Have you watched The Substance? I have not (body horror isn't really my thing), but from what I gather, the message at the film's core is profound: Don't resist aging because doing so only invokes chaos and destruction. This sounds nice in theory, but there's so much pressure to age the "right" way in the real world. Older women especially face an impossible task: aging "gracefully" while the world around you treats youth as the ultimate prize.
However, a viral YouTube video is not-so-quietly rewriting society's beauty rules. When celebrity hairstylist Guy Tang's mom decided to embrace her natural gray hair and stop dyeing it dark, she turned to her son for help. The transformation, documented in one of Tang's many videos, took over eight hours to complete—an astounding testament to the power of reclaiming authority and recognizing the beauty of aging.
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More than just a hairstylist
Described byRacked as a "rainbow hair evangelist," Guy Tang is a hair transformation guru. Shortly after moving to Los Angeles in 2017, he quickly rose to prominence for his "bleach-blond ombre" skills, a popular hair coloring technique where the hair gradually transitions from one color into another. That year, he also launched #myidentity, a hair product brand with a mind-boggling array of color options, hoping to encourage people to express their individuality through their hair color.
Oh, and online, he's a bona fide superstar. With 2.3 million followers on YouTube and nearly 646 thousand followers on TikTok, he's cultivated a loyal following by pushing creative boundaries. His most popular videos feature bold hair transformations and vibrant dye jobs. But this time, the person in the salon chair wasn't just a client; it was his mom.
Over the years, she'd spent countless hours covering up her natural gray hair and hiding it beneath various dyes, stuck in a constant upkeep and maintenance cycle. But not anymore. It was time to let her true silver colors shine through. In an intimate 23-minute video shared on YouTube, which has amassed 1.8 million views, Guy Tang details the painstaking, meticulous process they took to restore his mom's chemically altered hair to its natural color. The eight-hour journey is miraculous, a transformation that is as much about self-acceptance as it is about beauty.
The technical challenge
Hair wizardry? Or pure science? A bit of both, I imagine. As Tang deftly demonstrates in this video, transitioning dyed hair to natural gray requires serious technical skills. It's a delicate balance of chemistry and art, plus a dash of intuition. Here's a breakdown of his process:
A Cinderella moment Photo credit: Canva
- Assessment: Before starting, Tang runs his fingers through his mom's hair, getting familiar with its current state. When was the last time she dyed it? What products or techniques were used? Does she also need a haircut? Especially in cases like these, where the hair has already been layered with years of dye, it's important that stylists know exactly where they're starting from while also noting things like hair porosity and texture. A proper consultation helps stylists determine the best approach for gradually lifting the artificial colors without causing damage.
- Remove the existing color: Like red wine spilled onto a white carpet, removing color is a slow, meticulous process. Tang applies specialized color removers to the ends of his mom's hair to extract oxidative dyes, revealing her hair's natural pigment.
- Bleach time! Then toner: Once most of the dye has been removed, bleach is removed in certain areas to ensure consistency throughout the entire head of hair. Since his mom's hair was primarily only dyed at the bottom, Tang lightened those areas, neutralizing any unwanted warm tones, like yellow or brassy hues.
- The secret? Gray hair dye: Carefully matching his mom's natural color, Tang goes to work, employing a special mix of four silver-hued dyes over the entire head of hair. There's a gray color that looks like smoke applied to the nape area; then, a silver moon color shimmers beautifully at the top.
- Deep conditioning and repair: Chemical processes can be tough on hair, especially for older individuals. Deep conditioning restores moisture and strengthens the hair follicles, ensuring that the hair looks vibrant and feels healthy and resilient.
"I love it!"
At the end of the video, Tang reveals the final product to his mom, spinning her around in the salon chair. "So beautiful!" she gasps, turning her head left and right. "I love it."
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Viewers felt similarly, with one commenting, "That's the hair of my dreams!" On TikTok, where Tang posted a shorter version of the process, another person said, "Amazing transformation. I love your work, always," and "I always think embracing gray hair makes you look younger."
At its heart, this isn't just a hair transformation; it's a deeply personal journey of letting go and finding one's authentic self. Guy Tang's love for his mother and his craft is evident. At the end of the video, he shares, "My mom is really camera-shy. She's not used to the camera often, so she is stepping out of her box!" It's a very sweet reminder of the power of family—Tang is obviously thrilled to gift his mom with something so special. His mom's eyes shine with gratitude to her son for such a fabulous transformation.
Watch the full half-hour video below!
- YouTubewww.youtube.com
