisa Baker owner of Hare & Wild hairdressing collective near Shaftesbury Dorset. A new and exciting venture, working with natural and sustainable products.

I asked them all if women are transitioning to grey/silver younger than in previous years and if they offer treatments that can help the transition or is there a way to make it easier? Can grey hair be enhanced to make a more silver tone and are women 50+ dying their grey hair vibrant colours like pink/blue? I also asked Jo if she is finding that she is working with silver haired models more than in previous years and if she thinks there is a move to using older models in the media or just as the token older face?

Jo McKenna – Session and celebrity hair stylist

Yes, I am finding that I am working with more silver haired models. There is definitely an increase in using more mature models & more real looking people. I think everyone wants to see themselves be more represented in the media.

I haven’t been dying many peoples hair bright colours. But I have had an increase in clients wanting more white/silver/cream high lights. So the client, can then add pink, peach, purple toners or whatever they fancy. It’s mainly pastel colours that seem popular. They can be kinder on the skin tone.

When transitioning to grey. I usually add bleached or high lift tinted highlights, in foils. Sometimes adding chunky streaks or slices around the face. Or a few darker streaks from their old colour to help blend the old colour out. Or to bridge the gap, of maybe overgrown roots & maybe adding a toner after that.

I think we have welcomed the change of embracing the greys. Its also not seen as something undesirable. Like the old fashioned blue rinse & poodle perm of old. But with a modern twist. Just adding a great haircut.

I also think covid & lockdown pushed things along. I have a few clients, who were addicted to their brown tint or high-lights. When unable to get their roots done. Just said, ‘it’s time to go cold turkey’ or ‘let’s give it a go, until after lockdown?’ Those first few months of grey roots are the worst!! So once you get past that, it’s easier? Or that’s when you can introduce the silver highlights. I just cut a clients hair today that we did this with & I finally cut the last bit of colour off. Nearly 3 years it took!!

jomckennahairandmakeup.co.uk

Instagram.com/joanna.mckenna/
Jo McKenna

Louise Smith -Toni and Guy Salisbury says

Louise is the owner and head stylist at Toni and Guy Salisbury

Yes, we are seeing women growing their grey hair through at a younger age and a huge amount since covid/lock down. There are basically 3 main ways to transition to naturally grey hair: to let it grow as it is and be patient (a.k.a the “cold turkey” method), to cut your hair very short and regrow it fully grey, or ask your hair colorist to blend your greys with the dyed hair color.

Wella have a new range purely for grey hair, this is a great way to enhance and make grey hair look glossy. We have a small % of women that colour their hair pink/blue and if they do we have some lovely pastel shades to choose from, these will only last a few weeks, but they are great to change it up each time! We also have some great colour masks that are to take home, great for keeping the colour fresh!

https://www.wella.com/professional/en-UK/hair-color/color-fresh/color-fresh-mask

https://www.wella.com/professional/en-UK/hair-color/true-grey

toniandguy.salisbury

https://linktr.ee/TONIANDGUYSALISBURY
Louise Smith

Lisa Baker – Owner and Head Stylist Hare and Wild

I am the owner of Hare & Wild hairdressing collective a new and exciting venture, which has been a dream of mine for many years & like a lot of people lockdown made me reassess. I wanted to make a change in our industry, just because that’s the way it’s always been done doesn’t mean that it’s right! A lot of stylists are under pressure with back-to-back appointments, no lunch breaks, long day’s & suffer from burnout for very little reward. So all my stylists are self-employed then they have the flexibility to work the hours that suit & the breaks they need.

Women are definitely transitioning to grey/silver younger. There have been a few contributing factors that have brought about the change. First of all, there has been a trend with the younger generation colouring hair to achieve a silver ashy tone. Then lockdown happened & lots of our clients were forced to embrace their grey/silver & decided to stay with it., realizing it actually looks fabulous when done correctly & the trend definitely made ladies that have naturally silver hair think ooh I’m in fashion & started to embrace their grey.

Now we have the energy crisis & the cost of living rising more people have to rethink the cost of having their hair coloured professionally. However, I would always recommend you talk to your colourist, there may be a less commitment colour techniques that could help.

There are lots of options to help when transitioning to grey from lowlights to glosses & toners. I like to look at the percentage of white & grey & where it’s more prominent & place colour to make the grey or white hair a feature. I also think it’s important to change the haircut a total change of style can be a real confidence boost.

You can enhance grey hair to look brighter or silver by using a clarifying shampoo at least once a week You may also find a violet based shampoo can help but be aware overuse of a violet shampoo could give you a Marge Simpson purple rinse!!! If you have a more salt & pepper or steely kind of grey it is a little harder to make silver as your hair will still have pigment (natural melanin) you would have to lift (bleach) the hair & tone to achieve this, a lot more maintenance but achievable.

Women 50+ do dye their grey hair vibrant colours, although not as popular but, yes, I do get the odd request. The good news is that if you are white/silver you don’t have to pre bleach before having the fashion shades. Fashion shades are only temporary & depending on how porus the hair is will determine how long it lasts, so if you’re thinking of having a bit of fun it will wash out so go on have a bit of fun !

Hare and Wild use Oway Organic Way: Hair and Personal Care Products – Oway Shop Online

http://hareandwild

hareandwild
Lisa Baker

Thank you to all these wonderful women who took the time to give me their positive and insightful comments. I think it is very encouraging that there is finally a break through in the media and more older women are beginning to be shown in a positive light. Also that women are confident to let their natural hair colour shine through regardless of age. It is everyones personal hair ageing journey so lets do it however we want no rules, no Judgement – My Hair don’t care