You're lucky you can wear a pixie cut Suz. Your hair always looks so chic.

You're lucky you can wear a pixie cut Suz. Your hair always looks so chic.

Commiserations on the gum graft and the cold, Suz. I hope you're feeling a little better now.

As for your hair, I think you've made a good decision to crop it shorter. It will give you clean slate to work on, and make the growing out phase less painful.

I don't know why so many hairdressers are averse to cool colours or to grey hair in general. I can't count the times that a stylist has insisted on "warming up" my natural ash shade, when the rest of my colouring is clearly cool. What's wrong with cool?

Just go ahead and do what seems right for you.

I am sorry about your gum surgery
I hear you on the hair thing. When I stopped coloring my hair and went au naturel, I wanted a silver halo around my face just to add a bit of interest to my hair - like in the inspiration picture. (Her name is Paola Marella, and from what I understand an Italian TV personality). Three different hair stylist (one of whom I have consulted precisely for this purpose) told me that it cannot be done! Clearly this is not her real hair, so it can be done. If her stylist can do it, why can't ours? I am stumped. I had to go back to dyeing my hair - this of course, being only ONE of the reasons.

Suz, I'm so sorry to hear about your gums, I hope the healing process is as fast as it can be. And a cold on top, sending virtual chicken soup.

I can relate as I have just recovered from having a tiny, scary mole removed from my eye lid a few weeks ago. It took five minutes, and when all is said and done cost about $1,200! I would have left it alone but two doctors and my neighbor (who is a highly trained and skilled esthetician), all agreed it should be removed and biopsied. It was so tiny I had no idea I was going to look like I was in a fight for quite a long time. The picture is not even at the peak of bruising. I had to wear my glasses (which are super old) for an entire week because my eyelid was swollen. Needless to say I was a total un-fab hermit for well over a week. I just started to wear a bit of makeup this weekend. During the entire recovery I was feeling yucky and old but I've been feeling a bit more positive the last few days now that it's behind me.

Regarding your hair, I totally agree you are going to look amazing in a shorter pixie cut. And the gray too! Funny thing, my stylist is in her early 30's and is at the last step of coloring her dark hair gray. So, it can be done and when I see her next I am going to inquire. She is an absolute doll and totally honest even if it means she loses on the bill. Also going to inquire about my dark, single process hair aging me. Mother Nature is doing a fine job of that so I don't need any help in that area.

Oh, my, Colette, that looks painful! Ouch!! I am glad to hear you are doing better now and hope the rest of the healing is quick.

I'm on the mend now with less pain than on the weekend, although I still look black and blue and yellow and swollen. Ah well. It should go down in time.

Dental issues are the worst - I have spent so much $$ on my mouth and still there are things that should really be done. If it is still true, years ago they said dentists make more money than nearly any other profession. I know you will feel much better in a day or two and I think the arnica is a good rec.

Regarding your hair - I would likely be inclined to try my own lighter highlights if I was going to get it cut off anyway. I've used a lot of different "blonde" choices from Garnier over the years as highlighting options mostly. A couple of months ago, after a long pause, I did it again, using a more golden blonde - because oddly my hair seems to have really slowed down on turning gray/white - anyway - I used a very unprofessional approach to putting it in my hair (I just used the gloves on both hands and rubbed the product between my gloved hands like it was conditioner and then ran my fingers through my hair leaving product on it in a random highlighting manner and mostly avoiding the roots so I wouldn't have a "line". I have long hair and quite a bit of it, so this is about the only way I can do highlights myself. I repeated with more product until I felt like I had enough strands covered - waited the 30 mins. and washed it out. Very natural looking highlights. My natural hair color is fairly light blonde so it wasn't a drastic change. I end up wasting most of the product but who cares when it's only like $8?

Garnier has a very light, nearly white blonde that might work for you if you wanted to try it...

Check out accidental icon blog

Gum grafts are the pits. I have had several, starting when I was about 30 years old. Wet tea bags helped my healing go more quickly. The dentist told me my gums were stretched too thin by orthodontia done when I was a teenager. The price to pay for straight teeth.

As for the hair woes - you are the boss. Go for a salt and pepper pixie. If you don't like it, it is just hair. You will be smashing no matter what you choose.

