Last updated: August 10, 2026 · 6 min read
Gray or graying hair is often coarser and drier than pigmented hair, because the hair structure changes and your scalp produces less oil. That means you need to pay extra attention to moisture and heat protection when styling, and sometimes need a slightly higher temperature setting to get the same result as with finer hair. Also watch out for a yellow tinge, which you can counter with the right shampoo.
Quick summary
- Gray hair is often coarser, drier, and less elastic than pigmented hair.
- Always use a heat protectant, even when styling on a low setting.
- Coarser hair may need a slightly higher temperature setting to take shape.
- A yellow tinge in gray hair is countered with a purple shampoo or conditioner.
- Avoid volumizing shampoo and products with sulfates, which can dry out gray hair even more.
Below you'll find which temperature setting works best for gray hair, and how to prevent that yellow tinge.
Why does gray hair feel different from pigmented hair?
When hair turns gray, it's not just the color that changes but the structure too. Gray hair is often coarser in diameter and feels less elastic, which means it can frizz more easily. On top of that, scalp oil production often decreases as you get older, which adds to a drier texture.
In practice, that makes gray hair more prone to breakage and dryness, and a bit more vulnerable during heat styling than you might be used to with your colored hair.
Which temperature works best for gray hair?
Because gray hair is often coarser and more resistant, it sometimes needs a bit more heat to take a curl or shape than fine, pigmented hair. At the same time, its drier structure also makes it more vulnerable to dryness, so you don't want to default to the highest setting either.
On the Airstyler Pro Ceramiq, with settings of 35°C, 70°C, and 110°C, 70°C is a good starting point for many people with gray hair. If you find the shape doesn't hold long enough, you can move up to 110°C, but always use a heat protectant in that case.
How do you prevent a yellow tinge in gray hair?
Gray and white hair can pick up a yellow or brassy tinge from sun exposure, heat, and certain products. A purple shampoo or conditioner neutralizes those yellow tones, because the purple pigments cancel out the opposite color on the color wheel.
Don't use such a product too often (once or twice a week is usually enough), since overusing it can leave a gray or purple cast instead.
Which products work well with gray hair when styling?
Choose hydrating products and avoid volumizing shampoo, which is often a bit more drying and not ideal for hair that already tends to feel drier. A heat protectant isn't an optional extra for gray hair, it's a basic requirement given the more vulnerable structure.
A light hair oil or serum after styling can also help against frizz and adds extra shine to gray hair, which often gives it that fresh, healthy look.
Frequently asked questions
Is gray hair harder to style than colored hair?
It may need a bit more attention since the structure is coarser and drier, but with the right temperature and heat protectant, gray hair styles perfectly well with an airstyler or hairdryer.
Why does gray hair frizz more easily?
Gray hair is often coarser and less elastic, which makes it more prone to frizz, especially combined with dryness. A heat protectant and a light oil or serum help keep this in check.
How often should I use purple shampoo for gray hair?
Once or twice a week is usually enough to counter a yellow tinge. Using it too often can leave a gray or purple cast in your hair instead.
Should I choose a different temperature setting for gray hair than I used to?
Possibly, since gray hair is often coarser and more resistant. Start on a medium setting like 70°C and only go higher if the result doesn't hold enough, always with a heat protectant.
The right temperature for hair that's changing.
The Airstyler Pro Ceramiq offers three settings (35°C, 70°C, 110°C) on a fully ceramic-coated barrel, so you can match it to the structure of your graying hair instead of using one fixed, universal level.
Works on all hair types 1A-4C
2 year warranty
30 days to try at home
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Written by Lena A., based on questions we get from customers with graying hair about the right styling approach.
