Thanks so much for the welcome! I just finished watching your television interview. It is so exciting to have a “voice talking” to me from the book! I would like to get posted to the “Newbies”. How do I do that? I have some pictures that I would like to share.

Posted by Silverhair on 10/15 at 03:04 PM

Hello all,

How nice to find this site! I’m 33, and I distinctly remember colouring my (usually salon blonded) hair dark at 23 and when the regrowth came back, seeing strands of silver peeking out. I freaked out, and from then on I went back to salon highlights. But not anymore!!

I’m about 6 months into “transition”, with only minimal highlights that have grown about five inches from my scalp. The rest is me! And I am about 70-80&#xgr;ey (silver/white/platinum!) at the front and my temples are 100%. The back is still light brown- maybe 10-20% grey.

I was about to lose my nerve this morning and call my hairdresser to have it highlighted again- and then I found you all!!! So I didn’t.

I suppose my motivation to go natural is three fold- the cost of upkeep, the time it takes at the salon, and the falseness of it all.

Of course I am scared. On one hand it is liberating, on the other it’s very ego threatening. No one has commented except my 13yo daughter who isn’t very happy about it all, and my darling Hubby who says “Where- I can’t see them, they just blend in” Aaaawwwww.....

Anyway, I’ll send a pic- it’s nice to see all the photos- you’re all so beautiful XXXX

Sistersilverhair

Posted by Sistersilverhair on 10/31 at 01:49 AM

Hi Sistersilverhair,

Welcome to our group! Would love to see the pictures! From the spelling of some of your words, are you from Canada or Great Britain?

I was 16 when I found my first gray hair and colored it both appropriately and inappropriately (good color and not so good color). I stopped for awhile, went gray (which looked pretty good, pictures on the newbies, 2nd semester) and then before I found this site, went and colored it black yet again. So here I am growing it out for the final time (I’ve a PPD allergy).

Looking forward to sharing the ride with you!

Mary

Posted by Silverhair on 10/31 at 04:56 AM

Happy Halloween!!!

I dressed up for work today and I am an 80’s Maddona-wannabe (think Desperately Seeking Susan Maddona).  It’s very interesting with the grey!  I don’t have a lot showing yet, mostly on top, but it’s still cool.  I’ll try to have someone take my picture.

Lady Grey

Posted by ladygrey on 10/31 at 05:00 AM

Happy Halloween all, I joined a little while ago, haven’t done any pictures, yet.  Just to remind you all, I started growing my hair out on May 17 ‘08 and went and got it cut really short on Oct 22.  I went for Parents’ Weekend and my freshman daughter said, don’t come unless you have done something other than a ponytail and a baseball cap!  I am glad
for the prompting from her. She loves it, some days I do and some days I don’t. I don’t miss the itching, burning of my scalp after coloring. A funny story, I was in my craft room last evening sitting at my sewing machine. It faces a large un-curtained window so with the lights on and darkness outside, there was a reflection.  I looked up from my sewing in my lap, and was briefly startled by a gray-haired women looking in at me! Took me a few seconds to realize it was me!  I am still getting comfortable with my totally new look.  I might add, the salon I went to was extremely supportive and my stylist superb!
Question for Diana, do we have to give our name when we send you pictures?  Thanks.

Posted by mare on 10/31 at 08:08 AM

Silversister, as a 20 year old preemie, I can attest to some of your feelings.  But it is also incredibly empowering to watch that metamorphsis.  I think its an awesome experience!! 

Kendall

Posted by kendall88athlete on 11/01 at 12:23 PM

Hi Ladies,

Thanks for the welcome! Mary, I’m from Australia- thus the word spellings. Diana- Yes I’m letting them come in, and so far I love the look. I only get caught up when I start thinking what OTHER people think! But I’ll never know what they really think, so when I let that go, I’m really very happy with my new colour.

Mare, that’s a funny story I can relate to. When I decided to stop colouring my hair, I got it cut really short- like pixie short. At first I liked it, but every time I caught sight of my reflection I saw my Mother!! My mum is very grey too, but she has always coloured her hair blonde, so with my still blonde tips and very short hair, I was a little bit too much like her for comfort. It’s a bit longer now, so I’m more relaxed. I’m no longer seeing her over my shoulder! (I do love my Mum!!)

