Hooray, Hooray, It’s the First of May!
And for all of you who made “going gray” your New Year’s Resolution, you are soooo through your “winter of discontent.” The time spent in transitioning. Your silvers may not be long enough for your liking yet, but you can see them, you know they’re there. So pat yourselves on the back, take a deep breath, and get ready for summer. The perfect time to pamper your hair, shield it from the rays of the sun (uh-oh, is that yellow I see?), and wear some gorgeous floppy beach hats. So let’s talk about who’s going where this summer – and how you plan to care for your hair. Are you a baseball cap gal? A headband honey? A ponytail princess? Share your secrets for keeping your hair cool, calm and collected.
Posted by Diana Jewell on 04/30 at 05:06 PM
Hey Diana - this is new ground for me! Never thought before about sheltering my hair from the sun but now I am concerned I should be! It’s been a long almost 18 months and I am 95% grown out ...and don’t want to take a chance with anything finagling (is that a word?) my new long awaited growth.
Even in Las Vegas the week before last I wore the dorkiest sun hat at the pool in fear of yellow meanies:-)
Do I need to be ultra-paranoid about sun exposure? And also of chlorine? Or just be careful not to ‘overexpose’?
As always, I look forward to your thoughts and wisdom as an SME!
Posted by morningstar on 04/30 at 05:30 PM
Hi Morningstar
I just returned from a sun filled vacation and used the products that Diana suggested On my Carol’s Story site. My hair was in the sun most of the day and looks great with no yellow and even feels more conditioned. Diana sure is a good resource for all our “Hair questions”!
Carol
Posted by Carol Quinley on 05/01 at 06:05 AM
Hi Gals!
I just got a great hat from a close friend and I love it! It has the shape of a baseball cap but dressier. The brim is larger and has black canvas accents. It is so nice to have a hat that is dressier for those wonderful summer outings...summer is coming isn’t it?
Aveda has a great product that I use with my kids and athletes...its called “hair detoxifier” and removes the chemical build up from chlorine. I have been around pools for most of my life, and it’s the best product that I have personally found for chlorine removal. I always use a deep conditioer after using it though...it can be drying if used more than 1x per week.
Have a great day
Posted by elizabeth on 05/01 at 07:20 AM
Carol and Elizabeth,
Thank you both for so quickly giving me accounts of your first hand experience with these products! I will check those out and get some in stock to get ready for....yes...summer..it WILL be here! (I know - it’s hard t believe with some of the eather we are having in the Northeast). But last night I saw that they have taken the cover off the outdoor pool at my fitness center and are cleaning up the chaise lounges so...I best be ready too!
Thanks again ladies and TGIF!
Posted by morningstar on 05/02 at 02:33 AM
Hi Morningstar,
They are forcasting snow this weekend for me 
One can only hope for summer...I’ll have to live vicariously through everyones spring/summer stories for now 
Have a great weekend! And yes...TGIF!
Posted by elizabeth on 05/02 at 06:11 AM
Sorry to hear some of you are still having winter weather. Texas has been enjoying spring-like weather for quite awhile. I am wearing my workout capris with a tank top - getting ready to go for a walk. We’ve been running the AC off and on for weeks. I wish I could send you some warm air and sunshine in exchange for 2 feet of snow next winter - oh, and I’d love some beautiful autumn colors this fall, as well. :o) Guess we all have down-sides where we live.
My stylist always told me to protect my hair when she colored it. She said the sun faded it and chlorine was horrible, too. I never really kept her rules, but maybe I will do better with my gray. The Texas sun is very intense, even in the winter. I’m not a hat person, but maybe I should change.
