Over the past couple of months, I’ve had a few requests to do an update on the journey I’ve been on to grow out my natural hair color. When I started this process in September 2023, I read and learned as much as I could about how long it would take. One of the bits of information I came across said that hair grows 1/2 inch per month and that it takes a year to reach the ear, approximately 1-1/2 years to the chin, and two years to reach the shoulder. I have found that to be pretty accurate. It sounds daunting, doesn’t it—to start a process that is going to have your hair looking a little strange for a full two years. Ha! I took this photo in my son’s kitchen about a month or two into the process. At this stage, I was feeling a bit self-conscious, but determined to stay the course.
When you hit the 4-5 month mark, you no longer wonder if people think you’re neglecting your appearance because it becomes pretty obvious what you’re doing and that it’s intentional. This is around the point where I started getting compliments from sales associates and random people that I’d encounter while out running errands in places like UPS, Lowe’s, Publix, Williams Sonoma, etc… The comments were either ladies saying that they wanted to do this but were afraid, or from those who had gone through it and told me it was the best thing that they had ever done. They all seemed to love it and encouraged me to keep going. One of the most surprising things I noticed at this point was how much new growth I had. I had a bunch of baby hairs sticking up everywhere all over my head. Somehow, those color-abused, dormant hair follicles were coming back to life and growing again. You would think after coloring my hair for 35+ years, they would have given up by now.
This photo below was probably around the 6th-8th month since hair grows 1/2 inch per month. Growing your hair out this way is like the slowest makeover ever, slow but more and more exciting with each passing day! I wouldn’t change anything about the slow path that I took. I’ve known a few friends who tried to go through the grow-out phase by visiting the salon every few months for some color blending. From the comments I’ve read online, that usually fails when a stylist ends up coloring too much, causing the process to take longer, which usually leads to them giving up and coloring their hair again.
Honestly, I think it’s way more exciting and fun to do it the slow way! I couldn’t wait to look in the mirror each morning to see if I could detect any change. By the 4th-5th month, I had become completely comfortable with my appearance. When out running errands, I never even thought about my hair at all unless someone said something to me about it. I think that’s because I knew that it was obvious to everyone I encountered what I was doing. The compliments were nice, but I had made a firm pact with myself to see it through, no matter what. I do very much appreciate all the cashiers, sales associates, store customers, family, and random strangers who spoke out during this two-year process with words of encouragement, though.
I love when hair has a lot of texture; I don’t care for super silky-looking/feeling hair. I was a little dismayed when I realized that the new hair coming in felt silky soft. I had more hair than ever with all the new growth, but the strands were thinner and silkier since they were no longer being damaged with hair color. When winter hit and that silky, soft hair started to fuse together in a big staticky mess, I went in search of a solution. That’s when I discovered Rusk Thick. It solved my static issue and gave my hair a lot more body. It made it feel full and manageable. I always use it right after I shampoo and towel-dry my hair. (Rusk is available here: Rusk Thick: Body and Texture Amplifier.) I have stopped using conditioner in the shower; I think my hair looks better without it. The only other product I use after shampooing is Biolage’s Leave-In Tonic. I’ve been using it for years and love it! (Biolage is available here: Biolage Leave-in Tonic.)
Here’s where my hair was when I last updated you 5 months ago in March of this year. Four months after this photo below was taken, and just before heading back to the Dollhouse for 4th of July festivities with family, I visited my local salon and had a couple of inches cut off. By that point, my hair was a couple of inches further grown out than you see in this picture. I had it cut a bit shorter than normal since I was getting very close to saying goodbye to the brown. I felt a little sad that day to see this journey coming to an end. I had really enjoyed and looked forward to the month-to-month changes.
It’s been around 6-7 weeks since that last end-of-June haircut, and here’s where we are now. This photo was taken today in my office with the light coming in through the shutters. There’s still a little brown left in a few places. Another thing that I learned during this process is that the hair on your head grows out at different rates. Interesting, huh? I never knew that!
I tried to capture a photo of the back, but the lighting was not the greatest for photos. My hair is mostly all white with some darker strands underneath in the back. It kinda looks frosted in this photo, but in person it looks more white. There are still a few hints of brown left. Those will probably be gone after my next cut. My hair definitely feels the healthiest it has ever been!
My goal for now is to let it grow long enough that I can use this heatless hair curler ribbon that I purchased several months back. I think my hair needs to be a few inches longer before I can really use it properly. Or maybe I just need to practice more with it. (Heatless Hair Curler is available here: Heatless Hair Curler, Great for Curling While Sleeping.)