Hi Kendall, awesome it is. I think had I not coloured my hair since I was 15 I would have had a generous sprinkling of silver at your age too- go you for letting yours shine!!

Take care all

Posted by Sistersilverhair on 11/01 at 08:08 PM

Sistersilver, welcome to the site from an Arkansan who is now in California and thanks for the kind words!!

Posted by kendall88athlete on 11/01 at 09:43 PM

Hi all, Hi Mary from Australia!
You’ve got it exactly right.  My gray is very pretty and I so do not miss all that coloring, ugh!  But everytime I look in the mirror or catch a reflection of myself, I think, old lady!  I got it cut very short, pixie-like, as I only had 5 months growth.  And my hair grows exactly one/half inch per month, average.  It’s funny, but when I was coloring it I thought it grew much above the average. I guess the contrast between the gray and dark gave me that impression.  I think it will be better once I have some length on it but it’s going to take eons as the stylist had to layer it and texturize it.  Waaah!

Posted by mare on 11/02 at 07:26 AM

Another preemie here.  I started going gray at 19.  I have been coloring for the last 17 years in some form or another.  I am 36 now.  This past year I decided to go for it.  Needless to say it was hard going since I did not want the line of gray and brown...so I spent a lot of $$ trying to color my hair gray....it does not work!  Then I highlighted the heck out of it.  No offense but I don’t like being blonde since I was a brunette for so long.  Now I have a few inches of silver/brown hair.  It is looking pretty cool but I am so ready to just cut it all off.  I don’t look good in short hair so that is my new decision.  I am basically not patient and very excited to see it all in.  The color is looking so pretty!

Suzy

Posted by suzyq on 12/01 at 02:41 PM

Welcome Suzi and Hi to Everyone else,

I highlighted my hair again! After all the time spent growing it out, I’m a little bit regretful, but I found it happened all too quickly for me. Yes, I do want to go grey, and this time, I’ll go slower and just back off gradually the amount of highlights each time. Then I should see more and more platinum shining through over time. I’m more comfortable with this because although I liked the greys, they were all I could think about when I was out in public! The fight between wanting to “fit in” and wanting to be natural and authentic was too much for this girl.

Suzy, I know exactly how you feel-it’s so exciting to see that first bit of your real colour come through isn’t it! I had my hair cut into a pixie in July to get rid of most of the colour, and it really did hasten the process, but I didn’t like my hair short. I wasn’t patient at all either, and although I have decided to take the go slow option now, I wouldn’t have known if I didn’t try! Have fun with it!

Posted by Sistersilverhair on 12/02 at 01:13 PM

Hello.  I have developed a funny obsession with women that have silver hair.  I always take a second look and compliment them when I can.  Everytime I see someone I cheer inside hoping that someday it will not be odd to have a 20 or 30 something with their natural silver hair.  I have a haircut this weekend and I am trying to figure out how short I am willing to go and get the most color cut out. 

I hope the movement continues and less women in the future will have to deal with the grow out stage and more embrace the natural look. 

I am blessed to have a very supportive husband that is supports me and told me to do it for a while now. 

Glad I found you all and that it is a supportive group for everyone.

Posted by suzyq on 12/02 at 02:47 PM

Well, I’m due for another haircut and I don’t know what to do!  I had all my dark colored hair cut off on Oct 22.  It is a really short haircut that I have a real love/hate relationship with.  I love the upkeep, I shower, squish in some gel, finger comb it and I am ready!  My college daughter loves it and says I look trendy.  But it seems all the women I see with gray hair are “old” and they all have short hair.  I can’t seem to shake this mental image of “granny” in my head.  My husband remains unsupportive, which I think is my biggest problem. 
I agree with you suzyq, I hope non-coloring becomes more the norm.

Posted by mare on 12/02 at 05:11 PM

Suzy, I say cut it and let the world see the true you.  Go for it, girl!!!

Kendall

Posted by kendall88athlete on 12/02 at 07:02 PM

Kendall - did you cut it?  I need support on this one. 

Posted by suzyq on 12/02 at 07:17 PM

Suzy, I did get a cut, but not the flattop that I was thinking about.  I got my regular short hair that I always get, which is short and curly, however, I am really thinking about straightening my hair out and getting a style like Christie’s(see newbie gallery).  Her style is really cute and is very empowering!  I’m still thinking about it.  Some women look good w/ longer gray hair, but for me, I love my short cut.  LOL, hope that helped Suzy.

