|
Post by Restless Spirit on Nov 7, 2022 16:45:11 GMT
Never say never. For a lot of reasons, I have decided to finally let my hair go gray (or is it grey?). However you want to spell it, now is the time.
I’m starting out with a) a very short pixie cut - so I can’t just cut off the color and b) I have one month old color that is fading horribly fast. Part of the reason I think this is a time, is that after spending $165, the color just didn’t hold. I refuse to start spending more money by going more frequently. Also, I have this very short pixie, that I really have not been happy with. I really want to let my hair grow longer. My hairdresser canceled my November haircut and I won’t see her for another 6 weeks. She won’t be pleased that not only do I want to not have my haircut and let it grow, but also that I don’t want to color. She has been the biggest promoter of a short cut and color for my hair. She said it’s the only thing I can do because of my fine thin hair. I’m just over it. I don’t care that I have fine and thin hair and shouldn’t wear my hair long. I want to go gray and a wear a short bob - not long, long hair, but no more pixie. I know it’s going to take me 18 months to two years. I’m OK with that.
So - any hints or tips for me as I go through this transition? Did you use color to help you make a transition? Any particular products, particularly if you have fine and thin hair? Are there any blogs or YouTube videos I might find useful?
When I let my hair grow a little bit, I use the curly girl method because I have a very slight bend/curl to my hair. I love that I don’t have to use nearly as much product and I can let my hair air dry so I can avoid heat and using a flat iron.
For those of you that have gone gray, is there anything you wish you would or would not have done during the process? Any ideas and thoughts are very welcome.
TIA
|
|
naby64
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,224
Jun 25, 2014 21:44:13 GMT
|
Post by naby64 on Nov 7, 2022 16:56:36 GMT
I am really no help. I decided about 4 yrs ago to quit coloring my hair. It wasn't long but I had more length than a pixie. I just sat in the chair and told my stylist to give me a short pixie. That took care of most of the color.
As it is not an option for you, I would just stop. I don't think there is really a good way to do it unless you can find a temporary color that would get you through a couple of haircuts. The kind that washes out after 6-8 washings. My hair grows extremely fast so it didn't take long for mine to get there.
I can't help with anything else. I have coarse fine hair if that makes sense. And thick. I have had so many stylist tell me they didn't realize I had so much hair until they started cutting it.
|
|
|
Post by gar on Nov 7, 2022 16:58:06 GMT
I bit the bullet during lockdown which made the transition much easier! 😊 All I use now is a purple shampoo every third wash to stop the grey looking brassy.
|
|
|
Post by cindyupnorth on Nov 7, 2022 17:03:14 GMT
I've been going more grey. I had gotten highlights before and it wasn't really covering everything, so then I got an all over color, and didn't like it. It So now I'm back to high lights, and just letting the grey come thru.
|
|
|
Post by finsup on Nov 7, 2022 17:06:11 GMT
I didn’t use any products or transition haircuts, I just used lockdown to finally do what I’d been contemplating for a few years. Most of my gray was and still is at my hairline anyway so it was kind of a natural progression.
|
|
CeeScraps
Pearl Clutcher
~~occupied entertaining my brain~~
Posts: 3,894
Jun 26, 2014 12:56:40 GMT
|
Post by CeeScraps on Nov 7, 2022 17:20:02 GMT
No products for me. I also didn't cut my hair. I just let it go. As I went back for haircuts more color was cut off. It's ok........
|
|
|
Post by ameslou on Nov 7, 2022 17:28:42 GMT
How long it will it be between your last cut and your December cut? 12 weeks? That's a really long time between trims when it's that short.
TBH, I'd set up a consultation with another stylist. Sounds like you're not in love with your current stylist's advice or the quality of the work performed. Maybe another stylist will have other suggestions about cuts and how to transition to grey.
FWIW - my hair is fine and thin with a bit of wave and I much prefer it shoulder length - it's easier to style. After I wash my hair, I rinse in cold water then run some curl cream through it. I often will do that right before bed and wake up with a wavy hair. I've heard of some folks using a lowlight strategy as they grow out the grey, but that's for sure not my area of expertise.
|
|
|
Post by essiejean on Nov 7, 2022 17:31:41 GMT
I bit the bullet during lockdown which made the transition much easier! 😊 All I use now is a purple shampoo every third wash to stop the grey looking brassy. This was my method as well - I only wash my hair every 2-3 days so I use the purple conditioner with each wash. My full on gray is in my profile pic. The back is a bit more salt & pepper but the front is very gray/white. Very happy with the results and I get sooooo many compliments on my "color & cut" - I have to giggle cause I'm spending about $150 a month less then I did when I actually "colored" I also have to say that my stylist (whom I've been with for years) was fully on board with the change even though it meant less money in her pocket each month. That is when you know you have a good stylist! I try to make up for it by buying ALL of my hair product from her.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 6, 2024 11:30:28 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2022 17:38:15 GMT
So I went gray. It's more pepper than gray but there's a lot of gray. I did a super short pixie cut and didn't see a hairdresser for over a year. Granted COVID made that part easy. I didn't buy dye either. After a year, I went to a new stylist and asked to have my hair shaped to better suit a grow out. I went back 6 months later for another shape/trim. Now it's shoulder length with a couple of gray streaks, mostly on the underside. I'm due to have another trim in which I'll ask for a style that suits my fine hair better.
