See You in September!
Now that summer’s ended, and we’re ready to begin our last “semester” of the year, I’ve had a few thoughts about progress. Naturally, I’m thinking about the way this site has progressed. From its very beginning at the start of the New Year until right now. Who would have thought we’d have over 300 Members? Who would have thought we would all feel such a strong sense of community? Who would have thought that these conversations I just threw out here, hoping that people would begin chatting to each other, would really catch fire? Then I started thinking about the progress our Newbies have made. Incredible, really. And it’s about so much more than just changing the color of your hair. It’s about growing, and patience, and learning to accept yourself in a new way. More than a transition – a transformation! And now we have Newbie graduates! Women who started with us, stayed with us, got through all the “bad hair days,” and emerged, triumphantly, with a new glow and a new determination to be just who they are. And now we have a second semester of Newbies, bravely posting their “skunk stripes,” learning to rely on the tremendous support they find here. It’s all pretty wonderful, when you think about it. And to all of you, I say thank you!
Posted by Diana Jewell on 09/01 at 02:29 PM
Thank YOU Diana, for the book and for this site. I believe that without the support I’ve found here I would have caved in to pressure and gone back to the dye. As it is I’m finally free of the tyranny after 30 years of slavery to the dye. For the first time since I was a teenager my hair is soft and healthy. At the end of this month I will be 45 and am looking forward to reaching that birthday with natural hair. Now the transition is from short to long. Your site (and book) have got me through the occassional ‘wobbles’ and I feel positive and happy to have made the decision. I’ve now been dye free for 8 months! Incidentally, I will be going on holiday next week and am not sure if I will have internet access so I am taking your book with me in case I have a wobble as I will be holidaying with a family member who hates my silver.
Sharon
Posted by Sharon on 09/02 at 01:15 AM
PS, I’m now posting as ‘Sharon’ instead of ‘moonlit_hair’.
Posted by Sharon on 09/02 at 01:38 AM
THANK-YOU Diana, you deserve all of the respect and genuine warm feelings that we ALL have for you. I am still very new and looking forward to the next semester with much anticipation indeed! Had I not found GGLG there would have already been two (maybe three) visits to the salon by this point in time. Let’s take that a bit further and break it down: 2 to 4 hours of my time at each visit, close to $50 dollars (most likely more) with each visit, chemicals sitting on my scalp for the same amount of time and last but not least walking out of the salon not really happy with the results! So take a bow Diana, you deserve all of our gratitude 
Posted by lulubell on 09/02 at 04:21 AM
Well, you all make me feel like it was worth it! Thanks for the back pats, and for your great stories, Sharon and Lulubell. It’s really what this site is all about, actually sharing and caring. Goodness knows, there are enough people out there (including your family member, Sharon, who “hates my silver") that are so quick to judge. I hope you stay strong—or just ignore any negative comments. If people can’t see the true beauty of silver for what it is, and NOT as a sign of aging, well, we can’t help them!
And, Lulubell, I’m ringing the bell, classes have started, let’s get back to work! First assignment: add more inches to the silver roots! 
Posted by Diana Jewell on 09/02 at 05:40 AM
Oh, I am back to work!! The roots are proof that the dog definitely did not eat my homework assignment. I was sitting in the morning sun soaking up some vitamin D this morning (a wonderful bright minute in an hour of darkness after being diagnosed with osteoporosis a few years ago. The doctor advised soaking up sunlight in the early morning or late afternoon each day, no sunscreen, no worries just a go ahead and do it!!) and had a revelation of sorts. I have posted more than once that I wished I had never colored my hair and just transitioned naturally, but I would like to take those comments back. If I had done that then I would not have experienced the ups and downs, the color nightmares, the hilarious blunders etc. , etc. that come with the territory. There would not have been the butterfly moment when I found this site and made the decision to go natural! Just think I would have missed this bright minute. Oh by the way, there wasn’t a shot of Baileys in my coffee this morning, I am just very excited to be a part of this awesome club!! 