Posted by kendall88athlete on 12/05 at 08:49 PM

Is it best to have a certain percentage of gray before taking the leap and letting your gray come in?  Everyone on this site seems to have a full head of gray… My hair stylist estimates that I’m about 30% gray, however.  She said I’m a long way from 50%.  I’ve had some gray hair since my early 20s (I’m now 34), and my shoulder-length dark brown hair grows like crazy. I literally have roots after a week!

I keep a box of dark brown hair dye, the clairol root touch-up kit and a touch up stick on hand for “emergencies,” but lately I’m getting kind of fed up with the whole routine…

And, is it my imagination, or does hair color thin your hair out a bit?  I feel like I’ve been losing more hair than I should. 

Thoughts?  Suggestions?

Thanks!
Rebecca

Posted by rebecca on 12/14 at 07:14 PM

Hi Rebecca!  No I don’t think you need to have a certain amount of gray to take the plunge.  In fact it will probably easier for you if your hair is only 30% gray.  I grew mine out this summer.  I had long dark hair and just stopped coloring it.  Pulled it back in a ponytail and put on a baseball cap whenever I went out.  This worked well for me as I live in Florida where the atmosphere is casual. I did this from May 10 and then got my hair cut really short on Oct 22.  Had about 98% of my colored hair cut off!  I just had a second cut this week, now it’s all me!  I think my hair grew fast too but you might be surprised to learn it really doesn’t!  My roots used to show after one week also but when I grew it out I was able to measure it and it was exactly 1/2 an inch a month!  I never noticed any thinning but then again I have very thick hair.  It is so freeing to not have to color it!  Good luck in your decision!

Posted by mare on 12/15 at 05:16 PM

Thanks, Mare!  I’m still on the fence about this (I’m single and I do want to date...), but you’ve given me some ideas and things to think about!

Rebecca

Posted by rebecca on 12/16 at 05:04 PM

I have never posted on this thread since I am not a preemie, but I saw your comments, Rebecca and Mare, and thought I would jump in. I found my first grays at age 25 and now am 45. I just finished fully transitioning. I am/was in the newbies first semester. Anyhow, I so agree with Mare. The less gray you have, the easier it is to transition. You won’t have such a dramatic grow-out line. I don’t really know what percentage of white I am, but I doubt I’m even 50%??? It’s funny, but I chased after those white roots thinking I was going to be really white. It sounds as if you, Rebecca, are fiercely hiding them even though you say you only have about 30%.

I recommend you go look at the newbie graduates gallery and see how much better our skin tones and eyes look with our natural hair color. Amazing really. Dye seems to distract somehow from our overall beauty.

I can’t imagine ditching the dye would cause you to have no dates unless these guys are really narrow minded. Also, sounds as if you’re gonna only have some high-lights instead of a full head of white. I say, give it a try. You can always go back to dyeing. Course, I’m prejudiced now that I have gone gray. :o)

Consider sending your pics in if you decide to transition. We’d love to cheer you on. :o)

Mare, do you have any pictures on this site? I’d love to see your natural colors! :o) And I agree. It’s so freeing not to be dyeing hair anymore.

Posted by greeneyes on 12/17 at 08:41 PM

Okay, you’ve all convinced me, and I’m going to go for it! I will add my picture as soon as I can figure out how… For some reason I keep on getting a message saying my file is too big...?

