I’m trying to remember a time when my mom wasn’t a blonde. I look at older pictures of her and she had really dark hair just like me when she was young. I’m not sure when her transition to lighter hair was but she was definitely way younger than I am right now.
I never really noticed her grey hair roots coming in.
The blonde seemed to camouflage the grey hair. That was only a few years ago and she is 85 now. I convinced her to finally stop colouring her hair and let it go grey.
Now, her hair is thicker and a beautiful silver-grey. Absolutely no one noticed when she made the switch. To be fair, all of her friends are her age and their eyesight isn’t the best. lol
Fascinated with women that have had the guts to stop colouring, I talked to a woman at work one day that had let her hair go completely grey. She is slightly older than I am. She said she did have dark hair like me too when she was younger. She keeps her hair in a pixie cut, so for her, the complete transformation did not take long at all.
So, here I am again, staring into the mirror and all I can see is the grey hair roots advancing. What is it with the one day it’s fine and the next day your bangs are too long and the grey roots look like they’ve gained an inch. Off to the stylist I go, thinking this it, let’s go blonde. I could do with a change and I think blonde is the only colour I didn’t try out when I was a teen. This will be awesome!
“Really? You want to go all blonde?” my hairdresser asks.
“Yes, I’m tired of noticing these grey hair roots just one week after colouring!” I reply confidently.
“But you have no grey at the back of your head at all. It’s all in the front.”
“That’s ridiculous! Is that normal? Why?!”
“So you can see it.”
“Same again please and I’ll re-book for six weeks”
Sigh.
UPDATE 2019: I wavered for an entire year after I originally wrote this post but officially transition to grey hair at the end of 2015. It has been almost 4 years since the change and I admit there have been times that I have wanted to go back to colouring.
It is short-lived though as I remember how bad I was at the upkeep and honestly, being totally grey haired is not as bad as having grey roots literally all the time. I love my grey hair but I know that deciding to embrace grey hair is a very personal decision. You should do what makes you feel good. If that means colouring until your dying day, then go for it. No one should tell anyone how to live or look. As a woman over 50, you have earned your right to do as you please.
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The following are a list of products that I use on my gray hair. It needs special care to make sure it doesn’t go brassy or really coarse and frizzy.
Recommended Products:
- Pantene Pro-V Silver Expressions Shampoo 13 oz
- Pantene Pro-V Silver Expressions Daily Color Enhancing Conditioner for All Silver and Gray Shades, 13.5 fl oz (400 ml)
- One n Only Shiny Silver Ultra Shine Spray 4 Fl Oz
- Heavenly Hair Coconut Oil Hair Serum – Chemist formula heals, protects and returns your shine!
- Marc Anthony True Professional Bye Bye Frizz Keratin Smoothing Blow Dry Cream Cream, 4.7 fl. oz
Check out these gorgeous silver sisters!
Stacy
Wednesday 28th of July 2021
I have always had my hair dyed. Every 5 weeks I was there to get those roots done. Well unfortunately I got cancer and now my new hair is as Grey as Grey can be. I have scheduled my first hair appointment and I'm considering keeping the Grey, something I thought I would never even consider, EVER! Thank you for this article. I know it was written awhile back but I wanted you to know it's still here and helping people. God Bless
Elena Peters
Wednesday 28th of July 2021
My cousin had the same experience. She decided to keep the grey. But you do you and whatever makes you feel good. No judgement here. Take care.
Diane Sabi
Sunday 23rd of May 2021
I had no choice to go gray. I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to have chemotherapy. I lost my beautiful colored and highlighted long hair that was my crown. I knew I was coloring lots of gray! When it started to grow back in it was white around my face and dark gray in the back. I either straightened or curled my natural hair but now I have crazy Chemo curls. I gave up the wigs before I could color it. I just wanted my hair to hurry up and grow long again. I figured people have seen me gray and I don’t have to try to keep up with the gray roots. Do I like it, not really but I don’t have to worry about the upkeep now. It’s been a year since I have up my wigs. That was one of the hardest decisions I have had to make. I can finally get it back in a high pony tail!
Terri Lane
Friday 5th of March 2021
What was the technique?
Elena Peters
Friday 5th of March 2021
I cut it super short!
Marlene
Wednesday 27th of January 2021
Pandemic hair. Ha. I was doing roots every 4 weeks. Then came the time when our salons were closed. One year later and I love my silver and white hair. Growing it out was hard, but I was not going out much at all. Hid under hats and just let it fly most of the time. My hairdresser, when salons reopened, was THE BEST. She allowed it to grow and trimmed so I kept my bob with the transition. I have tossed all the clothes that do not look good with my new coloring and have discovered BOOM for a change in cosmetics. Brighter lipstick and still a heavy eye. New bright colors for reading glasses and sun glasses. Still on the journey but I don’t regret it. This is what I look like at 73 and I am happy to have given up the dye trap!! Not for everyone, I know but I wish I had done it 15 years ago.
Elena Peters
Wednesday 27th of January 2021
Good for you! I agree going grey is not for everyone but I do wish some more would just try and see if they like it.
VikkyR
Thursday 7th of January 2021
On October 2019, I finally let my hair grow it’s natural color, at that time I was 33, after 14 months and 2 weeks I finally end my transition, in a few days I’ll turn 35, and let me tell you, these couple of months have been wonderful!!! I have enjoyed seen my grays grow, there’s no age to accept your natural hair, grays for me means confidence, beauty and freedom
Elena Peters
Thursday 7th of January 2021
Good for you! I bet you look fabulous!