No matter if your hair is silver, grey, white, or a charming mix of salt-and-pepper, there are countless ways to tailor your curl care routine to enhance your color & nourish your natural texture. As your strands continue to evolve, your hair’s needs may change, allowing you to reassess the products you use & revamp your styling techniques.
If your locks have recently started to transform, you may be wondering how to care for grey curly hair & what sets it apart from other colors or textures.
Fortunately, we’ve created this guide with the 411 on taking care of your grey curly hair, including a review of what makes it different from other hair colors, how to choose the right products & what to prioritize in your washing & styling routine (hint: moisture & hydration are key to maintaining healthy hair).
Understanding Grey Hair: What Makes It Different?
Grey waves, curls or coils all require the same basic hair care for other colors: prioritize moisture, protect against breakage & embrace the volume & pattern that makes you uniquely you. But as your hair color changes, it may require some additional TLC to stay vibrant & healthy.
The key to knowing what your hair needs is understanding it. So, why do curls start to grey?
The loss of natural pigment, or what we call melanin, in your hair causes its color to fade over time. This could be because of a decrease in enzymatic activity in the hair follicle (which is responsible for the melanin synthesis in your strands) or the inactivity of melanocytes (which are the pigment cells that produce melanin). This means that your cells create or synthesize less pigment, causing your strands to turn silver, grey or vibrant platinum.
Luckily, your new silver tones offer tons of refined elegance: the perfect accessory for any look. With the right care & styling, you can embrace your grey curls & nourish your luscious natural hair texture for years to come.
The Basics of Grey Curly Hair Care
Aside from understanding why your curls turn grey, you’ll want a refresher on the products & ingredients your silver tresses crave the most. Here are some of the basics of curly grey hair care so you can understand how to re-up your wash & styling routine to unleash the full potential of your strands.
Your Hair Thickness May Change
Besides your newfound silver streaks, you may notice other changes in your hair type once you start to go grey, including the thickness of your strands. Grey & silver hair tends to be coarser & thicker than pigmented hair, so you may need to switch up your current curly hair care routine, especially if you’re used to having finer hair.
Your Strands Can Become More Porous
Not only can you expect the pigmentation of your curls to change, but naturally grey hair may also be more porous. Hair porosity—or how your tresses absorb & maintain moisture—can impact the feel & appearance of your strands. While high-porosity hair is quick to absorb moisture, it also loses it faster than its low-porosity sisters due to the natural structure of the hair shaft.
This is because larger pores make it easier for moisture to flow in & out of your strands. What does this translate to? Less hydrated hair in the cold winter months, or extra moisturized hair if you live somewhere warm & humid.
This means that you may want to support your silver tresses with protective & hydrating hair products full of oils & humectants that create a barrier between your tresses & the outside world. The right moisture-balancing products can ensure that they stay balanced & vibrant, no matter the season.
You May See an Entirely New Curl Pattern
As your hair begins to grey, you may notice you have an entirely new curl pattern as well. This means that your beach waves can grow into full, romantic curls or you may welcome a few dynamic coils to the party.
To embrace & care for your new pattern, find wash day essentials like the PATTERN Hydration Shampoo, packed with ingredients like Sweet Almond Oil, Honey & Coconut Oil (known for sealing in hydration) that nourish all kinds of curl patterns from the inside out.
Navigating styling a new hair color & texture may require some trial & error, allowing you to experiment with products & styling techniques to embrace the latest & greatest version of your locks fully.
Why Hydration & Moisture Are Key to Vibrant Grey Curls
For juicy, joyful curls, it’s important to craft a hair care routine that accommodates your strands’ unique needs, including their density, length & texture. As your hair unveils its new grey hues, you may want to adjust your washing & styling habits to prioritize moisture & hydration.
One thing’s for sure: When it comes to grey curls, moisture matters. With potentially thicker & more porous strands, your locks crave an extra dose of hydration to keep them soft & supple.
With lightweight, nourishing ingredients, you can keep your curls hydrated without weighing them down. This gives you the volume you’re after while locking in moisture & shine.
Choosing the Right Products for Grey Curls
While your silver strands are eye-catching all on their own, the right curly hair styling products can help them stay luscious & moisturized between washes:
- Opt for curl creams that offer a boost of hydration – Thicker strands respond well to products that balance hydration & hold, like the PATTERN Styling Cream. Packed with oil-dense ingredients, thicker products like curl cream can help you nourish coarser strands & lock in your natural curl pattern until your next wash day.
