Gray Hair & Yellowing Temples

Q: Hi, I'm a 42-year-old male who got his first gray hair when I was just 12 years old. Now I'd say at least 70% of my hair has gone gray. Over the past few years, I've noticed yellowing mainly in the hair around my temples. I'm a smoker, so that probably explains the discoloration.

I've heard about bluing shampoos and tried them with good results, but these products aren't available where I live now and it's really difficult to maintain a steady supply by ordering from overseas. Do you know of any natural remedies I could try? I definitely don't want to bleach my hair or do anything that might damage the remaining 25% of black hair I still have.

A: Your situation is quite common among people with gray hair, especially smokers. The yellowing you're experiencing around your temples is typically caused by a combination of factors including cigarette smoke residue, environmental pollutants, hard water minerals, and the natural oxidation that occurs in gray hair over time. Gray hair lacks the protective melanin pigment that darker hair has, making it more susceptible to absorbing these discoloring agents.

Since you want to preserve your remaining natural black hair, you'll need to be careful about any treatments you use. The good news is that there are several approaches you can try that won't strip or lighten your darker hair strands.

For natural remedies, one of the most effective options is creating a gentle vinegar rinse. Mix one part white vinegar with four parts water and use it as a final rinse after shampooing once or twice a week. The acidity helps remove mineral buildup and smoke residue that contribute to yellowing.

Another natural approach involves using baking soda as a clarifying treatment. Create a paste with baking soda and water, gently massage it into the yellowed areas, let it sit for about five minutes, then rinse thoroughly. This helps lift stubborn residues, but use it sparingly since it can be drying.

If you're open to semi-natural solutions, you can try the laundry bluing method, but with important precautions and at your own risk. Use only traditional laundry bluing that contains ferric ferrocyanide, and dilute it heavily. Just one or two drops in a full quart of water. Apply this as a final rinse, making sure to distribute it evenly to avoid splotchy results. This method works because blue is opposite yellow on the color wheel, neutralizing the yellow tones.

For a more targeted approach that won't affect your black hair, consider using a deposit-only hair color in an ash or platinum blonde shade. These formulations contain blue or violet undertones specifically designed to counteract yellow. Look for products labeled as "no ammonia" or "deposit only" since these won't lift your natural color. Apply only to the yellowed gray areas, avoiding your darker hair entirely.

Before trying any color treatments, start with a clarifying shampoo routine. Many drugstore brands offer clarifying shampoos that can remove buildup without being too harsh. Use one of these once a week, followed by a deep conditioning treatment to prevent dryness.

For prevention, consider using a shower filter if you have hard water, as mineral deposits significantly contribute to yellowing. While quitting smoking would be the most effective long-term solution, you can minimize hair exposure by wearing a hat when smoking outdoors and washing your hair more frequently to prevent residue buildup.

©Hairfinder.com

See also:

How to dye your own hair

Yellow streaks in gray hair

Is it normal that tobacco smoke makes my hair yellow?