The gradual loss of melanin
Weakens the fiber deep down: without this protective pigment, hair becomes more vulnerable to external aggression and loses its shine.
LE MAGAZINE
How to care for white hair on a daily basis
Hair loses vitality with age. Its structure changes: the production of both melanin and sebum declines, and the quality of keratin deteriorates. The hair fiber becomes drier, more sensitive to external aggression, and sometimes rougher. Oxidation can also cause natural white hair to take on yellow tones and lose its original radiance. To preserve its beauty, it’s essential to follow an expert white hair care routine that combines nutrition and protection and neutralizes unwanted tones.
Understanding the needs of white hair
Natural white hair radiates sophistication, but behind its beauty lies fragility:
Reduced sebum production
Weakens the lipid film that lubricates hair and keeps it shiny. The fiber dries out more quickly.
Less homogeneous keratinisation
Follicle keratinocytes produce slightly impaired keratin, making the fiber stiffer, more brittle and less resistant.
These internal changes have visible effects:
- A drier or rougher feel;
- A loss of vitality and shine, due to the hair surface becoming more uneven and less able to diffuse light effectively;
- Unwanted yellow tones, a direct consequence of oxidation and the build-up of heavy metals in water.
These changes to the hair due to ageing call for targeted care that can nourish, strengthen and protect the hair fibrer while neutralizing yellow tones to preserve the luminosity of white hair.
White hair care: the essential daily routine
Step 1: Wash gently
As white hair is finer and more porous, it needs to be washed gently to keep it supple and shiny. Choose a densifying shampoo to gently cleanse while adding body to hair fibers naturally thinned by ageing. If your scalp has other needs, you can alternate with another formula: nutrition, rebalancing, volume, etc.
Step 2: Care for the hair fiber
The aging process alters the hair fiber. As it’s less resistant, less supple and more sensitive to dryness, it requires expert hair treatments to strengthen it deep down, smooth its surface and preserve its natural radiance.
- Once or twice a week, replace your conditioner with a regenerating mask and use an intensive treatment on your lengths and scalp.
- Occasionally apply a purple mask from your roots to your ends to neutralize yellow tones and restore your luminous, even shade of white.
Step 3: Protect the fiber and preserve shine
Protection is the key to making your white hair care routine last longer.
- Before styling, apply a heat protection product to help keep hair supple and shiny, even under the heat of a blow-dryer or a straightener.
- Finish with a few drops of nourishing oil to illuminate the lengths, smooth the hair’s surface, and reveal its pure white tones.
- Before going out, spray on a protective mist, which will act as a shield against UV rays, pollution and humidity.
Your questions about white hair care
How can I remove yellow tones from white hair?
Yellow tones result from the oxidation of certain amino acids that make up keratin. This phenomenon is accentuated by UV rays, heat and pollution. To revive your hair’s pure white tones, use a purple mask and leave it on for a few minutes, once or twice a week, to maintain vibrancy and tone.
Should I wash my hair less often if I have white hair?
How often you wash your hair depends on the needs of both your scalp and your hair fiber. This means that you can wash it as often as you need, as long as you use gentle formulas that don’t upset your hair’s overall balance.
How can I keep my white hair shiny?
Shine is determined by the hair’s ability to reflect light. With age, the fiber becomes more porous and its surface more uneven, causing it to diffuse light rather than reflect it back. To maintain the glossiness of naturally white hair, this surface must be smoothed and protected to restore its reflective properties. Regular care, moderate blow-drying and the use of beautifying styling products help restore the luminosity of white hair.
How can I care for very rough white hair?
White hair becomes stiff due to changes linked to ageing of the fiber, such as poorer quality keratin, a less protected fiber, and increased porosity. In order to restore suppleness, action needs to be taken deep down. Treatments that are rich in lipids, proteins and coating agents fill in weakened areas and restore fiber cohesion. Start your haircare ritual as soon as possible with a nourishing and restorative pre-shampoo mask.
How can I protect my white hair from the sun?
Due to a lack of melanin, white hair is particularly sensitive to UV rays. Before going out in the sun, apply a protective product. This will create an invisible film on the hair’s surface and preserve the shine of the hair fiber. At the beach, wear a hat or tie back your hair to limit friction, then remember to rinse your hair with clean water after each swim.
Caring for white hair involves preserving its original luminosity and suppleness over time. Gentle washing, nutrition, color care and daily protection are the four essential steps to healthy hair. Using the right products for white hair will keep your hair fiber soft, radiant and full of vitality.
