How to Grow Out Grey Hair – Is There an Easy Way?
Have you ever thought about going grey, but were overwhelmed about how to do it and look good in the process? One of my readers, Kelly recently emailed to ask about this problem. She writes:
I came across your page on Pinterest that was all beautiful grey hairstyles. I would love just to have natural hair and no longer dye it, but what is the best way to get this change? I don’t want to sport a “half head grow out”. Can you tell me how to grow out grey hair gracefully? Kelly McDonough
I took Kelly’s question to our Fabulous After 40 hair expert and top stylist Chris Maclachlan to get her expert advice. Here’s what she had to say.
Hi Kelly,
I’m sorry to say that the only way to go grey is to grow it out. Because grey hair is un- pigmented you can’t color it grey (you get blue, or purply!!)
photo: Shutterstock
It will mean you have to go a couple of months with no color, so the best solution is to wear your hair up and “paint” your roots with a grey coverage pencil or crayon. They are available at beauty supply stores, and they cover the grey and wash out with shampoo. A mascara will do the same thing. It can be a very drastic change but also totally liberating.
The other option for letting grey hair grow out is to have your mahogany color taken out. You will need to go to a really good colorist for a correction. A colorist will cleanse the dark from your hair with a mixture of bleach, peroxide, and shampoo. Then re-color it using a lighter shade. You cannot put a lighter color over a dark one and have it remove the color.
Corrections are expensive, time-consuming (a few hours), and can be hard on the hair, but a good colorist can do it with minimal damage. You could also have a shorter cut at the same time to get you ready to cut out the color once it grows a bit. A lighter shade will make your grey less noticeable as you grow it out. If you decide to go this route, please make an appointment for a consultation with a good salon’s senior colorist. This should be free, and there should be no pressure to book the actual appointment.
Be clear about what you want and ask about cost and time before you book. You can also eventually get into a combination of natural color and a few blondish highlights to blend in with the grey. Looking at your pictures, my advice would be to go for a much warmer color than either the ashy blond or the brown, which in the picture looks a little flat.
Here are a few nice options when deciding how to grow out your grey hair. Good Luck.
You missed a significant way. The easiest way to go grey is simply shaving all your hair. I had long hair all my life but was never happy with it. I asked my mum a lot when I was a kid if I could shave it all off. She said no, of course. When I turned 18, I didn’t want to be an outsider in society. I met my boyfriend, now husband, and he kept hearing me complain about my hair. He told me I should buzz it all off, and he thought I’d look hot, and if I didn’t like it, I could simply grow it out. But I still didn’t go for it, and we had three kids, and since the last one, greys have been coming in hot. Last year on my 39th birthday, I complained about my hair, saying I wished I could shave it all and never have to dye it again. My husband told me that we should do it that day. I nervously agreed. We entered our bathroom, and my husband got the clippers and then started shaving off my boob-length hair. I initially felt nervous, but now I feel good and happy. The cold air was on my head, and it felt so light. When he was done, it felt so soft and fuzzy and friendly. I looked in the mirror, and I felt happy with myself. My long boob-length hair was all gone, and all that was left was for me to be a good mom, wife, friend, and believer in god. My husband loved it so much that he followed and buzzed off his hair. Weeks later, it grew in, and I didn’t love it. I didn’t want to grow it; I tried to stay bald. Now I shave my head with the shortest clippers possible and sometimes make it smooth with a razor. My 12-year-old daughter asked me this year if she could shave her head because she was sick of her hair that was longer than mine, so we did just that. She loves it just like me. Many of my friends and family have done the same; almost every woman close to me is now bald. I hope this has inspired all women out there and men to shave their heads to go grey, ditch long hair, and be better. Love Alexa
I am in my early 70s and have been coloring my hair for many years. Recently I met up with my younger sister (she lives in another state) for a beach vacation. When she walked into the room I was floored – she had the most beautiful silver/gray/white head of hair! I loved it. Every hairdresser I have had has told me my hair would be more pepper than salt, so I kept coloring it. Just this year I was diagnosed with cancer and had to have chemo – the chemo I was given did not make me lose my hair, but I just didn’t feel well enough to sit in the chair for two hours to have my hair colored, so decided it was time to let it go natural. The stylist did low lights at first, then I just decided to have my hair cut really short to get rid of the dark color. My hair grows very quickly, so after about two months my hair looks like I had my white hair tipped. I get so many compliments you wouldn’t believe. At this point, I could get another cut and all the brown would be gone, but I want to let it get longer before trimming again. I love my silver hair, wish I would have done this years ago. Go for it ladies it is liberating.