Any Negatives? Have there been any negatives to no longer coloring my hair and letting it grow out? The only negative I can think of is that twice, a few months back, I had two very nice gentlemen offer to help me with something I was doing, and that’s never happened before. The first time it happened, I was carrying my heavy Yeti chair across a field to where my grandson was playing baseball. A man, probably in his 50s, asked if he could carry it for me. I smiled and thanked him, but told him I was okay and used to carrying it.
The very next day, I visited the recycling center for my community. I had just carried a bunch of boxes up the steps that led to a platform overlooking the top of the bins. As I was walking back toward my SUV, a young guy, probably in his 30s, said, “Let me help you with that.” As he said that, he was already in the process of unloading boxes from the back of my vehicle. It was too late to stop him, so I just thanked him and continued unloading boxes along with him. This unsolicited help happening two days in a row had me really puzzled. Why, suddenly, everywhere I went, someone was offering to help me? I knew they were just being nice, but it felt weird to have that happen two days in a row. Maybe my white hair reminded them of their grandma. 🙁 I may be a grandma, but I definitely don’t feel like one! Maybe when I’m 90, I’ll welcome the help! lol
The only other negative I can think of is that I think my pale, somewhat rosy complexion probably looked better with brown hair. White hair against my pale, pinkish skin isn’t the most flattering look. I probably need to spend more time outdoors and get a little sun on my face. I’m sure that would bring back all the freckles that I haven’t seen since my college years. I know the sun isn’t great for your complexion, but I think a bit of color/tan would look better with my white hair than my fair/pinkish skin. I’ve tried a few moisturizing foundations, and all they do is highlight any lines and look awful. I think I just need a beach trip and to spend some time in the ☀️ .
If you are thinking of discontinuing coloring your hair and growing out your gray/silver/white hair, I recommend reading my very first post where I shared additional information that I learned about this process. You’ll find that post here: A Personal Transformation, This One May Surprise You!
I probably won’t do any more updates unless you would like to see how the heatless curlers work once my hair is a little longer. Have you ever tried the heatless ribbon curlers? If so, any tips for a newbie?
I love your hair color! I went natural (white/brown/gray) years ago and I would not even consider going back to dye. Just the other day I caught a glimpse of myself in the side view mirror while out driving and the sun hit my hair just right and it was sparkling!! The curlers look interesting! (P.S. I’m 77.5 and the days of lifting are really getting to be in the past. I can barely lift the 50 lb dog food bags so keep going as long as you can, but take a break when one is offered!)
Thanks so much, Kathleen! Oh, I love that description! That sounds so pretty! It taking me some time to adjust to this color after having brown hair my whole life.
I know what you mean, I need to be careful that I don’t injure my back. I sorta already did that a year or so ago working out to an exercise tape.
Grew my hair to gray and have come to love it. It is worse than growing out a shag hair cut or bangs, but well worth the effort.
What I changed is that I now always darken my eyebrows to frame my eyes since gray eyebrows disappear. Also changed my makeup and have started to incorporate different colors into my wardrobe. Notice that many actresses with hair color changes are wearing different makeup and colors in their wardrobe…it’s not so much about being gray but being a different hair color.
I know, there are times we really wish we could speed up the hair-growing process! Good point about the brows!
Your hair is gorgeous! I’m 81 and have a few streaks right at my temples. ???
I think you should just go with letting men help you with anything. I now have them helping me and I’m quite capable of doing for myself. I’m short so if I have trouble reaching and no one is around I just wait for a tall person! lol People are always willing to help.
Don’t you feel free from having to color your hair? I hope you don’t go back because it looks really good!!
Thanks so much! I’m just so used to always doing everything myself, I find it weird to let someone else do something that I know I can do myself. lol Like you, I do ask for help in grocery stores when I can’t reach something. I wish I was about 3 inches taller! lol
Oh, and yes, I love not having to ever worry about “roots” showing ever again. Love that!
Your natural hair color is beautiful, you are so lucky!
Thanks so much, Heidi! I think it’s been this color for at least 25 years. I remember when I was in my 40s, it was time for me to color my hair, but I had put it off since I was about to get it cut. It was always easier to color it when it was shorter. At the hair appointment, I asked the stylist if he could tell from the roots that were showing what color it would be if I let it grow out. He said that it appeared to be all white, except for an area underneath in the back. I wish I had stopped coloring it then, but I just wasn’t ready at that point.
