So….
it was during the “lockdown” phase of the pandemic last year that I started toying with the idea of letting my hair go grey. I had gotten totally frustrated with having to spend so much time covering up my grey hair when I was never even leaving the house! All of a sudden it seemed kinda dumb!
I knocked the idea around in my head for several months doing research and evaluating my various options and here’s the deal… I never realized how complicated it was going from brunette to grey, even with hair as short as mine!
In late April I started using a color that was a couple of shades lighter in order to get ready for the big change. It took several months of course to see any change but by September, this was how it looked… noticeably lighter but with a LONG way to go!
In November I was ready for the BIG plunge and let my hair stylist give me some near platinum highlights. I had decided I just couldn’t deal with a white skunk stripe down the middle of my head. It was bad enough that I had to deal with it in the area just over my ears. All in all though, I was pleased with this temporary look…after I got used to it that is!
This picture was taken in late-December and it was about now that I was MOST dissatisfied with the process. The silver/white areas were starting to take over and I just hated how they looked against the light brown areas that were still predominating, especially when seated next to my cat who sports the look that I envy!
Here we are in early February with still far too much brown areas, but by now I had started using a temporary toning product recommended by my daughter called Overtone. I used a silver that toned down those white areas so they tended to blend better with the still-brown areas. This was easier to deal with for me, but still more labor intensive that I wanted.
By March the grey areas were starting to predominate which was encouraging. I was still using the silver Overtone product and I was finally starting to get used to this new look.
By April the brown areas were in full retreat (which meant the white areas were starting to really take over around my face) so I started using a semi-permanent coloring agent in a darker grey shade which I applied with a highlighting cap. This was even MORE labor-intensive but I wanted to tinker with this look a bit before asking my stylist to apply it with permanent color and I’m glad I did because I’m much happier with this look than I am with all that white color around my face.
Which brings us to the present (May 2021) and I was ready for a far less labor intensive answer to toning down the white around my face. I decided to go with an Overtone product again, only this time I tried the hair conditioner in “Extreme Silver” which is designed to be left on your hair after shampooing for 3-5 minutes (or more). It’s not permanent. It gradually washes away after just a few shampoos, but using it as a conditioner seems to be comparably easy to me and if you compare the color that my hair is now to that of my cat (above)… well, I think you’ll agree its pretty darn close! (see below)
Best of all… I’m happier with this look (which by the way CAN & DOES look a good deal lighter depending on lighting conditions, since the silver REALLY reflects the outdoor lighting). I feel like it’s age-appropriate but not so OLD-looking… at least I don’t FEEL like I look so old now.
So what’s the verdict?… I’m happy for now, but in my heart I know that this saga is something that will probably continue for quite some time…but then again whoever said that letting your hair fade to grey was easy, was LYING! Just like aging… its not for weinies! 🙂
And now, it’s YOUR turn!
What do YOU think? Should I have stayed with the dyed hair look? Or was the white look better for me? And don’t worry… you can be brutally honest. I can handle it! 🙂 And remember, we love reading your comments and answering your questions too, so please feel free to leave either or both in the space provided below.
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Hi
I met you at the Mountain Quilt show in pigeon forge just a few weeks ago. I do like your hair color now and the cut! Thanks for sharing your journey with your hair color process. It helps give me get some ideas for my journey.
Thanks Rozanne. I think it helped doing this during the pandemic! 🙂
Really, really like the CURRENT you; looks natural and youthful.
Thanks Sharon!! 🙂
First, I have to say that your Ms. Kitty is really a GORGEOUS cat. And, I think you really do match well with your fur baby, right down to the intense eyes. I really do believe grey hair helps us “Divas” to continue looking more youthful. (My humble opinion). You get a 10+ from me.
Thanks Kay! And I think my little cat is pretty awesome too!
Oh I totallly like the all silver! Striking with the black outfit! AND when you let things go au natural you have hours more time to design and sew! Thanks for sharing this part of your journey! 🌞
You and your cat both look amazing. What a lot of work, but a great result!
You look great ! I did the same last year . I went from brown to total silver . I couldn’t believe my gray was that white but I love it .
What a hot mama you are. I think your grey is so very attractive and just a little sexy. Grey is the new platinum blonde.
I like your new “do”. I started letting mine turn a few years ago. Now I do nothing to it except wash and comb it.
It looks fabulous and the style is perfect on you.
Love your bags.. I’ve made several.
Thanks so much Barbara! I do think its easier to manage and style now. 🙂
I love the new look.
I was a bottle blonde for decades. A bit complicated with low lights and very light blonde. But in between I was red, auburn, bronze. After a disastrous session with a smart ass hair dresser, I came out looking like a witch. The blonde was white and the accents were black! In the process of trying to correct the mistake, my hair suffered . That was it! I decided to grow it out. With about 2” of growth, I whacked it off. No regrets.
My friends say I look younger. My wardrobe choices have changed. And I’m much more comfortable with the results.
But the halo of white or gray is a crown of honor. Not for being older. And always remember, even though the body may appear to be well aged, like the best wine, it’s the spirit that comes across.