I’m currently growing out my hair to grey after years and years of coloring it dark brown/red. I’ve tried a couple of times just to leave it to grow out but inevitably ended up coloring it again because I just couldn’t deal with the weird grow-out line. I’m not ready to cut it short; I think that would be too much of a shock! So to avoid the dreaded line, I had my hairdresser put in dark lowlights to break it up, So it looks more like the greys are coming through naturally. You can do this for as long as it takes for the shades to grow through, and keep cutting the bottom; it’s a far less dramatic and unflattering way to do it!
It is interesting to read how many posted their family and friends were against it. It is the exact opposite for me. My daughters are super adamant I let the white/gray hair come on out and leave it alone. My mom as well. At 45 I hate the thought of just going full-out gray, but it is coming in so quickly lately that I am just like…oh well, give it a go.
The only thing I hate is that I have the two-tone look right now, most of my hair is salt and pepper (white round the face) but a good two inches at the ends are a reddish-brown color grown out from last year’s final dye. I love the length my fro is at right now so I’ll probably tough it out and cut the color out sometime next spring.
I am going to take the No More Dye plunge!! I am exhausted from coloring my hair and the expense is ridiculous!! Could probably have bought a few new cars with as much as I have colored my hair. I have longer than shoulder-length hair, use to be almost jet black growing up but faded to a brown due to sunlight. I saw my first gray when I was 15 by 18 is was very gray at the temples and now it seems to be lighter at the temples and silver strands throughout but with dark mixed in. Many of my friends have dyed to silver however my pale skin would not be flattering with that light of coloring.
I haven’t yet decided if I should cut off locks as of yet. My hair does grow fairly quickly but less than a year ago I donated 12″ to my friend’s daughter so they could make her a wig due to her Alopecia.
Wish me luck!! Hopefully, I don’t turn into a crazy mad woman and pull a Brittney Spears LOL
I have been thinking of letting my hair grow out to its natural ‘white’, I’m really tired of having it colored every 6 weeks, has anyone just shaved off their hair, and perhaps wore a wig, until your hair had grown out enough into a nice short cut??
My original hair color is dark brown, so a lifetime of being a brunette, is going to be hard for me to ‘accept’….LOL….I’ve tried going blond a few times, and I looked terrible as a blond, that’s why I’m a bit nervous about letting all my white show.
I buzzed mine down to 1/4 inch long when I decided to stop coloring. No wig. I was amazed at how many compliments I got.
Hi Rachel, It’s a very chic look at the moment!
Shave everything off, nancy. You will love it. I love mine and have been shaving mine for over a year now. You can keep it or grow it out.
If I thought I’d end up with lovely silver hair I’d go for it. But I still have a substantial percentage of my natural color (a dull, mousy dark blonde) that I’ve been coloring since my 20s. Right now, only my temples are grey.
I too am beginning my journey to grow out my dyed hair and let my grey/white/silver hair emerge. I only started three months ago and so far I feel very encouraged to continue. I am 68 years old. I know I’m going to love it when all the dyed hair is gone. Thanks for this website.
I colored my hair for years and years and just couldn’t do it anymore. Color it one week and the next the white was showing so I bit the bullet and started letting my stylist lighten my hair. It took 6 months of haircuts and coloring to finally get to almost platinum and from there I just let the white grow out. I cannot tell you how many people stop me and tell me how much they love my haircut and color. Why did I wait so long? Because we are told that white gray makes you look old. Not true if you do it right.
I keep it short but very stylish and have stepped up my wardrobe to highlight the hair color.
Here’s another perspective. I was a coppery redhead. If you looked at my hair individually, they were different shades of red, blonde, and brown. Red hair loses pigment faster than other hair colors. My first grey hair appeared at age 18.
I occasionally highlighted my hair or colored it to give it vibrancy, as red hair can fade to dull. In my early forties, I visited a salon and the senior stylist called one of the junior stylists over. She told her that this is how red hair goes grey and told me that I should let it go grey naturally because it was beautiful.
I feel kind of sad for all the women who do not have this kind of support from their stylists, friends, family, and co-workers. I remember some of my loved ones only with grey or white hair, and can’t imagine them any other way. These beautiful women had kind souls, smart brains, and substance. Pouty fish-lip selfies did not exist at that time. Coincidence?
