Thank you, Diana. What a great idea! I am officially a skunk now. 1 inch of silver line adorning my dyed reddish straw hair.
My newest way of coping with this stage I have to thank Barbara for. She recently mentioned German TV personality Ina Muller. I was fascinated by the way she pulls back her curls with what looks like bobby pins. I now wear my hair like that and it works!!!All that shows is lovely silver around the face and there is no line where my hair usually parts. So, thank you Babara and all you curly skunk ladies, check out Ina and give those bobby pins a try.
Eva

Posted by silvercurl on 03/02 at 04:54 AM

What a cute idea , Diana. This is awesome. Anyone remember the cartoon Jose and the Pussycats? I think the one with the black hair and skunk stripe is Alexandra.  Well, that’s me. I’ve always worn my hair in different ways, because it’s always been long. I’m proud of my skunk stripe, so I’m not even trying to cover it up. I have a cowlick at the crown of my head, and when I colored it, it almost looked like a bald spot. It wasn’t, it was just that my scalp was so white in comparison to the dark brown, and that’s where my hair had this little part starting down the back. So, I would have to take a brush a cover that up and spray it with hairspray. Well, the nice thing about the gray having grown out so much now is that I don’t have to worry about it.  The crown is all gray. so I guess for me the skunk stripe is better than looking like I have a bald spot!!

Posted by kim on 03/02 at 05:15 AM

Kim, funny how we manage to feel pretty once we make up our minds that silver is the only way to go. I agree, skunk is better than bald.
We are snowed in, how about you? It is very pretty .

Posted by silvercurl on 03/02 at 05:26 AM

We’ve got about 6 inches so far in Baltimore. Thank goodness I did not have to go to work today.Yeah!

Posted by kim on 03/02 at 07:17 AM

I heard about the snow storm the east coast would be having on the way home from spending and 80 degree day at the beach wearing jeans and a tank top!  I felt really guilty, but it looks like we’re going to get some more rain, so at least we’ll have some kind of weather!

I don’t really have anything to say about the “skunk"line, except hang in there!!

Posted by sallee on 03/02 at 09:32 AM

I honestly thought of it as my “racin’ stripe” The wider it got, the closer I was to my goal.  I guess because my hair isn’t all that white (darn it!), but is instead sort of pewtery, it bothered me less than others.  Still, it was my racin stripe!

Posted by SoCalSilver on 03/02 at 09:34 AM

Sallee, 80 degrees? I think I’ll move. I’m so done with winter and cold. The only thing that keeps me going right now is the fact that cherry blossoms will be out soon.
Your new picture is fabulous, by the way.
Eva

Posted by silvercurl on 03/02 at 10:21 AM

I’m done with the cold too! When my husband retires, I would live to move west. Racing stripe sounds soooo much better than Skunk strip, I have to admit.

Posted by kim on 03/02 at 11:37 AM

I’ve said it a hundred times before, but highlights are what got me through my skunk stripe stage.  It softened the line between the two and just really helped a lot. 

Ok, it did start raining here in California, and the temp dropped to 69 degrees.  At least it’s something, right?

Posted by RunnerGal on 03/02 at 01:39 PM

yea...it is raining...again...but not hard atall...jsut enough to make my car look dirty....
and keep the dogs in the house…

i actually saw a skunk in my neighborhood once...(and it wasn’t me!!)

Posted by louann on 03/02 at 01:41 PM

Well the rain hasn’t hit Seal Beach yet - but what a weird storm.  Cloudy - but balmy - about 72º out.  Had a beautiful shorts filled weekend though!

The skunk line WAS the hardest part for me.  There were many times I almost broke down, but I’m a pretty stubborn woman and once I made my mind up - it’s made.  Had my husbands support - so that helped too.

