If you’ve never made a habit of dyeing your hair, this is a simple process really: Let the gray come in! The problem arises when you’ve been coloring your hair previously and now want to make the transition. See, if your grays have filled in enough, simply stopping coloring appointments means your hair grows out with a harsh line—your new growth of silver on one side, and your color on the other. And if you can, try to find a colorist who has done work in transitioning to gray. Sure, you may have your go-to person, but if they’ve never done it before, you may consider a consultation with someone else. “To transition to gray hair, the details matter, so I would definitely recommend seeking out a trained professional to help you through the process,” she says. “A color expert who cares about the health of the hair will be sure to inform the client that growing out your natural hair color is not a quick process.” To find one, simply call around to salons and ask if they have a colorist who has done it before—it may take some time, but getting the right person can make all the difference. “During a transformation, my expert advice is to eliminate the harsh demarcation line caused by artificial color,” says Haliti. “Balayage is a more gentle highlighting technique, so it’s much simpler to slowly embrace the natural gray hair that begins to come along. Yes, this will partially come along during the transformation.” Not to mention, with new hair color (aka your grays) usually comes a need for a new style. New color elements create new dimensions, movements, and textures; therefore, your new cut should reflect this. It doesn’t have to be a dramatic change, but your stylist might feel the need to change up layers, add a few face-framing elements, or the like.
