Few things can pep up your look like a fresh hair colour, but midlife hair has its own quirks. Greys start appearing (those sparkles, as we like to call them), and hair texture changes (hello, dryness!). Colouring your hair after 40 is about enhancing your style while keeping your hair healthy. Let’s talk greys, dyes, henna, and everything in between – so you can rock your crowning glory with confidence.

• Grey Blending or Full Coverage? First, decide on your approach to greying. Some women proudly flaunt the salt-and-pepper look; others prefer to cover their greys completely. A popular compromise is grey blending. This is a salon technique that mixes in highlights or lowlights. It mingles your greys with your natural colour. This way, you don’t have a stark line of demarcation as your hair grows. It’s low-maintenance and lets you embrace some silver without going fully grey overnight. Talk to a good colourist about blending if you’re curious. It can make the grow-out phase much gentler. You’ll look more Kate Middleton than grandma, even if you skip frequent touch-ups.

Also Read: 8 Indian Women On Going Grey & Loving It

• Home Colour vs Salon – Pros and Cons: Colouring at home can save money and be quite convenient. Plenty of Indian brands have easy-to-use kits (think Godrej Expert, L’Oréal Casting Crème Gloss, Garnier Color Naturals). Home dyes are great for basic root touch-ups or global colour in natural shades. However, at-home jobs can get tricky if you’re attempting a big change (like going much lighter) or if you have very long hair (uneven application alert!). Salons, on the other hand, provide professional expertise. They can perform precise techniques like highlights, lowlights, or balayage to add dimension. A good stylist can also custom-mix shades to flatter your skin tone (major perk!). The downside: salons cost more, and you need an appointment (no colouring your greys at midnight in PJs). Bottom line: Home kits work fine for simple touch-ups or all-over single color. Just follow instructions and do a strand test. For grey blending, drastic changes, or if you’re nervous, let a pro handle it. Consider splurging on a salon job for your birthday makeover. Then, use home kits for maintenance. It’s the best of both worlds.

• Gentle Dyes: Ammonia-Free & Natural Options: Hair dyes have evolved significantly. Gone are the days of super chemical ammonia-laden brews our moms used. Ammonia is effective for permanent colour, but it can be harsh. It aggressively lifts the hair cuticle, leaving the hair dry and rough. The strong smell isn’t fun either. Many modern dyes are ammonia-free, meaning they use gentler alternatives. These dyes won’t singe your nose or strip your hair’s moisture as much. You still get good grey coverage and vibrant colour, just in a kinder way. In fact, ammonia-free colours offer rich shades without the harsh effects. They’re formulated with conditioners and oils for shine. If you’re colouring often, consider switching to an ammonia-free brand to reduce damage.
• What about henna? Henna has been the traditional go-to in India for generations. It’s natural and safe. (Pure henna is basically crushed plant leaves). Henna gives a lovely auburn-reddish tint on greys and conditions the hair. However, keep in mind henna’s pros and cons. Pros: 100% natural (if you buy pure henna powder), chemical-free, great conditioning, and no worrying about ammonia or peroxide. Cons: Limited color range (mostly orange-red tones), and it can be drying, so you’ll need deep conditioning after. Also, henna is messy and time-consuming. You have to mix a mud-like paste. Applying it all over might make your bathroom look like Holi aftermath. Then, wait for 1-3 hours for it to take effect. If you have the patience and love the natural route, henna (or henna-based herbal dyes) is a great option. Some brands even offer premixed henna-based colours in shades like brown and burgundy (check out Indus Valley or Sadhev). Just remember, once you henna, it’s hard to chemically dye over it. Henna forms a coat on hair that can block other colours. So if you henna today and dream of blonde streaks tomorrow, it’s not going to happen. Choose henna only if you’re ready to commit to its colour family.

Also Read: Just Photos Of 10 Gorgeous Women Rocking Grey Tones

• Colour Care 101: No matter if you henna or use chemical dyes, midlife hair needs TLC to stay lustrous. Grey hair tends to be drier and more porous, so colored hair can fade fast if not cared for. Invest in a good colour-protect shampoo and conditioner – ideally sulfate-free and formulated to preserve hair colour. These products are gentler and help your colour last longer by not stripping the natural oils. For example, L’Oréal Paris Colour Protect Shampoo is a popular choice to shield colour from fading. It even claims to have UV filters. Also, use a deep conditioning mask or an oil massage once a week to combat the dryness. If you’re dealing with post-colour frizz, try a serum on the ends to add shine. And a cheeky tip: rinse your hair with cooler water after conditioning – hot water can make colour fade quicker (and who needs scalding showers in Mumbai’s heat anyway?).