Our vacation plans are sketchy, but we are heading to see family in July. Most of them haven’t seen my hair, and some still have no idea I’m going gray, so I am wondering what they will say. I’m looking forward to some interesting comments. :o)
Posted by greeneyes on 05/02 at 09:02 AM
Hey Morningstar –
I’ve been doing a little deep thinking about this. Yes, you can buy salon products, like the Kerastase Soleil line I recommended to Carol. And it’s a good line for detoxing hair from salt and chlorine, and providing deep moisturization for sun-damaged hair. But even though it has UV filters, measurable UV protection is tricky. If a sunscreen is in a shampoo or conditioner, it’s going to get washed right out. Sunscreen ingredients just do not adhere to hair, and you can’t tell how long your hair will be protected. Which is why the FDA does not let haircare products use an SPF number. (Some do, but it’s meaningless.) Others, if you read the fine print, say the SPF protects the scalp, not the hair.
So what’s the biggest thing the sun does to your hair? It damages the internal structure of the hair, making it even weaker. Not to mention drier. Better to go at it from that angle. And we can get a little creative about that here, and turn to products you can find at drug and mass outlets.
I actually got this idea from Redken, who discontinued their UV Rescue line. In its place, they recommended Velvet Whip Thermal Softening Treatment, with rich avocado and olive oil to moisturize and replenish dry hair, and amino acids for strength. It’s a leave-in product, designed to protect hair from heat styling. Heat! A-ha. Heat is what sucks moisture from the hair, and the sun gives you plenty of heat.
So let’s think about using products that protect against styling damage. Products you can spritz on pre-sun. These will offer a good shield, sometimes mist-light, sometimes oilier, for your hair, while not necessarily offering “iffy” UV protection.
Products like. . .
Pantene Pro-V Protecting Damage Defender Spray
Pantene Relaxed & Natural Daily Oil Cream Moisturizer
Aussie Tip Protector and Leave-In Conditioner
Aussie Moist Leave-in Cream
Biolage Sunsorial’s line has a Protective Hair Oil, which prevents the drying effects of the sun, which again, you would use pre-sun, and re-apply after swimming. You could also use their Protective Daily Mist – an oil-free spray with anti-oxidant vitamin E and reparative ceramides (two ingredients found in the Kerastase Soleil Voile Protecteur Ultra Light UV Protection Mist.) Go for Biolage Sunsorial’s After Sun Shampoo to remove salt and chlorine.
Your other question had to do with your pretty silver tarnishing. If you had very dark hair originally, you might have some blue molecules left. And sun is a bleach, pure and simple. It zaps the blue out first, creating a yellow-ish cast. It’s never happened to me, and it may not happen to you. But do check out Alice Feder’s story in the book. Her “after” shot shows some serious yellow. Although this was due to minerals in the well-water of her new home, she also told us her hair turns this way “every summer.”
The best thing to do is protect your hair, when you can. But don’t obsess. Gray hair is a little more fragile– but it’s not overly perishable. Besides – all those who still color their hair are going to have the same fade-out, dry-out problems, and they have to take the same, sensible care. Wear a hat when you want, shield your hair with products when you choose to “be free,” and give it lots of love with good moisturizers. I know, this is your first summer of gray, but you’ll get through it with shining non-colors!
Whew—what a long answer. But I hope this gives everybody some good care ideas! D.
Posted by Diana Jewell on 05/02 at 09:16 AM
Greeneyes!!
No snow! I’ve got sunshine! It must have been your happy thoughts! 
Have a great rest of the weekend!
Posted by elizabeth on 05/03 at 11:59 AM
Yay! So glad the sunshine found you!
Now don’t forget to send my snow this Christmas. :o)
Posted by greeneyes on 05/03 at 12:20 PM
This is a great topic. I live on the SE coast and am in the sun a lot. When I am in the pool or at the beach, I use a ball hat. The past few years I have tried to keep my head above water so it wouldn’t fade my color. Should I just do the same this year or just have fun and depend on products later to work with the sun and chlorine? I will still wear my hat when sunning.
Thanks for all your help. Good weather wishes to everyone. We’re having strange weather, it’s been 78 and sunny today, but enough wind that the AC hasn’t been needed. Thank goodness, more $$ for the gas tank!
Karen
Posted by karen on 05/03 at 06:21 PM
Greeneyes...be careful what you wish for 
It’s all fun and games until someone has to shovel...LOL
Posted by elizabeth on 05/03 at 06:36 PM
Diana - just logged in ...you really did the homework on this! OMG - you are awesome! Between you and Carol and Elizabeth I have no excuse not to have fun in the sun, sand and surf this summer with shiny locks to boot! Sorry hadn’t the chance to log back in sooner! Thanks!