My sympathies concerning your gum graft. I had one quite some time ago and found it mostly unpleasant on all counts, especially financially! It seemed to do the trick though and combined with fastidious oral hygiene I've never had any more trouble. Lets hope this will be your last contribution to your periodontist's retirement fund.
I'm older than you but stopped colouring my hair when I turned 60. My hairdresser was not particularly supportive but she wasn't negative either and we both agreed to the journey. If you remember my hair is a little shorter than yours (especially with your long bang) but similar. I have warm colouring, so my fear (and everyone else's it seemed) was that I wasn't grey enough or worse, that my grey would be "mousey". Turns out everyone says that, and most are totally wrong......I was grey enough and my hair is lovely colour, perfectly suited to my colouring.My hairdresser is thrilled with the colour and has apologized many times for not being more onboard. She even claims to use my hair colour as an example to younger stylists as how wrong one can be. I think the issue with having your hair dyed grey is that there is no such thing! Natural grey hair is devoid of colour, the shaft is empty of pigment and mixed with the remaining pigmented hair the eye perceives the mixture as grey. The dyed grey hair we see on young people is actually pale violet or green or a mixture of those cooler ashy tones. I think this is a very unpredictable process and just adds another layer of complication to the whole process of "going grey" It took me about 6 months to grow out my coloured hair and there is a time at around the 4 to 5 month point where "crazy homeless woman" might be somewhat how you feel about your appearance BUT please, stick with it......it's SO worth it. I was not unhappy with my coloured hair but when I see a photograph of myself now I am thrilled with how much more flattering my grey hair is than my coloured hair. I think you will look fabulous with grey hair and remember if you don"t like it you can always colour it again.....that change is easy.
Sorry to be so long winded in this regard but my experience was so positive and I'll never look back! Good luck on your journey if you decide to take the plunge.

DJP, I want to "like" your comment! Your experience was so much like mine. I'm just not as good a writer.

Suz, check this link for sone good styles including grey versions!

http://therighthairstyles.com/choppy-pixie-cuts/

So, I guess going a little longer on your hair is not an option Suz - or is it?

The model Debra Roberts reminds me so much of you in many of her hair styles, but I really like this one:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/532550724663612052/

http://lockemanagement.com/view.cfm?modelID=463
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/357191814174614687/

I hope you are feeling better. I hope you are healing ok and the bruising is almost gone. As for your hair if your ready to go grey do it. You can dye it back if you want.
I think you look beautiful no matter what the length or color of your hair.

Thank you, Debbie. You are sweet.

Tex, I am super flattered! And yes, that might be an option (longer) eventually, but to grow the grey out, I have to cut it all off! It will be a couple of years before it would get back to that length. Actually, it's close to that length right now, but not quite there. The issue is the long side bang -- it's driving me nuts. Looks fine in photos but is forever blowing in my eyes.

Una, thank you -- and good luck tomorrow!!

JAileen, I felt the same way.

DJP, thank you for that encouragement. I am really resolved now. It helps that I am just sick of the current hairstyle and need a change anyway. Meanwhile, I looked at some photos of my mother at my age and she was completely silver. I think I'm more like my dad in colouring and he was not completely grey at this age -- his was grey on temples and in front but darker in back -- but it still looked good on him. So...

greycat, thank you for the support.

bj1111, love her!

bella, I hear you. You want it to be intentional looking, not just no-style. Frustrating!!

Summer, Sally -- thank you!

Hi Suz, I'm glad the bruising has gone down, it sounds horrible.

With regards to your hair, could you have it cut short then add highlights plus a silvery toner ? There are toning shampoos you can use at home to help blend your coloured hair with the grey.

Suz, I hope you're feeling better soon. Your hair will look wonderful no matter what you decide.

I am just now catching up on this. I hope by now your cold is better and that your gums are healing. That sounds so painful and frustrating... I am another vote for teh silver pixie. You will look fantastic! My former hairdresser (former because she moved) and longtime friend, let her natural grey grow out and it looks FANTASTIC! She is stopped and asked about it constantly, and at the same time given such grief by other hairdressers. I have no doubt at all that this will suit you perfectly.

Ooh I follow that Insta Account Lisa mentioned and you would look awesome with her cut. Sorry you are feeling the way you are. Suz is it time to find a new hairdresser?? Just a thought. My hair is driving me crazy at the moment. Not sure if I should grow it or keep it short so I have let it get to that inbetween stage where it's lacking a little in style. A silver pixie would look awesome!