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7 Ways to Hide Gray Hair in a Pinch

Somewhere between six to eight weeks into your latest color treatment (so right about when you’re due for your next appointment), those wiry gray strands start to poke through. Luckily, with a little styling know-how and the right products, you can easily disguise those pesky roots until you can make it into the salon.

The 5 Best Haircuts for Gray Hair


kate
Mark Cuthbert/Getty Images

Change Your Part
If you’ve been parting your hair the same way every day, the area naturally flattens and makes any grays on that side more prominent. By simply flipping your part to the opposite side, the regrowth will be less noticeable and you’ll get a boost of volume on top.

kathryn
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

Add Some Texture 
Whereas super-sleek strands emphasize overgrown roots (and unruly strays), tousled waves offer the perfect disguise. Add some bend to your hair with a medium-sized curling iron (or a flatiron, if that’s more your speed) and a liberal misting of beach spray throughout.

Use Dry Shampoo
Speaking of texture, you can get a similar effect with dry shampoo. While any type of dry shampoo (whether it’s spray, powder, clear or tinted) will tone down the appearance of roots by adding volume, you can further blur the lines with a formula that most closely matches your natural hair color.

aja
Paul Archuleta/Getty Images

Try a Braid or Twist
A crown braid along the hairline (like Aja here) will pull any silvery strands away from the face and blend them in with the rest of your hair. French twists (and pretty much any other updo) are also good options, as they help to create dimension (read: distraction) throughout.

Add an Accessory
A sleek barrette or embellished pin can offer a welcome diversion to whatever is happening with your roots. Not to mention, they add polish to a basic bun or ponytail. If you're looking for complete coverage, try a chic scarf or headband instead.

ali
Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

Pump Up the Volume
Fact: A bit of volume at the crown can do wonders for camouflaging strays (especially when it’s paired with an updo like Ali here). To get additional lift at home, apply mousse to damp roots and use a comb or brush to tease the roots up and down while drying them with hot air.

Color Them In
And if you’re just not up for the extra styling, grab a temporary root cover-up and get to coloring. (Seriously, Bumble and bumble’s latest formula comes in a chubby crayon.) They’re super easy to use and will last until the next time you shampoo.



Jenny Jin Headshot Vertical 2023

Beauty Director

  • Oversees all beauty content at PureWow
  • Has over a decade of experience in writing and editing, both in print and digital media
  • Produces 'Youngish' newsletter, a guide to beauty in your 30s and beyond

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