Find a new hairdresser.
|
|
|
Post by katlady on Nov 7, 2022 17:42:37 GMT
I think as long as you keep trimming your hair, it will grow out nicely. Since you have short hair, the growth won’t be too noticeable. I stopped coloring mine during the lockdown. My hair is long, so the ends were a different color, but I eventually got that trimmed off. It is so nice not to spend $200 (with tip) every 6 weeks.
|
|
|
Post by imkat on Nov 7, 2022 17:52:07 GMT
My hair would be completely white without coloring. When the time comes, I thought I would just have it dyed all grey/white. Is that not a thing?
|
|
|
Post by Restless Spirit on Nov 7, 2022 18:01:23 GMT
Find a new hairdresser. Ugh. You are all correct. I really should. She’s done my hair for over 14 years since I moved here. My DD initially introduced me to her when I visited her from out of state. Now she, my grandson, my DH and I all go to her. She now owns her salon and she’s super busy and it’s very hard to get appointments. If you miss one, it’s a 6 week wait at minimum to get in. I do have to wonder what’s going on with her though. When I got my haircut five weeks ago, I usually book months out, but she would not book anything for January. She was very vague about why when usually she’s adamant that I get those booked so I don’t miss out.
I’m thinking about switching to a “regular” shampoo and conditioner instead of sulfate free ones. I’ve used sulfate free products for years to try to preserve my color. Now I don’t care if it lifts out faster.
I think I will keep my December appointment with her and then go from there. If I get any pushback about not coloring and not cutting then that will be the end. It’s going to be a little awkward for the family members that still go to her, but I can’t help that.
ETA - my last few colors have been a low-light technique she uses. She doesn’t use an all over color, but just uses foils to add low lights into my hair. The result is as the color left out I do not have a strong line demarcation between the gray hair in the color hair. It just looks like I am going gray. I would just like to hasten in the process and get it over with. Ha.
Thanks for the replies!
|
|
garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,770
Location: So. Calif.
Jun 25, 2014 23:22:29 GMT
|
Post by garcia5050 on Nov 7, 2022 18:02:01 GMT
My hair would be completely white without coloring. When the time comes, I thought I would just have it dyed all grey/white. Is that not a thing? My hair is very white/silver on top. My regular gal is MIA- and has been for 3 months, so I have lots of roots. Maybe an inch and a half. I am dying my hair silver this week!! I’m very excited. I’m getting a silver balayage to help blend in the light/dark gray and not make the roots so noticeable when it grows out. New stylist thinks I need to come back maybe 3 more times, maybe every 5-6 months to blend a bit. Then I’ll be done. I guess I’ll see.
|
|
maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,791
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
|
Post by maryannscraps on Nov 7, 2022 18:07:24 GMT
I just had all my color lifted in foils, then toned gray. I love that I did it all at once and didn’t have to deal with growout. I had my second appointment and just had a cool glaze to tone it down. Way cheaper than what I was doing. I use a purple conditioner every 3 days or so. It was a lot of chemicals on my hair, but I’m really happy with it.
|
|
|
Post by Restless Spirit on Nov 7, 2022 18:07:33 GMT
My hair would be completely white without coloring. When the time comes, I thought I would just have it dyed all grey/white. Is that not a thing? My hair is very white/silver on top. My regular gal is MIA- and has been for 3 months, so I have lots of roots. Maybe an inch and a half. I am dying my hair silver this week!! I’m very excited. I’m getting a silver balayage to help blend in the light/dark gray and not make the roots so noticeable when it grows out. New stylist thinks I need to come back maybe 3 more times, maybe every 5-6 months to blend a bit. Then I’ll be done. I guess I’ll see. I was wondering about this. I am thinking that once my hair gets longer, that might be an option for me. It sounds like it would be really pretty. I would be interested in hearing about your results!
|
|
|
Post by crimsoncat05 on Nov 7, 2022 18:09:49 GMT
I'm not really any help to you, other than it sounds (kind of) like your hairstylist might not like that you won't be paying her so much $$$ any longer! Especially with a pixie haircut, which needs more frequent trims, and coloring, on top of a short haircut? Think of the money you'll save! Put all the $$$ you used to spend on your cut/coloring towards something fun you want to do!
