Gray Hair - When Is It Appropriate To Color?

Any old time you feel like it, or not-it's up to you what you feel comfortable with. But if you're going to do it yourself, get a free consult from a haircolorist first - it will save you grief for sure. He or she will look at your natural haircolor, preferably in natural light, your skintone, eyecolor, level of natural contrast between all of those, and make an appropriate rec. Also your lifestyle, how much maintenance comes into it. But here's some handy general tips - with grey, don't go straight red or gold, since grey hair has no pigment in it, it will come out way bright. For a natural look, go with a color that's not more than two shades lighter than your own, and if you do use a red or gold shade, depending on the distibution of grey throughout the hair(either even or a large patch of concentrated grey) put some of a neutral brown or blonde in it(depending on the depth of color. Above all, don't go too dark! For first-time DIY-ers, a semipermanent color is the way to go, and a great way to blend in beginning greys.

Hi Firefly,

Like everything in life people have to feel comfortable with themselves. Your friend should do whatever works for her and her own comfort zone....IMO.

Karen