Going gray is a personal decision.
It’s one well worth considering.
I began the journey of going gray in the year of 2020. The process wasn’t easy and it was hard to see myself go from a brunette to blonde to gray in a matter of about six months. But, it was the best decision I have ever made for myself. Since this time, I have had many come to me and say,
“I love your hair, but I could never do that to mine.”,
“Your hair is so pretty, but mine would not look that way.”,
and many have asked,
“How did you go gray?”
Let me preface this in saying. it wasn’t an easy decision. Mainly because I never believed I would go gray at age forty-six and I had so many fears of how it would end up looking, but at the end of the day, if I didn’t like it, I knew I could always go back. I cannot tell you how many times I wanted to go back, but I am so glad I stayed the course and listened to my friends and family.
My greatest advocate was my hairstylist, and also my sister in law, who encouraged me and gave me the best tips to keep my hair looking healthy and fresh. With her help, I was able to confidently make the transition and know my hair was not going to suffer in the process.
Today, I am going to share how I did it, why I did it, and my favorite products that helped me along the way.
Please be aware. going gray is and should be a slow process. The last thing you want is to damage your hair by over processing your hair to get there faster. It has taken a full three years for the gray to fully come in. But before we get into that, let me explain the reasons why I decided to go gray.
My roots had to be covered with root cover up at four weeks following a color treatment.
I found myself having to color my hair every six weeks!
I didn’t like the exposure to hair chemicals that often.
I didn’t have the time to maintain it.
My hair began to get dry and fall out quite a bit.
I was tired of having to cover my grays and the cover up products just didn’t do that great of a job!
If you are feeling this, then continue on!!! I am going to share some invaluable tips to help you transition to gray!
First step is finding a hair stylist that has experience in this process!!! This is crucial to your success. Your stylist should understand that it is a process and move slowly with the transition. I started by gradually lightening my hair. After each treatment, my stylist gave my hair a deep, restorative conditioning treatment as well as recommending my favorite product which I will talk about below. She then removed all color from my roots and slowly allowed to gray to come in.
This process took about one year before I saw my true gray and hair color fully come in.
It is so important that you really nurture your hair through this process. If you don’t. your hair can become brittle and break off. That’s no good! Plus, gray hair is different and is often more wiry and dry. I definitely noticed the texture of my hair changed and seemed a little more susceptible to humid air. Not the best combination! But if you take the time to give it what it needs, It will be healthy and vibrant!
Fast forward to 2023, and my hair is all grown in! The gray is definitely more concentrated in my bangs and the hair that frames my face. The rest is a mix of my natural color and gray. After going through the slow transition and emotional loss of my old hair, I am so glad I made this decision.
I know it seems like a huge step, but I am here to say….
You can do it too!
My hair now
My journey began in 2020 from brunette to gray and this is what it looks like in 2023.
Some of the links below are affiliate links. This means that, at zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and finalize a purchase.
I am so excited to share with you my favorite products!!!! My number one, K18.
One of the greatest issues for me was keeping my hair nourished during the process. The lightening of my hair was a bleaching process and bleach strips the color from your hair and this makes your hair follicle thinner and more brittle. Aside from the deep conditioning treatments, I used K18 weekly to restore and revive my hair. It is simple to use and a little goes a long way! Be careful you don’t use too much or your hair will feel oily and make sure to follow the directions. Only four minutes and style as usual. Hands down the best decision I could have made. My hair remained vibrant and healthy throughout and I highly recommend it.
Make sure you follow the manufacture’s directions or ask your stylist how to properly use this product for the most benefits!
My second love….Matrix So Silver products are my favorite shampoo and conditioner that I personally used and continue to use. The So Silver Shampoo removes brassy undertones while highlighting silver tones. I also love the So Silver Conditioner and Brass Off Hair Masque. But my go to is Matrix Color Obsessed Conditioner for color treated hair.
I love how it nourishes and protects my hair! It is vibrant and healthy and just feels amazing every time I use it.
Finally, I finish my hair using Not Your Mother’s, Blonde Moment Leave in Conditioner and Not Your Mother’s, All in One heat protectant. I simply spray on my towel dried hair and comb through.
I love these products because they use natural ingredients to nurture your hair to keep it healthy and strong.
So what do you think, are you ready to go gray?
Now that I am three years in, I am so thankful that the only time I go to my stylist is for a quick trim and every once in awhile, a toning treatment to remove any yellowing and dullness. It truly is the best feeling! And I am saving so much money!!!! If you decide to take the plunge, I would love to hear all about it!