I had only been getting highlights in my hair to help 'blend' with the gray, but I just finally quit. The appointment when she started 'painting' the entire top of my head to color all the roots was the day I said 'enough' with it. I did not want to end up an 80-year old woman with obviously fake, jet-black hair someday, lol.
My hair is naturally wavy, thick, and coarse, and the gray hair is even MORE coarse. So I use Redken 'all soft mega' shampoo and conditioner "for severely dry, coarse hair" on the recommendation of an Ulta stylist. Mine doesn't have enough gray to use gray-brightening products yet, I don't think.
eta: Right now my hair is brunette/silver so it's salt and pepper... but I kind of can't wait until when my hair is all white, so I can color it something fun, like pink or magenta!
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Nov 7, 2022 18:26:48 GMT
I'm sorry because I can't help, but I just wanted to say kudos for doing what you want to do. Your hairdresser can give their professional opinion about what they think is best for your type of hair, but at the end of the day, if you don't like that, or you no longer want that, then it's not right for you. I had my first few grays as a teen, and then during my pregnancy with my 1st, the amount of gray I had increased so much that when I went back to work after they were born, the gray in my hair was noticeable, despite it not being noticeable when I had left work 5 months earlier. And I just decided that I was not interested in coloring my hair from my late 20s until I was in my 70s, 80s, etc. as some women choose to do. It just wasn't for me. 20 years forward and my hair is more than 50% gray---maybe 6o or 65%? And I'm fine with it. I don't regret opting not to color it all of these years----even when a few people thought I was the grandma by the time my youngest came along.
|
|
garcia5050
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,770
Location: So. Calif.
Jun 25, 2014 23:22:29 GMT
|
Post by garcia5050 on Nov 7, 2022 18:39:17 GMT
My hair is very white/silver on top. My regular gal is MIA- and has been for 3 months, so I have lots of roots. Maybe an inch and a half. I am dying my hair silver this week!! I’m very excited. I’m getting a silver balayage to help blend in the light/dark gray and not make the roots so noticeable when it grows out. New stylist thinks I need to come back maybe 3 more times, maybe every 5-6 months to blend a bit. Then I’ll be done. I guess I’ll see. I was wondering about this. I am thinking that once my hair gets longer, that might be an option for me. It sounds like it would be really pretty. I would be interested in hearing about your results! on Friday, I’ll change my insta to public for a day and link to it. I’ll tag you.
|
|
Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,702
Location: Kansas City -ish
Jun 27, 2014 2:38:58 GMT
|
Post by Anita on Nov 7, 2022 20:36:21 GMT
Good for you! I had my hairdresser blend my graying line so it wasn't so stark, but really other than that the answer is to just let it grow. My complaint is that my hair just isn't as super gray as I hoped. It's not even quite 50/50 and I'm not loving it, but I'm going to keep growing it out and see. I'm about seven months in. It will take at least two years with my shoulder-length hair. I look at ladies with gorgeous silvers and envy them, but mine I guess isn't quite there, and I'm 52. Not sure what my hair is waiting for.
|
|
|
Post by Restless Spirit on Nov 7, 2022 21:27:49 GMT
Thank you everyone!
A new interesting development. Ha. I received an automated text saying I have an appointment Tomorrow. Say what?!?? That’s the appointment she told me was canceled. Color me confused. I am mediately texted her to find out if I had an appointment or not. She really wanted me to give the appointment to my DH (his appointment is on the next day). He has another appointment and can’t change his, so I told her I wanted to come in for a trim to start growing my hair out to a Bob and to transition to gray. I got …. Crickets. Didn’t hear from her until much later when she said “oh ok”. So she’s going to shape my nape and wants me to “think about growing into a bob”. I can tell she’s not thrilled.
I really do like her as a hairstylist and I’m will to work with her, but I really want to try to grow it (good grief it’s just hair!j. Same with the going gray. I can always color myself if I change my mind.
Again, thank you for your input.
|
|
maryannscraps
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,791
Aug 28, 2017 12:51:28 GMT
|
Post by maryannscraps on Nov 7, 2022 21:33:49 GMT
You know, I've been going to my hairdresser for 20+ years. I told her I wanted to go gray and longer, and you know what she said? Let's do it! She asked me a couple times if I was sure while she mixed the bleach -- she said it was a big change and she wanted me to be happy. I've been getting nothing but compliments on it. It's a pretty drastic change for me. My hair went white in my early thirties and I've been dying it ever since. I'm 60 now.
