When I entered the church foyer yesterday, the sun was shining.  There is a mirror in the foyer and as I saw my reflection, I noticed all of the gray hair.  It was actually quite lovely to see.  I had been wondering lately why my hair was beginning to look soo blond.  Its not, the gray hair is becomming more, it is taking over the red.  The sunlight helped me to see it better.  So, my question of the day is---what would be a better to take care of the gray.  My hair is very coarse and the gray is making that more so.  I am still doing my regular routine, should I add more oil.  What about oiling the ends when my hair is damp.  The hair will not dry tho as it takes 6 - 8 hours to dry without the oil.  I really dont know alot about taking care of my grays.  Will it be the same as my red/gold?  Will I actually need to change shampoo?  I have played with shampoo/condish for gray hair, but should I change over to that completely?  Sooo many questions, sooo little time.

Deb

You have several options for your gray:

• Nothing
  
• henna which would add some red highlights to the gray
  
• try a color enhancing shampoo
  

I've purposely not mention using a permanent color to cover the gray - that would be counter-productive to growing your hair longer.

I have heard that using henna reduces your drying time, so you might want to think about that too.

I think the biggest factor to consider is what do you want for the long term.  If you use anything to cover or tint the gray, and you decide to stop, you will have a growing out process.  I've been growing out highlighted hair for 5 years and I probably have another 5 years before it is all gone.  Fortunately for me, the highlighting was not a major color change but that is something to consider.

I like to think of my gray as threads of wisdom in my hair.  I earned every one of them.  ;)

Thanks BB  ;) I also think of my "hairs of wisdom" so I dont plan to color/cover in anyway.  But mainly what I think I wanted to know is since my hair is soo course and the graying is even courser (I am sure that is a word) how much oil should I be applying and how often.  I added oil to the ends just b4 they got dry yesterday, and that really helped.  What about the general body of my hair?  Would oiling b4 it gets dry take it longer to get dry and would it make greasier?  I dunno  :-?.  

Deb

I'm always careful about oil on the hair close to the scalp - or I'd have a quick case of the greasies! ;D  But what I have found works well is to first oil the ends, but just before all the oil from my hands has transferred to my hair, I run my hands over the top and sides of my head.  This way only a small amount of the oil gets to the scalp hair and the greasies are kept away.  

Oiling the hair when it is wet allows the hair to absorb more of the oil and water.  It is harder to tell how much oil you are using, so I usually suggest starting on dry hair until you know how much oil to use, then use that same amount on the damp hair.  

OK!  Thanks BB.  I am going to wash tomarrow morning but tonite I plan to oil.  Soo, I will probably trying oiling the damp ends only and see how that works.

Debr