Grey hair: how to keep it healthy and beautiful

A real nuisance for many women and forever synonymous with old age, grey hair is actually enjoying a revival, thanks also to the current enforced lockdown. Silver locks have become a real trend, also with younger ladies and Hollywood divas. From a sign of neglect and source of embarrassment to a true style revolution that pushes back against the taboo of passing time and the obligation to always look perfect at any cost. But the “granny look” is something more than a simple fashion; it stands for every woman’s freedom to express herself and no longer be a slave to regrowth and hair dye. A deliberate choice that is, however, not always a simple one. Yes, because the particular structure of grey hairs makes them weaker and vulnerable, and they therefore require greater care. 

Before we find out what kind of care, let’s just say something here: age is not the only reason behind a head of grey hair. While greying hair is traditionally associated with the passing years, it might actually be the result of genetic, metabolic, nutritional and psychological causes. Our genes are what determine our production levels of melanin, the pigment that colours all the hair follicles on our body, which decreases with age.

To this must be added an incorrect lifestyle, like lack of sleep, a bad diet, and stress, or even pollution and smoking, which inevitably produce free radicals that in turn inhibit and damage melanocytes, the cells that synthesise melanin. When hair loses its pigment, it starts to change form, thickness and elasticity. Without these pigments, which are real protective filters, the hair becomes more prone to attack by external agents and subject to keratin oxidation by UV rays, leading to the appearance of unsightly shades of yellow. The production of the scalp’s sebaceous glands slows down too, making the hair drier. Plus, grey locks do not reflect the light either; another factor that makes them look duller.

Grey and white hair is completely acceptable today, as long as it is not dull or yellowish. This is why it is fundamental to use specific haircare treatments that preserve shine and hydration, such as serums and restructuring masks, but also ones that neutralise those yellowy hues, thanks to glycine pigments that even out colour, highlighting the silver strands and smoothing the cuticle.

Care of grey hair also comes from inside: a lack of vitamin B, iron iodine and copper is one of the origins of the drop in melanin production. Eating food rich in these nutrients and proteins helps keep hair glossy, improves its consistency and increases melanin levels.

And for total hair wellbeing there is the TRINOV programme, formulated specifically to make fragile vulnerable hair strong and resistant.
“Greynaissance” or the rebirth of grey, is therefore a desire for self-expression and a chance to get back in the game, but this amazing colour does not suit everyone. Grey hair flatters very pale complexions and, at the opposite end of the scale, very dark ones too. And the cut? Short is the most flattering length for silver locks, because it softens the effect and lends vibrancy to a colour considered old-fashioned and sad. But it is often an excellent solution for taming hair that is thicker and less supple. For those who, on the other hand, want to keep it long, the tip is to dare with layers or a smooth style that gives this extraordinary shade more visibility and bigger impact.