Like so many women in their 30s and 40s, gray hair has slowly become the bane of my existence. The lack of pigment in my own hair hits a little harder since I’m highly allergic to most at-home and professional hair dyes (I’ll save that story for another day). As soon as I see those silvery-gray strands starting to reappear along my part and at my temples, I frantically call my colorist and demand the first available appointment.
Over the years, thanks to my very unwelcome hair-dye allergy and more gray hairs than I care to sport, I’ve tried everything to help keep my hair color looking uniform in between pro appointments. And I mean everything: serums that promise to dampen the effects of gray hair, shampoos that claim to extend the life of color appointments, and supplements promise to slow the rate of pigment loss.
So, when an email landed in my inbox with the chance to review the viral Arey products for gray hair, I didn’t hesitate to respond with a resounding YES. For 30 days, I put the regimen to the test for a full month, swearing off a much-needed root touch-up and gloss all in the name of product testing. Keep reading for my honest take and a deep dive (plus progression photos) about the Arey system (and exactly how it works and what to expect) below.
How Arey works for gray hair?
Arey addresses aging hair while promoting hair longevity through a science-driven method. The idea behind Arey, according to Jay Small (a trichologist, hairstylist, and brand's co-founder), is to help preserve the hair’s natural color, texture, and density while working alongside treatments, like hair dye, not against them. While genetics are partially to blame for grays, which results due to changes in melanin production within the hair, lifestyle choices, environmental factors, diet, and oxidative stress are equally liable. Arey works to help repigment gray hairs by pairing a daily supplement with patented topical formulas to deliver the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants the body needs to combat oxidative stress and support pigment production.
The secret to reestablishing the hair’s natural color from the outside in centers around Not Today, Grey. “It’s our foundational supplement that’s formulated with eight key nutrients to support the hair growth cycle and our proprietary Arey Compound, designed to help activate pigment-producing cells,” Small explains. The complimentary topical scalp products are powered by the patented Mela-9 Complex, comprised of a blend of 13 antioxidants and a melanin production supporting peptide to neutralize oxidative stress, relax scalp tissue to improve absorption, and support melanogenesis, the process that creates hair pigment. Together, Small says the system is clinically proven to slow gray hair growth while supporting repigmentation and thicker, fuller-looking hair.
Safe for color-treated and natural hair, Arey also helps reduce common signs of hair color damage, so strands emerge stronger, better hydrated, softer, and shinier, too, as the number of gray hairs starts to become a thing of the past.
The best results are reportedly seen when Arey is used at the first signs of gray hair. Repigmentation is possible if your hair is about 30 percent gray because it still contains melanin in the root. However, once hairs turn white, the pigment-producing cells in the follicle are no longer active, which is why Arey can’t restore the hair to its natural color.
My Arey review:
Initial Thoughts
I’m always eager to try anything that promises to reduce gray hairs without resorting to hair dye, so the idea of Arey intrigued me. What didn’t initially make me jump for joy was the number of products I received, so I whittled it down to the essentials that would best serve my hair. After some initial research, I was pretty excited about the idea that a special complex could possibly help get rid of my grays, making them darker so they blend in with my hair while improving its overall health and condition. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain.
How I Used the Products
One of my biggest issues with hair supplements (Arey’s Not Today Grey oral supplements are the star of the show here) is remembering to take them. Before starting Arey, I placed the supplement bottle next to my nighttime skincare products so I wouldn’t skip a dose. From there, I got to work.
On every hair wash day, I followed the same routine: I first used the deep-cleansing, scalp-exfoliating Scrub to thoroughly cleanse my scalp. It is also said to help preserve hair color for longer. The gel-like scrub, which features a blend of antioxidants, a volcanic mineral, and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) to lift away dead skin cells, oil, and debris, felt slightly tingly on my scalp—in a good way!—and had a decent amount of lather to it, which my hair needs especially since I’m not a daily hair washer. I also liked that the scrub rinsed out easily and didn’t strip my scalp of its much-needed natural oils.
