Embracing the gray..

[Narayani]

Okay. So I'm sitting in the chair at Crazy Hair waiting for my bi monthly cut from Ronnen. And as he runs his hands through my locks he says " you got to start conditioning your hair. Oil treatments or something. Your grey hair is really coarse and dry."

Now understand. Ronnen is not a stylist. This guy usually cuts men's hair, but I like going to him because he doesn't expect me to have facials, eyebrow shapping, maincures or pedicures. He doesn't charge an arm and a leg... and he talks to me like a person... even if he doesn't recognize silver, moon tints when he sees them.

So wise women. What's a good conditioning, moisturizing treatment for coarse, (ahem) SILVER hair?

[WindDrinker]

Narayani - Thanks for bumping this thread! I find that flax seed in my diet is erally good for my hair. I give it to our dogs too - makes their coats beautiful! That is a long term solution but not an imediate help. Hmmm.... I know there have been a couple threads on hair rinses. I wish I could still ask my mom. Her hair was beautiful.

I have a question too - when blonds go silver does their hair just look dirty blondish forever? Don't know that I have ever met a blond with purely silver hair. Am 46 and no silver yet (I know this because my 2 greying younger sisters check regularly! ) But I am the only blond of 5 kids and 2 dark haired parents and as far back in the fam as anyone can remember. Soooooo..... what do I look foreward to????

[Judy L]

Hi Narayani,

I use a ACV infused with nettle, rosemary, sage, roses, lavender, elder, calendula and comfrey. This works so well for me. It is the only "conditioner" I use. It makes my hair soft, supple and shinny including the grey ( I have dark brown hair). I get so many compliments on my hair now that I use it. It is amazing stuff.

Coconut oil is suppose to be great as well. I made a hair oil of infused CO with roses and hibiscus but I ended up using it as a body rub. Still need to try it on my hair. One of these days:)

Take care,
Judy

[Narayani]

Windrinker and Judy thanks for your posts.

I have been eating ground flax seed regularily for a couple of months now, so hopefully I'll begin to see some results soon.

The coconut oil sounds nice. And I do have some that I could infuse. Did you heat the oil and add the herbs and then strain it?

Can I make a ACV herbal rinse by infusing the cider with dried herbs? I'd like to try that too.

Anything to avoid the silicone based conditioner Ronnen is trying to fob off on me

Windrinker, my hair is still at the dull stage. I have a cousin who went a beautiful silver grey. I am REALLY hoping that's what will happen with me. Otherwise I'll just have to wait till I'm old and I can be a snow white.

[Judy L]

Hi Narayani,

Yes, I heat the CO and add the flowers. Take off the stove and let sit over night then strain. Here is the link to the original thread..
www.susunweed.com/weedforum/viewtopic.php?t=8418

I have used both fresh and dried and it works just as well with either. You could also emit the rosewater if you like.

and

Yes, I used dried herbs for the ACV and let sit for any where from 2 to 6 weeks. Then strain. In a squeeze bottle add half infused ACV and half distilled water. I use this straight on hair. Then do a light rinse.

Let us know what you think.

Blessings,
Judy

[Narayani]

Thanks Judy.

MMM the oil sounds fabulous. I am curious to see if it doesn't make my hair too greasy.

I'll try the ACV too. I've just got to find the herbs first.

[Judy L]

I opened my Yoga Journal mag and to my surprise they listed the Coconut Flower Hair Oil recipe in their beauty section. Interesting timing.

[Narayani]

You got your yoga journal before me

So, I made a small batch with magnolia flowers. I recently discoverd this wonderful magnolia tree in blossom in my neighbourhood.

The oil came out nicely. And it feels nice on my hair too, but it also feels a little greasy?? Maybe I just need to get used to it.

I thought of trying a "hair masque" using the oil with an egg or two and leaving it on my hair for a couple of hours before the next shampoo?

[Judy L]

Wow, magnolias sound incredible.

I have heard about the grease factor. What about washing twice afterwards? I read about this kundalini yoga teacher Gurumkh Kahl (did I get the name right?) who uses the coconut oil nightly, wraps her hair in a towel, sleeps, then rinses out in the morning.

Have you tried it on your body?

Gotta run,
Judy

[Erratica]

I just found this thread, and I'm bumping it up. Wonderful wisdom from all. I found my first grey hairs when I was 38. I've always wanted black hair, and my natural color is dark brown with red highlights. Really pretty, actually, but I was never satisfied with it. As a child, I pictured myself as an Indian (Native American). Must have been one in a past life, or maybe I was just enamored of the stories told to kids.

Anyway, I bought and was using Aveda's Black Malva shampoo, because I thought it would darken my hair. And it did, but unbeknownst to me, it made the silver threads in my hair POP! When someone told me the grey in my hair was beautiful, that's when I went right down and got my hair colored. Heaven forbid that I have grey hair at 38! I wasn't even grown up yet!