- Embrace leave-in for long-lasting moisture – With more porous strands, it’s important to use moisture-rich conditioning products like the PATTERN Leave-In Conditioner. Formulated with Jojoba Oil, Honey & Aloe, this type of hair product is a perfect match for all textures, making it an easy add-on to any styling routine.
- Maintain definition with mousse or flexible gel – If you have finer grey strands, you can use a lightweight mousse, such as the PATTERN Curl Mousse, to maintain your delicately defined curls. For thicker hair, a medium-hold styling product, like the PATTERN Curl Gel can be your go-to for creating effortlessly defined curls. Have thicker coils? Opt for the PATTERN Strong Hold Gel to keep every juicy springlet bouncy & vibrant for hours.
Understanding your hair’s unique density, curl pattern & porosity can help you craft the care routine your strands love.
Protective Styling for Grey Natural Curls
Since your hair may switch up its texture in addition to going grey, this can be the perfect point in your curl journey to introduce protective styles (if you haven’t already). If you have a tighter pattern like tight coils, you may already be familiar with the fun & versatility of protective styles.
From eye-catching twists to intricate braids, there’s no shortage of ways for you to care for your strands while showcasing your personal style. Besides looking chic, protective styles help prevent natural hair breakage & support healthy growth, allowing you to keep your naturally curly grey hair moisturized & nourished in between washes.
Easy Styling Tips for Defined Grey Curls
If you’re lucky enough to have vibrant natural curls, you know that even a wash-&-go look is sure to turn heads. With the right styling routine & hair care habits, you can show off your healthy tresses whether you’re heading to the office, after school pickup or a GNO.
That’s why we’ve curated a few easy styling tips to take your locks to the next level, helping you maintain their bounce & shine in their newfound silver glory:
- Make sure to shampoo gently – When wash day rolls around, you’ll want to remember to treat your strands with the care they deserve. Apply cleansing products gently to avoid any extra breakage. For a deep clean, try a potent cleanser like the PATTERN Cleansing Shampoo—& then follow up with a moisturizing conditioner.
- Hit the reset button with a deep conditioner – When you want to give your strands a break, help them reset & regain moisture with a weekly (or monthly) deep conditioning routine. In both of the PATTERN Heavy Conditioner & Intensive Conditioner, you’ll find ingredients like Avocado Oil & Shea Butter that will hydrate your tresses from within.
- Incorporate a transition mask weekly – Enhance your routine with a nutrient-dense product like the PATTERN Transition Mask at least once a week to deeply nourish & revitalize your grey curls. Infused with White Tea to reduce shedding & Manuka Honey to prevent breakage & maintain moisture balance, this mask is ideal for those transitioning from protective styles, straightened hair, or chemical treatments back to their natural curls. It nourishes & supports growth, helping to retain length & enhance the health of your grey hair.
- Look for products packed with natural oils – Since hydration is key for nourishing naturally curly grey hair, you’ll want to be on the lookout for products that contain nourishing ingredients like Olive Oil, Coconut Oil & Argan Oil. These creamy formulas will gently coat your strands, sealing in moisture & protecting them from damage.
- Wrap your curls overnight – Both you & your curls thrive on beauty sleep, so consider gently wrapping your strands in a satin or silk scarf (or tucking them into a bonnet) before bed to stave off friction & breakage. This overnight care can also minimize the need for a refresh sesh in the morning, making it even easier for you to get up & go.
With the proper hair care routine & styling techniques in your repertoire, the only thing left to do is walk out the door & enjoy being the queen that you are.
Hydrate & Celebrate Your Natural Grey Hair with PATTERN
When you’re ready to embrace your envy-inducing silver strands, we’ve got you covered. At PATTERN, we love all kinds of curls, & have the products you need for balanced moisture, long-lasting definition & all-around healthy locks.
Whether you’re looking for creamy leave-ins to nourish your crown or strong-hold products for high-def results, our formulas are packed with high-quality ingredients formulated for curls. There are no grey skies here—only silver linings.
Sources:
Healthline. What Type of Hair Porosity Do You Have? https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-porosity
National Library of Medicine. The biology of human hair greying. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32965076/
