There are several ways to temporarily give your hair a gray color if you really want a great costume. A quick fix is to dab talcum powder or white face powder on your hair to coat it, then spray hairspray on your hair to keep the powder in place. You can also use gray hairspray or hair chalk to temporarily color your hair and make it look more realistic.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Brushing powder on your hair
Step 1. Dip a sponge or brush in white powder
Buy loose white face powder, talcum powder, or cornstarch. Place the powder in a bowl and dip a makeup sponge or brush into it.
Step 2. Spread the powder on your temples
Start graying your hair by running the sponge or brush over the hair on your temples. Apply more powder if necessary. Even though the powder is white, your natural hair color will shine through and make your hair look gray.
- If you want to look older in a subtle way, applying powder to your temples is enough to make you look older and grayer. Many people start to go gray when they sleep.
- Apply the powder to your roots, then work your way up, especially on the hair framing your face. Since hair normally starts to turn gray at the roots, it makes your hair look more realistic.
- Avoid getting powder on your face. Wipe off the powder with a wet washcloth if you get it on your forehead and neck.
Step 3. Sprinkle the powder on your hair
If you want striking white hair, sprinkle the powder on your hair. Do this by leaning over the sink or basin and sprinkling some powder on your hair. It may be a good idea to put a towel around your shoulders, as this can create a lot of mess and the powder will likely fall on your shoulders.
Step 4. Massage the powder into your hair
After sprinkling the powder on top of your head, spread it over the rest of your hair with your fingers. Start on top of your head and massage the powder down your hair.
Step 5. Spray hairspray on your hair
When you have spread the powder over your hair, spray a generous amount of hairspray on your hair so that the powder stays in place.
White powder can be removed from your hair by washing it thoroughly with shampoo
Method 2 of 4: Using white face paint
Step 1. Dip a toothbrush in white or gray make-up
Buy professional white or gray face paint, which is often used to make up clowns and can be purchased at party supply stores and stores that sell costumes and fancy dress. Dip a toothbrush in the face paint and rub it over to coat the toothbrush with face paint.
- Make-up stays in your hair better than powder and produces less mess when applied.
- If you have long hair and apply the makeup to all of your hair, your hair will likely feel heavier and stiffer than with powder.
- White or gray makeup can work, depending on the shade of gray you have in mind. If you apply the makeup lightly, your natural hair color will shine through so that your hair turns a gray color, even if you are using white makeup.
Step 2. Spread the make-up on your hair with a toothbrush
Spread the make-up on your hair the same way you apply powder. Start at your hairline at your temples and forehead, then apply the makeup to the rest of your hair.
Apply the makeup lightly and in several layers, because too much makeup in one area can look blotchy
Step 3. Use a hairbrush to cover all your hair with makeup
If you want noticeable gray hair, apply the makeup with a hairbrush. Spread a thin layer of make-up on the tips of a hairbrush and smooth the make-up through your hair until you have the desired effect.
Make-up can be washed out of your hair with shampoo
Method 3 of 4: Temporarily dye your hair with gray hairspray
Step 1. Comb out your hair with a wide-tooth comb
Use a wide tooth comb to comb your hair completely. Then take the comb and comb a section of hair from the side of your face to the middle of your hair.
- By combing your hair, all the hairs are separated from each other so that you can spray your hair more evenly.
- If you have short hair, you don't have to comb your hair.
Step 2. Spray gray hairspray on top of your hair
Hold the comb in your hair and lightly and evenly spray the top section of the hair you are combing with gray or silver hairspray. If you have short hair, you can simply spray all your hair with the hairspray easily and evenly. You can apply multiple layers if you want a more striking effect.
- Temporary gray or silver hairspray can be purchased at most drugstores and party supply stores.
- Silver hairspray is available in more stores, but it can also give your hair a metallic silver color. So it is best to read the packaging or ask a store employee for advice before purchasing temporary silver hairspray.
- Hairspray works great for coloring your hair, but can make your hair stiff depending on how much you use.
Step 3. Bring the comb to your ends and spray hairspray on your hair
When you have sprayed the top part of the strand of hair that you have in your comb, pull the comb towards your ends and spray your hair up to the ends.
Step 4. Comb and spray the rest of your hair
Spray the rest of your hair in the same way. Part part of a section of hair, spray the section from the top of your head to the comb, then pull the comb towards your ends and spray the rest of the section. Use a mirror for the hair on the back of your head and keep spraying until you are happy with the result.
You usually need to shampoo your hair one to three times to get colored hairspray out of your hair
Method 4 of 4: Using hair chalk
Step 1. Wet your hair and the chalk
Buy gray or silver chalk for your hair at a drugstore and dip the tip of the chalk in water. Use a spray bottle with water to spray and dampen your hair.
Hair chalk has a very strong pigment, even stronger than sidewalk chalk and pastels for artists
Step 2. Grab a strand of hair
Brush your hair to separate all the hairs. Then take a section of hair and hold it away from your face at the ends.
Step 3. Spread the chalk on the strand of hair
Starting at your roots, rub the damp tip of the chalk down your hair to coat and color the strand of hair.
Step 4. Color the rest of your hair
Always hold a section of hair by the ends and color it with the gray chalk to make all your hair gray. If you have long hair, you may need to wet the tip of the crayon several times.
Step 5. Use heat to hold the chalk
When you're done applying chalk to your hair, wait a minute and then blow-dry your hair so that the chalk stays in your hair for a day. If you want to leave the gray color in your hair for a few days, use a flat iron or curling iron to heat the gray areas of your hair so the color stays in there longer.
Step 6. Spray your hair with hairspray
Hair chalk will quickly transfer to your clothes if you don't use hairspray, so spray hairspray on all of your hair so the chalk stays put.
Chalk can be removed from your hair by shampooing it once or twice
Tips
- If you don't mind the gray color staying in your hair for a few weeks, you can use semi-permanent hair dye. This works best on blond and bleached hair.
- You can also wear a gray wig or clip gray extensions into your hair.