Having your grey hair turning yellow can put a damper on your plans of going with nature and giving up coloring your hair.
“I have decided to embrace my natural grey hair. But I have a problem with my grey hair turning yellow.” One of the many inquiries I have on my website on this subject.
You are maybe one of the lucky ones that has a head of pure white hair. But most people have grey hair which is often referred to as salt and pepper hair.
This salt and pepper hair is in fact white hair that is interspersed with pigmented hair. And it is the white hairs that can start to turn yellow.
This can start to happen early on in the process of growing out your hair color when you decide to embrace your grey.
For that reason choosing the best method of growing out your grey hair with confidence is important.
Your Natural Hair Color Is Created By Melanin.
At the beginning your hair is white.
Then before being born your body will start producing pigment granules.
These pigment granules are what give your hair, skin, and eyes their color. And the granules are known as melanin.
Of which there are two types.
- Eumelanin which is blackish brown.
- Pheomelanin which is reddish yellow.
Your hairs color melanin is produced by cells that sit in your hair follicle – the root of your hair.
If your body produces more of the darker melanin called eumelanin. You will tend to have dark eyes, dark hair, and a deeper skin tone.
Whereas a lighter skin tone, eyes, and hair is produced when your body melanin is more predominately pheomelanin. The reddish yellow pigment.
The type and amount of these melanin’s produced by your body is already determined. By the genes that you inherited from your parents
Why Your Hair Goes Grey.
The time at which you start spotting those grey hairs is mostly linked to your age and your genes.
Both of which create a slowdown in production of melanin in the cells that sit in the root of your hair.
This slowdown will mean that some of your hairs will grow containing a smaller amount of melanin. The amount of hairs growing like this will slowly increase overtime.
Giving your natural hair an appearance of grey, white or a salt and pepper look if left natural and not colored.
Generally grey hairs start appearing on the head anywhere between your mid-thirties to mid-forties.
Although premature greying can even start to occur in your teens.
As about half of the population will have half a head of grey hair by the time they are fifty. It is quite often at this age that many women will start to think “should I color or not color my grey hair”.
5 Reasons For Grey Hair Turning Yellow.
There are many reasons that your salt and pepper hair can start taking on a yellowish tinge.
And the more porous your hair is the easier it is for the polutants that can change the color of your hair
to sneak in.
The Sun Can Increase Yellowing.
Over exposure to the sun can increase the yellowing effect on white hair.
Because most of your white hairs may still contain a little bit of pigment which can become more prominent in the sun.
Check how white your hair is.
Lay one of your white hairs on a piece of white paper. Against the white of the paper you may notice that your hair does appears slightly yellow.
Water Makes Grey Hair Look Yellow.
Never forget that your tap water may look clear. But it is not.
Because it contains traces of metals and minerals of one sort or another. Most of which do contain color pigments even though we cannot see them with the naked eye.
These metal and mineral traces attach themselves to your hair shaft. Building up over time so causing a reflection that will distort your hair color.
And if you happen to swim on a regular basis be aware that swimming pools do contain chemicals. Which will attach themselves in just the same way to your hair.
I do recommend using a clarifying shampoo once a month on your hair. As this will stop any build up of these trace metals, minerals, or chemicals.
Also installing a filter on your shower helps to eliminate traces of the minerals which spoil the color of your hair.
Medications May Cause A Yellow Tone.
Some medications can lead to a yellowing of your hair.
Because your hair is fed by many tiny blood vessels. Therefore your hair will absorb the chemicals from any medicines that you are taking.
You can always check with your doctor if you think that is the case.
If you happen to have a dandruff problem and are using a dandruff shampoo that can also be a cause.
Due to many of these shampoos include in their ingredients a chemical called Selenium Sulfide which can cause white hair to turn yellow.
Hot Styling Tools Cause Yellowing.
High heat from styling tools such as hair dryers, curling tongs, or hair straighteners can turn your grey hair yellow over time.
If the heat is too high you may in fact be burning your hair without realizing it.
Or the high heat can be having a reaction to the minerals attached to your hair.
If you think this maybe a cause use a heat protectant spray before you start. And try keeping the temperatures of your styling tools as low as possible to achieve your desired look.
Air Pollution And Yellowing Hair.
Most of us live or work in densely populated areas.
Which means that the amount of pollutants in the air is high. Ranging from smoke, smog to car fumes.
Deposits from these pollutants will attach to your hair which can influence its yellowing.
The 3 Best Ways To Stop Your Grey Hair Yellowing.
Embracing natural grey hair is becoming more and more popular. As it can look fantastic when it has a nice shine, looks healthy and well cared for. Keeping the yellow at bay is an important ritual in attaining this.
1.Silver Shampoos Help Stop Grey Hair Yellowing.
Silver shampoos help to counter the yellow or brassy tones that may build up in your hair.
Because they contain color pigments of violet or blue which will neutralize any yellow in your hair.
As silver shampoos do not deposit pigments into your hair shaft.
Every time you shampoo with your regular shampoo some pigments will be washed away. So you will need to shampoo your hair with a silver shampoo on a very regular basis.
These products you can l find available at your hair salon and in your local beauty store.
Makes Such As.
L’Oréal Serie Magnesium Silver.
Aveda Blue Malva.
Clairol Shimmer Light Shampoo Blonde & Silver.
Just to name a few.
A cautionary note. If you happen to use light colored towels be careful. Because the pigments in these color shampoos can stain them.
Hair Toners Turn Yellowing Grey Hair Silver.
If you have the problem of your grey hair turning yellow and you visit your hair salon on a regular basis. Ask your stylist about a hair toner or hair gloss to remove the yellow in your hair.
As these will last approximately six weeks depending of course upon how often you wash your hair.
The violet hair toner which also has a shine factor. Is mixed with a low volume peroxide which allows the pigments to slightly penetrate your hair shaft.
So creating a longer lasting effect on your grey hair turning yellow than just using a color depositing shampoo.
Although for great results I would recommend a combination of the two.
A hair toner followed up with a silver shampoo every one or two weeks between applications.
Home Remedy For Yellowing Grey Hair.
If you are a person who is into home remedy’s you may prefer to try an apple cider vinegar rinse.
As the acidic elements do help to strip the yellowing from your hair. But do be careful not to use this rinse more than twice a month. Otherwise you will that it will also dry out your hair.
Using An Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse.
- Start by mixing a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with approximately 4 liters of water.
- Then shampoo your hair as normal.
- Pour the rinse over your hair and comb through.
- Rinse your hair thoroughly removing any smell of the vinegar.
- Finish off with your conditioner application.
In Conclusion.
Grey hair does not need to look old and tired. Knowing how to enhance your natural grey hair will help you achieve healthy shiny and youthful looking hair.
Pollutants are all around us and over time they do build up and start to stain your hair.
Yes there is an upkeep to all the three methods that I have mentioned when it comes to grey hair yellowing. But I believe that you will definitely find that it is well worth it when you see the results.
Thank you for spending the time to read my post. If you found it helpful please share it with a friend.
