February 26, 2009 9:54 PM
Hair gray, hooray!
Y'all know I've been growing out my gray since last April - resulting in a very strange color combo. As I said, I was inspired by women I saw whose silver-streaked hair looked quite beautiful, but mine just didn't seem to be measuring up.
I decided a couple weeks ago to go for broke and get my hair cut back to where it was all natural. It was very hard for me to do as I have only had my hair short a few times in my life and always regretted it. Plus, my family was very attached to my long hair. But intuitively, I felt like it was time to see just what my hair would look like.
Here are the results:
I took this picture myself, using the timer on my camera - so the focus is a bit off since there was nothing to focus on :)
This is the most gray my hair looks. Pictures taken in different light look darker. I actually want it to be as gray as possible as it is more interesting than mousy streaks, I found a product that seems to make the gray more shiny/silvery. when I showed Tripp this picture, he thought my hair looked messy - but that is actually the look I'm going for and spent a lot of time achieving :)
I need a new picture for my blog, so I'm going to ask my friend Suzanne for the rain check she gave me a long time ago which I've always been too busy to use. You will see the official results soon.
Oh, and the time and money saved!!! Oooh la la!
I think it may become trendy to go gray - and for anyone who wants support or pictures to see how other women deal with it, try Going Gray, Looking Great.
Comments
i absolutely love it!!!!
Posted by: Kathy Brodock | February 26, 2009 10:39 PM
I've read and enjoyed your blog for ages but I don't think I've ever commented. I find so much on here to enjoy as a mom, homeschooler, Christian, etc. Strange that I should make my first comment one on your hairstyle--lol.
I really like your new short 'do! I'm turning 40 and showing a bit of gray and I think I'm in the minority around my town--not that I'm turning 40 & gray but that I'm letting my gray show! I'm proud of my grays and I kid my children that each one is named after one of them :).
Posted by: Kelly | February 26, 2009 10:45 PM
I really like the hair do! You are graying graciously, I think. I am trying to do the same, but my gray is in clumps in the front and does not look good at all. I think I'm going to color again and wait until I get some more gray so it doesn't look like I have hair missing which is the current effect. You are lucky that you are graying the way you are. I think that short hair cut is very pretty, and that casual touseled look becomes you.
Posted by: Cath Young | February 26, 2009 11:05 PM
Momma I love it!!!!
You look fabulous! You look so sophisticated.
Since I have lots of gray hair I might go for it. But I'm only 35....and I'm older than my hubby; perhaps going gray would make me look even older than him???
Not sure.
Posted by: LadyLovas | February 26, 2009 11:10 PM
You look fab!
Posted by: monica | February 26, 2009 11:15 PM
The look is awesome!!!!! I keep praying for the guts to let mine go gray....mine would all be gray--white at the age of 41. I just don't think my hubby would go for it yet.
Posted by: Renee | February 26, 2009 11:47 PM
You look fantastic! What a great, sassy look.
Posted by: Elizabeth M Thompson | February 27, 2009 12:33 AM
Goodness gracious, me-oh my-oh you look great!! What *WILL* Annekee say? It suits you, dearest Momma! Wow!
Posted by: Greta | February 27, 2009 1:15 AM
My first comment, too. :)
I LOVE IT!!! You look amazing! I think the cut, even with the gray, makes you look a lot younger. :) I think you were very brave to cut your long hair. Bravo!
Posted by: Erica | February 27, 2009 2:18 AM
I love the hair! The cut is wonderful. I stopped coloring my gray a few years ago because I never had the time to keep it up, I thought I was just too busy, I had no idea I was part of a trend! I'm so happy to find out I'm on the cutting edge:)
Love the short hair too, it looks very sophisticated.
Posted by: Danielle M. | February 27, 2009 6:23 AM
Great look! Way to go!
I love my natural gray highlights!
Posted by: Amelia | February 27, 2009 7:14 AM
Love the cut - love the gray. It's very becoming. I quit coloring my hair last summer and love it. What is the product you've found that makes the gray shine?
Posted by: Barb | February 27, 2009 7:32 AM
I think you look classy!
I've always loved seeing women who let their hair age with them. In my opinion, it is beautiful!
Posted by: Margaret | February 27, 2009 7:50 AM
Thank you so much for all the encouragement! *blushing*
It took me two weeks to get a picture up here, but you know, I think I like it! I will probably let it grow a little longer, though.
This picture does show off the gray. In different lighting, it's not that noticeable. Then again, since most of my family is taller than I and my gray is mostly on the top, they see it in all its glory.
My hairdresser - who the girls and I have gone to for years and whom I love to talk to as she is from Iran and has family there - used a razor cut. If you are going for a similar look, find someone who knows how to do this as scissors can make short hair look clumpy.
