GOING GRAY: A YEAR IN REVIEW

This is a year in review of growing out my hair gray. Little did I know this external transformation would lead to a story of personal growth and self love. Feeling beautiful both inside and out. Hit up my blog for more of my reflections!

Join The Gray Book Facebook group for inspiration, community and support related to all things going gray!

[barbararatti]

You look great!! I’m 48 and decided to stop coloring my hair. Watching videos like this has made my decision easier to make. I’m at the point in my life where I don’t care what people think anymore. You’re an inspiration!!

[roewansongs]

Thank you. I've been growing mine out too and the negative comments from people who are suppose to be my friends is incredible.. But I'm doing it anyways.

[Karking]

I am 36 and after coloring my hair for the past 15 years ( I went gray at 21) I am just so done with having to color it every 2-3 weeks! I am ready to embrace my gray ☺️ I hope I look even half as good as you do with gray hair 👩‍🦳

[sonias]

I’m 46 and I decided a month ago to stop coloring my greys and go natural. I thought about it for 10 months before making that decision and did research on YouTube university ;) before I made that decision. I wanted to know what to expect and seeing all the stories and experiences of so many different women helped tremendously. The most important thing I learned about going grey and from my research is that the transition is very psychological and emotional. I knew it would be; but I didn’t realize how much of the transition is about the psychology of yourself and everybody else. I feel now I can be more of my authentic self and I too feel stronger and liberated from societal expectations. You look beautiful! Have fun on this amazing journey!

[oShawnao]

You are gorgeous!! I love your silver hair! I stopped dying 3 years ago (I'm 38). Funny how extended family had the most negative to say. "You can't be gray in your 30's!" "Well apparently I can be because gray hairs have been coming in since I turned 21."

[LookingupforJesus]

While salons are still closed in my city due to COVID19....I’m frustrated and decided to be done with this nightmare of hair color! Last night my 26 yr old daughter shared that she didn’t support me. I’m hurt, angry and almost decided to turn my wonderful husband is so supportive and encouraged me to continue. Your video has furthered my resolve. I never expected to have so many feelings around this one decision. I’m only at 2 1\2 months in at this point....but I cannot turn back! Thank you for sharing your story, it’s meant a lot for me today!

[jenniferlynne]

I'm 48 and decided 4 months ago to just stop coloring my hair....I told my mom...and she said "well...Gray looks nice on some people" HA.... she is 75 and still religiously goes to have her hair colored....and it is the ONE thing she will NEVER do her reaction makes perfect sense to me ~!! 4 months of growth...I'm still hanging in...but I don't want to cut my hair (first time getting it past my ears....) so I'm getting itchy to color the brown parts to at least get them to blend so happy to see other people around my age going through the same for the nice video of your journey....

[karenrader]

Well it doesn't hurt that you're so pretty in the first place! I'm almost 52 and am allowing mine to go gray. Brutal comments from ppl (as mentioned in some of the comments) just make me want to do it all the more. Maybe we don't like their hair either but we certainly don't feel free to blurt THAT out. Why do ppl feel they have the right to do that to ppl going gray?? Your hair and you are gorgeous. Thanks for the inspiration.

[kw]

I feel like I'm watching a video of myself! ♡ My boyfriend gives the side eye when I mention it. Colleagues that I've seen embrace their gray say it's the best decision ever and are totally supportive when I mention it. Except one prick who walked up to me while I'm at my desk and points to it and says "what's that what's that" mind you, he's bald! There will always be the jerk that literally points it out, but I choose to focus on the supportive women who encourage me over the bald guy.

[tanyabooysen]

It's the 2nd last day of 2023 and you've inspired me with your grey journey, my last black hairdye was about a month ago and it made me look too harsh.So yes it's time for my very own grey journey, I'll be referring back to you for encouragement advice and tips.😊

[graceinhawaii]

You indeed are brave and beautiful! Love your story and the heartfelt video. I think it is so amazing that you had courage to allow your natural hair color shine! I am 64 and just starting this journey. I never even considered it all these years. Thank you for sharing your journey

[m.a.jensen]

You are so sweet! Thank you ! Im at the 6 week mark and Im doing this. I tried it about 6 months ago and I chickened out. But now nothing will stop me. You are brave !!!

[julieseguerra]

I am growing my gray hair too. Last time I went to the saloon was on May 4, 2019; today is Aug 22, 2019. my grays are about 1 1/2 inches long. I am embracing and loving my grays.

[bettyratliff]

Your hair looks beautiful! Your story is so encouraging to me! I just started my gray hair journey Jan 2nd on my 63 birthday. I’m 4 months in and at first it was very hard seeing all the gray coming in but now I’m embracing the journey and excited to see the end result:)

[SabraQueenoftheUnderworld]

Awww. 😞. You look so pretty!!!! I'm 39 and I decided this summer to stop coloring my hair. I have been grey since my early 20's. You stay true to yourself and as long as you are happy, then it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks or says! You have a great husband!!! My fiance is younger than me and is excited for me to go grey. Like you, friends and family thought I was silly to stop coloring my hair....I'm not going to let it get me down.... I am staying true to myself! STAY TRUE TO YOU. You look amazing! 🌻🌻

[halima]

I'm 55 and I gave up the hair colouring about a year ago. I started colouring in my early 20's trying to get back to the blonde of my childhood, thinking my actual colour wasn't exciting enough. After colouring for 20 something years I realized that I was having to retouch my roots every 2 weeks !!! It was expensive, tedious and my hair condition was suffering . The tipping point was when my son asked me what my real hair colour is and I couldn't remember! I decided to let it grow out a bit and see... and one year later here I am! It's not quite what I expected- it's better. Around my face and my canopy is platinum, and the back is a bit darker, kind of ash blonde. What was I so afraid of? What was I trying so hard to cover/ improve for so many years? I touch my new, virgin hair and it's so soft and smooth- doesn't require all the product and styling my coloured hair needed. I have those rebellious, sticky uppy hairs you noticed - it's new growth! I'm convinced all the colouring was frazzling and breaking my hair.
If I could go back in time and meet my 20 year old self I'd tell her " You are beautiful just the way you are!" It's tragic the way women and girls in our culture are taught early on to think there are things wrong with them that need to be fixed, and that they need to buy so many products in the endless, futile search for perfection.
Love yourselves, love your hair the way it is! Now I can't stop touching mine and thinking " this is my REAL hair, it's all mine!" 😁

[pamsinger]

I’m three months into my gray during the pandemic and I like it. My19 year old granddaughter said, “ Grandma
you can rock gray.” My husband says it becomes me.

[lupebutterfly]

Oh my God you are so beautiful. You made me cry @ 7:29 bold and brave. I needed that. I started my journey just three weeks ago. New year, new me. Thanks!

[isabelab]

I just trimmed my hair quit a bit...I am 8 months out and like you I have natural highlights from the gray. It is great to see this again and remind me how far I have come!

[mistysmith]

I am almost 44 and just starting my journey. I have a lot of white especially at the temple area and am at 2 weeks post dye. I am so tired of getting it done all the time and worrying about how it looks. I think yours is beautiful and you are a great inspiration. Fingers crossed I make it through this without giving up :)