Next came the Wash Shampoo. It did a great job of gently cleansing my hair while balancing my scalp. Unlike other shampoos that can easily leave my hair feeling dry and brittle, this gets sudsy and cleans my hair just as well as some of my favorite shampoos. Every time I used the spa-fresh smelling shampoo, no matter how dirty my hair was, it felt soft, shiny, and well-moisturized with absolutely no buildup. I also like that it never stripped, oxidized, or dulled my existing color.
With clean hair in tow, it was time for my favorite step: conditioner. I tend to gravitate towards creamy, rich, thick conditioners, and the Smooth conditioner delivered exactly what my hair craves. I applied a generous amount of the conditioner from the mid-shaft down to the roots, and after about five minutes of marinating, I rinsed it out and finished with a cool rinse. My hair always felt soft and smooth, but never greasy or weighed down, while helping to control frizz and lock in moisture. Plus, running a brush through it right after was easy without causing any snarls or snags. But it’s important to know that the conditioner alone won’t impact graying.
I also applied the To The Root serum almost every night (hey, I’m human, and sometimes a step or two of a routine gets forgotten about here and there), both when my hair was wet and when it was dry. After sectioning my hair into four large sections, I sprayed the formula directly onto my roots, making sure to keep the nozzle a few inches from my hair. At first, I sprayed it a little too close to my scalp, so it took a while to dry down. I found that a light mist, rather than dousing my roots, worked better. Then I’d massage the serum in, let it dry, brush it through, and style my hair, which never looked greasy or wet. My only issue with the serum is that when I used it on dirty hair (I’m talking day four and five dirty hair), I could feel the product in my hair, but I’m chalking that up to the fact that my hair likely needed a good wash.
The last product I used was the Not Today Grey supplements. Unlike other hair supplements or vitamins that require taking upwards of four capsules daily, Not Today Grey only requires two, making it easy to remember to take. At first, when I took the supplements, I found they had an earthy, medicinal taste. Once I got used to taking them (they also went down easily and never got caught in my throat), I didn’t taste much of anything.
My Results
While I wish I could say that my annoying gray hairs magically returned to their pre-gray state, that wasn’t necessarily the case. Yes, the company does a good job of reiterating allover its website that the full results of Arey can take a few months to show, but after one month of using the products, I didn’t see much re-coloration. My grays were still visible, and a few new ones popped up to say hello.
Even though I didn’t see much repigmentation, I did notice that my hair was far shinier and more manageable than it had been in a long time, especially as the hair-related effects of perimenopause are really creeping up. I also found my hair to be smoother and softer than normal, which is hard to achieve in Florida’s humidity. I think my favorite part of using Arey was the obvious boost in volume at the roots. On several occasions, my friends commented on how voluminous and thick my hair looked.
Is Arey worth it?
If a chemical-free, dye-less way to get rid of grays is high on your wish list, then Arey is well worth using. With prices that are on par with high-end hair care products, Arey won’t break the bank, and the mix-and-match product approach works for a variety of different budgets and lifestyles, so there’s a product for everyone, depending on what specifically you’re looking to achieve. Personally, I think the shampoo and conditioner are welcome additions to any longevity-focused hair care routine.
Maybe staying on the program, which is straightforward to use, for a longer period will give me the repigmentation results I so desperately hoped for, so I’m not ready to give up on Arey yet. In the meantime, even if I must resort to a can of root touch-up and my regular in-salon color appointments while waiting for the effects to kick in, I’ll gladly do so and enjoy the boost in volume, shine, and smoothness, along with increased hair confidence.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and expert with 20 years of experience. A prolific content creator and trendspotter, Elise always knows what’s new, what works, and who’s the best to go to for treatments and procedures.
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and expert with 20 years of experience. She started her career in public relations before shifting to editorial. Elise rose the ranks at NewBeauty magazine from an editorial assistant to Executive Beauty Editor, overseeing and reporting on all things beauty, plastic surgery, anti-aging, health, and wellness. A prolific content creator and trendspotter, Elise always knows what’s new, what works, and who’s the best to go to for treatments and procedures. She contributes to media outlets including InStyle, NewBeauty, The Zoe Report, Byrdie, Beauty Independent, The Aesthetic Guide, Bazaar, and more.