Very pretty! That’s how I grew my colored hair out, except mine was a lot darker than yours! Our silver is very similar though. We called my color “toasted marshmallow!” Some people even asked if I had it colored that way on purpose, and what was the color. The answer was toasted marshmallow. We all got a laugh out it!
Toasted Marshmallow…love that! I think it’s so fascinating to see how different everyone’s hair is as they age. It really is a wonderful trait and makes us all so unique. I wish more people embraced it.
Your hair color is beautiful now. Don’t go back now
Thanks, Carolyn! I won’t, it took too long to grow out to do that. A few months back I had a nightmare where for some unknown reason, I impulsively colored it…and of course, immediately regretted it. I was so relieved when I awoke and realized it was just a bad dream. lol
Susan, your hair color is gorgeous! I’ve never colored my hair, and it has been white for many years. It just naturally transitioned because I always had blonde hair. It’s also healthy for us not to color our hair. Embrace it!
That’s so true! There were times the hair color actually made my head itch, so it’s a good thing I finally gave it up. That’s wonderful that the transition was so seamless for you… love that!
I love your hair. It looks wonderful.
Thanks so much, Tricia!
XXX
Susan, When I decided to go natural, I had my hair cut very short. I didn’t want two-tone. I received SO many compliments, that I decided to keep it short for many years. During 2020, I decided to let it grow. No haircuts. It’s now as long as my 16 year old granddaughter’s. I mostly wear it up, but I really get more compliments when it is down. Let me tell you {as a sister mature single woman},men love silver hair and a warm smile. **I receive many compliments about the color of my hair** Don’t refuse their assistance. They wouldn’t offer, if they didn’t want to help. You just never know who you might meet. We know that we can do it ourselves, but why not engage in some conversation? There might be a dinner invitation awaiting. We never have too many friends or interesting encounters.
You look great with short hair, Jeannie! I’ve had my hair short in the past and it wasn’t very flattering on me, I think my face is too round for that style, but I love it on you. I bet it looks great long, too! I would love to see how you wear it up. I’m not very creative with hairstyles. Maybe as mine gets longer, I’ll get better at that.
Your natural hair color is gorgeous! About those guys that wanted to help you…maybe instead of thinking it was about how old they thought you were but more about the fact that they are just gentlemen. There are still some out there and would offer to help a female of any age!!!!
Thanks so much, Elena!
If my hair would grow out to be a pretty white/gray – I might attempt growing it out. But my hair goes a brassy colour-I have a lot of red undertones. My hairstylist reports I have very little gray hair….a little on the roots & temples.
Red undertones can be so pretty, Charlotte. When I was in high school, I had a lot of reddish undertones, I think from being out in the sun a lot more. Plus, my dad had red hair when he was younger. I used to have friends ask me how I got the “highlights” in my hair. I hadn’t even noticed that I had highlights. I think they must have happened from me braiding it before going to the lake or beach with friends. You’ll know when it’s time to stop coloring it…just do it at your own pace.
You look awesome, and your hair looks beautiful!
Thanks so much, Rita!
XXX
Your hair is beautiful!
Thanks so much, Sharon!
XXX
Susan, we have matching hair now! I started my growing out journey January of last year. I have had to adjust my makeup colors and I use a self tanning facial cream year round to give me some color. Let me know if you’d like a link.
Yay, the freedom to never color again is amazing! Thanks, Jane! I just emailed you for that link.
Let us know about the self tanning facial cream, my face does not tan and this may be the answer I need. Thanks!
Connie, this is what Jane recommended: https://amzn.to/4lL8rw6
Also, a BNOTP reader who saw this post recommended this: https://amzn.to/4fM7m5G
Get a little tan that looks like you’ve been on vacay. I’m 83 love it when someone asks if I need help, I never turn them down. I wish I had the nerve to let my hair go AL natural.
lol I think I need a real beach vacay! lol
Thanks, Ila…that’s good advice!
I love your hair, if you don’t like the color it gives your face, try making color changes that goes with your new hair. Different tones for lighter hair and complection. Just experiment with different tones. Keep going I did.
