Café Gray

Change is in the air!

Leave it to the March wind to blow in some changes! You’ll notice something NEW has been added to our Great Grays section! Not only a new story that I think you’ll find interesting, but also the ability to comment on each article—or on our Gallery Girls—without coming back to the Café. Of course we want you to drop into the Café whenever you can, but this is to make contributing your thoughts on a particular article or picture that much easier. Go ahead, try it! I bet you get a conversation going! Don’t forget to keep sending your pics to and watch for them in the new, improved Great Grays section.

Posted by Diana Jewell on 03/03 at 06:30 AM

Change is good, keep it coming!

Posted by kendall88athlete on 03/03 at 10:10 AM

There’s constant change, Kendall. Even under running articles in “Latest and Greatest.” For instance, there’s a new article in Beauty Tip of the Moment, a new one in Newsflash, new products in Products You Should Know About. Ya gotta keep checking the sections. Changing the “underpinnings” of a website, however, like putting in the ability to comment on-page, is not as easy as changing a MySpace page. So these changes will evolve a little more slowly—but surely! D.

Posted by Diana Jewell on 03/03 at 11:11 AM

I am so glad I found this wonderful website. Last month I decided to go grey with a little prodding from my hair colorist. I was born a natural blonde and over the years as I colored I became closer to brown. At about 30, I started to see grey and white. Recently, I let my short hair go without coloring for several cuts.By the time I saw my hair dresser, I was really close to all grey,white and salt and pepper in the back. She said,"Are you crazy, many woman would pay to have your natural color. I am a youngish looking 56 and I was intrigued with the idea of it. My husband loves it as do many others. However, it surprises me that the most vain of the women I know, hate it.They tell me it makes me look too old or it makes my husband look older, etc. I am realizing that it is their fear of looking older that motivates their comments. I love the freedom of knowing I’m finally the real deal. Thanks for a wonderful spot I can visit when I start to wonder if I should go blonde again. Jennifer Lombardi

Posted by JENNIFER on 03/10 at 10:51 PM

Jennifer - welcome to the Cafe! Isn’t it amazing the comments and attitudes along the way from friends, family and strangers. Some wonderful and some ....well they just make you stop and say ...huh? Where is that coming from?

From reading the boards it sounds like a lot of us have similar experience. As if somehow we who go natural are letting out a big secret on everyone else

Again, welcome to the Cafe!

Posted by morningstar on 03/13 at 02:33 AM

Hi Jennifer—want to add my welcome, too! Not only am I glad you found the site, I’m glad you made your way back to the Café! We gab a lot here. It’s interesting you said your colorist prodded you to go gray. She’s (he’s?) a keeper, and really on the cutting edge of this “revolution.” I’m doing a concerted effort to involve more salons, more pro’s, in all the terrific ways they can not only help women who wish to go gray, but actually LISTEN to them. (See the Newsflash article on the Hair’s How coverage.) It’s just the start!

Also, if you haven’t already, check out the Friends & Family postings in the Café—you’ll find all kinds of reactions! Sometimes women are intimidated by those of us who choose this route, and sometimes, as one poster mentioned, they get downright defensive. It’s human nature, I guess. I think the most important thing, always, is to do what YOU want to do. It’s always fun to experiment. Heck, we change our “look” all the time—this is just one way to do it. And, yes, we all have those moments of wondering if we should “go back.” But I like to think of this as going forward! Best, D.

Posted by Diana Jewell on 03/13 at 06:18 AM

Jennifer, I love your attitude. Its people like you that make me feel good about not dyeing my hair. Try being 19(20 next month), and a sophomore in college.......in California. I definitely feel like gray is more vogue than it used to be. You’ll get a lot of support from this site. Don’t get me wrong, I have my days, but I can look in the mirror and feel good about the person looking back. Welcome to the cafe!

Kendall

Posted by kendall88athlete on 03/13 at 09:43 AM

Hello all,
I am currently transitioning to grey and have been to a few websites with blogs about going grey, but nothing like this! This is just what I’ve been looking for! I am about six months into not colouring after almost 25 years of it...but I’m the only person in my family and circle of friends who feels ready to do this. I’m 42 and thought I was about 80% grey but now that it’s grown out a bit, I’d say it’s more like 60-70%. Anyway, I’m not crazy about the two-toned hair I’m currently sporting, and never pictured myself with short short hair, so for now just getting trims about every 8-10 weeks and trying to be patient. I’m thinking of sending in my photo soon. I think it’s important to show people the variety of grey/silver/white that is out there! Oh, and I am buying your book, Diana, as a reward for finishing my last paper for my BA. The paper’s due Wednesday so I’ll be reading it very soon…

