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Katie Goes Platinum: All About Gray Hair!

Three Fantastic Ways to Pamper Your Silver Hair in 2023

Published over 1 year agoΒ β€’Β 5 min read

Hello Reader,

Happy New Year!

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(OK, that was last week but I was recovering from Christmas - it takes me longer now that I'm older πŸ€“).

In any case, I hope your 2023 got off to a great start!

Mine was fairly uneventful but it was exactly what I wanted/needed.
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Rather than going on a mini-vacation, as planned, my husband and I and our two sons decided we wanted to just rest and recharge.
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So we ended up relaxing at home, eating comfort food, and watching movies on our new projector.

It was just what the doctor ordered, and it gave me time to think about other ways to start off 2023 with a little self-care.

Naturally, considering the topic of my site, this includes caring for our hair and helping it to feel and look its best.
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So, here is what I do when my silver hair needs a little extra loving care and I hope it helps you, too!
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​(PS This is a loooooong email so make sure to NOT miss the special event invite at the end - it includes a 2 for 1 deal!)​
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​Clarify Your Hair

Clarifying removes product build-up and makes your hair feel squeaky clean!

And the best part? Removing product build-up can remove yellow tones in your gray hair. (Note: if you have yellowing from sun or heat damage, that type of yellowing cannot be removed by clarifying)

Here are the clarifying shampoos I recommend:
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​Hairprint Chelating Shampoo - a non-toxic plant-based chelating shampoo that removes minerals and impurities, especially from hard water and haircare products. Paraben-free and sulfate-free. Unscented.
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This is the one I use the most.
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It's pricey, and not thick like regular shampoo, so you have to be careful not to accidentally pour out too much.

If you have kids who might waste it, do what I do and hide it under the sink when not in use! Believe me, they'll never look there πŸ˜‰
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The results are fantastic!
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I use it once a week, but you'll have to test it on your own hair type to figure out what works best for you. Some of you might need it less often.
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Always follow-up your clarifying shampoo with a deep-conditioner so your hair feels moisturized. I leave mine on for 10-30 minutes before rinsing out, depending on the condition of my hair.

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​Acure Curiously Clarifying Shampoo & Conditioner - these are a lot cheaper than the Hairprint chelating shampoo and they also work very well.

Bonus: you probably won't need to use a deep-conditioner after using (I don't).
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They are 100% vegan and also paraben-free and sulfate-free. They are scented (the one we use is lemongrass but you have other options).
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The reviews are more mixed than they are for the Hairprint Chelating shampoo, but if you are on a budget and want to clarify your hair, these are a great alternative.

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​Use a Hair Mask​
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Once a month or so, I'll use a mask on my hair to brighten up the silvers, remove product build-up, and moisturize my hair.
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These are my two favorites:
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​QuickSilverHair Clay Mask ​

Many of you already know my pal Joli Campbell, the founder of QuickSilverHair. She is my go-to expert on the science of gray hair - she's the BEST!
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She invented this mask for gray hair and I use it once a month, as does my curly-headed son.
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We live in an area with very hard water, and we both still get product build-up even though we use an AquaBliss Hair Filter (but it's a lot better than it was BEFORE we got the AquaBliss, that's for sure).
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The QuickSilverHair Kit is easy to use and comes with excellent instructions.
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I always leave mine on for 40 minutes before rinsing out, and my hair feels, looks, and smells great afterwards. Highly recommend!
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​DIY Gray Hair Brightening Mask (*click link to see my video)

Joli also invented a fantastic DIY Purple Clay Mask recipe (go to this post and scroll down to the section titled "Make Your Own QuickSilverHair Purple Clay Mask").
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I use this mask every so often to make my silver hair super bright!
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But, be careful using it with hot tools like I did in the video, if your hair is prone to discoloration (or at least use your hot tool on LOW or NO Heat).
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I used the Revlon One-Step Volumizer in the video and realized afterwards that between the heat and the colored mask, it discolored my hair a bit. So from now on, I just air dry after using it.
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(And BTW, I no longer recommend the One-Step if you have fine gray hair like me - I need to update my blog post about it, but in the meantime, just wanted to let you know. After using it for a couple years, I finally realized it was WAY too hot for my fine hair).

Speaking of which:

Consider Reducing Your Dependence On Heat Tools (If You Use Them)​
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If your hair is fine and prone to yellowing, consider reducing your hot tool usage. (If your hair is coarse and doesn't yellow, skip this section).
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90% of the time, I just wrap my damp hair up in a t-shirt towel and let it air dry for about 20 minutes. I then put the towel in my hand and use it to gently squeeze my hair in sections to remove excess water.
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Then, I add a UV protectant (since I live in sunny California), comb it through, and let my hair dry.
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Or, if I want to give my hair a bit of oomph, I use my favorite heatless curler and let my hair air dry while wearing that.

Naturally, if you want to straighten your hair (not curl), it gets a little trickier to figure out a way to do this heatlessly.
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** If any of you have any suggestions on no-heat ways to straighten your hair, please hit REPLY and let me know! **

Hope this helps!

And here's another great way to start off 2023 on the right foot:
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If you’re ready for a fresh start to reset your style and self-confidence, my friend Elysha Lenkin is hosting a closet clean-out party to help you effectively declutter your clothes.

Elysha has 25 years of experience working with women and their wardrobes. Her clients who used her clearing methods have gotten rid of 70% in their closets, and then felt like they had MORE CHOICE!

This is an amazing opportunity to streamline your style, create more versatility with your wardrobe and get rid of the clothes that no longer serve.

As a bonus for my community she is offering a special BOGO deal β€” buy 1 ticket, get the 2nd free!

To take advantage of the BOGO offer, purchase one ticket and then email elysha@elyshalenkin.com with the name and email of your guest to be added to the attendee list!
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All the details are HERE.

That's all for now - hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Katie xo

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MY FAVORITE SILVER HAIR RESOURCES:

​Bold Uniq - PETA-approved, cruelty-free, vegan and powerful purple hair products to reduce yellow tones in silver and blonde hair. Use code KATIE20 for 20% off.

​Eye Embrace - one of the only companies that makes eyebrow pencils & powders in a multitude of gray shades for every skin tone. Use code KGPBROWS for 5% off

​Kerotin - Another excellent purple hair care products company. Their products are Made in the USA, and are free of silicones, parabens, sulfates and sodium chloride. They are also cruelty-free. Use code KGP15 for 15% off.

​QuickSilverHair Clay Kit - Hands-down, my favorite gray hair product to brighten your silver hair! My son uses it to clarify his super-dense, curly hair and he loves it just as much as I do!
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​​Tangled Silver Magazine - My favorite magazine devoted to gray hair! It's filled with gorgeous photos PLUS product recommendations and advice from your fellow silver sisters. Digital-only. Use code KGP10 for 10% off.

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Katie Goes Platinum: All About Gray Hair!

Katie from Katie Goes Platinum offers advice, product recommendations, and support for women of every age and at every stage of their journey to gray hair. So whether you're just thinking about going gray, are mid-transition, or are fully silver, Katie has your back!

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