I really should do that. I’ve never been a big makeup wearer, so it’s hard for me to try stuff like that. A couple of times over the years, I’ve allowed makeup “experts” in department stores to try makeup on me, and honestly, the results were hideous. So I gave up on any kind of foundation. Fortunately, I’ve never had acne issues, but I would love to find something that’s completely natural-looking that evens out my complexion. I just don’t want to spend a lot of $$$ experimenting since good makeup is expensive. I used to love Clinique when I was younger. I wonder what they have for older skin these days.
I was talking about your makeup.
Yup, I knew what you meant. 🙂
Your hair looks great! I grew mine out a few years ago and so glad I did. I have fair skin also and use St. Tropez facial tanner. Just a light mist gives a subtle hint of color. I like that you can control how much color by the amount you spray. The color lasts a few days and doesn’t clog your pores. I highly recommend. My dil likes it as well, and I always put one in her Christmas stocking. Here’s link fyi:
https://www.amazon.com/St-Tropez-Natural-Sunkissed-Hyaluronic-Antioxidants/dp/B081KHK72J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=211U4SKG52K1R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Q34NTD24KGIKcX-I2xYz4buVjl639rmooJKOgw5SMb4VdnZfgTXjq8pWRl_8YcTukFg_sK4PBbVCL-Bt4ACoHBCkO2DOTL0ZitcqSIn3kmLhYiEmgdz6acrQeqq2iYnsC-GCBT9Pesr_gv9zoALBA5KCmubbmmLpB7d_IH0vmwGO3KEypOIROQNnfFT5n-aw_i9tOjwgbeB4ZdqldDcVapMiyDGG4T5K8BGk2OALIYewgN2cfATEp7eZuE5b97Fo9-snRwx8_ZUoENj9sXaRiRyaD0p4j4fFHBBooa9jkkU.MkIE7gN4EXwAom2yA4bQ7ZM98yxmIyQdi6zH09IaEqI&dib_tag=se&keywords=St.+Tropez+Self+Tan+Purity+Face+Mist&qid=1755644133&sprefix=st.+tropez+self+tan+purity+face+mist%2Caps%2C253&sr=8-1
Karen, I think I’m going to try that…thanks for the suggestion!
Because of you, I’ve grown my hair out to white. It’s still strange to look in the mirror and see all that white hair. Regarding men offering to help, I’ve it happen to me a lot and find that if you let them, they love it. Helps their egos. With manners disappearing from our culture, I think my letting them help keeps manners alive. I usually thank them and say something about the fact that he’s a gentleman and there aren’t many left in the world. They always love that. Ah, the male ego.
I know what you mean, Mary! It takes a while to get used to the change when it’s been a different color for so long. It’s so nice to see there are still gentlemen out there, you know they were raised right. 🙂
I love your hair Susan. It looks great, wish I had the courage to go natural!
Thanks so much, Pam! It’s been a fun ride, and I’m really glad I gave it a try.
Thanks so much, Pam! Pam, would you do me a favor and let me know if you receive this comment? I’m trying to troubleshoot my replies reaching those who leave a comment. I don’t think they are reaching Inboxes. Thanks!
Looks great Susan. I am really pale with baby fine silky hair. I use a rinse not a dye. Not sure I want to go white yet. I remember being in the salon saying I wanted to be a redhead, and the hairdresser saying “People pay a lot to get your hair color”
The nurse was so right about being inactive. Since I stopped driving, I feel 100 years old. For awhile I wasn’t gardening and lost muscle mass.
I want you go off topic for a minute.
My daughter has been in the hospital since Aug 1st. Had surgery, now she has COVID. She got it in the hospital. Please be careful. We have become complacid, thinking it’s over.
Myrna, I’m so sorry to hear your daughter is sick. I hope she’s out of the hospital now and is making a fast recovery!
I know, it’s amazing how fast we can lose muscle if we aren’t staying active, especially as we get older.
Love your beautiful head of gorgeous hair, Susan.
Thanks so much, Michele! Appreciate that so much!
XXX
Your hair is a beautiful color!! You totally did the right brave thing! Welcome to the silver foxes club!
Thanks so much, Toni!
XXX
Your hair is gorgeous. I stopped coloring during covid. I have baby fine thin hair so I have kept it short most of my life. It only took two haircuts after salons opened back up for mine to be grown out. I have a few white streaks, but mostly salt and pepper. I wish I had more white. I think I actually look younger than I did with dyed hair because our natural hair color always complements our skin tones better. By the way, Thick also makes another product called Thicker, it gives my hair more oomph than the Thick.
