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PRO TIPS:
Don't be put off by the thought of wearing a hairpiece- it's an affordable, easy way to look great while on your Gray Hair Journey! If your hair is fine or thinning, there's also the added bonus of making it look thicker and more voluminous. There's no need to worry about cutting or styling most of these pieces, as they are pre-curled or serve as a shorter top layer, though you can get them trimmed to blend if you prefer. Pictured below are pieces in gray blends, but all links have multiple shades available. You decide whether you want to wear a piece in your current, artificial color, or add instant gray highlights or the appearance of a full head of silver. The best thing about hair toppers, ponytails and scrunchies is that you can use them even after your gray has fully grown out as a quick style aid, and since they come in a variety of colors, anyone can wear them!
for the beginning of your journey- toppers
(also great for thinning hair)
Toppers work well for any phase of your journey, but work best for those who have just started and have less than 4 inches of natural gray outgrowth. Toppers are lightweight, bud add just enough fullness to look fantastic!
FAQ: MY HAIR IS LONG, WHY IS THE TOPPER HAIR SO SHORT?
The average topper comes in a length of about 10 inches, because toppers are usually worn to either cover new growth of a different color or add coverage for thinning at the top of the head. This length should reach the occipital bone, which is located at the base of the skull at the nape, which is where the shortest layer of a long layered haircut or the perimeter of a bob haircut typically falls. This is plenty of length to cover any new growth that needs to be hidden! By the time new growth reaches this length, it's time to cut off old color by going shorter or adding layers. At this point one can also switch to a ponytail or hair scrunchie and hide old color in a bun.
for the middle of your journey- ponytails
These types of pieces work best for those who have at least 4-6 inches of natural gray outgrowth (if you were to pull your hair back, you would mostly see your natural color and little to none of your previous color). Any remaining hair with artificial color around where it is gathered can be hidden by the fluffed out strands/curls of the ponytail or by the ponytail itself. These are very simple to use, just style your hair into a ponytail or bun, then clip on!
PRO TIPS:
It's usually not necessary to wash your hairpiece frequently, unless you have been wearing it for long periods of time and/or often. Your hairpiece should be worn only when you feel you need to, and you should let your scalp breathe as often as you can. When you do need to wash your hairpiece, only wig shampoo and conditioner should be used, as well as a wig brush and wig conditioning spray or oil spray to gently detangle. Most synthetic pieces will air dry back into their original shape, so it's not necessary to blow dry or heat style. In fact, unless your hairpiece is listed as heat resistant, no hot tools should be used at all!
for the end of your journey and beyond- scrunchies
PRO TIPS:
Scrunchies are best for those who are in the final phase of growing out gray, and they'll get you through until you're ready to cut off the last of your artificial color. Simply style your hair into a bun, and wrap the scrunchie around the bun to secure. You'll love having your hairstyle take no time at all to look like you got it professionally styled, and these pieces are perfect for lazy days and bad hair days.
hairpiece care
PRO TIPS:
While these hairpieces are affordable and of good quality, they are not meant to last for years on end; Though with proper care, they will last for the time it takes to grow out artificial color to a length past the shoulders!
Proper care entails washing the hairpiece occasionally, especially if they are worn frequently. Most pieces will come with instructions on specific care, but if they don't, washing is a pretty straightforward and simple process: wash the hairpiece like a piece of delicate clothing- fill a sink with cool water, add wig shampoo and swirl the water a bit, add the hairpiece and swirl some more for a few minutes, then rinse by swirling again in cool, clean water and let it drip dry- don't wring it out or pull on the hairs too much! While the hairpiece is damp, spray a dedicated leave-in conditioner and gently detangle and smooth the hair with your fingers to shape lightly, and once it's dry use a wig brush to finish. Just like with real hair, try not to use heat to dry the hairpiece and use low heat to shape or style it with a hot iron, following the recommendation by the manufacturer. Use a wig stand to keep it in form, or the netting and original packaging for long-term storage.
