If you follow me on social media, you might have seen me post my new hair color … gray! Or maybe gronde? (Gray + Blonde) Why I made the change and my thoughts about it so far.
I Needed a Change
In my whole life, I’ve never kept a hair style for more than a couple of years. I just get bored and need something different. Need proof? Here’s just a few of my hair transformations over the years!
I know, I know … so much … umm … variety!
I was over the moon excited with my icy blonde locks as first, but … I was starting to get that itch for something new. And let’s get real, it’s boring and expensive to spend hours in the salon every four weeks.
Gray
Of course I knew that gray hair is now oh-so-cool! When my roots would start growing in, I would look carefully to try to figure out what color my hair even was now. I’m still not quite sure! I’m guessing a dark ashy blond with silver streaks. I started playing with the hashtags #ashhair and #grayhair and realized women were dying their hair the color that mine is naturally now (again, I THINK!) Could I try it? I thought of doing #ditchthedye and eventually I might, but for the transition to be smoother, I decided to dye it gray. I went to the salon armed with a bunch of saved Instagram photos and my fabulous stylist helped me pick out what she thought would make a good transition. This is the photo we decided to use as a jumping off point:
Sending out a big thanks to Diana Millere for the permission to share this photo. Check out her Instagram account for lots of beautiful hair inspiration!
My stylist did a gray tone with semi-permanent darker low lights, which means the color will continue to be a bit of a work in progress for awhile. But didn’t it come out pretty?!
What Do I Think?
Well, in typical Dawn fashion I was super excited about it at first because it was new … and I love new! But a week later I was starting to question it. Now I’ve decided I totally love it again! This may change a few times … we’ll see! And frankly, as one my friends pointed out, it doesn’t look THAT different!
Funny side note: I did have one delightful lady come up to me to compliment the color and asking if it was natural. I tried to explain how I dyed my hair what I think might be my natural color now. The poor thing looked so confused. 🤦♀️ I think next time, I’ll just say yes.
What Would Mom Think?
Back in the day, going gray was a sign of defeat, right? My mom always saw it as an act that said you no longer cared how you look, along with a short hair cut and polyester pull on pants. She dyed her hair brown until 84 and she was complaining about her white roots on her deathbed (literally). I wonder what she would think about me going out of my way to DYE my hair gray?!
A Work in Progress
My husband and I were talking about my hair and we realized that he’s never seen my natural hair color! Haha … which means I haven’t seen it in over 10 years either. It will be an adventure to see what is actually is now!
I’ll keep you posted in my transition process. If you’re transitioning to your natural hair color, whether it be gray or whatever, please feel free to leave your social media links in the comments so we can all follow and cheer each other on!
Fun & Fashion,
Dawn Lucy
About the blog: Fashion Should Be Fun is ME talking to YOU, other middle-aged women who are over 40, but not over fashion. We still want to look beautiful and stylish. We still want to have fun with trends. And we don’t need anyone giving us rules, because we’re all different. This is a place for me to share my love of fashion with you, including style ideas, tips, trends, and inspiration. I know how liking the way we look can translate into confidence and energy. I know we have so much life left to live and so much adventure ahead of us. Let’s show the world you’re never too old to have fun and be fierce.
31 Comments
A few years ago I started bleaching to hide the hide the grey (dark brown naturally) and keep the roots from showing. In early 2019, I decided like the salt and pepper look at the roots and started doing just highlights. In June, I decided I was done with colouring. I’m still not certain what the actual colour is. I did have it cut into a bob, which I now regret, to get rid of most of the bleached ends. Most of my grey seems to be framing my face and on top. Fairly normal pattern. I do believe that whatever natural grey mix is growing in will be more flattering on me that any fake colour. And I have received more compliments on my hair since I stopped colouring than I did before. Growing it back out now and looking forward to the day when it’s all my natural hair. It’s healthier now. And there’s a lot of baby hairs sprouting which I think is my scalp saying thank you for not coating it in bleach every month. Grey is bold and fierce. Let’s do this!
