There are many things in life that we cannot control. For the things we have no control over, we have ways to change them or cover them. We can change our eye color with colored contacts. We can change the color of our skin by tanning or adding makeup. We can also color, cut and style our hair.
I have been coloring my hair for nearly 30 years. That is a lot of money, chemicals and time. I started seeing gray hairs beginning at age 12 or 13.Thankfully my hairdresser does not charge the same amount that some salons charge. I can remember thinking that when I'm 40 I will stop coloring my hair (I guess I thought I would be old enough to sport the gray). Forty came and went. No way was I going to stop coloring my hair!
When I turned 50, I thought about it, but quickly decided against it. For some reason, at age 53, I decided it was time. I was actually almost 54. So in November, 2014, I had my last color.
I have to be honest. There have been days that I almost called my hairdresser and asked for a color appointment. But I am going to be strong and wait this out. This has to be the most difficult part. The patch of silver atop my head not matching the rest of my hair, has me paranoid. I think everyone is looking at it! Maybe that's because I notice it on others.
I have been trying to rush the process by having my hair cut and highlighted. This has been very helpful and very eye opening. I am shocked at how white the hair is. I am hoping that once all the hair color has grown out or cut off, that I will be able to grow it back to the length it was before. Not long, but not too short. I have been busy looking at hair styles to find the right one for me. Stay tuned for the final picture!
Week 13
It looks like there is not much color left in the back. With each trim, I am getting closer. My next step will be in 4 weeks when I will get another trim and a highlight to try to blend the longer hair on top. Hopefully this will blend my natural gray and the colored hair.
Week 24
View from above! Wow is is white up there.
I can hardly believe it has been six months! It really helps me to look back and see the progress. I called my hairdresser a couple weeks before my next scheduled cut and had her trim up my sides. I still get surprised when I look in the mirror, but hopefully I will get used to this new me. My daughter came over the other day and said that it still surprises her when she sees me. I really had hoped that the color would have grown out more quickly, but I am getting more accustomed to this new look. I thought I was a patient person, but....
I am almost there! After I got my last cut, I have only a small amount of color left, maybe an inch, that will need to be cut. I will get another cut in about 6-8 weeks and hopefully that will be the end of my artificial hair color. At that point I will let it grow a bit, back to something similar to what I have had in the past. As difficult as this has been, I can't imagine doing it any other way. Adjusting to the variety of colors and hair cuts have been a challenge for me, but this transitional journey will soon end. I'm looking forward to the end of the journey and maybe not being so surprised to se my reflection in the mirror.
Well, from the front, all trace of color is gone. I still have color on the end of the longer hair in the back, but in a few weeks I will be free of all color! I think I will wait to post my last photo. That will be when there is no color and I will have some length back. Looking forward to the end of the journey and discovering what style to go with. After growing it some, I may change my mind and cut it again. But isn't that the great thing about hair? It will grow again if we change our mind.
