The last time I colored my hair was February 20, 2020, the week before Covid shut down the world. Little did I know I was starting my white hair journey.
I loved my colored hair.
What I didn’t love was the hours spent sitting in the salon, and the money paid to the talented Angela, my colorist. But I did it, every 4 1/2 weeks.
Then we all hunkered down for Covid.
As my grow-out started, I was obsessed with it, as I wrote in Can we talk about quarantine hair?
I took pictures of my sprouting silvers; I measured my silver growth.
I hated that I had the dreaded “line of demarkation,” and I was afraid that I looked like I had let myself go. But it was easier for me than some, as I was “blond” — thanks to Angela and her magical color — instead of a dark color. Also, as I was 100% silver under the color, my hair wouldn’t hold the color, and faded very quickly after each color. That was frustrating when I was trying to be “blond,” but was advantageous when I was transitioning to silver, because the colored part of my hair faded to very light pretty quickly. This photo is 10 months in, which was about 5 inches of growth.
There is still a lot of colored hair there, but it has faded so much that it blends pretty well with the new white hair.
And here I am three years after starting, all white.
Do I like my white hair? Sometimes. . .
I have mixed feelings. I LOVE not spending the time and money required for keeping up color. And I do get complements, more than I ever did before. And not just from white-haired women of a certain age. I get comments and complements from strangers, friends, young old, and women and men. I like that I can wear colors that I couldn’t wear before, like gray, pink and purple.
And I love that moment when other “silver sisters” give me a knowing look and a smile, and even say, “I love your hair,” and I respond “I love YOUR hair.”
What I don’t like about my white hair. . .
I don’t like that it does age me. No question. Here’s an example. I was in Florida with my girl Kalisa, and we were heading out on our morning walk:
My sweet Florida neighbor saw us, said she was so glad I was back in Florida, and was this gal with me my lovely daughter? While Kalisa’s coffee came out her nose she was laughing so hard, I stuttered that this is my best friend, who is younger than me, but only by six weeks.
Why does it bother me that it ages me?
Gee, there’s a lot to unpack in that question; I haven’t quite resolved that yet. I wish I had some big philosophical conclusion, something about wisdom and beauty and aging, and the beauty of aging. But I’ve got nothing. I think I just don’t want to look older.
Does it require any special care?
I’m saving time and money not coloring, but the white hair does require a few different products.
Heat protection
White hair is vulnerable to heat and can singe and/or take on a yellow tone when it gets too hot. If I’m going to use a curling or straightening iron, I use one of these products:
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Alterna Caviar Leave-In Heat Protection Spray
Special shampoo
When my hair picks up some yellow tones, I have used a purple shampoo. They can be very drying, so you have to be careful about how long you leave it on. I have one I really like, but in writing this article I see that they have discontinued it. Shoot. I’ll have to start a new search for a gentle purple shampoo.
If my hair does get dried out, I do a deep condition with Olaplex No. 3 .
Will I go back to coloring?
No way. First, it took too long and was too awkward to grow it out.
Second, there are days that I really like it. And days I don’t. But more days that I like it.
I also love the freedom it gives me. I can travel; my schedule is not tethered to my salon appointments. I don’t have to worry about whether my roots are showing when it’s been a few weeks since my last color. I don’t have to buy color-safe shampoo and hair products.
Finally, I love that I clearly have my dad’s hair, and I see a little of him in me now. I am my father’s daughter. If I’ve got to age, there are worse things than becoming more like my dad.
For more thoughts on the challenges around hair, please see:
3 comments
Ah, what a lovely post! I too am on the cusp of letting my hair grow out. I’m sure it will age me and I don’t like that either, but at the same time, I want to be that woman who is proud of the way she looks, as she looks 🙂 We’ll see.
Your white hair is beautiful! I get not liking the “aging in general” part, but you are so lucky to have such a brilliant white–and to have your dad’s hair. As I’m starting to get targeted ads for “women of a certain age” (calm down, marketers, I’m 41) I appreciate the stories of those who are a little ahead of me on their journeys.
Hi, Hi Ladies!! It’s soo good to read your blog again. I have missed you! I love reading about your gray hair! You are so beautiful with your gray hair! I have been thinking about going gray myself, so I really appreciate your honesty on how you feel about the change. I’d love to see your blog picture (of the two of you) with your updated hair color. 🙂
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