Life can be cruel sometimes. That was obvious to me when I recently decided to grow a beard, only to discover half of it was gray! I’ve been told that gray hair is a blessing, just ask a bald man. Unfortunately, I also suffer from thinning hair, and since what’s left is turning gray, that’s no consolation.

Gray hair is caused by a lack of pigmentation and melanin: hair color changes when melanin is no longer produced at the hair root and new, pigment-free hair grows. Although gray hair is typically associated with the aging process, it can also be the result of stress or prolonged illness. If you care about their appearance, you may even see the number increase!

The best way to hide gray hair is by using permanent dyes or colors, a common method used by men and women alike. Unfortunately, there is a temptation among us to go one shade darker than our natural color. Keep in mind that most solutions color your hair evenly and evenly, and you end up with a head that looks completely unnatural and obviously dyed.

The trick is to use a color that is a shade or two lighter than your normal color. Here’s why: Regular hair color looks natural because there are actually color variations in each strand. Easier said than done, unless you plan on using foils or putting your hair through a cap.

Gray hair, on the other hand, isn’t gray at all, mind you (remember I mentioned it’s caused by a lack of pigmentation). It only appears gray when light reflects off the transparent threads. Therefore, to minimize the shine of the gray, you should color only the area of ​​your head that is gray.

Fortunately, I discovered a secret way to cover gray specifically so it looks natural and preserves color variations: hair enhancers (also known as concealers). It seems that the guys with hair loss had something that the guys with gray hair could use to their advantage.

Hair enhancers are semi-permanent, meaning they wash out and allow for subtle color variations on the head, leaving hair looking more natural. They are also much less harsh than permanent dye, a real bonus if you are losing weight like me!