So, you've made the decision to transition to silver, pewter, or salt-and-pepper hair. You're about to embark on an exciting new journey. Not only does this journey entail a new hair color, but most likely will also include a new haircut and style, new makeup and perhaps even new clothes.

This transition can be a new beginning of sorts. Who says going gray has to be drab and boring? Many women are embracing the change and celebrating the liberating feeling of just being themselves, in all their natural beauty. Whether you're transitioning in your 40's, 50', or 60's, making a smooth transission and going gray can actually be a lot of fun.

The first thing to decide is how you're going to style your hair. The easiest transitions to your new color of hair involve using a semi-permanent hair color, hair glaze, or highlights and lowlights in your hair until the full transition is complete. Obviously, this method of transitioning to your new hair color means you will be in the salon quite often. The costs can add up but it might be worth it for the ease of letting someone else worry about overseeing a smooth transition. Another benefit of using this method is there will not be visible roots showing while the new hair grows in.

Another way to make the transition is to cut your hair short and just let it grow back. It doesn't matter if you're not completely gray yet. It's ok to have different shades of color all at the same time - most people do. Salt-and-pepper colored hair can be beautiful! Look through the various hairstyle magazines and find a short style that flatters your face shape. One great thing about shorter hair is it's usually easier to take care of than longer styles.

Take Good Care of Your Hair

It's very important to take good care of your hair and maybe even more important now than before. Silver or white hair can sometimes grow in dry and wiry. However, it can be tamed with good quality shampoos and conditioners. Using a deep conditioning treatment once a week will go a long way toward having healthy looking hair.

Some women will experience yellowing of the hair. The yellowing is actually a kind of bleaching from the sun. There are special shampoos to counteract the yellowing effect. Look for shampoos that are forumlated specifically for gray and silver shades.

Some women think that if they are letting their hair go lighter, they need less makeup. Actually, the opposite is true. Women with silvery hair, need more vibrant makeup to avoid a washed out appearance. This doesn't mean lots of makeup, it just means using the right colors.

Start with a good foundation. If you use powder foundations, less is definitely more. For a great natural and lightweight foundation I highly recommend using mineral makeup.

Use a good blusher to highlight the cheekbones and contour the face. If you're fair skinned, choose a light rose color, medium or olive skins should use peony colors and dark complected women should go with dark candy pink colors.

A nice lip color will go a long way toward brightening your whole face. If you've lost some lip contour, use a natural colored lip pencil to line the lips. Avoid dry and cakey lipsticks and instead use light lip glosses or moist lipsticks. Avoid nude and brown tones as they can look muddy. The best colors are pinks, berries, peaches and apricots.

For eye shadows, pale colors will look better than deep smoky ones. Use mascara and curl your eyelashes if needed, but avoid black mascaras unless you have some dark charcoal gray in your hair. This also goes for eyeliners. Avoid black and instead use plums, soft medium tans, and dark browns. Using a pencil instead of a liquid eyeliner will create a softer line to set off the eyes.

As women age, sometimes their brows get thin and sparse. If this happens, it's easy to use an eyebrow pencil to make the eyebrows seem more full. Using an eyebrow brush, make upward strokes to "lift" the eyebrows. This will give "open" the eyes and create a flattering arch to the brow line.

There are really no special colors that set off whitish or grayish hair. I've seen pictures of women with silver toned hair wearing pewter colored evening gowns and they look fantastic. Jewel tones look rich and elegant. Pastels are also soft and flattering.

Whatever colors you're comfortable wearing, will be the best colors for you. Pay attention to the accessories and consider wearing scarves and hats to call attention to your beautiful new hair.