Still getting there!

I'm still getting there! I had another observation about the changes in my hair, it has less frizz! Yes, less! Usually when it rains my hair is an unruly mess of curls and frizz, but this past weekend after being out in the rain several times, it hit me, my hair looked the same as when I had dried it that morning! Wow! I'm really beginning to think that all the things I was told about gray hair and read in magazines was all made up by the hair dye companies.

Can I just say that I love being dye free! It's so funny that I used to dread the gray growing in and now I can't get enough of gray.
I actually have less gray than I thought when I started. It's mostly on the top with a few strands sprinkled throughout the sides and back. I love when the sunlight shines on the gray, I love the sparkle.

I have a few more weeks before I go for another trim, I'm trying to grow it out to shoulder length. I have a few ends with dye left and another hair cut should take care of those.

Frosty in December

I had my hair cut last night. There is still a bit of color on the ends, but I'm happy with the gray! My hair is so soft now.

Before

I found this photo on my computer and thought I'd post so that I could compare the before...

The in-between stage, again...

It's a few days shy of 2 months since the big chop! I am seeing more gray but am frustrated by the ends which have some blond and red. I know I need a cut or trim, but my hair is just now getting to a length that I can tolerate! I'm trying to psych myself up for a cut and having to deal with the super short hair again. I am not a short hair person! I guess I'm just having an Eyeore moment.

And another thing, I remember hearing and reading about the texture of gray hair, how it is wirey and hard to control. NOT! My hair has always been extremely dry and felt like a horse's tail, really it did. My hair is soft now, I actually like touching it, it doesn't crackle like it did before with all the chemicals in it.

I wish I had a savings account...

with all the money that I've spent on hair color! Sometimes it was $60 every 6 weeks, sometimes it was the $7.00 box of color from Target and then the past year it was $80 every 6 weeks. Multiply all that by 20 years and that would be a nice chunk of change.

Anyway, the short cut is growing and it's also growing on me. It will be a few weeks before I can go back and get the last inch of color cut away. I can't wait!

Getting used to short hair.

I'm still getting used to short hair! I'll admit that it dries in less than 5 minutes! LOL I can barely use my flat iron to straighten a few stray pieces here and there. When I took the kids to swim practice the other day I was talking to another mom who commented on my new short cut. I told her that I was cutting the dye out so the gray could grow. She didn't know that I had gray hair! LOL She thought that I had highlights up top! LOL She told me that she is not brave enough to go gray, but admits that she colors every 2 to 4 weeks! Yikes, I thought my 6 weeks was bad. Anyway it certainly feels nice not to have to worry about planning hair appointments around roots growing in!

I cut it!

I've got the urge to cut!

Ack, I have a hair appointment on Thursday and it's supposed to be for a really good trim.
My stylist is pregnant and taking off the last few weeks of Sept and is supposed to come back to work in Nov. I really don't want to go to anyone else while she is out. I love her and she can make my hair look good, and that's not an easy feat! My hair is pretty wavy and very thick. I've been browsing all the hair style sites that I can find and even joked to my husband last night that a buzz cut might just be what I want! If I buzzed it then certainly most of the dye would be gone! LOL I'm chicken but half way tempted! I wouldn't have to worry about a cut while Ali was out on maternity leave. I would really have my hair and not dyed, bleached hair. I'm really contemplating this...
Stay tuned.

I see Silver!

I'm making progress with some silver that's appearing! The rest of my hair looks like a calico cat but that's okay, I'm getting there.

I think I can!

That's my mantra, my hair is at an awkward stage right now.

The blond highlights are growing out,
the grays are coming in,
some dark roots are coming in,
there is some red dye left in my hair
and some natural dark brown down near the bottom.

I have some funky colors going on up there! LOL I'm determined to grow out ALL of the color though. I'm done with that, I keep telling myself that it will so freeing to not have to color every 4 weeks, not to have to worry about roots. I have no idea what it's going to look like when the process is complete, I guess that's the scary part.

August

It's been 4 weeks since the blond highlights and May was my last all over auburn color.  It's hard to see in this photo but the top of my hair is really white.  It's only been 4 weeks since my last cut, maybe this process will go faster than I thought.

Journaling my thoughts

Just some random thoughts and observations as I go through this process.

I find myself staring at women with gray hair! I've not gotten the nerve to actually approach a stranger but I keep admiring women with beautiful gray/silver hair! I love the different colors of gray.

I also find myself looking at women with hair dyed way too dark. I used to be one of those women. After almost every color I would come home and wash my hair at least 3 times a day the first week after coloring to "lighten" it up a bit. LOL

I can't wait to be free of the color! I am so glad that I found the courage to let the color go!

I called the hair salon this morning to schedule an appointment for a cut/trim next week. The salon owner answered the phone, someone else does my hair, and she remembered me! LOL She jokingly told me that they have women coming in to cover the gray, not get excited that the gray is growing in! They haven't had anyone decide to go gray and stop coloring in the salon before. LOL I'm a celebrity!

Going Gray Looking Great

goinggraylookinggreat

I spend way too much time at this site!

 It helped me confirm my decision to give up the color and be me!
I love the stories and photos of the women in their journey. It inspired me to start this blog and maybe someday I'll share my story there. I'm not quite that brave yet. LOL

My husband and kids weren't too supportive at first. My son emphatically said NO, that I could not have gray hair that it would make me look old. He has since recanted and says that it can be gray but just don't get it cut short. LOL
My husband sort of raised his eyebrows when I told him of my plan. Now he says that he is okay with gray/silver that he just doesn't like the salt and pepper look that some people have. I have assured him that I plan on getting silver highlights if my hair turns out darker. I want pretty gray/silver hair!!!!!

Even Lighter!

Outside in the sunlight it's even more blond! LOL
And I'm squinting because the sun was really bright out!
I'm getting there, it's going to take time though. Too bad I'm not a patient person.

I did learn after getting the blond highlights that I needed to change my make-up! My facial color was fading out so I needed to wear a blusher, which I hardly ever wear. Also my wardrobe has changed a bit as well. I'm finding that tans and browns look good on me which hadn't before. Being a redhead always stopped me from wearing the color red but now I'm looking forward to finding something to wear in red!

Blond Highlights

To help hide the skunk stripe and allow the gray to grow in I opted for blond highlights. Woah what a change! I had buyers remorse the next day. I've since adapted especially since I can see the gray shining through on top. This picture is right after I came home from the salon.
Next week I'm going for a haircut, nothing drastic just a good trim. I'll post pics again after.

Skunk Stripe!

Just adding some pics of the progression thus far.

6 weeks without color. Notice the skunk stripe that is forming?

I'm going gray, really I am!

I've made the decision to go gray. There I said it. I'm no longer forced to visit the hair salon every 4 weeks because I have a skunk stripe. My last all over color was in May. My hair has been auburn/red for over 20 years. My pre-dye color is dark brown.  I want to post pictures here of my progress along the way. This photo was taken at 4 weeks after my usual all over color.