Graying Naturals: Type 1 Grays???

[Cherokee-n-Black]

In another strange development, I am still on the fence about re-coloring my hair, since I already have some damage in spots from doing it during my transition. My natural hair seems to be OK, but just chronically dry--which was also the case when I had a relaxer, I just kept my hair super moisturized and DC'd. I'm considering using Bigen, but I digress.

Is anyone else noticing that their grays are looser than their non-grays or as in the case of the hair in this pic--completely straight??? WTF is this? This is on a wash and go. I am not stretching this hair. I pulled one out earlier (but I didn't save it, otherwise I'd show you that these hairs are straight with no tension). Just wondering if this is normal. And if I will still be curly when I'm old and gray!

extra big so you can see...pay no attention to that mess in the background!

 

[ChristmasCarol]

My grays are like this, too. My hair is medium/coarse (strand thickness), but the grays are reallly thick. They are about 2x as thick (diameter) as the brown hairs.

If your hair is like this now, it will be probably be considerably looser when it gets completely gray. I have a close friend in her 90s and her whole head is this way. When she was younger, her hair was 3abcish. Now it resembles kinky-straight Polynesian hair.

eta: Have you tried indigo? I've never used it - I like gray hair - but there are some threads around here where other members swear by it.

 

[faithVA]

Yes, it is very normal. Gray hairs lack properties of normal hair, so it is normal for them to be straighter and sometimes more wiry. As more hair goes gray they you still may have some curliness but it probably won't be the same as it is now.

 

[SummerSolstice]

LOL I'm a 3c/4a and my greys are like... a 2 LOL

 

[SummerSolstice]

Don't use Bigen it is the devil. The black color is especially damaging. If you can get over to an aveda salon I suggest that.

 

[napbella]

Yep, my grey hair is courser and thicker and uncooperative. I tend to do braidouts mostly which hides a multitude of sins--uh-- I mean differences.

 

[Cherokee-n-Black]

Aw man! My grays are fine and limp, limp, limp. I usually see them now because they are floating in the air, completely incapable of laying down or joining the rest of my hair for the curl party. So Bigen is bad, huh? I was always afraid of it but people on here swear it won't damage your hair. I don't do black, I was looking at their warmer browns. Oh well, back to the drawing board. So what's the deal with Aveda? I tend to shy away from salon color. That's the worst damage I've ever had, as well as the worst damage I've ever seen on someone else. Rinses don't work on my grays and really neither do at-home treatments (Miss Clairol etc...) I do intend to go gray gracefully--eventually. But not now! I'm too young to be asked if I'm my babies' grandma!

 

[beanie44]

I have grey hairs through out my head they are thicker than other strands, some are wirey but they all seem to be curly for now.

I have also had great results with Aveda salon hair coloring, even with the lighter highlighted parts of my hair remained the same curl patter as the rest of my hair, I just make it all stays moisturized.

I get my hair colored at Aveda once a year this will be my third time, for now its a keeper.

 

[Cherokee-n-Black]

I have grey hairs through out my head they are thicker than other strands, some are wirey but they all seem to be curly for now.

I have also had great results with Aveda salon hair coloring, even with the lighter highlighted parts of my hair remained the same curl patter as the rest of my hair, I just make it all stays moisturized.

I get my hair colored at Aveda once a year this will be my third time, for now its a keeper.

BeeNie44 - do they use anything special in their hair color? Is it gentler? Just wondering. I wouldn't have thought to go to them. Enlighten me!

 

[alive]

Yep, my grey hair is courser and thicker and uncooperative. I tend to do braidouts mostly which hides a multitude of sins--uh-- I mean differences.

@ the bolded

 

[kupenda]

I don't have grays yet but my sister does. Hers are coarse! The strands are thick and they feel bumpy when you touch them. And they're never completely straight when the rest of her hair is. They're flyaway all the time.

My mom is 90% gray and she's still curly, but less curly than she used to be. She's more of a coarse 3c now. She used to be a bit of both 4a 4b

Sent from my iPhone using LHCF

 

[Platinum]

I have a few grays (only about 5-6) and they are probably in the 3s or perhaps even the 2s because they are totally different than the rest of my hair. I'm mostly 4b with 4a in my crown. I would suggest Henna and Indigo for dyeing gray hair.

 

[MeowMix]

Great question OP. That ish has a life of its own! Some of mine are corkscrews, some straight. Its a new challenge for my regimen game.

 

[beanie44]

@BeeNie44 - do they use anything special in their hair color? Is it gentler? Just wondering. I wouldn't have thought to go to them. Enlighten me!

Cherokee-n-Black
I did some research to find a less drying and more natural dye for my hair, I don't dye my own hair so henna made me kinda leery. I saw that there were several coloring products promoted that have less petroluem in the products and use more naturally oils instead and plant extracts for coloring, according to the research Aveda dyes are 97% plant based.

Since John Masters is located in NY and I'm not I went with Aveda there are two Aveda salons in my area. My curl did not change in pattern, my hair retained moisture better after it dryed and I had less split ends since I have fine/medium hair strands this was great for me.

I also try to keep my moisture/protein balance especially in the winter and not wash it so much, (every other weekend.) I hope this helps.


Edited to notify Cherokee-n-Black.