Silver may be the hair shade of the moment but there is a difficult period to get through when you decide to go cold turkey and want to revert to your natural hue after years of colouring.
I was at that in-between stage where my hair was suffering from colour fade and the grey roots not looking as if they belonged. You know it looks bad when a friend asks you: “When are you going to get your hair done?”
Luckily, I had an appointment booked a couple of days later with my mane man, Michael Charalambous. I felt happy visiting Nyumba, Michael’s salon once again as it feels so Covid secure. Not only are there screens to make it easier for social distancing, Michael was also wearing a mask and visor plus the sanitiser for the brushes and scissors was in full view so you knew that everything had been cleaned after each client.
As soon as he saw me he explained that we had to change the haircut slightly so it would be better for me to wear it curlier and the grey would blend better with the rest of the hair.
“By taking it shorter, adding a couple of layers and subtly angling it to get rid of the strands that had been damaged from colouring, it will be much easier for you to manage,” he said.
When it comes to my hair, Michael has always been right. Every cut I have had I have always been extremely pleased with. His advice about colour has, too, always been spot on. So when he says embrace the silver trend, I know that is what I have to do. I know for my hair’s health, it is the right thing to do.
Michael pointed out that my tresses do not like colour. As your hair is strong and has a lot of melanin in it (I still have quite a bit of my natural black strands), the dye used will have to be stronger and left on for a considerable period of time for it to take. The years of colouring have taken their toll on the condition which is why you are getting so much frizz, he explained.
I had noticed this in lockdown. The new hair coming through was a better texture than the coloured strands. Putting colour on top of colour to combat the fading, which I had, would ruin it. I realised it was time to heed Michael’s advice and embrace the on-trend grey.
In no time at all, Michael wielded his magic with the scissors and I was transformed. I felt chic with my French bob and what he called my silver low-lights.
I saw the same friend just after I left the salon. “You look 10 years younger,” he exclaimed.
Having a hairdresser like Michael is the best weapon anybody can have in the quest to keep looking good no matter what age you are!
By Daralyn Danns
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