Posted by morningstar on 05/06 at 05:15 PM
And I’ve got one more collection! Found Summer Hair from Frédéric Fekkai. Some of the products have been around since 2007, but a few are new this summer. Like Summer Hair Sunshine Shield Spray. It’s a spritz-on that gives hair high shine and reflectivity. That’s the secret to its “UV Shield”—not an SPF, but a way to protect hair from rapid oxidation by reflecting the sun’s rays. Also contains silicones to prevent moisture loss and smooth rough cuticles.
Also in this line-up, a Quick-Quench Rehydrating Gelée, which contains aloe vera among other hydrators to restore moisture to parched hair. There’s a product called Sun Bandana (love the name!), an oil-free conditioner that is activated by heat to apparently seal-in moisture. Other products include Beach Waves (lets you create touseled “beach hair” without going near the beach), Wash & Wear (an instant oil-free shampoo that sprays on so you can refresh and restyle without lathering up—great after a day at the beach!), and, of course Zero Humidity Frizz Control (what put Fekkai on the map in the first place.)
Yippieee—a whole new line to explore in our never-ending quest to summer-proof our hair! I’ll tell you this about all of them—I’d rather have a product between my hair and the sun than not.
Posted by Diana Jewell on 05/07 at 10:32 AM
Goodmorning!
Gosh...I feel like I’m at the counter of a great candy store and I don’t know which kind I want to try first! All these products sound GREAT!!! I plan on being out in the sun a lot this summer with my kids and gardening… oh....what to choose 
Guess it’s time to pick up the GGLG book and do some reading.
mmmmm....gotta get my coffee
Posted by elizabeth on 05/08 at 04:47 AM
What do you think of the new mineral make-ups (Bare Escentuals, etc.)? They claim that the minerals are good for the skin. Is that true? Obviously at our age, anything good for the skin would be desirable. But I also worry that they might collect in creases. On the plus side, they look unusually easy to use and apply. And they have such lovely colors. Just hoping you will address the positives and negatives of these new mineral lines, that have come out since your book was published, for older faces framed by gray hair. Many thanks in advance.
Posted by Tutu on 05/09 at 09:37 AM
I need some info on using flat irons on gray hair. When my hair was dyed, I used a hair dryer with brush attachment to smooth my curly hair. I have tried this on my gray and the results were not satisfactory. My hair texture has somewhat changed and instead of getting smooth shiny bouncy hair (see pix Carol’s Story) with this process,, it (my hair)gets very dry and a little too soft and unmanageable. I am researching flat irons and the cost of them varies considerably from approximately 40.00 to Over 200.00. Since I have not used one, and know nothing about them, I would like some recommendations from you gals that have used flat irons successfully on gray hair. Also what product is used in conjuction with the iron?
Any info will be appreciated.
Thanks,,Carol
Posted by Carol Quinley on 05/09 at 01:03 PM
Hi Carol --
I use a BaByliss flat iron with ceramic plates, from time to time. It’s a good product (others with gray hair have used mine, too), and it works very nicely and not aggressively. Meaning it doesn’t get overly hot, it doesn’t “fry” the hair, and the ceramic plates allow it to glide smoothly. Mine is years old, however, (I think it was around $60 at the time), but they do have newer versions. So you might want to check out their website—http://www.babyliss.com.
As far as products to use, did you get the Ojon Shine & Protect Glossing Mist? You can spray that on, pre-ironing, to give a smooth, shiny finish to your hair. There are a lot of products out there—look for those formulated with oil—and others in the “thermal protection” category. You don’t absolutely need to use anything, but as you say your hair gets dry when you blow dry, using something to protect and add back shine is a good thing to do.
I’ll be interested to hear everybody chime in on this to see what they like—and use. 
