Gray can become dull with unwanted yellow or brassy tones over time. If you’re looking to brighten up your gray hair, there are easy at-home techniques that’ll make your hair whiter.
In this article, we’ll cover four gentle at-home methods that can brighten gray hair, plus two popular methods (baking soda and hydrogen peroxide) that are better to avoid on fragile gray strands.
We’ll explain what each technique does, when to use it, and how to do it properly for the best results.
Why Does Gray Hair Become Dull?
First, it’s essential to understand how gray hair becomes dull in the first place. As we age, the structure of our hair changes.
Gray hair may grow in thinner strands, and these more delicate strands won’t have the same tensile strength as colored strands.
So gray hair is more prone to breakage and damage as we style it or expose it to chemical and heat treatments.
The breakage will then lead to dull hair and may make it more susceptible to the environment and picking up impurities.
For example, your gray hair may pick up minerals in your bathing water or chlorine from the pool.
Pollution and product build-up can result in strands that were once gray or white picking up an unattractive brassy or yellow color.
Thankfully, some methods can make gray hair look better and give you the shine you’re hoping for in your appearance.
How to Brighten Gray Hair at Home
There are plenty of products available to make your gray hair look better. But your gray hair doesn’t need a lot of extra chemicals. Instead, you can turn to some natural remedies to try at home. Let’s start with the safer options:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse
Apple cider vinegar can help rebalance the pH of your hair, cleanse it of pollutants and build-up, and help smooth your hair.
The only downside is that apple cider vinegar can be slightly harsh on your hair, so use this sparingly as needed. Consider taking advantage of deep conditioners.
How to Use:
- Mix up to 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 16 ounces of water.
- Wash your hair as usual.
- Work apple cider vinegar evenly through your hair.
- Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Rinse.
2. Hollyhock Tea Rinse
Hollyhock tea (brewed from the dark petals) works like nature’s purple rinse: the infusion deposits a whisper of cool tint that counters yellow and leaves gray looking brighter. The more yellow you are fighting, the darker you let the tea steep.
How to Use:
- Steep hollyhock tea to desired darkness.
- Shampoo hair as usual.
- Rinse hair with hollyhock tea.
- Rinse hair with water.
- Condition hair as usual.
- You can do this weekly.
3. Betony Tea Rinse
The betony tea rinse works the same way: another gentle infusion that veils yellow with a cool tint rather than stripping anything out. Use whichever of the two you can source; the mechanism is the same.
How to Use:
- Steep betony tea to desired darkness.
- Shampoo hair as usual.
- Rinse hair with the betony tea.
- Rinse hair with water.
- Condition hair as usual.
- You can do this every other week.
4. Kaolin Clay Wash
Kaolin clay is excellent for drawing out and removing impurities. With what we know about gray hair and its susceptibility to attracting and holding various impurities, this is a product you should try to help brighten gray hair and look better.
Be careful when you create the wash; it should have a slightly runny consistency. If you add too much, it may be difficult to rinse out, and the wash will have the opposite effect. Your gray hair won’t be bright and instead will be a slightly cakey mess.
How to Use:
- Mix 3 tablespoons of kaolin powdered clay with water.
- Shampoo and condition hair as usual.
- Apply kaolin clay wash to your hair.
- Let sit for up to 5 minutes.
- Rinse with water.
Methods to Avoid on Gray Hair
Some at-home brightening methods are popular online, but they can be too harsh for fragile gray hair. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide may lift dullness in some cases, but they can also dry out, roughen, or weaken gray strands. For safer brightening, use gentler rinses or ask a colorist before trying stronger treatments.
Baking Soda Rinse (Popular, but Skip It on Gray)
You will see this one recommended everywhere, and it does lift buildup: baking soda has a high pH of about 8.3. That same strength is the problem. It is abrasive and alkaline enough to roughen fragile, porous gray strands, exactly the hair that can least afford it.
Our advice: skip it on gray. A proper clarifying shampoo does the same de-dulling job with a hair-safe formula, and the deep conditioner that the soda route demands afterward tells you everything about how harsh it is. If you ever use it anyway, keep it rare and brief, and condition deeply after.
Hydrogen Peroxide (Leave It to a Colorist)
Hydrogen peroxide is on some people’s “don’t” list. The truth is that hydrogen peroxide can be harsh on your hair, which is a definite drawback when it comes to gray hair that’s already fragile.
It can also dry your skin and possibly irritate it. Consider trying other alternatives before you go for this natural home remedy to brighten your grays.
Because gray hair is especially porous and fragile, applying raw hydrogen peroxide at home can leave it dry and brittle. If you want to brighten yellowed grays with peroxide, have it done by a licensed colorist who can choose the right strength, protect your scalp, and control the timing safely.
Do’s and Don’ts While Brightening Gray Hair
If you’re looking for even more ways to brighten your gray hair, look at the following do’s and don’ts. In addition to the natural remedies we’ve found to help you out, these tips will keep your gray hair looking shiny and bright.
Do’s
- Regularly deep condition your hair.
- Use a clarifying shampoo periodically.
- Use a shining serum or gloss treatment to help seal your strands.
- Keep to a healthy and balanced diet to promote overall healthy hair.
Don’ts
- Avoid overdoing it with hydrogen peroxide.
- Don’t forget to condition your hair after brightening treatments.
- Don’t overwash your hair, as this can strip it of the natural oils it needs.
- Don’t overdo heat treatments. These can dry out already brittle and fragile hair.
Wrap Up
You can brighten gray hair and make it look better by understanding its nature. Gray hair is thinner and more delicate and needs different treatment than colored hair.
Keep your gray hair well hydrated, and consider the various natural clarifying methods we’ve discussed. Avoid activities that may stress it, such as over-styling or overwashing.
