topic Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray? in Beauty

Easiest Way to Go Gray?

Quinny — Thu, 27 May 2021 23:38:29 GMT

I'm 99% sure I'm ready to do away with monthly salon trips to have my gray/white roots colored brown.

The big 1% thing holding me back is walking around with half of my hair gray/white and the other half medium brown. I have never been comfortable with my "beauty", the half and half look seems terrifying.

I think the one thing I have in my favor is my short haircut, at least I'm not looking at a shoulder-length grow-out. Nonetheless, the half and half period will still occur.

I have entertained the thought of having my already short hair cut even shorter, asking my stylist to bleach the heck out of what's left and coloring that a silver/gray/white color until I'm all grown out.

A workable plan? Yay? Nay? I beg your suggestions or stories of how you lived through the half and half nightmare.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

On It — Thu, 27 May 2021 23:53:42 GMT

I have been growing out my gray hair for almost a year and a half. It isn't a fast process and especially difficult for me since I wear an undercut that ranges from chin to shoulder length depending on my mood. It is worth the hassle. I have a Toni Brattin wig that I pop on if I want to have a uniform color otherwise I ignore the reddish brown in back and the silver that frames my face. Go for it. You will be glad you did!

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

mspatmac — Fri, 28 May 2021 00:00:53 GMT

@Quinny I started the transition about 2 months ago. I had about 2 in of white showings. My wonderful hairdresser cut and layered my hair to just barely below my ears. She then heavily highlighted my hair as light as she could without it looking brassy to blend into roots. It took about 30 min to do the highlighting. I love it and it blends beautifully. I will continue to have hair trimmed and when needed freshen up the highlights. My hair was originally colored a light brown with some highlights. Transition is going well and I'm happy I finally made the decision. Good luck

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

Shanus — Fri, 28 May 2021 01:12:37 GMT

@Quinny I did my silver hair transition the "chicken way". I had colored my hair dark for almost 40 yrs...mostly silver in my 30's. My stylist had me grow it out about 1"-2". Then she put a bunch of foils in...hardly any hair left out. Then bleached the heck out of it. It went to a pale yellow and then she applied the bleach again and I sat under the dryer until the shade was so light that she could tone it with purple toner to match my silver roots. I was there for almost 8 hrs.!!!

My hair was in it's usual long pixie and when she finished she trimmed off the ends and I was silver all over. After several of my frequent short haircuts, the bleached hair was gone and what I had was my own silver hair.

The very back stayed a light salt/pepper which I hear happens to many people.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

itsmagic — Fri, 28 May 2021 01:16:46 GMT

Before I decided to go gray, I spoke to my hairdresser and she mentioned that she could do lowlights to help with the transition but since my hair is a short pixie style she felt it would be an easy transition without doing anything other than trimming it every four weeks. And she was right - it ended up being an easy transition and only took 3-4 months.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

Dusty1 — Fri, 28 May 2021 01:18:04 GMT

@Quinny I was surprised by how easy the process was.

I had dark reddish brown hair & when I went in & told her I was ready to go grey.

My stylist did ashy highlights for a few appointments & then we just stopped.

My hair is between chin & shoulder length.

My sister went grey, also. She keeps her hair short. She ended up with silvery white hair.

I got ashy hair.

I went from $120 every 6 weeks (with grey roots showing from week 2.) to $26 every 7-8 weeks. I could go longer, but my sister & I go together & she can't go that long.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

ALRATIBA — Fri, 28 May 2021 01:29:12 GMT

Two years ago - I got a pixie cut and just let it grow out.

I'm naturally brown - but had lightened it to beige blonde. The gray/white growth blended with the blonde ends - so it was a painless process.

I had my hair cut and shaped every six weeks.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

aubnwa01 — Fri, 28 May 2021 02:04:30 GMT

I started with having my hairdresser try to match my roots as closely as possible, so they weren't as noticeable between salon visits for awhile & eventually just got a short pixie cut & let it grow out until I got all that cut off & was done with it.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

Jk9 — Fri, 28 May 2021 04:22:49 GMT

Glad to see this discussion. Thinking of going gray soon but I am concerned about my scalp showing thru as I have a lot of thinning on the top of my head. And I don't think I will have a pretty shade of gray. I bought a gray wig to accustom my self to seeing gray before I make the plunge. My mother had black hair and she went all in when she decided to go gray and we almost fainted to suddenly see her with white hair. She did have lovely white hair and it looked good on her.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

Katcat1 — Fri, 28 May 2021 04:45:04 GMT

@Quinny I went gray in my mid/late 50's. I wear my hair but I had it cut a little shorter. I was salt & pepper in weeks. My hair grows fast. So glad I am not a slave to color anymore.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

cathysyd — Fri, 28 May 2021 09:41:53 GMT

I guess the easiest way is to just do it. I haven't colored my hair for months. I decided to stop when my daughter used an at-home color and had a reaction to it. I was coloring at home, too, but have decided to stop. It was around the time I was getting my COVID vaccines, so I didn't want to add another reason for my body to react to something.

