It seems contradictory that we, as human beings, spend a lifetime imagining what we can do to live long, while avoiding as much as possible the physical signs of aging. Wrinkles, expression marks and the ever-remembered white hair are often pursued by a society that aims at old age, but not its implications.
American hairstylist Jack Martin is someone who doesn’t think so. As a celebrity colorist, he believes he has a mission to show men, and especially women, the power and beauty of beautiful gray hair. They are the biggest victims of the dictatorship of beauty: how many men have been praised for being gray and how many women have heard that they got older with white hair? Complex, isn’t it? Jack believes that embracing one’s natural hair color is a way to break free from societal expectations and to celebrate aging gracefully.
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Given the chance, Bored Panda reached out to the talented person behind these transformations. Jack Martin, a renowned colorist and hairstylist, shared his expertise on the topic of silver and gray hair color with us!
When asked about a particularly memorable transformation he has done for a client, Martin shared, “I’ve had my fair share of hair transformations over the years, but one that really stands out to me was a client who came to me with a problem. She had been dyeing her hair from gray to brown with at-home box color every three to four weeks for years. Now that she was retired and spending more time in nature, she no longer wanted to fuss with her hair color that often as it was also very damaged. So, we decided to give her hair a silver makeover, giving her natural gray hue a touch of polish while also cutting down on salon visits. Let’s just say, it was a silver-y good decision.”
Martin went on to explain his process for creating a silver or gray hair color that complements a client’s natural gray pattern. “My process is by using a color extractor to remove any remaining artificial color. Then, leaving the gray roots intact, I bleach the rest of the head to prep hair for the new silver color. Next, I base the new color on the hair’s natural gray pattern. I ask clients to come in with three to four inches of their roots grown out, so I can study how their hair is colored naturally. I then re-create that pattern for the full head of hair. Some clients have grey hair mostly in the front, and the back is darker, so I match that and add some darkness to it.”
Jack also discussed how he approaches the consultation process with clients who are interested in transitioning to silver or gray hair color. “I approach it with a lot of care. I make sure I understand what the client’s expectations are and how much maintenance they’re willing to do before I give them my professional advice.”
When asked about how to maintain the silver or gray color between salon visits, Martin shared, “I recommend them to use sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners and to avoid chlorine and salt water. I also recommend them to come back every 2-3 months for a touch-up.”
Lastly, we asked Jack to explain how he would see the trend of gray hair progressing in the future. “In fact, I’ve been quoted saying, ‘Embracing your natural gray hair is a sign of confidence and grace. It’s not just a trend, it’s a lifestyle choice.’ And I truly believe that. With the rise of the ‘granny hair’ trend and more and more celebrities and influencers embracing their natural gray, I think we’ll see an even bigger shift towards people embracing their natural gray and wanting to enhance it with silver and gray shades at the salon.”
Note: this post originally had 57 images. It’s been shortened to the top 35 images based on user votes.
Source: https://www.boredpanda.com/gray-hair-transformation-jack-martin-part-4/
