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!
Sue
Saturday 2nd of September 2023
I am 67 and have been dying my hair for many years. I have medium brown hair that gets very brassy as the color washes out. Decided to go grey in June. My hairdresser applied a toner on July 25, but I’m getting brassy again with many grays underneath and a “skunk line” at my part. Do you recommend highlights or to continue with just the toner? Thank goodness for the masking color sprays!
Elena Peters
Tuesday 5th of September 2023
If you like the way the toner looks, use it. If you don't, I would recommend highlights to mask the demarcation line.
Kelly Nichilo
Saturday 12th of August 2023
I've been checking out beautiful high/low lights for natural grey hair I'm gonna embrace every one of my Grey's and I've earned every single one too
Kelly Nichilo
Saturday 12th of August 2023
Yesterday I cut my hair for the first time in over a year and when it was finished the grey was totally noticable, although I've decided to embrace my grey hair but addhigh//low lights to make it look less boring. Th
Pamela
Friday 21st of July 2023
I’m 52 and decided to let my grey start growing out a year ago. I wasn’t ready but my my head couldn’t take the harsh chemicals, I was allergic and developed burning & itching during and after coloring. I get so many compliments on my hair color and how it makes my eye color pop! My hairdresser has said that you get people have come in and try different o achieve the color I have. I am happy I have embraced my grey, less upkeep and the money I’ve saved in having my hair dyed is tremendous
Sheila
Tuesday 13th of June 2023
I’m going to try for the second time on Thursday. I have a beautiful honey blond color now but I am loosing the battle. Wish me luck.
Elena Peters
Thursday 15th of June 2023
Good luck! I hope you love it this time!