My natural color is darkish brown, so my hair is kind of salt-and-pepper right now. To my surprise, I have had so many compliments on my hair since I've let the gray come in. People (my mom included) have actually asked me if I had it frosted, that it is beautiful, and that it is so shiney, especially in the sun. So maybe I will just let it keep going.

The only downside I have found is that my hair is much more coarse than it used to be. I have heard that gray hair is course. I've actually been using the Beekman 1802 shampoo and conditioner and that has really helped with the straw-like feel.

Hope this helps!

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

AngelPuppy1 — Fri, 28 May 2021 10:55:37 GMT

Since you said you already have a pretty short haircut, it won't be nearly as hard to go through this transition. I would go to your salon and ask them for suggestions. When I decided to stop coloring my hair, it wasn't really hard for me. I was a natural blonde when I was young and as it began to darken, I started colored it blonde. My hair as I started to go gray, just started doing the salt and pepper thing and since my natural hair color was never very dark to begin with, it was not really a big difference. You could try different rinses which wash out but I don't know how this would turn out. I would suggest a professional visit to get the best results!

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

jackthebear — Fri, 28 May 2021 11:19:03 GMT

@Quinny wrote:
I'm 99% sure I'm ready to do away with monthly salon trips to have my gray/white roots colored brown.
The big 1% thing holding me back is walking around with half of my hair gray/white and the other half medium brown. I have never been comfortable with my "beauty", the half and half look seems terrifying.
I think the one thing I have in my favor is my short haircut, at least I'm not looking at a shoulder-length grow-out. Nonetheless, the half and half period will still occur.
I have entertained the thought of having my already short hair cut even shorter, asking my stylist to bleach the heck out of what's left and coloring that a silver/gray/white color until I'm all grown out.

A workable plan? Yay? Nay? I beg your suggestions or stories of how you lived through the half and half nightmare.

I did it last year, just do it

it's not a nightmare

no one cares if you are growing out your hair anymore

I think you are overthinking it, and summer is coming up so hats are great

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

CalminHeart — Fri, 28 May 2021 11:21:32 GMT

I have chin length hair. I just let mine grow out. The hair at the nape of my neck is still brown but the rest is now 90% gray. I think having a little brown left when I quit coloring made it easier.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

mac116 — Fri, 28 May 2021 14:07:38 GMT

I'm working on my chin length hair now, and I think that it is tough. My hairdresser did highlight my dark blond hair with a silvery blond to ease the transition. When I look in the mirror, I am reminded of the Dolly Parton song, "Coat of Many Colors". I'm determined to grow out my hair, but for ME it is difficult.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

Krimpette — Fri, 28 May 2021 19:30:20 GMT

I always colored my own hair. As a result of not going out very much during this past Covid period, I decided it was nonsense to keep coloring it, when I was pretty much the only person seeing it! The front of my short hair is totally silver/gray by now and the back more salt and pepper, with some "splashes" of total silver. Looks fine to me, since I never see the back much anyway!!!! FWIW, the UPS guy has told me twice that he really likes my new hairdo!!!! No longer coloring it is so freeing!!!!!

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

SeaMaiden — Fri, 28 May 2021 20:46:08 GMT

I cut my hair short...grew out the remaining bit of color...and in a couple months I had white hair.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

Tchr58 — Sat, 29 May 2021 02:12:48 GMT

I had been wanting to grow out my grey hair and found the pandemic lockdown the perfect opportunity. I couldn't visit the salon for color so I let it grow out for a few months. When I finally visited my stylist he just cut my hair. It took two more haircuts for my short hair to completely transition. I couldn't be happier. It's worth the few months of being uncomfortable,believe me. Good luck.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

patbz — Sat, 29 May 2021 02:18:59 GMT

@Quinny : When I decided to go gray I went from shoulder length to VERY short. My DH called me "Butch" but all the color was out in two cuts (6 weeks) and no skunk line. My hair is now mid back and both mine as well as DHs pride and joy.

Re: Easiest Way to Go Gray?

NYCLatinaMe — Sat, 29 May 2021 17:26:39 GMT

@Quinny If your hair is very short, it won't take that long to grow at all. I last colored my hair in January 2020. I decided to take a sabbatical/possibly retire (I am 59), and with the pandemic, I skipped coloring and the gray had grown to my shoulders by November 2020, which is the length I prefer, and I was able to cut the colored hair off. With short hair, you will be done in a few months. I wore a ponytail, which won't help you, and pretty scarfs around my head to soften the transition.

My recommendation is to do the bleach highlights, as others recommended. I recommend that you have them at the salon, and ask for balayage instead of foils. See picture below. My hair is naturally super black, and I had been doing balayage highlights so my gray growth wasn't as noticeable because of the highlights. I don't recommend that you color the hair gray because it may not match your natural growth and defeat the purpose. Just do highlights one or 2 times and your gray should be fully out.

All that being said, I do plan to go back to color. Don't like my grey hair. Light in the front, dark in the back, funky texture. I want to cut first and not sure what cut to do....

Good luck!