The easiest thing for me to do was pull my hair back. I never went shorter than shoulder length, so I just pulled it back in what I call a half up half down.  I was all white around the edges of my face, so I looked totally white.  During the hot summer my hair was in a perpetual pony tail. After nearly a years growth I finally cut the rest of the color off, and had layers put in which took care of most of the rest.  Oh did I breath a sigh of relief and was I ever happy that I did it.  I just LOVE my color!

louann - we get skunks here all the time...I have a couple of pictures of one...you want to see?  It’s dark though, they are nocturnal...and my little Chihuahua has been blessed 3 times by a skunk - now THAT’S awful!!!  Now I tell her when I let her out for the last time at night - stay away from the black and white kitties!  LOL

Posted by SBKaren on 03/02 at 02:03 PM

Thankyou Diana, this Skunk Club brought a smile to my face and it left me chuckling.I am finding that a little humor in this process really helps alot.  This stage of growing is challenging...and it helps so much to hear about what the rest are feeling.  What I have found is when I am talking to someone their eyes just seem to keep looking towards the top of my head!!! I really should say at that point “ yep it’s on purpose!”

Posted by celticme on 03/02 at 03:10 PM

Hi Guys,I am cracking up from reading all these comments!!I am so happy I am not alone in this.My skunk stripe is really showing it looks so white next to the uglydark brown mess ,that you can call hair,I know I am so happy I mad my mind up there is no turning back for me. Just wanted to say thank you to everyone,when I feel down I just check out the site& it keeps me going!!!!!!

Posted by new york on 03/02 at 03:36 PM

WE ARE OUT AND ROARING!!!  whoooo hooooo

Posted by louann on 03/02 at 04:26 PM

Hi ,Sorry but I live in Illinois now ,I grew up in ny I guess it is still in my blood,This is so cool no more coloring,yesssssssss

Posted by new york on 03/02 at 05:14 PM

At almost 3 months growth, I am in skunk mode.  I am still full of determination,and am not backing out of this decision, but at the same time, I realize I am probably in the worst stage of it. Until I get it cut I guess. That is a decision that I haven’t made for sure yet. It would speed things along though wouldn’t it!!!!!

Posted by KarenIme on 03/02 at 05:57 PM

For me right now ,I do not want to cut ,I need time with this,what helps is that Iretired last year so i can be a house mouse ,but what is so crazy is that I want the white to come in,that is what I think the color is? 

Posted by new york on 03/02 at 06:41 PM

Just found this website and I am one of the newbies that posted yesterday about being in the skunk club.  I have not cut my hair nor colored my hair in since December 15, 2008.  It has grown out about 2 inches. It is defintely noticable to other people and I do get asked, “Is it not time for a color” as they point to my hair.  My hair length is almost to my shoulders but I don’t want to cut too short and I am not hiding the gray.  I just tell people “It is what it is”.  It looks like I have a halo around my face!  I must be an angel, right

I have to say the weekends are the hardest to get through because I have been tempted to purchase that bottle of hair dye, but I am noticing that my hair is coming in thicker and full.  I have noticed new growth.  I really believe that 20 years of colored has caused my hair to thin out.  I am looking forward to stronger, healthier hair.  Take care in the snow - I am in Texas - no snow, but we sure do have some Wind here.

Posted by scmcgee on 03/02 at 07:33 PM

KarenIme, you really don’t have to get it cut, if you don’t want to. I have mine short, and I still see a big stripe. And I still have to WAIT.

But if you DO get it cut, send in a picture!

Posted by butterfly_dream on 03/02 at 07:41 PM

Does anybody else notice that your hair looks completely different depending on where you part it? Mine does. When I part it one place, there is all of this white showing and when I part it somewhere else, barely any. I could look completely different from one day to the next.

My hair person wove in a couple of shades of brown (closer to my pepper color) all over my bright red hair and it really toned down the skunk effect.

However the pure white in front is impossible to tone down. I kind of like it. I feel like I earned both of my white stripes!

-Annie 100

Posted by AnnieS on 03/02 at 09:37 PM

Hi Butterfly_dream, I will definately send in a picture if I get it cut. In fact I was thinking about sending one in anyways as I have to show off my accomplishment of about 1 1/2 inchs of new growth. I feel like this is somewhat like waiting for a baby to be born.... What trimester would I be in right now?? LOL,, I think I am still in my first. I’ll let everyone know when I feel the first kick. 

