Yes, Your Hair Texture Changes Once You Go Gray — 5 Tips To Care For Silver Strands

Allow the pros to break it down. 

"With your scalp producing less of these two things, you lose protective layers on the hair strand, resulting in a cuticle that has a smaller diameter, creating a finer texture to your hair," explains Erica Conan, director of education at ColorProof. "Your finer hair will feel more coarse and dry because it is not retaining moisture as well with the loss of these protective layers." And when the hair doesn't retain moisture, frizz often isn't too far behind. 

Ahead, we tapped hairstylists for their tips to handle the easily parched grays: 

For dry, coarse strands, hydration is everything. Consider it a sign to give your hair some extra love: Use moisturizing shampoos and conditioners (Misseri loves this shampoo and conditioner for its fatty acid-rich oils and antioxidants), and incorporate a hair mask once or even twice a week (Conan recommends this buttery option with camellia oil and soybean lipids, or you can concoct one of your very own). 

Seal in all that hydration with a good hair oil. Just beware not to overdo it (especially with coconut oil), as oil buildup can lead to brittleness, especially for low-porosity hair. Kind of counterintuitive, no? 

Specific stylers will vary depending on your hair type, though, so be sure to I.D. your specific strand pattern before piling on products—the grays may feel more coarse, but they don't mess too much with your curl pattern, per se. That said, those with straighter hair should still look for products that allow for movement and breathability, while those with curls or coils might need a bit more hold.

Listen, scalp care is important, and you do need to remove gunk and buildup every once in a while. But if you find your strands parched dry, you might want to rethink your clarifying shampoo or scalp scrub schedule—perhaps extend it to a biweekly basis if you find once a week way too drying. 

Your follicles might not produce as much sebum as when they were young and spry, but you can give them some extra help: "Massage stimulating oils onto the scalp regularly to promote the production of natural oils," says Malary. Try diluting rosemary or tea tree oil with a lightweight carrier oil (like jojoba, which is closest to the skin's own sebum), as both contain stimulating actives.

Yes, your hair texture does change as the strands lose pigment. Typically, the hair starts to feel dry, fragile, and more coarse. If you're well-equipped in dealing with coarser hair, then simply go forth with your usual hair care routine. But for some, dealing with the new hair texture is, well, entirely new—simply incorporate these hairstylist to-do's into your regimen, as well as other guides for coarse and low-porosity hair.