Buzz
There are several temporary methods to achieve gray hair for your costume. A quick solution is to apply baby powder or white makeup powder to your hair, then use hairspray to set the powder. You can also use hair spray glue or gray hair chalk for a temporary dye effect to make it look more realistic.
Steps
Apply powder to your hair
Dip a powder puff or makeup brush into white powder. Purchase white powdered makeup, baby powder, or cornstarch. Pour the powder into a bowl and dip the puff or brush into it.
Apply powder along the temples. Begin the process of creating a silver-haired look by using a makeup brush or sponge to dab powder along the sides of your temples. Add more powder if necessary. Although the powder is white, your natural hair color will show through, giving your hair a grayish appearance.
Sprinkle powder onto your hair. For an all-over white hair effect, sprinkle powder directly onto your hair. Tilt your head over a sink and gently dust a small amount of powder onto your hair. Consider draping a towel over your shoulders to catch any falling powder and avoid a mess.
Comb the powder through your hair. After sprinkling powder onto the top of your head, use your fingers to comb the powder through your hair, starting from the crown and working it down to the ends.
Apply hairspray. Once the powder is evenly distributed, spray hairspray over your hair to help the powder adhere.
Use white cream-based powder.
Dip a toothbrush into white or gray cream-based powder. Purchase specialized white or gray cream-based makeup powder, often used for clown or Halloween costumes, available at costume or Halloween stores. Dip the toothbrush into the powder until it is fully coated.
Use the toothbrush to apply the cream-based powder throughout your hair. Brush the powder through your hair similarly to applying regular powder, starting from the hairline around the temples and forehead, and working your way across the entire head.
Use a hairbrush to spread the cream-based powder evenly. For a striking all-over gray effect, use a hairbrush to apply the powder. Apply a thin layer of the powder to the bristles of the hairbrush and brush through your hair until the desired effect is achieved.
Use temporary gray hairspray.
Comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb. Use a wide-tooth comb to brush through your hair, then comb a section of hair to one side of your face, stopping halfway down the length of the hair.
Apply gray hair spray to the top section of your hair. While holding the comb in place, spray a thin, even layer of gray or silver hair spray onto the top portion of the combed hair. For shorter hair, simply spray evenly across the entire head. Apply multiple layers for a more pronounced effect.
Comb down to the ends and apply the spray. Once the top section of the combed hair is sprayed, comb through the strands and apply the spray to the ends of the hair.
Comb and spray the remaining sections of your hair. Repeat the spraying process across your entire head, combing down to the mid-sections, spraying from the top down to the comb's position, then combing through the rest and continuing to spray. Use a mirror to check the back of your head and spray until you're satisfied with the result.
Use hair chalk for coloring.
Wet your hair and the chalk. Purchase gray or silver hair chalk from cosmetic stores and dip the chalk into water. Use a spray bottle to dampen your hair.
Pull out a section of hair. Use a comb to separate the strands, then grasp the ends of a section and pull it away from your face.
Rub the chalk along the held section of hair. Starting from the roots, glide the dampened tip of the chalk downward to coat the hair with color.
Color the remaining sections of your hair. Repeat the process of pulling out a section and rubbing gray chalk onto the strands. You may need to re-dampen the chalk multiple times for longer hair.
Use heat to help the chalk adhere to your hair. After applying the chalk, wait for a minute, then use a blow dryer to set the color for the day. For longer-lasting results, use a flat iron or curling iron on the gray sections to lock in the color.
Spray hairspray onto your hair. Hair chalk tends to transfer onto clothing if not secured, so apply hairspray all over to ensure it stays in place.
Advice
- If you don't mind keeping gray hair for a few weeks, you can use semi-permanent hair dye. This works best on blonde or bleached hair.
- You can also opt for gray wigs or clip-in hair extensions.
What You'll Need
- White makeup powder, baby powder, or cornstarch
- White cream-based makeup
- Wide-tooth comb, toothbrush, and/or hairbrush
- Regular hairspray
- Gray or silver-colored hairspray
- Gray or silver hair chalk
