Going Gray And How I Did It.
Friends, I mentioned my hair color last week with a promise to tell all concerning the change. After my illness, …as I struggled with my hair loss due to the chemo and radiation, I thought long and hard about ditching the dye and embracing the gray as my hair started to grow back in white!…but my children, …no doubt wanting everything to return to normal (or as normal as it can be after my cancer) begged me to remain a redhead no matter what it took. They reasoned that my hair had been red all their lives and they would not feel like they were with “mom” if she was no longer a redhead. Granted, they knew that I had been highlighting and darkening or lightening it for years. So I didn’t argue and in my weakened state,🥴 I returned to coloring my hair. My hair stylist even came to my home to make things easier for me.
After the decision to try and maintain my red locks, we found a problem….since my roots were white,… the color(s) my hairdresser was using were not producing the same results because now the base color was white and the familiar reds were turning my hair orange-ish. She had to be very creative when coloring my hair. What worked one week…produced a different result 3 weeks later. Each time, I came away from the beauty shop with thoughts of letting my hair go natural.
So when the Captain and I embarked on our 3 month motorhome vacation, I let my hair “do it’s thing”…basically grow out and grow out it did. My first visit to my hairdresser (I wore a baseball cap to the shop) came with a strong conviction that I was finished with hair color. I told her to cut my hair as short as she could, (short of a buzz cut), and fortunately when all the red ends lay around the beauty chair…my hair was mostly white/gray. She put a toner/conditioner on it and I joined the forces of natural gray hair. I have found I like not having to sit at the beauty shop for several hours every three weeks. Let’s be honest here, I’m lazy. I don’t want to waste my time sitting for hours in a beauty salon when I could be doing something else. So there was a plus.
I am not sure why, but many ladies fear turning gray. It is probably a multitude of legitimate reasons. If it is the “age” thing….well I have to admit that age is a fact for me. I’m getting older. So I embrace it and I actually welcome it. Aging can be done gracefully. It gives me a freedom to be me and it is exhilarating.
I know gray is not for everyone, and it can be scary at first, but for me, it has worked and I have never looked back. I have learned that for some, there is a problem of maintenance. So far, I have not had that issue as my hair gets more platinum/gray as the months go by and my hairdresser has been very supportive.
Before I made the decision to let my hair go natural, I personally, started noticing how pretty gray hair could be. Here are a few pics of notable ladies (before and after)with the natural gray look. Rita Moreno, Helen Mirren, Glenn Close, Emmy Lou Harris, my Mother and me. (with no make-up)
Forgive my small, sweet Mother’s pic, it was the only one I had in my photos. I didn’t take the time to find a better pic but I just wanted you to see her hair. She went to be with the Lord in 2001, but 25 years ago, her hair was always a topic of conversation.
I’d like to share with you a few things I have learned about gray hair. I would say my biggest change is changing my shampoo and conditioner. My routine has changed a bit so there is still hair maintenance to contend with. But I do most of it at home. You see, Gray hair is dryer, coarser, more brittle, and sometimes frizzier than normal hair. Sun, minerals in your water (or swimming pool here in Florida) and other environmental factors can cause your hair to have a yellowish tinge. Wearing a hat helps and I do love to wear hats, but so far I have not had brassy hair. I do use a Shampoo, Conditioner and Gloss for silver hair. Yes, it is purple! Plus, I blot my hair dry, no vigorous rubbing after I shampoo. If you are interested in the products I use, just let me know in the comments below and I will write a post…step by step.
Another area of concern for some is make-up. Many ladies with gray hair have to completely change their make-up, but I made very few changes. When my hair was red, I stuck with coral lipsticks but now I can wear red although I rarely do. I also think a cute hair cut helps you not feel like you are going to look like grandma with gray hair….although I am not only a grandma but a great grandma and I enjoy that. My pixie cut seems to work for me and I like to spike it up on top. I have always liked big hair…(shades of Dolly Parton) so I am letting the top grow longer but keeping the sides and back very short. I have heard some say they have had to change their wardrobe but I have kept mine pretty much the same. I only wore a tomato red when I was a redhead but now I can go into the darker shades of red, like maroon etc.
All in all, I am glad I went natural. My kids have only seen pictures of me but they have finally realized that their Mom is no longer a redhead and they need to live with it. Going gray is a big decision but in the end, it has to be your decision…and I am also fortunate that the Captain loves it and says I look younger. Now I match him. In the pic below he is holding our great grandson.
Proverbs 16:31 states that “Gray hair is a crown of Glory; it is gained in a righteous life” and I believe it’s meaning that gray hair, often associated with old age, is a symbol of honor and respect when accompanied by a life lived in accordance with God’s will. It highlights the value of wisdom and experience gained through a life dedicated to righteousness and emphasizes the importance of respecting the elderly who have lived such a life. That sounds pretty good to me. 🥰
Thank you for reading “Going Gray and How I Did It”
Blessings and much love always.
You are beautiful – and I love the new cut and lovely color!
Thanks Barb for your kind comments…and thanks for stopping by. Stay cool.
You look so beautiful, Kari! Thank you for sharing your story with us. I think of going gray and then I change my mind. Maybe one day?? Your story is encouraging.
thanks Kitty…It took me a long time to finally decide to do it…and now I ask myself why did I wait so long. thanks for stopping by …stay cool in this heat.
You look amazing Kari! I am glad you are enjoying your new hairstyle as well. How fun for you! You are a new person! Gorgeous as ever.
By the way, I have not been getting notifications of your posts. So I am going to unfollow you and follow you again. Hope that takes of things!