My first grey hair got plucked out when I was 20. At 30 I became a slave to the box of color. Full head of color every 3 months for 17 years. I have long hair, in the middle of my back. When my teenage son stripped and dyed his hair grey I decided to take the plunge. I have gotten so many rude comments about the multiple colors of hair I’m sporting, 99% from co-workers. Reminds me never to trust those people!
I started by using a clarifying shampoo and long cool showers. After you use clarifying shampoo the hair opens up and releases the color from your hair. So shampoo and rinse that hair forever. Remember, I used color after color after color so my ends were really black and my roots were growing in nature. So in the very beginning when the roots were just growing naturally, I used a color stripper on my full head. Everyone just thought I changed my hair color, it was different than my really dark dyed hair.
Then it took about 6 months before anyone realized I wasn’t going to dye my hair. Now I have a type of ombre, three-tone. I’m a year into the process and I’m almost ready to cut the third color off completely (I’ve been trimming it). Also, looking into using shampoo for greying. I’m hoping in one more year to cut it shoulder length and all the dyed hair will be history. It’s a process, you will grow from the experience. Right now is the perfect time with all the different colors out there!
I feel you! The same here. I now have an Ombre I told you it’s called. Gray top to under-eye level than lightish red/brown then tips dark brown/reddish from dying so many years. I had all pretty silver then had to take medicine which made me lose hair and it came back a gray with black streaks, I had a pretty silver before. so now I just cut it shoulder length TRYIN
I started going gray in my early 20’s and now that I’m almost 50, I’m sick of the time, money, mess, and chemicals. So, I asked an excellent colorist to make my hair much lighter (I was a “light golden brown”) and he made it more of blond color. That helped make the line between gray and colored hair less noticeable. Then, I CHOPPED OFF MY SHOULDER-LENGTH HAIR!!! It was a little terrifying to see so much hair slide down the cape onto the salon floor, but I am so excited to have gotten rid of the old-colored hair and to see my gray growing week by week. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I can’t wait till all my hair is naturally gray. Of course, once I get that goal, who knows: I might go for yet another crazy change! It’s only hair.
I’ve just read so many of these wonderful posts and think I have something helpful. When people are rude enough to make any sort of negative comment about your Journey To Freedom, have some stock comebacks ready. I don’t believe two wrongs make a right so, instead of becoming offended and biting back, I would use the less-threatening method of asking wide-eyed questions: “Yes, I’ve decided to brave the transition period–you don’t sound very encouraging, but I hope you’ll reconsider and be supportive!” (with a wide smile) “Gosh, you didn’t really mean to be insulting, did you? I always try to be supportive of women brave enough to go through this kind of transition!” “Is there a reason you needed to tell me how terrible I look??” “Are you having a really bad day? You aren’t usually so judgmental!” STUFF LIKE THAT THERE! SMILE AND KILL ‘EM WITH THE GENTLE ANSWERS!
I sure wish I knew you in person because what I learned about you from reading this makes me want to make friends with you.
I stopped dying my hair a few months before turning 40. I had long, darkly dyed hair and had it all chopped off in a nice pixie cut and although the growing-out face was awful, I am just SO happy that I haven’t touched a boxed dye since. Most people I meet have been very supportive of my decision, however, I dread going to the salon because I feel judged and the stylists just can’t help commenting just how much grey I have and are forever trying to convince me to start coloring again.
I pixied 6 months in. I actually got a lot of nice comments during my journey, even though I looked like a calico cat! LOL Ditching the dye was one of the best things I’ve ever done! Hope you were able to stand strong against the stylists and stick with it. :)
Well, I have now got there. Short hair not happy but will now grow my grey hair longer. Saw a woman today with lovely grey hair and purple ends. That will be me next year.,
Hello!! I’m 45 and a blue-eyed redhead.. for that last year I’ve been researching the grey hair idea and have asked my family what they think- they are strongly against it but I feel that when it is all said and done it will be a great decision. My problem is getting there, I am not too eager to live thru the ‘grow out’ process as I know I will hear it every day from co-workers and friends and family, I’m against cutting it all off as I’ve done that before and instantly regretted it. My hair is thick and curly and just now past my shoulders; having a ‘skunk’ line would be discouraging. I don’t know how you ladies get thru the stage but I am not strong enough to endure the cruel comments from people. I have been using Henna for years, so I’ve been researching how to fade the Henna but not sure that is the best route. #chicken lol
At least 10 years ago I decided that I was fighting a losing battle with my grey hair. I was going to a very young stylist who asked me if I’d like her help transitioning from coloring to going grey, and I said yes! The year before I tried going grey naturally on my own, only to have grown my greys out to my ears and broke down and colored it on my own. This young stylist started high lighting and low lightening my hair, yes it took about 1 year to get to my natural grey hair, and I love it. Every 3 months I write a check out to myself and add it to my fun money account, instead of writing it out to my colorist. It’s amazing how fast my account grew and each time I see my stylist, she says that I have the prettiest hair.