Sooo, I've colored my hair all these years. When I was 42, I took a chance and colored it black. I loved it. I used Feria's Starry Night, and it had so many shadings to it, it looked natural. For 3 years, I had black hair and loved it. Then I went to Scotland for six months. After 2 months of brown and grey (ok, silver) growing in...talk about a skunk...I tried to bleach the black out myself and dye it red.

I ended up at the salon in this tiny fishing village, and I had her cut my long hair all off. It was about 1-3/4" long, orangey with a dark red tip. I waxed it and spiked it at first. Over the rest of the stay in Scotland, I tried dying it myself. The dye over there is NOT the same as here, even the same brand, and it kept fading out.

After I came back, I decided I wanted to know what color my hair really was, and how much grey/silver I had, so I shaved it off to about 3/4" long. My kids teased me that I looked like Ewan MacGregor in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. Once it grew back, I didn't like the silver 'highlights' so I colored it again. Red this time. I've been red since 2003, from strawberry blonde with blond highlights, to a golden red with highlights, to this time a dark violet-red, no highlights. Better, and closer to my own color.

Now I want to let it grow out again. My girlfriend is allergic to the dyes now, so hers is growing out, and looks good. I've kept the color from fading by using the plastic-y color protection shampoo and conditioner. I want to go all natural now. If I use something other than this special shampoo, my red will fall out and I'll be blondish again, from when I stripped it before. Then my roots will be dark and silver as they grow in, and I'll look like a skunk. But what I'd really like to do is use the natural shampoos, or go no-poo. Use my rosemary vinegar and red wine that I used to.

Any suggestions? Shall I keep coloring the roots with something temporary, or just be a skunk? LOL

Sorry this post is so long, I didn't realize all I had done to my hair! Guess I shouldn't be too surprised, I'm 50 now...it's been 12 years, after all.

Erica, with Peter Pan Syndrome (I'll never grow up!)

[MariaAZ]

I'm another Peter Pan! At 43 I have more grey than either of my parents had when they were 20 years older! I've been coloring my hair for the better part of 10 years, having switched over to henna about a year ago. Several months back I decided to let the roots grow out to ascertain if I wanted to "go natural" or do my scheduled root touch-up. My mother was absolutely shocked at how grey I was and although she's a total supporter in the "do not dye" camp, I felt motivated to color based on her wide-eyed wonder at my grey hair.

I just saw the recipe mentioned above and have a little jar of coconut oil, a few roses of sharon and two lovely scented English roses simmering in a pot right now. I usually use an essential oil blend to oil my scalp, but I'm definitely going to try this; it sounds wonderful!

[RinaWhiteStar]

i haven't seen a salon inside for the last 23 year and since last year november i am a member of the 'do not dye' camp too Last year i dyed my hair with Henna but that's to much work for me and the whole bathroom is red too So i quit that too...
I don't use shampoo only rince my hair whit warm water and a little rosewater,just because i like the smell of it.Sometimes i use some almond oil,but not to often,

two months ago someone said 'Rina you must dye your hair it's getting to grey' ,...i had this 'gggrrrrrr' feeling at the same moment yek...it was my boss

nope,no more dye for me,the Silver may come out

[nicolemm]

I've never used any hair color except henna. I naturally have red highlights in dark brown, I'm an Autumn according to the color typing that was big in the 80s. One man I dated actually enouraged me to let it grow out, but I felt it made me look really tired. Gray, white and silver are not good colors for me to wear either. So I keep using henna, usually mahogany so the new highlights are at least a compatible color.

[Patchouli]

Good point to remember that when using any oils (like coconut etc) as a conditioner that when you shampoo it out you need to put some shampoo on your head BEFORE you wet your head. You put the shampoo on, rub it in a little and then ADD water. This emulisfies the oils and allows you to wash them out and end up without a greasy head of hair
patchouli

[Moonflower]

I'm having some kinda fun with my silver hair!

A year ago it was long, down my back. Over that year's time, I've gradually been cutting it shorter, a bit at a time. Now it's in a shaggy, 'messy' bob, just longer than chin length and I love it. So easy to take care of, I don't even brush it during the day just run my fingers through it occasionally.

A couple weeks ago, I decided to take another step. No way was I interested in covering the grey, but really wanted to punch it up.

You have to understand, I am not a shrinking violet, sooo...

....for my 5oth bday, I had my hairstylist friend Rose weave some violet-red stripes in to the silver here, and some shiny black stripes into the silver over here and, voila!

Now I look like a TIGER! And I love every red, black and silver bit of it.

grrrrrRRRRRROOWWR!