You are so kind Nancy…thank you! I am not sure why you are not getting notifications. I’ll check on my end and see if there is a problem. I recently changed up my blog so maybe it is an issue. thanks for letting me know.
Your hair looks really pretty Kari! And just think of how much money and time you’re saving! I have another friend who did the same thing and her hair looks better now than it did before!
Jenna
Thank you for stopping by Jenna…you are right about the time and money…I am really liking that savings. I figured I would make about 20 beauty shop visits a year…and a couple hours each visit, it all adds up.
I LOVE your grey hair, Kari. I think anyone who chooses to embrace it is a winner in my book. I am the youngest of nine, six sisters (the two brothers never dye their hair and are white). Wouldn’t I look funny if I chose to go grey while the rest choose color?! Our mother had beautiful, silky salt and pepper color.
That photo of Rita Moreno before doesn’t even look like her! I like all the white hair, and support any and all who choose it over color.
Thanks Rita, I really like my hair too, especially when I have my make-up on…I don’t know if it is because I am just to lazy to sit and get it colored or because of the chemicals or just because I’m tired of the every 3 week touch-ups. LOL. I think you would look great with gray hair but it is a personal decision that only you can make. Who knows, maybe your sisters are ready too? As far as the pic of Rita Moreno…I think her nose is exactly the same…the nose knows. LOL Thanks for stopping by.
Kari, I certainly noticed your photo on your last post. I LOVE your gray hair, it is very becoming on you!! I see so many friends, like you choosing to embrace their gray hair and every one of them look great. My Mother had gorgeous white hair that people always told her how beautiful it was. I have always thought Emmy Lou Harris’ gray hair was so stylish! I haven’t yet been able to make the plunge, but who knows I might!
Thank you for sharing, I enjoyed reading the journey, sweet friend!
Pam, I was so ready to let my hair go natural after it all fell out but as I said my kids talked me out of it. I think the only apprehension I had was what my hair would look like when it grew back in…ie; texture etc. Now, the son with the most objections says…”it is whatever you want, it’s your hair. No one should tell you what to do with your hair.” WHAT? LOL I have to laugh. Yes, Emmy Lou Harris’s hair is beautiful. I hope your weather is better than down here…they are predicting triple digits today. Hugs my dear friend.
Dear Kari, I already told you I like your hairdo and the color. You look younger. I would like to know what you use on your hair to make it soft. What is the purple everyone’s talking about?
Oh, yes, I had a hard time deciding to let my hair go natural, but I did it many years ago. My sister still hasn’t done it and she’s 79 years old. Of course, I’m older than her. lol
Sandy
Sandy I will write a post on the products I use…the purple shampoo and conditioner are supposed to keep your hair from getting brassy looking.
Luv ya…
Your hair is lovely! Cute cut and it suits your face. I’m not too sure the chemicals used to alter hair color are safe for us. Lots of things we do or have done are not necessarily good for us. You look fabulous!
You are so kind Donna…thank you. I agree about the hair chemicals…things are happening to our bodies these days and I am believing that things like chemicals and processed foods are having a negative effect.
We really need to be more aware, don’t we? Summer is definitely here, the weatherman just said we may set a record for triple digits today! Ugh. Thanks for stoping by.
Kari, you look amazing with your new pixie cut and lovely shade of gray. I agree with the Captain that this new style and color makes you look younger. BTW, he has a great head of gray too. I was an auburn when younger but just considered myself brown with some red highlights, however at school I was known as the redhead. Hairdressers in later years would ask if I dyed my hair. Never did. Having had five skin cancer surgeries on my scalp, I usually wear a hat now.
Wearing a hat is something I like to do Jan..I have been trying to revive the wearing of hats to church and a hat hides a bad hair do. …which is usually the real reason for me wearing a hat. LOL
You know, the Captain had the beginning of gray when we got married over 20 years ago and now it is almost pure whitish silver, thick and gorgeous….and he looks so distinguished. Why is it that men do that and it looks great but as women…well you know. hahaha Well, from one ginger to another, I thank you for your kind comments. Stay cool and comfy my friend.
It looks great. Love the cut. I have been grey:white and love it. I wear a lot of purple colors. I also use a purple shampoo and leave in conditioner.
Take care
Love your posts
DeeDee. (From TWA)
Thanks Dee Dee…good to hear from you. I like purple too and wear various shades of it. Did you move closer to KC or are you still in the “country”? It is probably so built up now that it is part of the metro. I was shocked at North KC the last time we visited…could hardly find Barry Road. LOL. Oh the memories we have of the TWA Maintenance building…..
Dee, where are you? I’ve been trying to find you. My phone # is 816-868-4606 if you would like to get in touch. Sandy
You look fabulous. My hair was very dark, when the grey started coming in a hairdresser suggested going blonde, she said I had the right complexion for it. Stopped the coloring 10 years ago, I receive compliments about my hair from total strangers. My hair is very long and healthy. My shampoo and conditioner is Carina organics, no chemicals which is good because whatever is put on your skin or scalp can enter your bloodstream. I heard that purple shampoo can buildup in hair over time. Something to keep in mind.
Thanks Maryann for your kind compliments, I will keep your advice in mind. I am still learning about clarifying shampoos, Gloss, etc. Who knew? I’ll check out Carina Organics. Let’s keep in touch.
I have been fortunate in that my hair usually does what it is supposed to do and my hair dressers over the years have commented to that fact. I guess I could say my hair is my ‘crowning glory’ as I (like you) have also received compliments over the years…from strangers and friends alike. Sunday, after church we were in a restaurant and the server complimented my hair each time she came to the table. LOL