Posted by lulubell on 09/02 at 06:09 AM
I am absolutely, positively, 100% sure I would still be dyeing if this site hadn’t been here for me. I had been wanting to go natural for almost 2 years before I actually began the process. There was no question...I WANTED to do it...but I was just too weak to go it alone. My mom has never colored, but we live states apart, and I needed someone by my side. Funny, but I feel like you all are here with me at times. I needed daily props to keep going - and you all have been that for me. I also needed to see women my age doing it - and more than that - women with longer hair doing it and looking great. (My mom looks great but she keeps very short hair.)
And yes, this process is so much more than the change of hair color...it’s a change of our perception of self and beauty. We see how strong we are and we continue to grow stronger. As more of our natural beauty surfaces, we also awaken to more of our inner beauty. We celebrate what we have hidden for so long. We stop fighting against who we really are...and we are having fun...and we really are looking better than before. Hard work at times, yes...but eventually it becomes the easiest thing to do...being ourselves!
I could talk all day, and sadly, sometimes have. :o) So, Diana, thanks for rocking my world. Maybe I would have done this one day in my future, but I never could have done this NOW without you, your book, and this site. You truly have been a God-send to me.
Posted by greeneyes on 09/02 at 06:46 AM
Wow. I’m getting teary-eyed here. But these stories are just so wonderful. I love the part about awakening to our inner beauty. Thanks, Greeneyes.
Posted by Diana Jewell on 09/02 at 07:12 AM
Hello greeneyes, please never stop talking, you are truly an inspiration to all of us! As you read I have been doing a lot of thinking and I am thinking that you are right to keep the length. This is another change of heart that I have had this morning. Why should I try and fast-forward this transition when, actually, I should slow it down and experience all of the good times as well as the trying times that I know will come along with it? See how we all evolve and discover something new about ourselves each day?? So for today anyway, I plan to let my curls just grow. I am starting with a cut that I really like so it will be fun to watch how it grows out. It sure is a good thing that a woman is allowed to change her mind (over and over and over 
)
Posted by lulubell on 09/02 at 07:42 AM
Lulubell - I feel the same about you - I am always inspired by your words and your vibrant spirit!
So now you’ve joined those of us in the grow mode! :o) It will be fun to watch your curls grow!
I agree...we gotta change our minds at times and keep ‘em guessing!
Posted by greeneyes on 09/02 at 07:52 AM
Yes greeneyes,we sure do have to keep them guessing. My husband will have to take a few more photos soon. It will be exactly two months on either the 8th or 9th of September ( will have to check mastercard receipts) since my last color service of ANY KIND!! I cannot believe how determined I have become, not to mention the vanity thing. 
I seem to have this very orange-y or tangerine thing going on with the dyed section, I absolutely glow! Still didn’t find a silver ball cap but I do have a supply of other colors on hand. Perhaps I will have to check the book to see if there is a way to tone down my neon glow 
Posted by lulubell on 09/02 at 09:38 AM
Diana,
Since you seem to handle everything we throw at you with lightning speed, how about this:
“going gray looking great.com”
baseball caps and t-shirts? ...Just a little project for you to consider in your spare time… (I hope you’re laughing as you read this...although I do mean it...)
DianeW
Posted by DianeW on 09/02 at 11:22 AM
Whose laughing? I did think of this awhile ago. Then I got into the problem of how many sizes would I have to keep in inventory? What if some of the sizes didn’t sell? Would I have to eat them? Then I found a website that handles all that for you, you can design your own and they print on an as-ordered basis. Sounded good, but they didn’t have the kind of baseball caps I wanted. So then I shelved the whole thing for awhile. Mainly until I get a “real” shopping cart—which is a whole ‘nother ball of wax.
So you see how these things go. . . Sigh. Just know that the site is always evolving, and good things will pop up from time to time. A lot of it has to do with the inner “wiring”, but I am open to suggestions, and take everything seriously.
