I actually did a two-part post on that topic immediately following this post. Remove the hair altogether, argues Arezoo, and mentally you'll feel younger. Suzanne, I appreciate your letting me know that this post benefitted you, and I thank you for your kind words. How to Go Gray Naturally . The reason I’m not done transitioning stems from my not being in the right headspace to take on this journey in the first place. That milestone hit in June 2019. I have done more don’ts that do’s during my gray hair transition…. I wish I would have done that, though. Highlights to help one go gray can be risky, as I showed in my pictures, but there ARE stylists who can successfully help women transition that way. Well today I stepped into the same disaster. We went over all the options and ultimately decided to do some low lights only on the crown so I don’t have so much demarkation. Best wishes! Thinking About Going Gray. A lot of things went wrong with the Lubricity process. “When we started, her hair was to … If you’re referring to the photo at the end of this post, that was a Photoshop that my stepson did to help me see how my hair might look in the end. It will still have its challenges and ups and downs, I’m sure, but before too long you will be free of hair dye and hopefully happy with your natural silver color. What I realized is that this could be a good tool for easing the transition. Hair dye does tend to become brassy with time, but highlights add another wrinkle to the issue, as you’ll then have three-toned hair rather than just two-toned hair. Luckily, it is very thick naturally. Create a website or blog at WordPress.com. Gray hair is an optical illusion -- the product of colored hairs mixed in with white hairs. As redheads get older, instead of going grey quickly, their ginger hair goes through a gradual process of achromotrichia, which is when the red hair follicles stop producing their ginger colour.. The line of demarcation was definitely less noticeable, but I soon learned that there are worse hair looks than a “skunk stripe.” Not only did my newly bleached hair clash with both my complexion and clothing, it didn’t harmonize at all with my salt and pepper outgrowth. Wishing you all the best with your journey! First of all, what are the different options for turning brown hair blonde? As time went on, my hair got brassier and brassier. I got so many compliments from friends and strangers, men and women. Luckily my hair is turning to gold and blond and I still have my freckles! The Color Crave hair makeup sounds like a good tool, too, especially for special occasions. Me !!??? Eventually I will be done transitioning, but it’s going to take much longer than I thought. It’s a big decision to undergo the graying process. Thinking about going shorter with my curly hair. This isn’t a quick process though – the hair goes through a subtle spectrum of faded copper to rosy-blonde colours, through to silvery-white. I’m sorry you’ve struggled so much and that your husband hasn’t been very supportive of your desire to “go gray.” As for the stylists, I think they all mean well, but transitioning to gray by means of color is a tricky thing to do well, especially if one has porous hair. I brag to my adult kids “there’s no grey!” I am currently in the process of going gray. It was one of those decisions I made because I was going away and really wanted to look good, but I regretted it in the end because it didn’t wash out as expected. I don’t recommend highlights because what they usually do is add another color into the mix such that there are then THREE colors (natural gray, dyed hair, and highlighted hair) on your head instead of just two. It’s a risk, but it does work out for some women. They can be tricky and if your dyed hair is dark, there is more potential for them to turn brassy because the color often isn’t lifted enough in one go. Finally in January I dyed my hair for the last time because in February my dermatologist told me that I had a basal cell carcinoma on my arm. It’s probably not as bad as you think it is (lookswise) but it’s that anger you feel at having been pushed into something you knew you didn’t want. This happens at different ages, and a number of factors, including genetics and stress, may influence it. “I have a client with natural dark hair who wanted silver hair,” says Jessica. It’s not curly enough to look good worn “natural” and I have a lot of frizz, so it works best to wash it infrequently and flat-iron it straight. And of course, if you use hair products for redheads, you can keep the gingerness for longer. Because it was a darker toner than that used after the highlights, I thought it might have some staying power. Am liking the gray color, hence I decided to stop coloring. Kim’s Beautiful Transition to Gray Hair. I’ve read that the darker dyes are the most toxic (as you can see, I also dyed my hair quite dark). She actually just did a video today on looking youthful with grey hair. Glad to hear that you’re over the hump now, though, and good for you for taking the plunge to get a pixie cut. Thanks for your comment, Rhonda. “I was born with 1 grey hair. It’s a simple, non-permanent option that can help the process. Those closest to me thought I should continue coloring it, while strangers loved my color. Yes, I had a rough road, but I’m very happy not to have to “chase roots” anymore, plus my hair is much healthier as a result. I hope you learn new things about yourself along the way and end up with lovely silver hair in the end. I even see new growth – that is super exciting for me since my hair is so straight and fine! One thing I have done, which I really like… I bought a can of L’Oreal Colorista in Silver. And a cool complexion with olive tones thanks to my Italian half. (Henna is great for your hair but does not play well with others! Gray hair is an optical illusion -- the product of colored hairs mixed in with white hairs. Even with just a light coat, it eases the look of the gray versus the brown. Blending your grays at the salon will allow you to keep your hair long without sporting a two- or three-tone head of hair. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Yes, I was a “terrible warning” for sure, but now you and others won’t be and I’m grateful for that. I wouldn’t even recommend cutting it all off – unless you know that it suits you. Yes, I have gray strands and I’m fine with my hair turning gray. I am also trying to grow out gray hair, from a brunette color. about the going full on grey dilemma. Please show OLDER women in this process. I am so desperately tired of coloring my hair. Thanks for documenting your journey!! Of course, I really need a haircut! They tried a few variations on me, but I didn’t think they matched my outgrowth well enough to buy them. I had it re-colored and switched stylists. I also fell prey to a (very young) hair stylist who convinced me that it would be one long day, and it wouldn’t be GRAY, but more silvery almost blonde…and I have very dark, almost black hair. Best wishes to you with your transition, if you decide to take it on. I think most of the critics and trolls from my last blog haven’t followed me over here, so hopefully I won’t be raked over the coals for my stupidity, but I’m taking the risk because I wish I had read this type of post myself two years ago. And although I know you “hate” your hair . Venturelli / FilmMagic / Getty Images Another Met Gala look, Ciara's silver-gray wig is retro-chic. (Although it may be a tad younger than you had been planning.) You won’t have to cut your hair to get rid of your old dye. Indeed. Unsure what else to do, I tried to just keep letting it grow out, but I hated the brassy color with a fervent passion. I have tried the Rose gold on my white at the temples, barely a noticeable difference and after 2 shampoos completely gone! First, the stylist applied my toner after the Lubricity instead of before it as was recommended. Elements. I think it’s wonderful that more and more younger women are transitioning to their natural silver hair. I am anxious to see the end result, but realize this is a long process. So waxing is the best option.' Fortunately, however, no hair decision is permanent.