A couple of weeks ago, I had a shocking experience at the hairdresser. I was sitting there getting my hair cut, scrolling on my phone and minding my own business, when the stylist pointed out that I had a gray hair. I almost dropped my phone. Of course, I knew it would happen eventually—I just didn’t expect it so soon. My first gray hair. What should I do? As someone with dark brown hair who has never dyed it, I had no idea how to handle it. The gray stood out sharply against the rest of my hair, but the old myth about pulling one out and two growing back kept running through my mind (it’s not true, but just in case!). It wasn’t just the color—it was the texture too: wiry and coarse.

Vogue’s Favorite Products for Gray Hair:
Best Hair Serum: Kérastase Blond Absolu Cicaplasme Treatment, $19
Best Shampoo for Gray Hair: Philip Kingsley Pure Blonde/Silver Brightening Shampoo, $39
Best Hair Gloss: Glaze Supergloss Color Conditioning Gloss, $18
Best Strengthening Mask: K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Molecular Repair Hair Mask, $29
Best Hair Mask: Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask, $39

I wanted to understand why this happens. What causes gray hair, and why does it feel like a different texture? “Hair goes gray when your follicles—tiny pigment factories—start shutting down,” explains colorist Hannah Gayle, who works at Hershesons Belgravia. “When there’s less melanin and less color, eventually silver or white hairs appear. Basically, your hair is saying, ‘I’m retiring from the dye department.’ Your DNA decides when your hair’s little pigment factories start clocking out, and when pigment production slows down, the follicle can change too. So gray hairs often grow coarser, drier, wirier, and a little more unruly.”

Hair colorist Josh Wood adds that while genetics is the biggest factor, “There can also be other influences, including stress and overall health.” He notes that while some people “are lucky enough to develop beautifully soft, silky gray hair,” for others, “it can feel thicker, coarser, and a little more unruly.”

In my case, and most commonly, gray hair appears at the temples and hairline. Wood confirms this is typical: “Generally, the pattern tends to start at the front and gradually work its way toward the back of the head.”

So I made it my mission to find a solution for these first gray hairs. With just a few scattered grays so far, it seemed I had three options: embrace them, blend them, or cover them. Dyeing my whole head seemed far too dramatic and expensive. With that in mind, here are tried-and-tested ways to shield or celebrate your grays.

In This Story:
Blending
Covering
Embracing
Meet the Experts

Blending
“There are so many temporary solutions now for blending those first signs of gray without committing to permanent color,” Wood tells me. “I like to think of it as having a whole wardrobe of wash-out solutions—from the Blending Brush to Root Smudge—which can be used to disguise and soften the appearance of those first few grays.”

The key, says Gayle, is “not battling the grays.” She advises to “work with them, not against them. Gray hair can be seriously beautiful, and those silver strands can actually add softness and dimension. Going straight into full coverage can box you in later, so I’d keep it seamless, subtle, and low maintenance. Let the grays be part of the look, not something we have to hide.”

She shares a top industry trick for a quick fix: “Try a little eyeshadow on the grays. It gives the softest, most natural-looking coverage without harsh products transferring all over your clothes. Just shade up from your natural hair color. Then leave your hair undone.”

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Josh Wood Blending Brush Root Touch-Up
$27 AMAZON
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Josh Wood Root Smudge Touch-Up Powder
$20 AMAZON
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Bumble and bumble Color Stick
$35 AMAZON
$33 SEPHORA
Save to wishlistAdd to wishlist EverPro Gray Away Root Touch-Up Quick Stick $9 AMAZON

Covering

There are permanent and semi-permanent options if you want to cover your first gray hairs. Glaze’s Supergloss is my favorite—I chose Sleek Espresso, which matches my hair well and easily hides the grays while staying low commitment. You apply it like a gloss after shampooing, leave it on for 10 minutes, and then rinse it out. Depending on how deep you want the color, you can repeat this at your next hair wash day, or the color will last 10 washes.

Gayle is a fan of the Shades EQ gloss, which she says “adds gorgeous, sheer tones without the heaviness of permanent color.” She adds, “It brings back beautiful depth, enhances your natural dimension and makes those grays come alive in the most effortless way.”