Posted by Diana Jewell on 09/02 at 11:49 AM
Well Diana,
Id buy the t-shirt! It makes me think of the “outreach” that you and every one of us newbies and grads are accomplishing. By going natural in public we are inviting more folks to come along.
In the 6 months since I started searching for your book and site, I have changed my thinking about grey as a color. That is probably the most liberating thing I would like to share with other people.
Ruth
Posted by ruthmgon on 09/03 at 03:51 AM
I had to share this… I bumped into a woman who I hadn’t seen since my transition. She stared at me in silence for a few moments then said “you look like Marie Antoinette”. Of course, in the days of powdered wigs grey was rather fashionable!
Posted by Sharon on 09/03 at 04:01 PM
Hahahaha Sharon that’s too funny. I can’t believe the things people say!!! For all it’s worth, I think you look amazing.
Ana
Posted by anab on 09/03 at 05:40 PM
Sharon—I think that gal had her history mixed up. Marie Antoinette had those mile-high powdered wigs. (Unless you’re teasing your hair lately??) Maybe she meant Joan of Arc! More fitting—a crusader! We’re ALL crusaders!
Posted by Diana Jewell on 09/04 at 07:16 AM
Its been 9 wks since my last color, my skunk stripe is really showing now! My hair is colored oriental black so I literally do have a skunk stripe. I’m starting to get comments at work by both my coworkers and patients. One of my male colleagues admitted to me that his wife colors his hair once a month but he did not say what he thought of me shunning my hair coloring. Another male colleague pulled me aside and asked if I was deliberately allowing my hair to go gray. I replied, Yes I am, is it obvious?? he looked at me like I was crazy! lol...2 days ago a coworker who is also a friend, grabbed me by my arm, pulled me aside and asked me, “why are you doing this?!” ME: “What are you talking about?”, HER: “your hair! why do you want to look old? ME: I don’t look old and I think its looking cool, I like it *BIG SMILE* HER: “All you have to do is slap on some color, keep busy for 45 minutes and wash it out, damn, i’ll even color for you if you don’t want to do it anymore” ME: “no way, but thanks” I went back to work and now everytime I see her, I know she cringes inside when I see her eyeball my head! LOL!
Posted by cancun.mermaid on 09/04 at 09:08 PM
Gray hair=Old, Wow, that has been so rooted in us!! Do these people ever think about all the people in the public eye who underneath the “colors” of their hair lurk gray heads and if the true colors showed would they all of a sudden fall into the “old” category?! Sad that we still judge people on color. Be it skin or hair or whatever. It’s the inside of the package that counts. Maybe one day....
Posted by sallee on 09/05 at 10:30 AM
Veronica--I loved reading these dialogues you’ve ! You handled them beautifully! We’ve said it before: The times, they are a-changing! People need to get over it!
Posted by newbie2 on 09/05 at 11:48 AM
I forgot to mention my visit to the DMV 2 wks ago. I moved back to California from Illinois and needed to get a new license. On my application for hair color I put down “black/gray”. The gal processing my application said that she was going to put “brown” for my hair color. I told her I was “going gray”. She says, oh honey, I know you will be going back to coloring. Can you believe that? She had like 5 shades of brown with brassy chunky highlights. I should have asked her what colors she has listed on her license!
Posted by cancun.mermaid on 09/05 at 10:05 PM
Veronica,
You have already won this battle! IF you can deal with insensitive clods like this all the time, you are my hero.
If you want a superheroine to model yourself after, check out Rogue from the Xmen: Marvel comics. My comic loving boyfriend pointed her out to me. She has a white streak of hair and kicks a** like you do!
Here is what http://www.comicvine.com says about her:"Shortly after moving into the X-Men’s headquarters, Rogue changed her hair back to its original style with the single white streak, to reflect her inner change and to support the idea of a fresh start.”
