My 8 Month Gray Hair Transition Update
Inside: An update on how it’s going 8 months into my gray hair transition
Yesterday was the 8th month of my gray hair transition, and I still feel 100% happy with my decision.
It’s so damn liberating not to have to plan my life around getting my hair colored and hiding my roots! Woo-Hoo!!
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MY OLD HAIR DYE IS FADING RAPIDLY
Here’s a picture so you can see how much my dye has faded since May 2018:
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I’m not sure how much of the fading was natural, and how much was due to the fact that I use a clarifying shampoo once a week.
If I was doing this as a science experiment, I would have two women with the same color hair going gray at the same time, and I would take copious notes and graph results….but I have an Art History degree and no background in science…so we’ll just forget about THAT idea!
AND THE OLD BRUNETTE DYE IS GETTING EVEN ORANGER
You can see that I have some of that darn BLORANGE in my October hair.
Surprisingly, I took that picture the same day I used blue shampoo. I guess now that it’s getting oranger, it’s getting harder to tone that down? Have you experienced that? Darn!
As my ends get lighter I will probably try Overtone again and see if that helps reduce the orange tone.
However, next time I use Overtone, I’m going to leave my roots alone – I prefer them white, and it gave them a bit of a blue tint.
Here is a video I posted with some of my thoughts about my transition at the 8-month mark if you’d like to check it out:
PRODUCTS I’M USING AT 8 MONTHS DYE-FREE
During the week:
Neutrogena Clarifying Shampoo – to fade the dye and to get rid of buildup
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Conditioner
On Saturday:
Joico Color Balance Blue Shampoo
Joico K-Pack Intense Hydrator Treatment
I’m planning to check out Lauren from How Bourgeois’ new line of gray hair products. I can’t wait!
In Month 8, I’ve suddenly started having more flyaway gray hairs – not sure why? Maybe it’s the weather?
I’ve started using QuickSilverHair Oil to tame those. It also smells great, which is a nice bonus!
A FEW MORE THINGS THAT I NEED TO ADDRESS
Now that the silvers are really showing, I think it’s time to revamp my wardrobe a bit.
As per my recent blog post about colors to wear with gray hair, I’m going to try to add more pops of color to my wardrobe, and I hope you’ll join me. Remember to use the hashtag #kgpcolorpop on Instagram, so we can find each other and get inspired!
As per a reader’s request, I’m going to research skincare.
My skin was pretty much flawless for decades, and now – OMG! Dry skin, wrinkles, the works.
I’d like to find out how to better address these problems and, if possible, find products that are natural and cruelty-free.
Sleep – I have GOT to stop looking at my iPhone or laptop once I’m in bed.
Do you do this? It’s very disruptive to your REM sleep, which is bad for your health. I try to break the habit, but it’s difficult.
And I have no excuse, as I have a GREAT book I’m reading right now: A Voyage Long and Strange. It’s all about North America from the time the Vikings landed in Newfoundland to the Jamestown settlement. It’s so fascinating!
Can I say once again how much darn fun I’m having? Who knew going gray would open up a whole new world?!
Thanks so much for being part of this and if you have any friends who are thinking about going gray (or are already gray), please share this blog with them. I’d love to spread the word.
Thanks,
Katie
xoxoxox
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Related Posts:
My 9 Month Gray Hair Progress Report
My 10 Month Cold Turkey Gray Hair Progress Report
Celebrating One Year of Going Gray!
Why I Embraced the Gray
I am so impressed of the grow out process that you are going through! I knew I couldn’t do it so I chopped my longer hair off! With two short cuts I have all the old color gone and regrowing it back out. Today a stranger said “I love your hair!” I almost cried. LOL! Wouldn’t go back to coloring if you paid me. So liberating!!
That’s wonderful, Tracy! So glad you are enjoying being fully silver!
Great info Katie…I find it so interesting to see how much your dyed hair has faded. Mine hasn’t gotten there yet, may need to use the clarifying shampoo more often. I like that it’s not such a stark contrast to your silvers.
Thanks for the tip on a good read, I too need to stop with blue light.
You’re welcome – if you read it, let me know how you like it! 🙂
Hey Katie and fellow Silvernators!
I’m a 42 year old dance instructor from Melbourne, Australia. It’s been 3 months since my last ‘do or dye’ and I’ve never felt so liberated. I never thought I’d genuinely love to see silver hairs growing through! They literally shine and sparkle in the sunlight and I can’t wait to grow out the flat, lifeless brunette. Thanks for the inspiring transition stories, they’ve helped me to keep it up despite the stigma. Katie, you mentioned that you find it hard to sleep when you look at your phone/tablet screen in bed at night. That’s the blue light telling your brain to stay awake. To reduce the blue light you can use Night Shift in your IPhone settings. I swear by it! 🙂
Hi, Mel: I agree with you completely on the silver sparkles – so fun to see! I wish I’d realized sooner how pretty silver hair could be. And I’m so glad the transition stories are helping you! Regarding the iPhone, I do use Night Shift, but maybe I’m just oversensitive to the light? Good luck with your transition – it gets easier with every month, I swear!