I get compliments all the time from lakes asking me what shade and brand of hair color I use.
Hi Judi,
That story is amazing! So happy you found a way to transition.
For me using chemicals won’t work- I don’t think anyways – I currently use Henna due to a slight chemical reaction to my scalp…
my adventure continues… with a lot of naysayers I might add
I just started on this “grow out” journey. It’s been only 6 weeks since my last color. I’m 66 and have dyed my hair for probably 35 years. Fortunately, my hair is a medium blonde. Here’s what I’m using right now. Roux Fanci-Full color rinses in color “sweet cream”. It must be reapplied after every washing. You wash, condition, rinse, towel dry, then pour the color onto your scalp and rub it in with your fingers. The first time I did my whole head and all of my shoulder-length hair and thought what a pain it was and wondered how I could stand to do that after every washing. But the 2nd time, all I did was the roots that show around my part. I plan to continue using this product for as long as I can. Later on, with more white hair, I might go to a semi=permanent color. I plan to disguise the grow-out for as long as I can. Ideally, I’ll fool everyone, and one day I will no longer need the temporary color and will surprise everyone when they suddenly see me with a full head of white/gray hair!!!
Good luck!
I used to use a semi-permanent color. It does not all wash out. I would not recommend doing that.
Shave your head. It works wonders. You can grow it back out or keep it buzzed like me.
I decided a couple of years ago, at the age of 57, to stop coloring/highlighting my brunette hair after coloring it since I was in my early 30s. I made the decision for a couple of reasons – #1: was concerned about the long-term effects of putting such strong chemicals on my hair/scalp and #2: hated spending so much time and money at my salon – my hair grows so fast, I was having my roots done every four weeks. My hairdresser was NOT supportive of my decision, but once she saw I was serious, she recommended a semi-permanent hair color and we used that for about 6-8 months until my roots grew out to a reasonable length and then she cut my hair in a modern shag and I’ve never looked back. My hair is salt and pepper, with a lot of silver/white framing my face. I now wear it fairly short and I get compliments on it all the time – particularly from women who are interested in going grey… My husband is very supportive and I’m having fun buying clothes to go with my new color. I know I cannot wear brown (too drab!), but orange, blue and pink look great! If you are on the fence about going grey, I encourage you to go for it – it’s very liberating not being tied down to a four-week coloring schedule and I’m going to Europe with the money I’m saving! It’s a win in my book!
Hi, well done you! I did the same thing at around 60 and people are always complimenting me too.
I war at it fairly short, choppy cut and use hair wax product to give it a slightly spiky, modern look ( the wilder the better for me! )
I also use a shampoo/tint called ‘ Hint of Silver which just brightens it up and looks fabulous.
We don’t have to look old and drab just because our hair is grey!
Love your post. Thanks for the tips on what color clothes to wear.
Years ago I had “my colours done” Being autumn with dark brown hair, blue eyes and a golden skin tone, I was advised to keep colouring my hair until it all turned white as Autumns tend to go a yellow grey until it finally turns white.
I can attest to this, my mum had the same colouring and her hair was not pretty when it was about half grey. She had dark at the crown and a lot of yellow/grey elsewhere. When it finally went all white it was nice but I plan to keep colouring until the back and crown are also grey.
I recommend trying a blonde shampoo to counteract any brassy look to grey hair. It gives a beautiful finish.
I’m at the very beginning of this grow-out journey, so I don’t really know anything. But I’m thinking that if I don’t like the gray color that my hair is, why can’t I just add some highlights or lowlights? I realize that that means putting the chemicals back into the hair, but highlights only have to be done every few months, and it’s not all over your hair. I think I’d rather do that than color all of my hair like I’d been doing.
I’m aware this is an old thread, but LADIES, let’s start a trend. Grey hair IS cool.
Let’s show all our would-be Silver Vixens, that we don’t need to color our hair if we don’t want to, just because society says we should. My hair is in a trendy bob cut and at 55 I get compliments all the time. I believe, providing you don’t sport a typical ‘granny’ haircut, you’ll all be fine.