Rebecca

Posted by rebecca on 12/20 at 06:59 PM

Hi y’all—many wonderful reads, thought I would share my own gray story.  I first noticed some gray hairs when I was 12, by age 16 I started dying my hair, wasn’t sure what I wanted it to be so I started out with red.  Red did not work for me.  So then I went black.  Black looked really good on me and I dyed it black way into my early 30’s.  I remember in my mid 30’s I got a little tired of dying it and I stopped for a few months.  The comments I received were horrendous and it really dampened my spirit.  After about 6 months, I started dying again but went back to my natural brown, or what I thought was my natural brown, I’d been dying it black for so long, I wasn’t sure anymore.  About three months ago, I was fed up again.  My gray’s grow in so fast, it seems that after 2 weeks of dying my hair, I have a gray streak on top of my head, and by the 3rd week, mostly all gray on top. By the 4th week, I feel if I don’t dye it right away, I’ll look and feel yucky.  The last time I dyed my hair was in October 2008.  After 4 weeks when my husband asked if I was ready to dye it again, I told him no, I’m tired of it and I’m debating on whether to just surrender and let it grow out.  By 6 weeks he asked me again and I said I’m still debating.  It’s now been 8 weeks now and no dye.  And my hair looks awful and because of it, I feel awful.  I’ve been looking at hairstyles trying to decide the best course of action.  I don’t want to cut it all off, I like my long hair.  And since I have been dying my hair at home for so long, I don’t even know of any colorists and am rather afraid of finding one who might tell me to go back to dying it.  So this morning, unable to sleep, I woke up and searched the internet for some type of hair style that would help me to feel more confident about going gray; I haven’t found one I really like yet, but in the process I found this wonderful beautiful website. So many women like me, wow.  This site is truly a blessing.  Thank you!  Through the many articles on here, I see that it would be best to find a colorist; I don’t think I can do this on my own.  Sorry this turned out to be so long, but it was very refreshing to get it out of my system.

Posted by Hollie in Texas on 01/01 at 07:24 AM

Hi Hollie!
What I did before I had all my colored hair cut off, was call around.  I’d tell the person at the Salon I was interested in a trendy short cut as I was cutting my hair short from being very long as I wanted all the color gone.  I’d ask if they had anyone who would be good for this task and I eventually found a super stylist.  Shop around first.  You can tell how people answer if they have ever done transitioning before.  Take a few days or even a week before you settle on someone.  You can always “fire” them if you end up not satisfied.  I might add, I had ZERO support and still don’t from my husband on this issue.  I am happier with not coloring it and I think it is better not to be exposed to all those chemicals.  Good luck and keep us posted!

Posted by mare on 01/01 at 09:54 AM

Hollie - Isn’t it exciting when you stumble onto this site and find out there are others who can totally relate to you? I will never forget the realization I wasn’t alone or a total fruitcake. :o)

I recommend Diana’s book! It was one of my best friends while transitioning and I still visit with it from time to time. I always see something I forgot was there or something I missed before.

Glad to see another Texan, though I am only a Texas transplant working my way back to my roots in Illinois.

Hope you send in pics. We really want to watch your transition! Being in the newbies was the greatest encouragement during my transition.

Posted by greeneyes on 01/01 at 10:07 AM

I should have realized there is only one definition for roots around here. :o) I forgot about those roots - thankfully!

Yes, our plan is to move in 2009. Probably late spring. :o)

Posted by greeneyes on 01/01 at 11:31 AM

Yee-haw pardners! Get your boots on and get ready for another round-up! :o) Sorry. I think I’m inhaling too much dust putting Christmas decorations away.

We’re wanting to stay until our son is married mid April, so we’ll see how it all works out. Life doesn’t always go as planned. :o)

Yes! Back home. Most of our extended family are there and our daughter is going with us, and maybe without us if we don’t go soon. :o) We’ve been away 9 years, the first 5 in Indiana and the rest in Texas. Take me home, country road. :o) Or to stay with the Oz theme, “there’s no place like home!”

Posted by greeneyes on 01/01 at 02:00 PM

Diana, Mare, Greeneyes, thank you all for the nice welcome, and the great tips.  I forgot to mention that I will be 40 in March ...I’m excited, yet a bit scared. Y’all are so inspirational I’m feeling a little more excited for this new transition in my life. I probably will wind up cutting it, as soon as I get up enough courage!   It’s not like I haven’t had it super short before, but it’s different this time because when it grows out, it will be all gray.  I’ve seen the pictures in the gallery, y’all are gorgeous!  I hope for the same results for myself.  I will post some pics to the newbie class this weekend.

Posted by Hollie in Texas on 01/01 at 03:10 PM

Hollie - Looking forward to seeing to seeing you in the newbies!

Diana - Yes, the only draw-back is that my son and his soon-to-be wife are staying in Texas, at least for awhile. That will be new and different AND sad, but part of life.

Yay for snow and autumn colors and spring and summer! Texas sun and weather can be nice, but I do miss my seasons. :o)

Posted by greeneyes on 01/01 at 06:54 PM

Oh dear....hee hee....so sorry for my stuttering or sounding like an broken record or an echo or.... whatever...whatever...whatever… :o)

Posted by greeneyes on 01/01 at 06:57 PM