Posted by Diana Jewell on 05/09 at 01:43 PM
Good Morning
Still confused,, thanks, Diana, for web site --I spent some time on it reading about the different flat irons available and also about the “a straightener and dryer in one”. Would I have to buy Babyliss online? I checked Sephora and Beauty First and they did not carry them. Also contacted Babyliss Company and asked where to purchase in my area and haven’t got a response. Anyone out there with some input? Share with me what appliance you use and the techniques that you use with it. I am truely a novice when it comes to styling aids and I want the best for my new gray hair that is growing longer.
Posted by Carol Quinley on 05/10 at 04:26 AM
Hi Carol --
I tried to remember where I bought mine, and it could either have been at a department store, or salon. So I just googled BaByliss, and found a slew of places where you can purchase it online. Everything from amazon to shopzilla to discount beauty suppliers. Have a look.
Posted by Diana Jewell on 05/10 at 04:37 AM
Good Mornin’ Carol and Diana 
Posted by elizabeth on 05/10 at 04:42 AM
Carol -
I went to the local Sally’s a purchased my flat iron. Like you, I didn’t know anything about them, so I just trusted the sales-lady. She told me ALL of theirs were good :o), so I just trusted my instincts. Can’t remember what I paid, but not over $50. Mine has ceramic plates. It’s certainly not top of the line, but does a fine job. I’m not a stylist and only working on one head of hair a day! :o)
You can buy special products for your hair, which have thermal protection, but so far I haven’t. I put a leave-in conditioner on (even after I conditioned when washing,) or a stying product. I flat iron almost every day, doing only a touch up on the days I don’t wash my hair, and I have never had a problem with damage; though obviously it must affect it in some ways.
The best tip I can give about using one is to be sure you only iron one small section at a time. (When I first ironed, I was totally random and ended up with more frizz and crazy, bent pieces of hair.) I take clips and clip up all but the bottom section of hair (the longest hair down by my neck.) I brush it smoothly and then taking small sections, begin to iron, going around from one side - to the back - to the other side. Then I un-clip another thin section of hair around my head, and iron it. On and on I go until I’m at the top and look wonderful. :o) I don’t know if that made a lick of sense, but the most important thing is doing a small section at a time, and keeping the unstraightened hair out of the way.
Hey, maybe next time you get your hair cut, ask them to straighten and show you how! That would be a huge help, and how I learned to do it!
Oh, and my stylist says never iron wet hair! Something about frying it, which doesn’t sound good!
Hope this helped! Sorry this is so long!
Posted by greeneyes on 05/10 at 06:05 AM
Greeneyes
THANK YOU!!
This is the kind of detailed info a no-nothing like me needed! (P.S. I don’t go to a Salon,I cut and style my own; hence the lack of knowledge about these “new” styling aids.) I do like to have what I am purchasing in hand, so to speak, so I will try Sally’s. Next Question: what temp is advisable and what width of blades do you have? What brand? Also Ceramic vs Tourmaline??? I loved it that you took some time to explain the process,,,that is exactly what I needed.
This is such a great goup to turn to and be a part of.
Yes, this did help,,,,
Again thanks much--
Posted by Carol Quinley on 05/10 at 06:39 AM
Hello again, Carol.
Mine is a Curlmaster, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it too highly. It’s fine, but nothing special. I have heard lots of good things about the Chi brand, which may run closer to $100. I keep my temperature as high as it goes, which probably means mine is somewhat inferior. :o)I would NOT recommend putting it on high when you get one. I recommend starting low to medium to see how well it works. Plus, if yours is a better quality than mine, it could have the potential of getting hotter. (We don’t want to fry your beautiful grays!)Mine is ceramic, which is all I have used, so unsure about any other kind. The width is an inch. The narrower is better for shorter hair; it’s easier to work with. My daughter used a wide one, but her hair was down her back.
One thing for certain, it takes practice. In the beginning I was frustrated with it; but in time, it got easier. You will need to take your time and be patient with yourself. You know how when you iron your clothes - if you don’t keep the clothes flat, you can iron wrinkles into them? It’s funny - or not so funny, but it works the same with your hair. Gotta go slow, keep the hair combed as smoothly as possible when you iron. But, you’ll get the hang of it!