Good luck ladies.
Silver Vixens Rule.
Agree ☺
Here here. I’m 55 also and six weeks into it. Today I am going to get the color stripped from my hair with silver highlights put back in to blend. I am not planning on rocking a Farmer’s Market grey…..
Hi everyone.
I decided to grow out my colour last week. I’m naturally dark blonde level 7 and I’ve been dyeing my hair since I was 16. My poor hair has been a range of colours from white blonde, pink, green( before it was fashionable), light brown, dark brown, red, stripey, the list is endless. However, I grew up, slightly, one day and settled on platinum blonde and have been since I was in my 30s.
After my father died suddenly, I noticed an inch-wide patch of white hair, a breakup, my mum dying and a redundancy later, I’m now 53 and the whole of the top of my head is white, and natural underneath. I switched to highlights about 10 years ago but getting cheesed off with having them done every 5/6 weeks, due to the amount of white coming through. So, I thought, stuff it, my work friend embraced her grey about 3 years ago and she looks great, not old whatsoever. My ‘new’ hairdresser is all for it and is putting a few bleached highlights in to mimic the white wear there is none but my husband is finding it hard though.
I’ve had,’ yeh, right’ ‘are you sure’ you’ll be box colouring it in now time’ to name a few.
So, I went online and purchased White Hot Hair shampoo, it’s absolutely fantastic, it makes the grey seem whiter, the white brighter and my hair has a somewhat youthful appearance. Now, he loves it and caught the cheeky monkey, using it on his own greying hair!
So everyone, search for White Hot Hair. It’s a little pricey, but oh so worth it.
Love you all, Ronnie. xxx
I’ve wanted to go natural for a long time. Mostly due to the toxic neurological damage and cancer-causing chemicals in hair dye. While doing research I discovered that dark dye actually causes hair and scalp to lose color! So, I may have had less white if I had let my hair just grow gray. My sister says her hair has become healthy and somewhat darker since she stopped coloring and went natural, and that her scalp also got back to its correct color. This is what I want to do. I want healthy shiny thick hair again, even if that means being a silver fox. This blog has been very inspiring! Thank you. Maybe I can come back with a report on how it goes. I do not plan to color my roots ever again. Nothing superficial is worth risking cancer or neurological damage.
At the age of 58 after dying my hair for 30 years I started to have a bad reaction to hair dye. I ended up in hospital at the weekend as my tongue swelled and I overdosed on piston trying to stop the itching. I now know I need to turn grey. I feel quite frightened, as I’m scared of looking old. But it’s something I must do. Really don’t know where to start.
Box dyed my hair to the darkest brown every two weeks for nearly 20 yrs. Then I also had a bad reaction to box dye, itchy, dry, dandruff scalp. So at 41, I’ve decided to give in and embrace the Grey/white, a reputable salon that will help you transition with some highlights and lowlights, I’m still only four into my journey, and I’m so happy with the results. So far, go for it!
I highlighted my hair with golden blond highlights a few times, then let the greys come in. I get many many compliments on my hair and others have taken my path to grey without regret.
I want to stop my blonde highlights and lowlights and let my natural hair grow out. I’ll be 69 in Jan and have 20% gray and still a lot of light brown/dark blonde. I’m also losing hair mostly in the top from the meds I’m on. Any suggestions of how to do this gracefully? Everyone says I will look 10 years older but although that could be true, I’m thinking It would help the hair loss too slow possibly.
I also.
I am 55 years old, and as of my last haircut, I am completely grey. I do think I look older, but I also think I look awesome. Trying not to get hung up on looking “old” but focusing on looking great. It’s the most liberating feeling in the world. I would strongly recommend it. Don’t think about age, that’s only a number.
I decided I couldn’t handle the growing out at all but I was determined to go silver. I went to a wig store and purchased a beautiful and very realistic silver pixie cut wig. I then went to one of those inexpensive chain hair places and had the whole head of hair buzzed off! I was so determined that my husband and I both giggled all the way through it. I figured I was going gray anyway and may as well start right away. It was the best way for me. I only wore the wig when I left the house and it really wasn’t that bad of a transition. It gave my family and friends a good laugh and I now get many compliments and not one negative comment.
You are AWESOME!!!! I love it!!!
That was an absolutely brilliant idea! Yay! I want to do that too. I Am Indian and I hate having to color my once thick black hair. It’s thin and miserable now with all that boxed color I used since my 30s.
