When Caz Novak messaged us suggesting we include someone in our I Like Your Hair series with grey hair, we had two immediate thoughts. 1) We absolutely should, and 2) You'd be perfect Caz!
Greying hair is one of those oddly taboo life experiences: widely experienced but rarely talked about and even less frequently championed due mostly to outdated societal expectations on ageing. In the last few years the conversation has thankfully becoming louder and prouder.
The Taranaki artist is known for her mastery of bright colours and depictions of the natural world, which is partly why we were so keen to hear her experience on embracing the grey. We're thrilled that Caz agreed talked us through her road to grey and share her hard-earned tips for others contemplating embracing the change.
How would you describe your hair?
Shiny, silver and almost dye free!
Tell us about your relationship with your hair – today, and in the past?
I’m enjoying my natural grey colour after a mix of good and bad hair decades. My first salon forays were for 80s perms. I tried them all; spirals, root-perms, and something called a ‘wash and wear’ which translated to ‘cringe and cry’ when I emerged looking like a poodle! Thankfully I learnt to brandish a brush and blow dryer, stretching crunchy perms into something that vaguely resembled Farah Fawcett’s flip.
Colouring was fun and gave my mouse-brown hair something interesting to say, with the bonus of covering the pesky greys that were appearing. I’ve enjoyed most of the colours I’ve morphed through over the years but found myself increasingly curious to see what lay beneath the dye.
What does your hair care routine typically look like?
I wash and condition my hair every 3-4 days. I’m a bit fickle when it comes to products; I’m currently liking Schwarzkopf’s Bonacure Moisture Kick shampoo and conditioner.
I also add a small amount of Olaplex No 6 pre-drying and sometimes finishing oil – Schwarzkopf’s Barbary Fig is my favourite as it smells divine and is lightweight.
When did you start going grey? Did you embrace the change from the get-go?
I started going grey in my early 30s, and even in my 20s, I recall plucking out the odd silver offender. At the time, the only women I knew with grey hair were grandmothers, so colouring my hair seemed the only option. I started blending with highlights, and as the percentage of grey increased in my 40s I opted for a full head tint with highlights.
I would have continued regularly colouring my hair, but when salons closed during the pandemic I had time to consider my options. I began looking at grey-haired inspo online and loved how bright and fresh it looked, so decided to take the plunge!
Who ‘does’ it? And how often would you go to the hairdresser?
Kellee French at HQ Hair By Design in New Plymouth is my stylist and cheerleader! She’s refreshingly enthusiastic about grey hair and eased my transition with enough blonde baby-lights to break up the demarcation line, while still preserving the integrity of my hair. I now see her every 10 weeks for a cut, blow wave and catch up.
Has the way you care for your tresses changed after the greying? What products do you use to take care of it?
Products formulated to maintain icy blonde hair also work well for grey hair, so every few washes I like to use Blonde Me Cool Blonde shampoo or Fudge Clean Blonde conditioner.
Both products are violet toned and help keep my hair a cool grey, without the ‘blue-rinse’ look our grandmothers sported. Hot tools can also cause yellowing with grey and white hair, so I tend to blow dry on low heat or air dry.
Do you find that people comment on your hair a lot? Why do you think this is?
I never received compliments from strangers with coloured hair, so it’s been quite surprising to have younger women approach me and comment positively on my grey hair. I think there’s a growing interest from women to embrace their natural hair texture and colour, including grey.
Do you feel a need to challenge the stereotype of the grey-haired woman? What has surprised you about the experience?
It feels good to reject the subliminal messages I’ve accepted over the years; that women need to cover the greys to remain relevant and look like society says they should. There’s inequity around men and women greying – men are hailed as ‘silver foxes’ while women are told by beauty mega brands like L’Oréal to cover those greys ‘because you’re worth it’. Ironically, these same companies are now busy launching grey hair products as more women ditch the dye.
Despite the negative narrative that women are ‘letting themselves go’ if they stop colouring, I’ve been surprised that the experience has felt more like letting myself grow!
It’s also given me a greater appreciation for the role hair plays in self-expression, and I love seeing people having fun with colouring and hairstyles – something we took for granted pre-pandemic!
What has your hair taught you?
Patience! There’s a saying ‘a year to your ear’ and that’s an accurate description of the time it takes to grow out hair dye. It’s been two years since my last colour and I’m still a trim (or two) away from being completely natural.
I found the first six months the hardest but during this time I discovered a wonderful source of encouragement on Instagram from the openly grey, pro-aging silver sisterhood (#silversister). Many of these women stopped colouring their hair during the pandemic, documenting their transitions, and connecting with others doing the same.
What’s your favourite ‘hair in art’ work?
Gordon Milne paints bold, colour-filled portraits and his work ‘Karen’s Portrait’ is my favourite. Karen is Gordon’s wife of 50 years and I love that he chose to paint his first portrait of her at mid-life capturing her vitality, Mona Lisa smile and halo of silver hair!
Who else do you think has great hair?
Actor Andie MacDowell’s hair is spectacular, and described her decision to go grey as ‘a power move’.
Australian model and silver hair influencer Luisa Dunn not only has beautiful hair, she’s also shared her grey grow-out (the good and the bad) on her Instagram account with honesty and warmth.
I also admire Sarah Harris’ hair, deputy editor of Vogue UK, who found her first greys at age 16, has never coloured her hair and is now a striking snowy white.