NB2

Posted by newbie2 on 03/31 at 07:17 PM

Hi NB2,

Happy to have you join this wild and sassy bunch;-)

I wish I would of found something like this when I was transitioning 3 1/2 years ago. It was a lonely process for me, not a lot of “friends and family” support. My biggest “fan” was my husband...even when I took my hair “down to the wood” as he so lovingly put it! It would of been a very sad road for me to walk had I walked it alone. One beautiful aspect of the women here is...you never need to walk alone in your journey! We love to encourage, and we absolutely love the pictures of the silver beauty that unfolds! I think one of the amazing themes with all the pictures that you will see, is the glow...this deep rich glow! So...keep your head up...keep the faith! You have a pretty awesome “cheerleading” section in your corner!

The best part is not the end result...it’s what beauty unfolds in the journey to get there!

Have a great evening!

Posted by elizabeth on 04/01 at 05:12 PM

Thanks for the encouragement, Elizabeth. It really can be a lonely journey and I’m lucky that my boyfriend is on board, too (although sometimes I think he’s hoping I’ll change my mind, but at least he never says so). I am finding it fascinating to look at the silver that’s coming in and I think it’s a really pretty colour--and it is a COLOUR, darn it--people talk about it like it doesn’t qualify as one. I find that really strange. Anyway, I’ll see if I can get a photo shoot going this weekend and feel brave enough to send a pic in. Yours are certainly inspiring.

Bye for now.

Posted by newbie2 on 04/01 at 06:50 PM

Oh—THIS is where you are, Newbie2 Well, it sounds like you’ve already read my book because that’s my whole battle cry—GRAY IS A COLOR! And, personally, I think one of the most interesting colors of all because there are so many shades, so many varieties of gray. It’s just gotten a bad rap—but that’s in the past. That’s before US! Give your boyfriend a hug for understanding! And congrats on finishing that paper! D.

Posted by Diana Jewell on 04/01 at 07:21 PM

Mornin’ NB2,

Yep...it IS a color! It really is facinating isn’t it? I love how it literally sparkles in the natural light! I also feel that the silver color has more highlights and shine than dyed hair. Enjoy the discovery! It’s sooo worth it when you finally see all the dyed color gone! You’ll love it! With summer coming I think it’s easier to transition.. baseball caps,ponytails,and the many dirrerent hat styles that are in this summer! Have fun!

P.S.Congrats on the paper...I was never a fan of papers

Posted by elizabeth on 04/02 at 05:37 AM

Good Morning from Oz -

Tomorrow is the day I tell my hairdresser ‘no more’ - I’ve been thinking about becoming real for nearly 2 years and she keeps changing my mind. Now I’ve developed an allergy to the dye - and it’s scarey if you Google for information.
Finding this website has been so good for me. Although most of my friends are ok with my decision, I sense a feeling of gloom about them. The website has filled me with confidence and enthusiasm and I’m now excited about a new look. I’ve been white at the front since late 30s and have been covering up for 15 years. At 57 I can’t wait to see the real me. I love the gallery and the stories. More please.

Posted by JeanW on 04/13 at 02:16 PM

Hi Jean—Welcome! Glad the site has helped you come this far. SO tomorrow’s the big day, huh? I know you’ll stick to your guns because of the PPD allergy. You don’t have to google it anymore. Info is right here, under “A Burning Question” in the Transitioning section, and also in the many real-life experiences of Members (see Carol’s Story, Elizabeth’s Story, and posts from Morningstar, among others.) It’s nothing to fool around with because it can come back to haunt you, even after you stop coloring, if it’s a major reaction.

I’ll try to keep up with your request for “more,” but the more people send in their pictures, the more I’ll have to write about! Hey, how about sending yours in, so you can join our Newbies feature, and we can follow your progress?

Posted by Diana Jewell on 04/13 at 02:27 PM

Hello, Its so nice to see all the newbies; so we have lots of encouragement to go to the transitioning. About a few weeks i take a haircut, and send a new picture.

Succes to all.

Posted by catweezle on 09/28 at 09:16 AM

when you get your new hair cut be sure and send in your pics we love pics!!
the second semester has grown so fast i think we may have to add another semester!!
good luck petra and keep your chin up!! show off those lovely silver hairs!!
louann

Posted by lainla3 on 09/30 at 04:18 PM

Maybe we should go to the trimester system!

Posted by Diana Jewell on 09/30 at 04:27 PM

There’s quarterly too!