5 Tips To Care For Your New Hair Texture Once You Go Gray

Over time, your hair follicles produce less and less melanin—that’s what causes the silver to sprout, says hairstylist Sal Misseri of Reverie Salon. But when those follicles produce less melanin, they tend to produce less sebum as well (aka, the natural emollient that gives your skin and hair its moisture). And when both start to dwindle, the hair becomes more fragile and coarse over time. 

“With your scalp producing less of these two things you lose protective layers on the hair strand, resulting in a cuticle that has a smaller diameter, creating a finer texture to your hair,” explains Erica Conan, director of education at ColorProof. “Your finer hair will feel more coarse and dry because it is not retaining moisture as well with the loss of these protective layers.” And when the hair doesn’t retain moisture, frizz often isn’t too far behind.