The benefit of these options is that they wash out, giving you control. Wood says you can “build up the desired density of coverage and you can really customize the result depending on how much gray you want to disguise—there’s no reason you should have to see a gray hair if you don’t want to.”

Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Glaze Supergloss Color Conditioning Gloss $18 AMAZON

Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Redken Shades EQ Demi Permanent Hair Color $25 AMAZON

Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Gloss+ $39 AMAZON

Save to wishlist Save to wishlist L’Oréal Paris Colorista Semi Permanent Hair Color $9 AMAZON

Embracing

While my initial reaction was shock, gray hairs are a natural part of aging. If it’s the texture rather than the shade that concerns you more, stock your bathroom cabinet with nourishing formulas that support hydration and leave your locks silky smooth. “Making gray hair look bright and, perhaps more importantly, smooth is a great way to embrace it,” Wood agrees, recommending hair gloss treatments and deeply hydrating masks to bring sparkle, vibrancy, and smoothness “so it looks glossy, healthy, and in optimum condition.” He advises to “use a hair mask once a week—it’s a really simple way to nurture the hair, boost shine, and create a smoother, more polished finish.”

There are also styling tips and tricks. Gayle shares: “Leave it undone,” before adding, “Think tousled texture, beachy bends, and cool-girl movement. Don’t over-style it. Let the silver peek through. The messier the finish, the more effortless and sexy the grays feel.” Consider a permanent blow-dry, which she believes will “soften that harsh, coarse texture gray hair can sometimes bring. It adds silk, shine, and smoothness, while taming frizz and unruly strands, without stripping away the body and volume we love. Essentially, sleeker, softer, shinier hair with all the movement still intact.”

Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Kérastase Blond Absolu Cicaplasme Treatment $52 AMAZON

Save to wishlist Save to wishlist L’Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss $19 AMAZON

Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask $39 AMAZON

Save to wishlist Save to wishlist K18 Biomimetic Hairscience Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask $29 AMAZON

Everything You Need to Know

How We Tested

When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—from board-certified dermatologists to celebrity estheticians—to gain professional insight on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually use on their clients. We pair their expertise with our editorial best practices to curate the thoughtful edits you read on our site.

As it relates to products for gray hair, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: product type, ingredients, texture, ease of application, longevity, finish, and the hair-care concerns they address. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend to you. Read more about our testing methodology here.

Meet the ExpertsHannah Gayle is a hair colorist at Hershesons Belgravia. Josh Wood is a hair colorist with salons in Holland Park and Claridge’s.

Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs What Should You Do When You Find Your First Gray Hairs

Basics

1 Why am I getting gray hair so young
Gray hair happens when pigment cells in your hair follicles slow down or stop producing melanin Genetics is the biggest factorif your parents grayed early you likely will too Stress certain health conditions and nutrient deficiencies can also play a role

2 Is it normal to find a few gray hairs in my 20s or 30s
Yes Many people spot their first grays in their 20s or 30s Its usually completely normal and not a sign of anything wrong

3 Does one gray hair mean Im going to go fully gray soon
Not necessarily Graying is usually gradual You might have a few grays for years before it becomes noticeable

4 Can gray hair turn back to its original color
Rarely In some cases linked to stress or nutrient deficiencies hair has been reported to repigment once the cause is addressedbut for most people gray is permanent

What to Do First

5 Should I pluck my gray hairs
No Plucking wont stop more from growing and it can damage the follicle or cause infection It may also lead to thinner hair over time If a gray bothers you cut it close to the root with small scissors instead

6 Whats the first practical step I should take
Decide how you feel about it If you dont mind it do nothingjust keep your hair healthy If you want to cover it look into dye root touchup products or highlights

7 Should I see a doctor about my gray hair
Usually not But see a doctor if graying happens suddenly happens very early or comes with other symptoms like fatigue hair loss or skin changes

Covering and Styling

8 Whats the best way to cover gray hair
It depends on how much you have
A few strands Mascarastyle root touchup wands or colored hairspray
Scattered grays Semipermanent dye or highlights that blend gray in
Significant gray Permanent dye or a salon color service