It sounds to me like the skunk stripe IS cool!
Ruth
Posted by ruthmgon on 09/06 at 03:34 AM
Diana,
It may be way out there for a story idea, and most of us ladies are SO not in the demographic that Marvel comics writes to, but Rogue is an interesting character! Strong female, distinctive white streak in hair, part of the cool Avengers and X men series...Just an idea!
Ruth
Posted by ruthmgon on 09/06 at 04:13 AM
Hey Ruth—I actually did a homepage header about Rogue back in May. And, of course, Halle Berry as Storm was no slouch in the gray department, either. You can find her pic in the Gray Today article “Hip, Hip, Hooray?”
But no harm in re-playing a strong symbol—and I love the quote you gave above. So I’ll do it! Thanks for the idea. 
Posted by Diana Jewell on 09/06 at 05:53 AM
Hey Rosa,
Just saw your pictures. You look really good. Sure makes me think about the chop more seriously. Congratulations!
AnaB
Posted by anab on 09/06 at 01:42 PM
Hey Ruth, Thanks so much for your comment! some of the comments are from people who either love it or hate it. It seems the ones who love it are of a creative, artistic nature.
Posted by cancun.mermaid on 09/06 at 09:51 PM
Hello Everyone! I’m a newbie! I’ve been wanting to go gray for some time and finally gathered enough courage to start. June 20th was the last day to touch up my roots! I let my hair grow until I couldn’t stand ‘the line’ any longer. So, last Friday I cut my hair shorter than it has ever been. It is shorter than a pixie! I found a copy of the out of print book on eBay and then this site. I can’t wait to receive the book because I can use all the help I can find! 
Posted by going_silver on 09/08 at 03:09 PM
Welcome going_silver, you have come to the right place for help not to mention support, encouragement, friendship and so on and so on! You will find Diana’s book a great help in so many ways. Please send in some photos so we can all meet you (so to speak) Then get ready for some great fun!!
Posted by lulubell on 09/08 at 03:44 PM
Welcome, going silver, to the sisterhood of gray. If it’s support and encouragement you’re looking for you found the right website. You should send in some pics so we can watch your transition. Take care.
Posted by sallee on 09/08 at 04:27 PM
Hi Going Silver—so glad you found us. We’ll get you through this—and I second everybody’s invitation to send in your pics. Congrats on your last root touch-up day, and your new cut. Everything takes a bit of getting used to, and everybody transitions in their own way. As you can see from our Newbie sections. But it’s all really quite an adventure, and I hope you enjoy it! If you don’t want to send in your pics, another good place to post is “Playing the Waiting Game.” You’ll find lots of like-minded silvers-to-be there, too!
Until your book arrives, explore the site— you’ll find lots of information and new things to try here, too.
Posted by Diana Jewell on 09/09 at 05:49 PM
Hi Diana,
I’ll work on the pictures-I wish I’d snap a few before last Friday to show the initial gray growth before the buzz! My hair has been shoulder length for a long time so I shock myself every time I look in the mirror! Super short and gray at the same time takes some adjusting!
Also, wish I knew about your new book prior to buying one on eBay...sorry.
Are you aware of Phytophanere capsules? I’ve read very positive reviews but thought I’d ask you too.
Thanks for the encouragement!
Going Silver
Posted by going_silver on 09/10 at 02:09 PM
Hi Diana, I just love the web site. I sent in some pictures tonight of what I look like with my dark died hair. I’m going tomorrow for a hair cut, not short but maybe a couple of inches. My son told me tonight that he thought I would look great with silver streaks coming in my hair, what a sweetheart. Just what you need to hear when you are really not sure about this process.
Posted by southern girl on 09/10 at 07:37 PM
Diana! The new Members Album is so AWESOME!!!! For some of us that have the “gray matter” leakage problem this is a life saver!!! I’m having a hard time keeping all the “D” names in order! Thank you for all your hard work, $,and creative energy! It’s like an “treehouse club” for Silvers!