I really let mine grow out this winter. Wore a hat most of the time and used the spray things. So pleased I did it and wished I had before. Had it cut last month and still have a couple of inches to go. People say how lovely it looks they think I had it tipped. Really happy!!!
I just started this process of growing out my grey. I’m 56 and have been coloring, and highlighting my hair since my 20’s. I am determined to do it. My stylist lightened it so the growing out process would be easier, but what I have found is that in general people are not very encouraging when I mention that I a, growing mine out. Thanks for the blog and other comments. I need the positive comments and encouragement to finish what I have started. ?
I agree a hundred percent. My stylist was not on board
Neither was mine! But I figured that had more to do with how much money I was forced to spend there every month or so. She told me I would hate it!
So I bleached my hair gently three times with 10vol, and then put a grey tint over the lot! It had a few brassy bits on the lengths, but I found that blue shampoo and conditioner soon got rid of it! It is now a silver color with a light blue tinge. So many compliments and my husband loves it! I’m getting an edgy cut at a new salon on Thursday. I plan on adding a few vivid flashes of color.
I wish I’d done it years ago. I’m 56 and feel a lot younger with my new silver hair!
Btw, it looks awesome with bright retro red lipstick (Revlon) or any deep hot pink!
My stylist went into a near tirade about how I would look like a hag. I had been with her for 8’years and we were actually casual friends outside the salon. I stopped seeing her and began to just let my hair grow both grow long and grow out the light ash brown dye I’d been doing since age 28 ( I am a slim active healthy 60 as of last month). I ran into her on a walking trail recently and she gasped and told me I was looking ‘just awful’ and I should get I. To see her immediately! I to,d her I was ‘happy and fine thank you for asking’ and waved goodbye as I put back my headphones and kept on running… the thing is I feel fabulous since growing out to silver my husband and kids think it is awesome as well. I have never felt beautiful until I went silver( I am not quite done with the grow-out – still have about two inches of blondie brown left that my wonderful new stylist will be trimming off shortly) I wear my hair softly loosely up now for the most part and it gives me an attractive profile and softness I have never had before.
I am impressed and encouraged by all of you. I’m a 67year young tall, slim woman. Changed my color from blonde to auburn, now totally tired of being a slave to my roots. I’m GOING FOR IT, thanks to your collective experiences. THANK YOU!!
I’m 52 and I’m probably about 90% gray. Very white. I want to grow it out but would like to make the transition smoother. I’m highlighted heavily now but wanted a more white and silver look. Mines is still on the gold tones.
Any ideas
I too am 56 & decided I had to grow my hair out. I developed an irritated scalp after getting hit from behind at a red light. My scalp was irritated from the dyes afterward…I had long dyed red hair that was AWESOME…I had told my hairdresser of my thoughts but she tried to talk me out of cutting my hair & also letting it grow out gray. I went to another hairdresser for a cut to my shoulders….it has been a LONG 2 years & still waiting for my all-over silver….friends have not been supportive until now……my silvers are beautiful but still dyed ends are present….my hair takes forever to grow… On Sept 2 I will get another cut…I am tempted to get it all cut off but I like the length bordering my chin line….so patience is key…every time I see gray/silver hair on a woman that looks good I get inspired to keep on keeping on…
since my above post…I am now 57 & am loving my silvers…my friends have since changed their tunes about my hair …& I get wonderful compliments. I have a cute boyish style wedge where the front pieces are a bit longer to cover my fuller neck…I get creative w waving my hair, curling, or just leaving my hair where it wants to go…it is fun! I have to figure out what colors to wear now….w green eyes, light olive skin & my silver hair…
Man keep up the good work. I was 3 months in and gave up. Due to negative feedback.
I’m 52 but figured I’ll try again when I’m ready. But I am disappointed in myself for giving up
Hi Sandi, bless you, don’t be disappointed with yourself. It really does take some guts as women, we are kind off railroaded into dyeing our hair to keep looking young. Men, however, get compliments on how sexy the ‘Silver Fox’ look is on them. There is good news for us ‘Silver Vixens’ though, grey hair IS in. Look at all the young girls and pop stars coloring their hair grey, it’s all over the Internet. You can tell the naysayers, that’s what you’re doing, having your hair grey as a fashion statement. Good luck and best wishes, Ronnie. xxxxx
Hi Sandi, I’m 53 I have really long hair halfway down my back & blonde at the last foot of the ends the top is dyed light brown looks natural but I have grey/brown roots now about 2″ long
I’m not cutting it as I love my long hair but determined to succeed I read your blog & wish I knew you we could go lovely grey together. Look at some of the styles with the blue or violet tinge so pretty!