YESSS! Love this, Sandra! With encouragement and support, this journey to natural is going to be exciting! Following you on Instagram now. Keeps us posted on your progress! Let’s do this indeed!!!
I have zero clue what color my true hair color is but have definitely continued to go darker mainly becuase the bleach was wreaking havoc on my fine hair. I see so many wearing gray that looks amazing and have no doubt you will rock it. thus far I have not started seeing any gray but will definitely consider it when I do.
Isn’t it funny that we don’t know what color our hair really is even?! Haha … I mean I can see a little bit at the roots sure, but I’ve been coloring it every 4 weeks for years now. My stylist said it’s not as dark as I think it is. It just looks that way next to the bleached blond. I’m hoping my natural color is pretty! And my hair will look extra healthy! But if not, I always reserve the right to change my mind and dye it again! 😂
Hi Dawn,
You are rocking that grey! And I loved you with your platinum hair, and as a redhead, too! I remember the perm years, oh my what damage I did to my hair back in the 80’s! I vowed to never perm again, and I haven’t! But I still get blonde highlights when I can get to the salon, did it myself the last time and looking for a good stylist right not to sort of even things out. I have spotted a few grey hairs, but so few that it wouldn’t make sense to let it go natural, yet. We’ll see when and if the Grey progresses. Right now I’m considering RED! My daughter is waiting for her Overtone to arrive and I’m going to watch and see how that goes, I might consider it myself! You always put ideas into my head!
XO
Heidi
Oooo keep me posted! The Overtone is the temporary dye in all kinds of fun colors, right? Why not red? We should try every color at least once! 😁. Oh yes, years of spiral perms and bleach and sun and backcombing and hair spray … it’s a miracle I have any hair left!😂
I love all your hairstyles, colors and looks through the years. You rocked all of them. The gray looks awesome too! it’s a nice ashy gray, the blue undertones go great with your skin tone (use to do color analysis for a fashion company). Stay ‘Beautiful’!
Aww thanks, Joann! Yeah, I thought the cooler tones would work well on me, but it’s nice to get the thumbs up from a specialist like you!
Thank you for sharing this post! You look beautiful in any color and make gray look glam! I colored my hair in my 20s and early 30s, and will never forget my adventure with “Spiced Tea,” which turned my hair a fiery red and elicited the comment, “What did you have to drink over the weekend ?” from my boss! But you have to have at least one Spiced Tea experience in your 20s! I took a break from hair color after my cancer treatment, wanting to avoid the chemicals, but am now considering henna to cover my white streaks. It’s time-intensive, but supposed to be healthy. We’ll see how it turns out! When I lose more of my brown, I will consider all gray or maybe with lavendar highlights.
Haha … send photos of your Spiced Tea! :D. And yes, life is short, go for the adventure, even in hair color! Your mom always had a pretty shade of gray. Maybe you’ll inherit that from her! And you know me, I do reserve the right to change my mind and end up with hot pink or something. 😀
As a hair colourist I love helping women grown in their grey and have been doing that for years. Im all about enhancing what nature has given us ! And it can still be fun ! Love incorporating low lights , and splashes of colour to actually make the grey pop More!! I’ve been very bad about my media presence . ..many of my clients are not that into their photos being on social media so I need to take a cue from you my friend and learn how to do this social media thing right 😉 need to really re- brand myself ..hello 2020!
Is this “my” Shannon? Well, my other Shannon? I do have one at home too! :D. I’d love to have you do my hair. Wish you lived closer! And yes to getting the hang of social media. OXOX
“Gronde”! I love it! And this made me giggle: “I dyed my hair what I think might be my natural color now.”
Definitely needed to read this post. Thank you, Dawn Lucy!
Haha … right? I’m allowed to make up my own words! :D. And yeah, isn’t it a trip to think I really don’t know what color my hair is now? I mean it was dirty ash blond growing up, but I haven’t seen that shade in ages! I really don’t know how much gray I have! Here’s to adventures in style .. and hair!