Heck, if you don't like it you can always go back to dying it. It's your hair -- why is she so invested in it looking a certain way?
|
|
|
Post by revirdsuba99 on Nov 7, 2022 22:10:57 GMT
I have grey hair and have for years. They found my first one when I was two. My grandfather had snow white hair which is what I wanted. My mother had her hair turn white like a ruffle around her face and it moved steadily back. I have grey hair. Right now far too long. That's too long in length not time...
|
|
|
Post by lisacharlotte on Nov 7, 2022 22:43:31 GMT
I stopped coloring my hair in 2018. It was already in a short pixie and growing out my color was a pain but I’m so happy with the results. it took about a year to get all the color cut off. I thought I would be grayer than I am. All my gray is around my face, the back still has color (I’m medium ash brown). I also had some lightening done to help blend my color with my gray. If I’d known my color would be so nice I’d have grown the dye out sooner. I’m silvery white around the face and it’s blends to darker in the back.
You just have to suffer through. You won’t know how it’s going to look until you get there. Also, consider that with your new color a style change might be in order. My silver/dark mix in a pixie was no bueno. I let my hair grow out to a chin length bob which highlights the light and dark nicely. I get tons of compliments on my color now that the longer length really shows it off.
|
|
kate
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,583
Location: The city that doesn't sleep
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
|
Post by kate on Nov 7, 2022 22:55:05 GMT
I had been getting highlights to help the grey blend in, so there wasn't a harsh line when I quit. My hair is usually around shoulder length. It's been getting much greyer in the last couple of years.
|
|
|
Post by femalebusiness on Nov 7, 2022 23:45:04 GMT
It was easy for me. My hair is naturally medium brown and when I was in my twenties I started bleaching it blonde. I hate grown out roots so for years I always touched up my roots every two weeks or sooner.
Then around fifty I noticed that I could go almost a month in between touchups. I then switched to ultra light blonde tint instead of bleach. Then I just kept going longer and longer between touchups as I got grayer and grayer My dark roots disappeared and the line of demarkation faded.
Now I am snow white, platinum blond. I also use purple shampoo and sometimes a little White Minx rinse. I take after my grandmother who was snow white from the time she was in her late twenties. It is very cool not to have to keep the color up any more.
|
|
|
Post by mollycoddle on Nov 7, 2022 23:55:22 GMT
I quit coloring my hair a long time ago. As it got gray, I was having to do the roots often. Then my hairdresser started talking about lowlights in addition to my highlights. I decided that I was tired of trying to keep up with my graying hair. I like it, and it is easy. And my hair is healthy.
I was just tired of fussing with it. No regrets.
|
|
ddly
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,019
Jul 10, 2014 19:36:28 GMT
|
Post by ddly on Nov 8, 2022 0:00:21 GMT
I went ash blonde for a bit and then decided to just go for it. My grey blended okay, not great but I grew it out enough that when I cut it short it was mostly grey. That was 4 years ago and I love my hair. I’ve grown it back out. Mine is fine but I have a lot. I also have a lot of wave. My daughter is a cosmetologist so I have that.
Good luck! You won’t regret it!
|
|
|
Post by ToniW on Nov 8, 2022 0:18:21 GMT
I started with black Asian hair. When I started going grey, I colored my hair until I decided I was sort of ready to go grey (took me 3 tries to actually go through with it.
What I did was I gradually started using a lighter shade, going lighter every so often. When I knew for sure I'd bite the bullet, I switched to semipermanent color until all the permanent color grew out, then I just stopped coloring. The semipermanent color eventually all faded away and that's where I've been since.
|
|
lavawalker1
Full Member
Posts: 488
Jul 9, 2021 21:41:57 GMT
|
Post by lavawalker1 on Nov 8, 2022 0:43:33 GMT
Several years ago my stylist started coloring my hair lighter, so the transition would be easier. I retired about a year before the pandemic, then my stylist retired when the pandemic started.I decided it was the perfect time to go gray. I’m just over 2 years in now, and I’m very close! My new hairdresser started using toner to help with the demarcation line. That helped a lot. Anyhow, I haven’t received much support. Friends aren’t really mean, but I’ve gotten comments about how they think it’s great, but they could never do it. Honestly, I’m not supper thrilled, but I don’t want to go back to the every 5 week root touch up thing. Anyhow, I follow a couple groups on FB that have been helpful and support. One is Silver Sisters, the other is Silver Revolution.
Good luck to you! I love the freedom of no coloring!
|
|
|
Post by gigito7 on Nov 8, 2022 0:54:03 GMT
Buy Purple Shampoo and conditioner. For me it tones the brassy color and makes my gray look nice.
|
|