The latest in my journey of going gray. - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

The latest in my journey of going gray.

Mainelady

Veteran

Here I am, 16 months into the journey. We are no longer adding highlights. The bottom 2” are all that is left of the dyed hair, which has been lightened and highlighted over several months for the grow out. Most of what you see is my natural hair, with the help of toner to cut the tendency to go yellow between appointments. Every time we tone and trim off the old hair I feel happier and more me. I like to tell myself that I am aging gracefully.
#1 Close up where you can still get some peeks of the brown areas underneath, towards the back
#2,3 Me.....no makeup, just take me as I am
#4 Before I began the journey to being my authentic self

I’ll get gussied up before heading out for an event tonight. Make up and happiness factors, here I come!

Thanks for following along on this journey. The support of the YLF Fabbers has been fantastic. I love how we are encouraged to discover and be our best selves!

This post has 4 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

General

40 replies

Latest reply was from Cee

Kathie

Veteran

Kudos to you and your stylist! Your hair looks amazing, gorgeous and healthy.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

It's fantastic! I can't even tell that the bottom 2 inches is different.
And you look lovely without makeup.
But I agree, makeup and happiness factors will be fun for tonight x

jill58

Veteran

I love it. You have gorgeous hair.

Katerina

Veteran

Your hair is very beautiful! Gorgeous quality and color and I love your classic haircut. You sparkle. Have a great evening!

Becky

Veteran

You look absolutely fabulous! I think you look more current and authentic with your new look.

Carla

Veteran

Lucky you! Your natural colour is lovely. Will you go super long? Or maintain the current length? I think you could get away with your pre-transition length in your current colour since your hair is so thick and healthy.

Anonymous

You have such beautiful natural colour - rock on! (as Angie, would say - ha)

JAileen

Veteran

You have such pretty hair. The before looks like someone else!

Bijou

Veteran

You looked beautiful before, but I prefer your natural hair colour on you, you look absolutely gorgeous. You were very brave to change what was beautiful hair into something different - the bonus is that your new hair colour and cut is even better.

Joyce B

Veteran

Your natural color is beautiful.

Laurel

Thank you so much for sharing this journey with us, it inspired me to join you! My slide back to natural has been pretty easy---my hair is fairly short, and my color shift is barely noticeable---my natural hair color WAS a coppery and golden strawberry blonde, then for about 8 years I "punched it up" with more red. Now, my natural hair color has been revealed (again) and it is a very, very light strawberry blonde. I've always felt like a redhead, and it's interesting to now be a blonde, that's for sure. I love your hair, and I appreciate that your frankness encouraged me!

Anonymous

Beautiful hair. Beautiful you. You are more than growing older gracefully. The changes are stunning on you

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Fantastic! Your natural colour is so beautiful and flattering to your skin tone. You look beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

Oh, it suits you SO WELL. As it should

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Gorgeous!

cindysmith

Veteran

It looks so GOOD!

Mainelady

Veteran

Oh, my gosh! Thank you so much Kathie, Jenni, Jill, Katerina, Becky, Runcarla, Lisa p, JAileen, Joyce, Bijou, Laurel, Joy, Suz, Elizabeth P, Shevia and Cindysmith!
Runcarla, I will probably keep my hair shorter until, all of the old color is cut off. I can imagine myself growing it out again, with longer layers......I admire long gray hair on others, so may give it a try.
Yay, Laurel! I am so happy for you! I am glad your slide to your authentic color has been easy. I think that makes the journey much easier. I bet you look beautiful as a blond!
The appointment was well timed. It had been postponed from last week, so I was happy to get an appointment today. GOOD THING! Tonight my family and I attended a ceremony where my father was being inducted into an Academic Hall of Fame, posthumously. He passed away almost 20 years ago. He was the Superintendent of Schools in the same district one of my brothers currently serves as the Superintendent.
My brother had been asked to accept the award and speak on dad’s behalf. Little brother surprised me and asked me to join him at the podium. I was surprised, but very pleased to join my brother in paying tribute to our father. My other two siblings live too far away to attend, but were with us in spirit. I was very happy to have my hair looking good! Here is a pic of my little brother and me with dad’s award. It was a special night. Thanks for indulging me and looking.

This post has 1 photo. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

You have gorgeous shiny healthy hair! Looks great in any color.

MsMaven

Veteran

Looks great. Some times I look in the mirror at my streaked gray and white hair and think, “Who are you?” It takes a while, but it’s such a relief to be the real me.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Wow! Your hair is beautiful, and you are, too! What a wonderful surprise, to be able to participate in the honor of your father!

Mainelady

Veteran

Thank you Jessiekams, MsMaven and Firecracker. MsMaven, I know what you mean. Sometimes I still need a heartbeat to recognize the new me when I see my reflection. Firecracker, it was a wonderful surprise to be included. It was kind of funny, too, because my brother wanted me to read something a teacher had written and I had to go back to the table to get my glasses. Having grown up in the community and knowing the majority of inductees and people in the room it was a lighthearted moment. Previous teachers of mine were offering me their glasses.

The Cat

Veteran

Your hair colour is beautiful. And what a great photo of you, your brother and your father's award! Congratulations!

Just a tip: You may not need a toner for your hair if you, instead, use a shampoo etc. with some violet in it.

Anonymous

It looks beautiful! And i agree with Jenni NZ, theres no obvious difference at all between the last 2 inches and the rest. Sounds like a wonderful night

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Beautiful.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

You have gorgeous hair,why would you want to dye it.

Anonymous

I am so envious of you! You look stunning!! I just cannot let myself go gray - yet. I color it myself with a demi permanent color. I did move away from the "sandy color" because I started to notice that the gray areas looked more pinkish than coppery and am now using dark natural blonde, which is still lighter than my natural color. Perhaps one of these days I will be brave.

Anonymous

Feels really good, doesn't it? Your hair is stunningly beautiful. Do you intend to go back to a longer cut once you are completely grown in?

Mainelady

Veteran

Thank you, The Cat. My hairdresser suggested using the violet shampoo and conditioner once a week. She thinks we may not need to tone very often. We may still need to, because I have well water and the minerals in it (even with a filter) can leave some deposits on the hair. I’m going to give the violet a try.
Thank you suntiger and Angie.
Cardiff Girl, I really don’t want to dye my hair at all anymore. I did it for over 30 years.
Danusia, to go brave isn’t necessary. If and when you are ready, you will know.
Sterling, thank you. I think I may want to grow out some longer layers again. We’ll see. In my mind’s eye, it looks good. In truth, it may be too much gray. Time will tell.

em

To me, gray hair is what my mother has--a dingy steel gray color. You don't have that. Your hair is jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

If you decide to grow it out you could dye the ends hot pink or something.

12