I hope you can have the strength to try again x Kim
It has been as hard to let my hair grow silver as it was to quit smoking! I’m finally at the point of no return & really loving it. Keep it up. Argen
Hello, good ideas but I did something different. I used to be a hairstylist so I do have access to hair supply stores, but I am sure you can buy semi-permanent hair colors in a drug store. When you’re roots are growing out go buy the color you are coloring within the semi. It will fade out in about 4 to 6 washings which means you will have to wash less frequently, but no cutting is involved at all. Eventually your gray will be more than the color you are trying to get rid of and you can just trim your hair as you normally would. Saves you cutting and saves your time in a salon to reverse it and saves the texture of your hair.
Wow, what an excellent tip Rosie. Thanks for dropping by. Cheers! Deborah
I’m 48 and not sure how grey I really am as I’ve been coloring my hair since my 2o’s. I want to try it but am nervous and don’t want to spend time and money in a salon. Thanks for this tip, I might try it!
Love the info. Every time I mention I want to go gray – wow my stylist says not by her. My husband says I will look horrific.
So I took color remover ( not bleach, yet. ) and took all colored Browns, reds, you name it, but a solid 30 years. First, it freeing, my hair feels good, but now contemplating the next step.
Bleaching it all out then toner?
Let it go – not all that great in its present state.
I am an impatient person – so throwing it out there – what do you think. Sitting on the fence before I jump into the deep end of the pool. Donna
Hi, can you tell me the product name that was used between my shampoo and conditioner? It was like a “5 min miracle ” but that wasn’t it. The salon where I was going used to use it as a treatment, and also mix it with the colours. It is fantastic, but I can’t find the name of it! It is a pale yellow colour. You shampoo your hair in the shower, pally this treatment for five minutes, rinse, and then apply conditioner!
It might be a keratin-type product? It didn’t have a strong smell.
This lady sold it in take-home packs she’s made up herself…but I want to know the name of it! Can you help me? Thanks, Lyn
Ps, I am not going back to this home salon as she burnt my scalp, yet still charged $140. Admittedly it took a long time to bleach it back (3 times) before the tint went on, but whatever this yellow treatment was, it saved my hair. Now I have got it to the colour I want it myself (I am a qualified hairdresser who has been working as a muso for 30 years). I need this yellow-coloured treatment!! thank yours. Lyn
I have a girlfriend who grew out the grey as far as she could stand it, bit the bullet and cut her hair short, short, and kept snipping until it all was grown our grey (about 3 months). It grew completely out to the most beautiful silver/white/grey in a dramatic mane which she keeps at a shoulder-skimming length now. She cannot go out without at least ONE stranger stopping her to compliment her hair color. If your roots’ grey is beautiful, bite the bullet for a grow-out and cut then flaunt it.
Well, I’m due for a touch-up. My fiancé who has been coloring my hair for the past 8 years offered
to do my hair but I turned him down. Someone at work today said, ” someone needs a touch-up”. I said, ” No, I don’t I plan to go white.” Being feisty by nature, I’ve tried to listen to that voice in me and you know what I don’t feel the need to comply with society’s constraints. I will be 60 come April and want to celebrate a new decade. I am quite silver and plan to cut my hair short and start over. I think from reading your article this is the best way to go. It’s probably gonna shake up my sweetie but I can’t help myself. I want to go the Carmen Dell’orefice route n start a trend. My hair length is growing out any suggestions. Tired of BS60
Hello. I think the best way for you as you have dark hair is to have sliver/grey streaks put into your hair to even out the regrowth a bit.
I like this idea. Thanks.
Instead of using a bleach mixture, we use a professional color remover first to attack the direct dyes.
This usually gives us enough lift without damage and then we follow up with bleach and bond builders to keep the integrity of the hair, last step will be toned to desired grey, blonde, or platinum level!
I gave up hair dye a year ago and I’m so thankful I did. Silver hair is so beautiful and rare to see because most women refuse to let it shine.
My short hair made the transition simple. Now I’m almost fully silver. It’s fun to style my wardrobe to compliment it.
Try to use a good quality product like the brow effect which makes your eyebrows thicker and grow naturally. I am also using that product for eyebrow growing I got really good results.