Posted by KarenIme on 03/03 at 07:38 AM

Hi scmcgee..  I love your attitude! It is funny how some days I feel like ‘it is what it is’, and then other days it’s like.... ‘Oh no, another weekend evening event, and I can’t cover it up with a hat’ Not turning back though. Still going forward with the project!!!! 

Posted by KarenIme on 03/03 at 07:50 AM

Early November 2008 was my last color. I just went this past Saturday for my 4th haircut and emerged salt and pepper. Lotsa salt going on here! I really like it after dying for 30 years. Enuf!!

I have some reddish brown tips at the top (very unnoticeable)but I should be totally dye free at the end of this month.  I am fortunate that short hair is probably best for me. I have a short pixie (even though I said about 2 years ago I wouldn’t go this short) I am willing to concede to get this process over with. This process is like loosing weight - yeah it takes awhile but the time is going to pass anyway and the results will show soon enough.  We can do anything we want! I now find I’m not standing in front of the mirror checking the roots anymore! Maybe because I don’t have to.

Anna

Posted by tellanna25 on 03/03 at 09:16 AM

AnnieS, Yes, my hair looks totally different depending on where I put my part.  In fact, I started parting it on my left side because it looked more silver than when I parted it on my right side.  It’s funny, because I always parted on the other side, my new growth is totally uneven.  I have about 6 inches of old stuff on my right side, and only 3 inches on my left.  Can’t wait to be rid of it all!

Posted by RunnerGal on 03/03 at 12:48 PM

Just wanted to say this is so much fun!!!!! We can do this!!!!

Posted by new york on 03/03 at 01:20 PM

I’m a wet skunk here in NoCA.  Lots of rain and thunder.  I’m ready to hibernate for a few weeks.  3 months into transition and it’s getting tough.  Just got a haircut last Sat. with a new stylist (didn’t feel like seeing my regular person and have her look at me like i’m crazy - doesn’t support transitioning).  My hair was short to begin with but I was still disappointed with the cut.  she used a razor for the entire cut and I feel like a helmet head.  My old stylist used scissors and always gave me a good haircut.  I waited for 3 months and I guess I wasn’t being realistic about how long this was going to take. I was expecting more style and silver.

Whether to go short or stay long is tough.  I do think if your hair is long enough on the sides you can pull it back with clips and that’s a really nice look with the silver framing your face.  With short hair you can’t really do that and it just kind of hangs showing a part on top.  My hair is about 3 in. on top and the sides are just at my ear lobe.  Back is very short.  Headbands don’t really work either, hair just sticks out on top and sides.

Help!!! Should I go shorter?  I need advice and some tips to get through this slump.

Posted by Judy707 on 03/03 at 02:29 PM

I got thru the skunk stage with extra highlights and a lighter base color the last time I had dye put in my hair.  Granted, there was still a difference between my natural color and the dyed ends, but the contrast was less.  Then, when I had 2” of growth, I got the pixie cut that I now LOOOVE! 

At one point when I got beyond the stage of looking like I just hadn’t gotten to the hairdresser in a while, I thought about having a T-shirt made with an arrow pointing up toward my head and the words “I meant to do that” on it!!!

Posted by Darlene on 03/03 at 03:25 PM

Hi Judy, I know how you feel.  Going shorter would get rid of a lot of old color but then you would be left with even shorter hair. I chose to cut “down to the wood” and it took me a while to adjust to the look. I have said very often that I am glad I did go so short because my transition was completed.  On the other hand, I don’t think I would do it again.  My hair has grown out quite a bit and I love it!!  In the end I just traded one transition for another because now I am waiting for some more length.  If I were you I would let it grow out some more and then when you do get it cut it won"t have to be so short. Good Luck to you!  PS..this will all be behind you before you know it!!

