Key Takeaways: Going gray gracefully is more popular than ever before, and barbers can help their clients achieve this timeless aesthetic by employing a few key techniques. Here, we explore the top tips to help your clients go gray in the best possible way.
Aging is inevitable, but it doesn’t have to be dreaded. In fact, many of your best years come when your whiskers begin to gray. As more and more people lean into the aging process and embrace it wholeheartedly, some of the trends of yesteryear have begun to fall to the wayside, especially when it comes to personal aesthetics.
Going gray is the perfect example of this. For years, people sought to hide their graying heads and beards by dyeing their hair. Now, that trend is reversing, with more and more individuals wondering how to go gray gracefully.
As a barber, helping clients of all ages look and feel their best is an integral part of your career. This includes folks who would rather let their gray hair take center stage than cover it up!
How Barbers Can Help Their Clients Go Gray Gracefully
Picking Flattering Hairstyles
As a barber, you know better than anyone how drastically a hairstyle can transform someone’s appearance. From complementing their head shape and hair texture to expressing their personality and unique style, the right haircut can revolutionize your client’s look and confidence.
Graying clients are no exception. The right hairstyle can elevate their aesthetic by accounting for their changing hair color and transition into a new stage of life. While every client should be considered on a case-by-case basis, including a consultation where you discuss their desires, a general rule of thumb is that shorter haircuts with plenty of texture are a great way to transition from colored hair to gray.
From buzzcuts to fades, working with your client to set them up for immediate good looks and long-term success as they gray is the best approach.
"The right hairstyle can elevate their aesthetic by accounting for their changing hair color and transition into a new stage of life."
Expert Color Matching
Cutting graying hair short allows it to grow back naturally in a more uniform color. For some clients, this option is appealing, but others will want to keep a longer hairstyle while giving their hair a more natural look. This is where color matching shines.
As a barber, you can use lowlights to blend areas of varying shades. You can also use coloring products to create a subtle salt-and-pepper look that allows your client to embrace their graying hair as it slowly changes on its own.
The key to color matching is subtlety. Going overboard will defeat the goal of fostering a natural transition to gray, so use a light touch and lean into your artistic side during this process.
Specialized Haircare
As hair grays, the care it requires to flourish shifts. Gray hair has a tendency to be coarse and flat, creating a unique set of challenges for barbers to address and clients to understand. Thankfully, there are haircare products that are specialized to promote healthy graying hair, helping it look its best and thrive throughout the years.
The first step is to identify haircare products to avoid. For example, you should teach your clients to avoid matte products, which can make gray hair look dull. They should also skip any products that may cause dryness, as well as shampoo less frequently to encourage natural oil accumulation.
When it comes to products they should consider using, it all starts with hydration. Gray hair can feel dry and coarse, so conditioners and other hydrating products are a must to promote a silkier texture and more full-bodied volume. Additionally, specialized shampoos (often called silver or purple shampoos) can help prevent gray hair from yellowing due to the sun, product buildup, and more.
Patience and Easing into a New Look
While some of your clients may be willing and ready to dive headfirst into their new look, many will be at least somewhat hesitant about their transition to gray hair. For clients who fall into this category, it is important to preach patience and help them ease into their new look.
If they are wondering how to go gray gracefully, the answer often involves simply waiting for nature to take its course and incorporating a handful of subtle techniques (such as color matching) to ease the transition in the meantime.
As a barber, you have the experience and skills to facilitate this transition, allowing your clients to feel comfortable and confident along the way. Don’t forget that your client’s mental and emotional states are also at play. Talking them through the graying process, offering them educational resources, and providing the support they need can contribute to positive outcomes for everyone involved.
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