Whether you spell it "grey" or "gray" or call it silver, you can find hair dyes in all kinds of shades to suit your needs.

The only shade that seems to be a real challenge to locate - is gray hair dye.

Most of the time, when looking for hair coloring, people want to color their hair to cover the gray, not to dye it gray. However, more and more women and men are now embracing gray hair. Some think gray hair contributes to a more elegant and classy look. Others have been dyeing their hair for years and are just plain tired of the maintenance and expense. Still others are worried about health concerns associated with repeated hair coloring and want to go au naturale. Of course, many people just admire the beautiful pewter and silver tones and just want lovely gray hair!

The graying of hair is a completely natural occurrence that happens to almost all of us. Some people start getting gray hair in their late teens or early twenties, while others are late into their forties when they first begin to see gray hair.

Hair is made up of two parts - the root and the shaft. The root is what attaches the hair to the head. Sometimes when we pull our hair out, we can see part of the root. The root is surrounded by tissue and this tissue is called the hair follicle. Each follicle contains a number of cells that contain pigment. This pigment produces a chemical called melanin. Melanin is what affects the hair shaft and therefore, dictates our hair color, as well as our skin color. The more melanin, the darker the hair will be.

As we age, the pigment in the hair follicle cells declines. This means less melanin is produced, which translates into less color and resulting gray or white hair. Eventually, there is no color left and we experience a whole head of gray, white, or silver hair. This process can take more than a decade to be complete. In other words, if you notice your first gray hairs in your late twenties, you can be well into your mid-life, or even later, before you will have a full head of gray hair. However, you will likely notice a gradual change and eventually will either embrace the graying of your hair, or decide to dye it to keep its natural color.

If you always had a dark hair color, say black or dark brown, you will definitely be more aware of the graying process. If you are a natural blond or have very light brown hair, the graying wil be less noticeable but will still occur. It's simply a natural part of the aging process.

This loss of pigment, is what makes it so difficult to dye hair gray. Manufacturers have not been able to come up with any colors in the gray family that look natural when applied. Plus, let's face it, gray hair dyes have never been in high demand. However, with the increasing numbers of baby boomers, and the growing number of women deciding to go gray, we can only hope this begins to change.

The bottom line, is that you really can't dye your hair gray. You will not be able to find gray hair dyes in the market place. However, before you get discouraged - making a successful transition to gray hair does not have to be difficult or even challenging.

So, are you ready to take the plunge? Making the decision to go gray is a real relief for many women and can be very liberating. There are several approaches to "going gray" and one of them is sure to suit you.

You can go to a professional hair colorist and have them dye your hair with light shades approximating a gray or silver tone. The advantage of doing it this way, is you will be able to discuss the different shades available with a professional, and perhaps even see some strand samples of all the different shades you can try. The hair colorist can look at your current hair color and skin tone and make a recommendation for what color would look best on you. The disadvantage is of course the price. You will easily pay upwards of $50 and possibly much more, to get your hair dyed professionally. If you plan to get your hair dyed more than once, it will add up quickly. Still, if you are really unsure of how to approach the transition to gray, you're making a major color change, or you simply want to talk it over with someone in the know, then using a professional hair colorist is your best option.

Another approach to going gray is to use temporary (semi-permanent) color on your hair. Temporary colors last in the neighborhood of six weeks. You will have to do this until your natural color grows in completely. Luckily, this process is very easy to do in the comfort of your own home. From start to finish, you using a semi-permanent color takes less than an hour.

Finally, consider cutting your hair short. There are so many cute hair styles now that are on the shorter side, that you are sure to find one you like. You can still use semi-permanent color every six weeks if you want.

• If you decide to go with permanent color during the transition to gray, ask your colorist to use a brightener every six to eight weeks. This will soften the hair and make it less course, as well as remove the yellow tint sometimes associate with gray hair.
• Highlight your hair every three months or so to match the gray until you get the look you want.
• Add low-lights and blended color streaks until you get the look you want. This will ensure the gray hair blends in nicely with the colored hair.
  

Remember, gray hair doesn't necessarily equate with being "old" and gray is a color in its own right. Some Hollywood celebrities have even decided to embrace gray hair. Anderson Cooper from CNN is known as "The Silver Fox" for his gray hair. Jaime Lee Curtis has beautiful gray hair as does celebrity chef Paula Deen. Richard Gere has decided to go gray and so has Stacey London of "What Not to Wear". Even sexpot actress Sharon Stone has experimented with gray hair!

So, whatever your reason for wanting to go gray, rest assured that although you won't be able find gray hair dyes, you can still make a very successful transition to a full head of beautful gray hair.