This is your time to shine. The trend gods are working in your favor, and you’re ready to let your natural glory show. Forget the fakers, it’s time for naturally gray hair to get the positive attention it deserves.

Whether it’s gorgeous gray or sexy silver, your natural hair color is something to embrace and be proud of. This season, age inclusivity is here, and fall hair is all about natural. 

Before you begin, let’s look at the reality of the situation. Your silver strands don’t grow in with a stylist’s eye. They’re random at best, and the grow-out from colored hair to natural never looks great. 

The following tips will help you manage the mid-term and get the best look that embraces your natural beauty.

Tips for going gray gracefully

Whether your hair is dusted with a few gray streaks, saturated with silver, or a tasty salt and pepper medley, you’ve got hair that’s ready to be a fall highlight. Use these tips to get the look you want, faster.

Wait

If your hair is colored, allow about two inches of natural hair growth before you start the transition. 

Hair grows at about a half-inch a month. That means you’ll have to wait roughly four months before beginning to embrace the new you. It can be frustrating and a little tough to get used to, but it will be worth it in the long run.

See a stylist

Your hairstylist will have the expertise and the tools needed to make your natural gray a statement color. If you’ve been going to an ultra-hip, young stylist, you might want to see if you can find one who specializes in graying hair. 

Encouraging naturally gray hair to grow in is not something all stylists understand.

Lighten your hairline

A colorist should work with a little natural gray outgrowth and match your hairline to that in a subtle way. The lighter color around your face gives it all a more gradual gray appearance.

Upkeep

Ask your colorist what upkeep is needed to keep your transition hair from turning brassy or yellow. There may be a few changes to your normal hair care routine during this time.

Skip the salon

If you don’t want to see a stylist or a colorist and just want your hair to grow in naturally, try a temporary root touch-up to smooth the transition. Unfortunately, growing out your gray hair can be an uncomfortable process if there’d been color there before. A touch-up eases things as you give your hair a chance to catch up.

Great haircuts for gray hair

It might take years to grow out your natural hair color. The shorter you cut your hair, the faster you’ll get results, and then it can grow in naturally and the length you want. So, what cuts look great with gray hair? 

Pixie cut. Have you ever wanted to try a pixie cut? This is the time to do it. The short length means your old dye job will be trimmed away before you even know it, and your real roots can have a chance to grow beautifully.

Blunt bob. The trendiest cut of the season gives you a little more bounce and swish than a pixie, but it still shortens the time needed for a grow out.

Asymmetric bob. While natural hair color, especially natural gray, is a huge trend right now, you probably know a lot of people who aren’t on the cutting edge of style. Those people might not have flattering things to say about your gray, so give them something else to be wowed by, a striking asymmetric bob.

Face framing layers. Bangs with a side fringe is a hit this season, and it’s a great way to frame your face in gray while letting the rest of it grow in naturally. 

Straight or with a little wave. Gray hair typically doesn’t do what you want. It tends to have a mind of its own and be a bit wiry. Controlling the frizz with products designed just for gray hair gives you a youthful appearance, and it adds movement to your locks.

Final thoughts

This is a fun time in fashion, where flaws are embraced, and natural beauty is encouraged to shine. This is great news for you because you no longer have to hide your gray, in fact, you get to let it go natural and be a trendsetter.

The only problem is, is that it’s going to take a long time for your hair to grow out, and it can be frustrating. It will be worth it, but you’re certain to suffer through some growth phases that drive you crazy. 

If you need to, talk with a stylist, and find a shorter cut and a transitional color that will help you look your most amazing authentic self.