Thanks, Pam! I know what you mean about actually looking younger after stopping the dye. I’ve seen so many photos/videos you Instagram where women look 10 years younger after they stopped dying their hair, especially if they were previously dying their hair a darker color or bleaching it. Oh, thanks for telling me about Thicker. I may have to try that one, too. I love how Thick got rid of the static during the wintertime.
Great timing…I’m on my 4th month. Mine is silvery at the temples but merely salt & pepper elsewhere, so not that gorgeous color that you’re rockin’ !
Regarding the Biolage, do you know how the liquid one differs from the cream version? They both seem to be for dry hair.
That’s great, Mia! I’ve never tried the cream version, only the spray, so not sure how those compare. The spray is really easy to apply and a bottle lasts for a very long time since it doesn’t take a lot. I love how it gets the tangles out and makes it easy to brush/comb. A while back I purchased their Hydra Source Blow Dry Shaping Lotion, but I’ve never actually tried it. I should probably do that since it has a “leave_in heat protectant.”
Also, now that it’s nearly 100% silver, if it has affected your color choices for clothes/makeup, I would love to hear your thoughts sometime.
It hasn’t changed it too much, I still think bold colors like black, purple, Augusta green, hot pink etc…. look good with my skin tone and fortunately, those colors also seem to work well with my white hair.
Susan, Welcome to freedom from reporting to the salon for dye touchups! I let my hair color grow out during Covid and I’m glad I did. I did notice that pastel color clothing or softer color clothing seem to look better with the “new” hair. You look lovely, God chose the right color hair for you! I call mine God’s highlights – lol. The one thing I really like to spritz on my hair after styling it is a shine product. I think it has some sort of oil in it to make the hair shine. It really sets off the gray/white/silver nicely. Maybe the gentlemen are offering you help because they see a beautiful lady! wink wink
Fortunately, I never had to do that since I colored it at home, but I sure don’t miss not having to do that anymore. I used to dread it so much.
lol I don’t know why that happened two days in a row…so weird!
Susan, your hair looks so very lovely! I’m 60 and I have two years to go until I retire and then no more coloring! I’m actually looking forward to it.
Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
You are going to love ditching the dye, Nancy! I just wish I had done it many years ago! Congrats on nearing retirement… exciting!
Your natural hair color is absolutely beautiful! You are so blessed because not all natural color, at this time in our life, is as lovely as yours… I think you did the right thing -you look absolutely beautiful!
Thanks so much, Patricia! I really wish I had stopped coloring it 25 years ago, or better yet, never colored it.
XXX
I love your natural hair! Isn’t it a miracle after so much damage from color and products that hair can be beautiful?! I’m all natural and love it. I get lots of compliments.
Thanks so much, Nancy! I’m amazed that those dormant hair folicles wake back up and forgive the years of dye. lol
That’s wonderful! I don’t think enough people realize how beautiful their natural hair can be…until they finally stop coloring it.
I refer to my silver as “Covid Color”
🙂 So many people stopped coloring during that time. I was coloring my hair at home so I never even slowed down. Wish I had taken that time to stop coloring it.
I am 87 and let my color grow off two years ago. I have been blessed with curly hair. I love my silver hair, with a bit of dark brown. If Iwere younger, I would never color my hair again.I am wearing my hair a bit longer than a few years ago. My grandson said my hair was beautiful, and he loves it longer. So I am very happy with the change!
Your hair sounds beautiful, Jacqueline! I feel the same way, wish I had never started. Aww, love that your grandson noticed and said something. ♥
Your hair looks beautiful!
Thanks so much!
XXX
That color looks AMAZING! I had highlighted my hair for years but stopped when I was about 60 & lost my wonderful colorist. It’s 12 years later and I still have quite a bit of brown in the lower back but I will get there. I really like the silvery white I have now although my husband had a difficult time with the transition. He works with many young professionals, male and female and he felt like the gray/white aged me. Also he mentioned that he knows the men over 50 in his office are coloring their hair because NO ONE has any gray streaks showing. He is 60 but looks very young. I encouraged him to color his hair to cover any gray and he has been very happy with that outcome. Personally, I feel there is a lot to be said for aging gracefully and I intend to keep banging away at it!
Thanks so much, Vickie! I love that you are doing what you feel is right for you and not letting anyone make you feel bad about that.
Your hair is beautiful! Love it!
Thanks so much, Linda!
xxx
Same, same. Thank you for sharing your experience to help other women who might be on the fence about joining us. My hair was chestnut and I am very fair, but I love my white hair and also found it became dramatically healthier after I stopped dyeing it.
