You wouldn’t think changing your hair color would change your life, would you? Oh, I know we’ve all heard the phrase, “Blondes Have More Fun!” but that always sounded like a sales pitch to me!
We all make choices and changes every day, and most are pretty inconsequential and we really don’t see much difference because of them. About a year and a half ago, I made a choice that wound up being BIG in the small scale of things!
I decided after coloring my hair medium brown for the past 30 years that I was going to let it to its natural icy, white color! It was partly a functional decision, my roots had gotten harder and harder to cover at home (although my colorist Dennis did his best!) and I wasn’t going to invest in more expensive, professional color. So, I did what my hairstylist had been suggesting I do for a while, I went au naturel!
Actually, the grandkids played a pretty big part in the decision too. In the past when they saw even a single, gray hair they would quickly point it out! One particular day when they were over, and my roots were pretty white, I reached up and pushed my hair back from my face. Griffin saw it and commented! I said,” Yes, Griffin, that’s the real color of my hair!” His response was so funny! He said, “You dye your hair?” I said, “Yes, I have for 30 years now.” He said, “Well, you’d look better if you let it be the color it’s supposed to be!” As few days later when Hallie came over she said, “ Grammie, you just need to wash that brown out of your hair!” (Oh, if only it had been that easy!)
So, the dye was cast, or to be more accurate, the dye was actually cast off, and I started my journey to freedom! My hairdresser was so excited, she had been telling me for quite some time that I wouldn’t believe what people paid to get their hair colored the color mine was naturally! She added some highlights to make the process easier. Then it was just down to grow and cutting, growing and cutting, etc. It took almost exactly a year to go from medium brown all over to what you see here! (Now some people don’t want to cut their hair and they just grow it out, but I chose the grow and cut route.)
I didn’t mention the fact that my husband LOVES it! And I do too, although I will admit that every- once- in -a- while, I still do a double take when I see my reflection!
I think I’ve experienced two kinds of freedom as a result of this change. First of all, it is so nice not to have to think before every event, wonder if I need to do my color? Spraying on root touch-up before I would go out became a daily routine and anytime it was windy, I would worry that my white roots were showing in the breeze!
But the more profound freedom has been the freedom to be myself, and to ROCK it! I love it! I feel more confident in areas like what I choose to wear. I might make some combinations, or try something that I wouldn’t have tried before. Who knows, I may even get bold enough to wear white after Labor Day! The word sassy even comes to mind! I kind of feel sorry for the people in the color aisles now, they don’t know what they’re missing! This stuff is “silver power”!
If you decide to start your journey, there are a lot of sites on Instagram and other social media outlets where you can follow other silver sisters in their transition. You can also find great silver hair cut looks on Pinterest. Pick one and go for it! A word of advice, though, don’t let it grow untamed and unenhanced! Get with your hairstylist see what she can do to help you make this change as painlessly as possible. Get a good cut and keep its shape with regular trims, I loved my layers which growing my color out. One resource to consider if finances are a concern, is to find a professional cosmetology school where you get services done by supervised students. I did this for many years for my cuts and some color and usually had great results. Don’t forget to take advantage of all the cute hair accessories out there, I’m partial to headbands as you have probably figured out! I find them all kinds of places, the grocery, to Dollar Tree, to ordering some of them online. What are you waiting for, you can always go back to color if you don’t like the change, but I bet you don’t! The Silver Express is pulling out, Whoo Hoo, Get on Board!!