I found my usual gold hair no longer matched my skin tone and decided to go natural. I love the natural color of my hair, ash with white and black streaks and am getting a lot of compliments. Matches my skin tone so much better. My hair is so much more healthy also.
Thanks, so inspirational! I’m hoping my “real” hair is healthy and pretty! :). Drop your social media info you want us to follow along! I’d love to see your hair!
I love this color for you. I think it is dramatic and striking and very on trend! I have no idea what my natural hair color is either anymore. I have been dying my hair black for about 30 years! I know it is definitely gray and I have considered going natural or semi natural (gray with some help from dyes), but my complexion is so pale that it just isn’t working for me. So I am going to stick with black for now and just admire your beautiful gray locks! Wishing you all the best in the new year!
Shelbee
http://www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Aww thanks Shelbee and happy happy new year to you! You look wonderful with dark hair! It will be interesting to see how this whole transition goes for me. 😀
I went gray a couple of years ago and I love it! Because my natural color was dark brown, it got to the point that I had to go in for color every 4 weeks and had to touch up roots around 2 weeks. I was over it by then and cut it all off to make the transition since I wasn’t going to be able to dye it gray for a smoother transition without ruining my hair. It took a little while to get used to once the transition was complete, and I had similar moments to what you’re describing. Now? I love it and I’m happy I made the switch.
Oh good for you taking the brave action to cut it off and start over! It crossed my mind, but I chickened out! One change at a time! 😀
I think it looks gorgeous on you.
Aww thanks Amy!!
Hi Dawn,
I think your new gray hair is cute, but not quite as fun as your redhead days!!! With red hair, you just seem to sparkle a bit more. Whatever you decide, Im sure you’ll be adorable!
Pam
Hi Pamela,
The red WAS fun! I’m not sure I could rock it now, but I agree that it looks pretty fabulous in these photos! As always, I reserve the right to change my mind … and probably more than once!! 😀
OXOX
Your new pearly gray hair colour is really lovely, Dawn…you and your stylist did an amazing job selecting a shade that suits you so well!! And I know EXACTLY what you mean about wanting – needing! – to switch up your hair look on a regular basis; I’ve tried pretty much everything (long, super-short, curly, straight, platinum, black cherry) over the years as well!! Still loving my pink ‘do for now, though…along I am toying with the idea of adding some bangs to my bob for a little fresh-up!! XOXO
Monika, I absolutely love your pink hair and who knows … I may follow in those fun pink footsteps one of these days!! 😀
Your hair is beautiful! I considered doing the same thing. But while my naturally red hair is getting a noticeable amount of gray, a lot of my red hair is turning into a dull light brown. So when my hair grows out most of it still would not match. Anyway, gorgeous!
Michelle
http://mybijoulifeonline.com
It’s so hard because everyone’s hair grows out differently … and starts from a different place too. When I was considering it, I was looking for someone going from bleached blond to a natural grayish and couldn’t find any examples of that! I’m still trying to decide if I go for another coloring session or do I just try to ditch the dye now and see what happens?!
Well, of course I am interested in this post because I’ve had grey hair for YEARS! I have never felt that it made me old. I’m only going to consider myself old when I get to eighty, and then only on a bad day! I think that as women age there is often a disconnect between their skin tone and their hair dye. A really good cut and tip top condition are the things that make a difference. One of my daughters (who works in fashion) had been dyeing her hair dark brown and had become concerned about the chemicals used. She is now dye free and receives many compliments on how good her skin looks, remarks that she wasn’t getting when her hair was dyed.
Oh that’s so interesting! I’m going to remember that as motivation …maybe I’ll start getting compliments on my skin! 😀 !!!
Good for you for going gray without feeling old! Several of my high school students have gray hair now and I can’t believe the amount of money there spent to get it! Here we are with it naturally … yay for us!!
You 100% rock this look! I seriously wish I could pull off grey – soooo chic! And I ADORE your hair pics from over the years. Rock on!