I planned on going gray but found out in the process that my hair is actually white. To ease this process (yes! I’m going through with it) I found a terrific person to apply for permanent make-up. I had eyeliner done and my eyebrows are done. Both look natural and I don’t feel “washed out” like I was afraid I would. I highly recommend permanent make-up. While everybody else is getting tattoos, why not get one to enhance your looks?!!!,
There are a lot of good tips for dealing with graying hair but none of them seem to fit my situation. I have tried the highlights/lowlights but it’s too expensive. My auburn hair is only white/gray on the crown with the rest much darker and a particularly dark stripe at my forehead hairline. I wear it longer than shoulder length and I don’t look good in very short hair. Also, I have scars on my scalp from an infection that had to be cut out, so very short hair shows the scars. I’m 66 and I’ve been using the non-permanent color for years but it doesn’t completely wash out and gradually darkens everything but the gray. I have let it get quite gray by stopping the color for several months, but I just don’t look good with gray hair and especially when it’s only on the top! I look like someone dumped flour on my head. I’m really frustrated because I have a few coworkers with gorgeous gray or silver hair but they were all blondes with straight hair. Mine is auburn and curly – with a half-pound of all-purpose flour on top!
At age 47 I was well over 90% grey/white. I’d been coloring to medium brown since I was in my 20s. I’d been told to color at least until I found a husband. (Really!) Last year I was changing careers, moving to a new city, and decided it was time to make the change to my natural hair color. I walked into the hairstylist’s and told her to bleach my hair to blonde and then cut it short. It took a few hours, the blonde wasn’t great but, overall, it was a good, fun start to the grow-out process. Over the next 4 months, we just grew it and cut it, grew it, and cut it. I wore fun scarves and headbands to make the off-blonde more fun, and look more intentional. No color or bleach has been used since the initial bleaching. After 4 months I was done — all grey/white/natural. I love it. It’s been fun, a bit of an experiment, and an experience.
Hi Deborah and Chris,
Great article! I took the leap of faith and went the Pixie route for three months. At first, I had a solid white crown with salt ‘n pepper throughout the rest of my hair. Now a year or so later, I still have the salt ‘n pepper but the crown is starting to show oddball streaks of that dark mousy brown color of my ‘pepper.’ Not sure why but I’m still very happy with the natural look. Nor have I wanted to let it grow long yet.
Anyway, I live in an ultra-rural area of the US and our culinary/drinking/bath water is well water. I found if I use a good clarifying shampoo about twice a week I don’t get oddball rust coloration to my hair. My stylist also recommended an alternative to keep the silver and white: After regular and light conditioning, make a thick paste of baking soda and water; cover the entire head; let it sit 15-20 minutes, rinse out, and style as usual. Both work very well and I highly recommend either or both to your readers.
Here’s to the Silver Mama Foxes!!
Hugs,
Robin
I cut my hair in a pixie! It took about 3 haircuts to get it all out! It’s my best hair color ever! I get compliments every day! I’m trying to post pics of my process but I am having trouble sending pics!
At 48, with my husband’s encouragement, I set a goal to return to my natural hair color by my 50th birthday. I’d been using semipermanent home hair color for several years, and I was afraid to go Jamie Lee Curtis short or live through the Pepe Le Peu skunk line phase. Fortunately, I found a wonderful stylist. She mixed a demi permanent color and gave me lowlights as my hair grew out. I went to her about four times over the next 18 months, and each time was a discovery, including two dramatic white streaks in the front, (approximately where my horns would be if I were a woodland sprite). This approach fit my lifestyle as well as my budget, and at 52 I get many compliments on my natural hair. It’s very freeing, so be brave. It can be done, so go for it!
My grandmother Goldie had some wisdom on gray hair: it represents the natural enlightenment that happens to your soul as you add experiences to your life! I let my dark hair go gray when I was in my early 40s and I’ve never looked back. (When I’d go have it colored, I swear I could see roots showing when I looked in the rear view mirror to back out of the hair salon. Once I colored at home, left the solution on too long, and had to go to the salon for correction. The salon owner’s husband–and co-owner of the salon took one look at me and said, “What happened? You look like the lady on the can of Rosarita Refried Beans!”)
Believe it or not, I’m on the other side of 55 and have never had to color my hair. It’s been tempting the last few years as more grey started to appear, but I figured I was close enough to need to go grey I’d just let it happen naturally. I hope I Look as good as Jamie Lee when the grey becomes predominant! :)