I really don’t feel like an authority on this at all...if anyone has better advice, jump in! :o)
Happy flat iron shopping! :o)
Posted by greeneyes on 05/10 at 07:47 AM
Hi Tutu --
Sorry it’s taken me awhile to get to you, but I want to say Welcome to the Café! You asked a good question about mineral makeups and I wanted to be absolutely sure of my answer before I sent it off to you.
Mineral makeup is just the flavor of the month in the cosmetics world. Granted, it has been a LONG month, and more and more companies are jumping on the bandwagon for one reason – it sells. Is it better for your skin than any other kind of makeup? In one sense only: it contains fewer ingredients. If your skin is hyper-sensitive, that’s always a good thing. Most are also fragrance- and preservative-free, and that’s good, too. Particularly if you suffer from skin conditions like rosacea.
But when you give up some ingredients, you also give up some skin care benefits. No matter what they claim, mineral makeup does not give you good moisturization (unless they add other ingredients, but then we’re moving away from the simplicity of formulation, which is why they could claim to be less irritating in the first place!) Bare Escentuals RareMinerals Skin Revival Treatment, for instance, is supposed to contain 72 organic “macro” and “micro” minerals, present in “Jurassic, virgin soil.” Read dirt. Because these minerals aren’t listed on the label, they are present in only trace amounts, anyway (or they would have to be listed on the label.) So how much can trace amounts do to actually improve your skin? To moisturize and enhance cellular repair? To “revive” it, as they say? Not much.
According to Paula Begoun’s in-depth report on mineral makeup, “There is no research anywhere proving that mineral makeup is inherently better for skin that other types of foundation.” As the author of “Don’t Go Near the Cosmetics Counter without Me,” Paula is well respected for her extensive research. And she’s the first source I turned to for the information I’m providing here.
Mineral makeup is also not “all natural.” The standard primary ingredient is bismuth oxychloride, which is a pure laboratory synthetic. It’s less natural than good old-fashioned talc, but it does have a distinct shimmer. It can slightly irritate the skin, and is more likely to cause an allergic contact dermatitis due to its pearlescence. In fact, minerals can be occlusive, or pore-clogging. If you have oily skin, mineral makeup can tend to pool in pores. Which can lead to breakouts and acne – two things that mineral makeup claims to prevent.
Mica is also in mineral makeup (as well as other makeup such as eyeshadows and blushes.) Some like the luminescent shine, some don’t. It’s not particularly attractive when it collects in wrinkles.
On the other hand, mineral makeup provides good coverage. Almost too good, almost cakey. You can try to brush them on lightly, for a more natural look, but they are not easy to blend, This type of makeup tends to “grab” onto the skin, giving it a textured appearance that tends to look dry. But along with that comes shine. You may think your skin is glowing in response to improved health, when actually, it is simply sparkling from the minerals.
You are right about the color range—yes, most companies offer a very nice selection. If you’ve been using them, and they work for you, no harm done. But I would still advise practicing some very good skincare to supplement your makeup routine. As you say, at a certain age, you’ve really got to treat your skin well. Hope this helps, D.
Posted by Diana Jewell on 05/11 at 01:33 PM
Just a comment on the mineral make-up: I used one that I bought on a TV shopping channel and it IS easy to use and quick to apply, but despite the promises that it doesn’t collect in fine lines, I found that it does. I would not buy it again because no matter how carefully I applied it, I always noticed the lines more than with liquid or cream make-up.
Posted by newbie2 on 05/12 at 06:55 AM
Oh my. What a wonderful, helpful, comprehensive reply. I certainly do appreciate it.
I have tried samples of Bare Escentuals and like the ease of application and transport. They did give me some liquid moisturizer for application under the minerals. Luckily, I have good skin, so don’t think I have done any damage, but I see from your reply that I really should be looking at the bigger picture—what is best for my skin, not what is easiest.
Many thanks,
Tutu (Hawaiian for Grandmother in Hawaiian)
Posted by Tutu on 05/12 at 07:23 AM
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