Aging Hair and the Golden Dilemma: A Hair Colorist’s Perspective

As a hair colorist specializing in natural, warm tones—especially reds, coppers, and golds—I get asked one question constantly: “Why is my hair color changing as I age, and how can I keep that golden glow?”

Aging hair is about more than just grays. It’s about shifts in texture, porosity, and most notably, pigment. Whether you were born a brunette, blonde, or redhead, your hair is on a unique color journey—and it doesn't always end in silver. Let’s break down what happens to different hair colors as they age, why gold tones are often the first to fade, and how we can work with those changes to maintain luminous, youthful color.

✨Why Gold is the First to Go

Gold tones are some of the most delicate and fade-prone in the entire color spectrum. They sit in a narrow space between brassy and dull—requiring just the right amount of warmth and tone to look intentional and radiant.

As hair becomes more porous with age, it loses its ability to hold onto those golden pigments. Add in sun, water, and time—and it’s no surprise gold often turns brassy, flat, or both.

✨Redheads Don’t Go Gray—They Fade to Brown

This surprises many clients: red hair doesn’t usually go gray. Instead, it often fades into a softer, more muted brown or blonde over time. That’s because redheads have higher levels of pheomelanin, which fades more gradually than eumelanin.

Common Changes:

🔸Loss of vibrancy, especially at the crown and ends

🔸Mousy or muddy appearance, especially in former coppers or auburn

🔸Gold turning brassy on faded red undertones

✨Blondes: From Bright to Beige (or Gray)

Blondes have the most visible transformation because their hair already contains less pigment. As blonde hair ages, it tends to either turn a dull beige, yellow, or in some cases, a stark cool gray.

Common Changes:

🔸Golden blonde becomes ashy or faded

🔸Hair looks thinner or more translucent

🔸Gray hairs blend more subtly, but often affect tone

✨What Happens to Brunettes as They Age?

Brunettes typically have high levels of eumelanin, the pigment responsible for brown and black tones. Over time, that eumelanin begins to fade or disappear completely. The result? Cool-toned grays and whites begin to grow in—sometimes slowly, sometimes seemingly overnight.

Common Changes:

🔸Salt-and-pepper stage that can dull golden highlights

🔸Ashy or flat appearance as warm undertones fade

🔸Contrast issues when warm artificial color sits next to cool natural gray

✨ Embrace the Shift, Don’t Fight It

Hair color doesn’t have to stay frozen in time to stay beautiful. The goal isn’t to fight aging—it’s to move with it, keeping your color luminous and warm as your natural pigment evolves. No matter your original shade—brunette, blonde, or red—here are a few key steps that make the biggest difference in keeping golden tones alive.

✨1. Add a Warm Gloss or Glaze Every 4–8 Weeks

A gold, copper-gold, or warm beige gloss revives tone, boosts shine, and blends early grays without major upkeep. It’s the quickest way to reintroduce that soft, sunlit glow aging hair tends to lose.

My favorite gold shampoo WATERCOLORS BY TRESSA 3-IN-1

✨2. Hydrate Deeply and Often

Aging hair becomes more porous, which means it fades faster and looks duller. Weekly deep conditioning or leave-in hydration keeps the cuticle sealed, which helps gold tones reflect better and stay longer.

This is best and makes my hair feel like butter L'OREAL PROFFESIONAL ABSOLUT REPAIR

✨3. Embrace Dimension, Not Just Color

Solid, flat color can look harsh as we age. Tone-on-tone highlights or lowlights in soft golden or copper hues add movement and light—creating a more natural, radiant effect without looking “done.”

Speak with your colorist about adjusting your formula to include this kind of tonal layering. If you're looking for a fresh perspective, I'm accepting new clients—book a consultation here with me Illiana

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