Posted by lulubell on 03/03 at 03:33 PM

Lulubell & Darlene:  Just looked at both your pics.  I think both of your cuts are really cute.  My hair is really straight.  When I was coloring, my bangs were long like yours Darlene in your first pic, but my sides were short like your latest pixie cut, with more length in back that flipped up.  I think my recent haircut (no style) bothers me more than my silver roots.  Doesn’t feel like the cute little haircut I was imagining after growing it for 3 months.  Wish I had curly hair.  However, one thing I know for sure, it’s usually best to be patient and try to do nothing for a while.  I hope to wait until the beginning of May for my next cut.  Thanks for the encouragement.

Posted by Judy707 on 03/03 at 04:28 PM

You are very welcome Judy707! Waiting until May is a good idea, then you will have more hair to work with to create the “cute” cut that you want.  Perhaps you should go back to your former stylist who gave you the cut you liked the most.

Posted by lulubell on 03/03 at 04:37 PM

When I finally decided to go gray, I did it cold turkey.  I would occasionally put in one of those Roux temp rinses to even out the skunky parts, but for the most part I just “let it roll.”

I did not cut my hair short because I have a very full/square face and I didn’t want to look like one of the “Campbell Soup Kids.” I put it in a ponytail for the most part and then when it was about 4” of skunk I kept it layered mid-neck length and just toughed it out.  I also used matching gray hair pieces over my own ponytail.

I am almost there...just a few tiny little bits of very light blonde here and there. 

It was totally worth it.  I am proud of my gray hair and want to become one of those gloriously beautiful (with makeup, of course) silver haired foxes.

When other women tell me they wish they could do what I did I tell them that they most certainly can. It just takes a little time and patience before you become completely, naturally beautiful.

Mother Crone

Posted by Mother Crone on 03/03 at 05:00 PM

Good for you Mother Crone!!!  I especially like the idea of using matching gray hair pieces over your ponytail! Are you new to GGLG??

Posted by lulubell on 03/03 at 05:15 PM

Hi Lulubell,

Yes, I just signed up last night.  Funny but for the past year I’ve been searching for a site that promotes gray haired women and finally, I found GGLG!

Most stylists would prefer that we color our hair but I was very adamant about it this time.  She tsk tsk tsk’d me saying I would look and feel old and even she was impressed with the end result.

I can’t imagine ever going back to coloring my hair.  I like my gray hair!

Several months ago when I was at the stylist I met a woman there who had gone gray, loved it but for some reason decided to go back to permanently coloring her hair dark brunette.  And there she was having her gray roots covered up again.  I was thinking, “Oh, poor you.  Now you’re a slave again to the every 4 week root dye job.”

Posted by Mother Crone on 03/03 at 05:43 PM

Judy707,
I agree with Lulubell.  I would go back to your former stylist - but maybe in 4-5 weeks.  Oh, those dreaded razor cuts. You are almost there! I think if you go for a pixie (and of course that depends if you feel comfortable with very short) it shouldn’t take more than 5 months to transition naturally. My hairdresser also was not enthused about the grey hair, but with the last cut being almost there except for maybe 1/2” brown tips on top, even she admitted it looked good and commented on how pretty the silver is.

Posted by tellanna25 on 03/04 at 07:54 AM

Tellana25 & Lulubell:  I am going to go back to my old stylist.  I will be at 4 months at the beginning of April and I think with that much silver growth under my belt, she will be supportive. 

Has anyone else has a razor cut and what did you think?  Is is required for a short pixie cut?  My old stylist would only use the razor at the end of the haircut for texture. 

Tellanna25, that’s how I invision my next cut, a pixie with about 1/2 in. of brown tips.  I think the brown tips could look kind of cool.

Posted by Judy707 on 03/04 at 09:15 AM

Judy707, I think if you tell your old stylist you were avoiding her because you felt she was unsupportive but you love the way she cuts your hair, she’ll have a change of heart.  Sometimes people don’t understand how their comments affect us, and I’m sure she was the same.  I can hear the frustration in your voice about your new cut.  Can you wear hats at all?  There are some really cute trendy styles out there these days.  And in this wet weather, hats could be totally appropriate.  Know that we are all here for you and that this too shall pass.  You WILL get through this.

Posted by RunnerGal on 03/04 at 09:35 AM