Posted by elizabeth on 09/12 at 06:40 AM
Yes, Diana, thank you. The album is great, and like Elizabeth, I can’t keep everyone straight. I go through the galleries at least once a day, trying to get names and faces to attach themselves.
Posted by sallee on 09/12 at 09:27 AM
Diana,
Thank you so much for the encouragement of this site and your book. I am a newbie and just found this site recently, although I had read your book two years ago. I even shared it with my hairdresser, who has actually been very supportive. I think your book was a big help in that.
I am 41 and have chosen to not color my hair. It just didn’t seem right or somehow healthy to me and I have always loved silver hair. However, the reactions I get from people are occasionally mixed as to why someone so “young” wouldn’t cover the grey. I have dark brown hair with a dusting of pewter/silver. My mother is deceased and always colored her hair. My two sisters color their hair as do friends, so your book and sites like this are very helpful to my feeling not so alone in my decision to “do that nature girl thing” as my one sister put it.
Today I went out to lunch with my husband (who has always been supportive) and in the middle of our conversation about something else, out of the blue he complimented me on how my pretty my hair looked with the mix of grey and brown.
I have been all over the site (and what a great site it is) and have been very encouraged by all the lovely pictures and stories. The more grey I get in my hair, the more I am reassured in my decision. But your site definitely helps. Thank you again.
Posted by chocolatesilver on 09/12 at 07:44 PM
Well, thank you, chocolatesilver, for those nice words! And I love your username—it sounds yummy! I’m also glad you shared your book with your hairdresser—sometimes the only way to get them on our “side” is to be pro-active about it. The fear of losing color business is a strong one, but it should be balanced against the fear of losing clients, period. As more and more women choose to go natural, for whatever reason, salons have to discover new ways of working with these clients, whether it’s great styling, conditioning treatments, highlights, glazes, or products they can sell along with every appointment. Women who go silver are much more inclined to want to keep their hair in great, shining condition.
Your hair sounds very pretty indeed, and I’m glad your husband tells you so! As you know, it will continue to evolve, and that’s part of the reason silver is so exciting. Some hair color looks like it’s frozen in time—silver never does. I hope you do stick with it, and with this site. Why not consider sending in your pics?
Posted by Diana Jewell on 09/13 at 05:04 AM
Yes chocolatesilver, please send in a photo, we just love new newbies here! Welcome to this group of silver sisters, it so nice to have you along for the ride. Buckle your seatbelt
Posted by lulubell on 09/13 at 05:09 AM
Thank you for the welcome! I realize in my post I said “sites like this.” There really aren’t other sites like this. When I originally went looking online for information about how to care for grey hair it was mostly about how to cover grey hair. It is nice to find a site that celebrates it.
Posted by chocolatesilver on 09/13 at 07:44 AM
I had a funny discussion with my family the other night, when I was lamenting that my stylist was not in support of my decision to keep my hair natural (going gray).
Husband: Why wouldn’t she be in support of it?
Me: well, I guess I’m robbing her of $100. every six weeks by not going in.
8 year old daughter: Wouldn’t she be the one robbing you?
Me & husband: laughing hysterically -GOOD POINT!
I love how ‘to the point’ and insightful that girl is. Just had to share.
welcome Chocolatesilver - we are similar age & similar stories. Glad we both found this site.
Posted by MsMika on 09/13 at 09:02 AM
I LOVE this!
Posted by Diana Jewell on 09/13 at 09:37 AM
hi choc/silver...love that name!!
welcome...you are SOOO right this isthe only site of its kind and thanks again to diana for this great oppurtunity to make new pals in cyber land..if i am at the comp my son wil ask what are you looking at or who are you writing to ...this coming from the facebook generation!!! ha ha now it is pretty muuch moms on her site again!!
thanks again and enjoy enjoy
louann
Posted by lainla3 on 09/13 at 02:06 PM
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