I also was surprised at how some of the colors I used to favor no longer work with my coloring, but I’m not sorry for the transition. I’m just glad to have it “done!” 🙂
The new you looks great! You will enjoy how easy it is now to do your hair. 🙂
I DO! Myhair is SO much easier to manage now. That was a pleasant and unexpected surprise! 🙂
I always thought your dyed hair didn’t look quite ‘you’ so I’m glad you’ve decided to go natural. I really love your May picture. The color suits you very well.
And going grey is very easy. My hair started greying in my late 40’s and I let it do it’s thing. Now that I’m in my mid-50’s it surrounds my face but the back hasn’t been touched yet…just give it time.
It does “take over” doesn’t it! 🙂
I think both color and your natural color are very complimentary to you. The cut is stylish and looks great on you and the cut enhances whichever color you are comfortable with. Good thing with Natural , lot less fuss and muss as lots of us are trying it out during this pandemic.
Amen to that GL! I do not miss all the time and expense of covering the gray up! 😀
I think your April and current looks are very attractive. My preference is your April look. I know what you went through as I made the decision to go “platinum” several years ago. I had my stylist color my hair using the weave method and the grow out wasn’t as noticeable. Now I am completely white haired.
Either look you are a very pretty lady and I love, love your monthly newsletter!
Thanks Maryellen. I’m glad the process is over! 😀
You look fabulous! You did what I’ve been thinking about for the last several years. Now this 69 year old is very encouraged! Thank you for sharing your journey!
Thanks Cindy!
April was the best look!
I think you are inspirational. My hair is shoulder length, just due to the pandemic lock down, but I am ready to get it cut short and let the gray take over. I’m 70 and have no idea how much gray I have – maybe I am all white…. it’s scary.
I get it! I had no idea how much I had either andwas shocked to find out! It WAS scary, but I’m glad I did it now! Good luck as you proceed! 🙂
Love the new you! Actually makes you look younger. Sometimes as we age the darker color makes it look more false and aging.
It is easier to take care of the natural than all the time spent putting color in.
I like the progression of March, into April and May. Your hairstyle and color compliment one another. Makes for a more natural, pleasing appearance. And if it’s less work and looks great, it’s a winner!
Thanks Carolyn. Those are my thoughts exactly! 🙂
I love the new look. I’ve wanted to make the transition for a few years. I’m starting with the lighter color for a year and gradually getting my husband used to it since he strongly objects to grey hair. He’s finally used to the lighter brown, so my next trip to the stylist is going to be a couple shades lighter again😉. Thanks for your inspiration in sewing and changes in getting older gracefully
Thanks for commenting Elaine and good luck as you transition. I think it does help to go a little lighter first. 🙂
You look good! My grey hair came in naturally. It was easy since I didn’t color my hair. However, you will find out that grey hair has its advantages.
I think I AM finding that out! 🙂
Love your hair. I’ve never been much of a fan of hair coloring. At least not since my early 20’s when I experimented. I do make a terrible blong (at 18).
I always say I don’t color my hair because I’m too cheap and too lazy to spend the time. If it takes more than 5 minutes to do my hair I need a haircut.
I did have a 10 minuite discussion once with a woman who insisted I must put the gray highlights in my really dark hair. Yeah, like that would happen.
I like the whiter around your face. Look at the clothes or colors you wear, they reflect
How they bring out the best. You are probably a winter in your coloring. Note you true color of hair makes you shine when you wear reds, blacks, navy blues.
Thanks Jo Lacy. Now that I’m used to it at last, I kinda like the lighter look!
First of all, you’ve got great hair. But I really like your April color the best.
Hair looks great! Next step: eyebrows. Several options for Grey shades but my favorite company is “Color the World”. The slight change will make your look more cohesive. (No affiliation, just a happy customer. Great lipsticks to that never feather.)
Natural is best, no complicated procedures, and no chemical poisons to be absorbed.
I agree Jean. I appreciate no having to spend my time that way too!
I’m pondering the change myself so I enjoyed your “journey”. You look fabulous and I have always loved your haircut! P.S. Kitty looks pretty good too 😻
Thanks Charlotte. It’s a scary journey isnt it. I think its helped some that my hair was already short and that isolation of the pandemic was a conducive time to do so. I’ve found in the meantime that there were multitudes of women who made this decision during the pandemic.
I like your April colour the best. it looks more natural and I think it would be easier to look after. The white around your face is so much softer.
Thank you for getting me through my color change. I am now white and love it. Thanks again. Your hair look great, like it.
I have observed that with most of us, our skin tones change as we age, and we look better with the gray vs. colored hair. the colored hair makes us look older (imho). My sister-in-law is in her late 70’s, and must have recently dyed her hair mid-tone brown, and I thought it made her look tired, and older. My MIL (when in her early 80’s had her hair brownish in color and spent a winter in Az, and let it go gray–she looke so much better. She had beautiful thick gray hair and it was very becoming. so–the moral of all this is let it go, celebrate it and enjoy looking younger.
Love your look. I am still colouring to cover the variety of grey, white & still dark in my hair, But then I colour red, purple & blonde highlights just to be different, Sounds bad the way I described it but often get stopped in the street & told my hair looks great.
I dont think there’s any wrong way to go about this. No judgement here! 🙂
i rather like the white. easy to care for, good with your skin tone, and can readiy be changed temporarily with a coor rinse or even food coloring. i’m thinking blue or lavender. 🙂
Thanks so much Emmer- I’m getting used to it. 🙂