I found the only way to keep from looking washed out was to overhaul my blouses and change all the colors to jewel tones. You could also do this with colorful necklaces. Muted tones make it worse — I have to wear clear, bright colors near my face or I look sickly. It helps a great deal!
And find a conditioner that makes your hair shiny. Those are my best tips.
Otherwise — never going back. My husband has been wonderful. Best thing I ever did for my hair!
I so agree! I’ve noticed that the clear, bright colors do look best with my hair and complexion. Occasionally, I’ll use a conditioner that’s designed for white hair, but mostly I just use the Biolage leave-in conditioner since my hair is so silky now that I’m not coloring it. Regular conditioner can be a bit much since I’m no longer coloring it.
Thanks, Elizabeth, for those great tips!
Hi Susan!
You’re one of the lucky ones to have beatifically silver hair. Mine would come in “salt and pepper.” Not that attractive. I have a friend who in her big move to Florida, cut her hair short and went gray. She’s 68. She looks phenomenal.
Wendy http://www.theInspiredEater.com
I was so surprised that it was that way when I was told that by a stylist in my early 40s. I had no idea until he told me that. My sister, who was almost 12 years older than me, had brown her until the day she passed with only a few tiny strands of gray. So interesting how hair is so different even in siblings.
It probably seems like every bit of 2 years since you started letting your hair go natural, but I feel like it was just a few months ago! It looks great!
On your original post, I commented that I come from a long line of family members who grayed prematurely so I started coloring my brunette hair in my early 20s and continued for more than 45 years. I had really been considering stopping the dye madness for several years but dreaded the grow-out process. When the world all but came to a stop in the spring of 2020, I decided it was the perfect time since we were all going out as little as possible.
During the transition process, I was whacking off the dyed brunette ends at home, every chance I got. Since I wear my hair in a short, piecey pixie, it didn’t have to look perfect but I also ordered some wigs to wear when I had to leave home. The wigs were a new, but really FUN, experience. Although I have a lot of hair, it is baby fine and limp with any length (hence the reason I wear it in a pixie) so the wigs gave me the opportunity to experiment with a few slightly different styles I could never achieve with my own hair. My hair grows fast and because it’s short, it only took about 3 months for it to grow completely out.
After all the dye was gone, I was actually kind of shocked to see the percentage of white I had. It is still somewhat naturally dark around the temples, nape and there are still a few dark streaks through the crown but my hair is predominately white/silver! I love it though. And I love the freedom. My stylist raves about the color every time she cuts my hair and says, “You can’t get color like this out of a bottle!” Like you, I get far more compliments on my hair now than I ever did when I was a brunette. “I love your hair!” is something I hear all the time from women and men, young and old. I have only one regret; I wish I had let it go natural many years sooner!
Thanks, Shari! I bet it feels that way since I didn’t blog about it at all until I had been letting it grow for a full year, so it had already reached the top of my ear by the time I first posted about it.
Oh, I bet the wigs were a lot of fun! I never thought about doing that, but that sounds like fun.
I know just how you feel! Nothing compares to the freedom you feel knowing that you’ll never having to worry about roots showing ever again! Congrats, Shari!
xxx
Thanks to my allergies I’m very sensitive to smells, including hair dyes, so I have never colored my hair. I tell people I’ve earned these stripes. ;>
A caution: be sure to cover your hair if you’re out in the sun very long. It will turn it yellow. Ask me how I know.
Thanks for that warning, so important to know those things. I read something early on in the growing-out process about not being in the hot sun for too long to avoid yellowing, so I’ve been pretty good at remembering that. I have several sunhats that I wear when in the sun to protect my face since I can’t stand wearing sunscreen, especially on my face. I’ve also purchased a couple of cute baseball caps to wear to my grandson’s ballgames, although I think the sunhats protect a bit better.
Hi Susan. I know what you mean about that pale, washed out feeling – I experience it sometimes when my hair comes out too dark at the salon and I have a tip for you. I start with R&F Radiant Defense (it’s somewhere between a tinted moisturizer and foundation) in a shade slightly darker than I normally wear and then use an inexpensive drugstore powder bronzer, like Rimmel or Milani on my forehead, cheeks, nose and chin with the same big brush I used for the foundation. I’ve also discovered Rare Beauty liquid blush at Sephora in the shade Hope; it’s kind of a soft coral, which I love, and I’m not a makeup lover or expert! That combination warms me up when my coloring’s off so I feel more like myself.
