Temporary hair dyes make it easy to switch up your color using a non-permanent hair dye alternative — you’ll score tons of compliments, and the best part? It’s only temporary!

Similarly, grey hair can often feel coarse, dry and unmanageable, so hydrating products are essential to keep it soft, shiny and as sleek as possible. The only other thing you should differently when you have gray hair? Limit how often you use hot tools. Both Dr. Fusco and de Zeeuw say that heat can make already dry hair even more dehydrated. If you do need to use a blow-dryer or flat iron, prep hair with a heat protective spray. Use these [color-depositing] products once every three weeks, because they add pigment to the hair," she explains. "If you use them during every wash, it will cause too much build-up of pigment which can make the hair look darker or even purple!" If your mind jumps to a dreary, dishwater color when you think of gray hair, it's time to reconsider going gray. Attaining an enviable shade of chic shimmery platinum, smoky gunmetal or stylish silvery blue might be just a bottle of hair dye away! We already know that it affects both our skin and our joie de vivre, and now new research has shown the toll stress takes on the colour of our hair. The study, published this week by Nature, found that mice who endured stressful events were more likely to have grey hair, thanks to an acceleration of the process by which pigment (which makes up hair colour) is produced. Put simply, when our nervous systems are put under stress, we run out of the stem cells that change into pigment-producing cells faster than we would if they weren’t. Cue grey hair.Hair texture can, indeed, change once you have gone gray," says Dr. Francesca Fusco, a dermatologist at Wexler Dermatology in New York City. "Of course, other things will influence it as well. For example, chemical treatments, overuse of heating tools like blow-dryers and flat irons, dyes, and bleaches — and a very oily scalp which can be seen in dandruff. White or gray hair can sometimes, but not always, be coarse, wiry, dry hair, and be difficult to manage." There's a catch, though: If you have ultra-light, natural hair, even temporary color might wind up being more permanent. "The darker the temporary color and the lighter the hair, the longer it will take the color to wash out," warns O'Connor. It won't necessarily ruin your natural hair color, but it may alter it for a bit longer than you hoped for. What is the best temporary hair dye? Think of this as a hairspray-meets dry shampoo-meets texturizing spray mash-up where you get the best of all three of those worlds. It offers hold and texture, a choice for looks like beachy waves, and has the added benefit of containing volcanic minerals that work to absorb excess oil, so it’s particularly great to use on days when you haven’t washed your hair. Not to mention, the floral-citrus scent smells delightful. Hair chalk is great: because of its opacity, it typically shows up on every hair color. To use, simply wet your hair, separate it into sections, then run the chalk down your strands. It lasts 2-4 shampoos. Shake the can and hold it about a foot away from your hair as you spray,” suggests Mouzakis. Any closer and you risk over-saturating your hair with too much product, which, no matter how great the formula is, can be a recipe for stiffness and crunch.

Just as blondes’ lighter hairs are more prone to becoming discoloured as a result of the environment and the chemicals they’re exposed to, the same is true of grey hairs. Using violet or blue-pigmented formulas will help to impart an icy fresh, youth-boosting finish to the hair, lifting its natural hues. Wood’s own Colour Shade Shot Gloss in Icy Blonde is both a semi-permanent colour and a hair treatment, which rids hair of any cigarette stain-esque yellow tinge while delivering hair-bolstering quinoa protein and moisturising shea butter. Mouzakis also likes this hairspray, largely for its versatility. Simply by turning the top nozzle, you can adjust the hold to your desired level: soft, medium, or strong, he says. (Plus, it’s also safe for extensions and color-treated hair.) And while it is a little bit on the pricier side, think of it like you’re getting three hairsprays for the price of one.Vegetable dye is the longest lasting temporary dye. The chemical-free method can "last anywhere from 1-30 shampoos, depending on how dark or saturated the tone of color is," Diaz says.

Want a glossy finish? Deploy this finishing mist once hair is styled to reap the benefits of mullein, a flower extract that converts invisible UV light into full spectrum light. There's no official countdown or way to predict when it will happen, but hair will turn gray at some point. And when hair turns gray, the color isn't the only thing that changes. It's common for hair to adopt a new texture and flexibility, too. Also known as stains, direct dyes use all natural formulas that won't harm your hair. "These are called direct dyes or vegetable dyes because there is no chemical action happening, meaning it is not mixed by instead comes ready to apply," explains Diaz. They show up best on lighter hair, but they're a safe bet for everyone because there is no possibility for damage. li>