Love your hair, Susan! I stopped coloring mine in January. My hair is short so it was completely grown out in about 4 months. I ended up having a lot less grey than I thought I had and wish I’d never started coloring it in the first place.
I have noticed that I can no longer wear certain pastel colors without looking very washed out. In general my skin tone favors deeper hues, but I always enjoyed the occasional lavender or light blue – no more. Small price to pay for no longer saturating my scalp with all that noxious mess!
Your hair color is just beautiful!!! It could be that the man asking you about helping with your chair, may have been flirting a bit! 🙂 The one in his 30’s probably would have offered his help anyway! Don’t go back. It’s lovely!!!
My transition took a year. I started last August after my daughter’s wedding. I turned gray/white in my twenties and had been coloring ever since. (I’m 72 now) It took a year – my hair is now completely white, the same length as yours. The change was barely noticeable since I was a dark blonde. My scalp is thanking me every day – no more itching and burning after the dye. I’ve also gotten more compliments than I ever got before. I’m very glad I did it!
Susan, the white is so pretty and I can’t imagine it wouldn’t look great with pink / rosy skin! I don’t know what you’re talking about there.
You went straight into the final stage by going from your brownish hair to full white. I have salt and pepper and it’s been in different stages, some prettier than others. But every time I see full white I think it’s so pretty. Thanks for the update, glad you’re enjoying it.
Now that your natural hair has grown out, get a makeup makeover at a Merle Norman store. What I like best is that you can try samples of their products to see what works best for you. It’s amazing how tweaking a few makeup colors can change your whole look.
I think your hair looks beautiful now. The color is very nice you’re lucky it came in light and not just dark Gray.
Thank you so much for your story. I am 4 months post dying, almost gave up a couple of months ago….but nope !! I keep feeling my roots as they feel so soft as opposed to my lengths, so dry ! Ha! I
was gardening yesterday and my son, he’s 26, was chatting to me when he stopped and said mum, you’re hair looks really pretty, I thought that was a lovely thing to say. Then ive read your blog and followed the link to your first blog and you have inspired me to carry on, so thank you. Xx
Sally, I’m so glad you didn’t give up! The further along you go, the less chance you’ll give up. I know you’re going to love it in the end, and the freedom of never having to worry about roots again is the best feeling in the world!
I love the story about your son noticing and saying something. It’s so funny how it often happens that way, you’ll be talking to someone and all of a sudden they have to tell you how much they like your hair! It’s so rare for our adult sons to notice things like that, so he obviously meant it! You’re going to start getting more and more compliments like that, and each one will keep you going! Congrats on staying the course! If you ever start having doubts, promise to give yourself one more day to think about it and use that time to look at all the gorgeous transformations on Instagram. Also, there are some fantastic videos on YouTube to watch.
XXX
I, too, let my hair grow out and it was a beautiful white. I was so proud of it. Then I saw pictures of myself. It looked like I had a cloud around my head, or worse, my hair just disappeared! I have gone back to being blonde!
I’m sorry. I have to be real when invited to leave comments. You are a beautiful woman regardless of external cues, but the entire WORLD understands youth to involve melanin in the hair shafts! You are totally invited to live your best life, uncoloring your lovely mane, but it will age you , majorly. End of quiry. 100%. No doubts here. Just ask yourself what agenda is more important for you right now. Your current path may hold legitimecy for you! That’s wonderful. I don’t want to “give in”, as a 62 year old. Definitely not a good look for me.
Lori, you have to do what you feel is right for you, but I disagree that it ages you. That’s a huge misconception put out by the companies that sell dye to ensure you keep buying their products. All you have to do is look at the images of women on Instagram who have given up dying their hair. Most look so much younger than they did when they were dying their hair some unnatural color. It’s not “giving in” when it’s a choice that you have chosen and prefer. There are some women who will dye their hair until the very end, which is fine if that’s what they choose, but please don’t think that your value or opinion that dyed hair looks better or more youthful than natural white/silver/gray hair is the opinion of all. Check out the silver sisters on IG and you’ll find no regrets, only comments that they wish they had stop coloring their hair much sooner. https://www.instagram.com/explore/search/keyword/?q=%23silversister&hl=en
What really ages a person is a sedentary lifestyle and their outlook/attitude on life.
Wow Susan you sure made the correct decision, your hair is beautiful