The product I used was something I pulled out of the big plastic box in our bathroom cabinet which has all that stuff that we had to buy and then somehow forgot about. In our belt-tightening, I have rounded up all this stuff and we are buying no more beaut products until it is gone. I really lucked out with this one - it's Sebastian Laminates Body Thickening Polish. When I looked for Sebastian Laminates at Amazon I found that they are very expensive. I think this product is not current - I probably got it on sale - but I found it here: http://www.beautyofnewyork.com/shopping/product_view.php?itemCode=A45H310307KW1208&base (other places were charging $50 - at $14 this is a bargain, and a pretty big tube. You only need a little.
I also use hair spray to mold my hair into the exact tousled look I want - ironic, I know. But I have been having fun - and wearing more earrings. too, which I never bothered with before because you couldn't see them.
The kids all loved it - well with the exception of a couple who are very sentimental (not mentioning names :)
I like what Anneke said when Greta showed her the picture: “Oh yeah! Look, now she’s a grown up lady”! Anneke is three - so she's been around the block a few times and definitely knows the score :)
Posted by: barbare | February 27, 2009 7:57 AM
I love the look!
Freedom in one more part of our lives is always a good step.
Posted by: Jennifer | February 27, 2009 8:06 AM
You look great!
Posted by: Maryan | February 27, 2009 8:09 AM
You look great!
I laughed out loud at the difference in Tripp's and your perception of the look.
Posted by: Julana | February 27, 2009 8:09 AM
Barbara,
You look simply beautiful!
I've gone au natural for the last 2 years. I love the salt and pepper look. I don't miss hair coloring at all! I originally went natural because I developed an allergic reaction to the hair coloring products. That was enough for me! It took a bit of time to get used to it but I'm so glad I did. The blend of salt and pepper colors give such rich highlights.
Have a lovely day.
Gina
Posted by: Gina | February 27, 2009 8:32 AM
Oh my gosh, you look amazing!!
Posted by: Elissa | February 27, 2009 8:34 AM
I like your new 'do! I'm hitting 50 this year and I'm graying at the temples (my mom grayed the same way). I have just a smattering of gray throughout the rest of my hair. I wish the gray were a bit more spread out, but what can one do? It must be in the genes! :)
I'm tired of coloring my hair (I used the semi-permanent kind), so last year I just let the color wash out over a few months. Please keep us posted with picture updates!!
Posted by: Pat | February 27, 2009 8:35 AM
FANNNNNNtastic! That is a great cut on you!
Posted by: My Boys Teacher | February 27, 2009 8:54 AM
It's great that you've decided to do this - it helps people to see that it is normal to be grey when they are older and that people don't stay looking the same way forever.
Posted by: Susan | February 27, 2009 10:26 AM
Great cut and color on you.
Posted by: Judy | February 27, 2009 11:02 AM
You could go even shorter and it would look fabulous too. It shows off your thinner face! Hooray for you! I've long been a fan of letting hair be the color God intended.
Posted by: Imajackson | February 27, 2009 11:24 AM
You look fantastic! I have never understood why so many women don't like going gray. I think it looks classy. :o)
Posted by: Wendy in VA | February 27, 2009 11:33 AM
I love it! You look fantastic!
Posted by: Shelley | February 27, 2009 12:05 PM
I love that haircut. Very flattering on you, Barbara. If I had thicker hair I would be printing out your picture and hightailing it to my stylist to copy you. I may anyway (dreams of a beautiful hairstyle die hard).
I only have a gray hair or two, but my husband is graying beautifully and I think his hair looks better now than it did when it was all brown. The gray has added a lot of texture to his previously fine textured hair. Maybe that's what I need...
I can't wait to see the professional photo once you have it up!
Posted by: Jill S | February 27, 2009 12:32 PM
I LOVE IT... DON'T CHANGE IT........Seriously, this is gorgeous!
Posted by: Lisa | February 27, 2009 12:55 PM
I love the hair cut and the color!
I've always been fond of the salt and pepper look.
Posted by: Lauren | February 27, 2009 12:58 PM
Oh, I love your new "do." It looks great! I like the "messy" look, very cute! And the gray is fab! I noticed the new look in the picture you took of your family at Benanna's shower. I was hoping to see a close up.
I can only wish that gray would be "in" as I just turned 30 and am going gray. People have recently told me I look older than my husband(who has such a baby face). That might be enough to make me start coloring it.
Posted by: Miriam | February 27, 2009 2:11 PM
Congrats on the "crown of splendor."
Posted by: YCW | February 27, 2009 2:27 PM
I LOVE it! It's beautiful--especially the "messy" look. It suits you well--I hope my hair looks that good someday!
Posted by: Mrs. Sprinkles | February 27, 2009 3:18 PM
You are BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE it!!!!
Posted by: shawnda | February 27, 2009 4:30 PM
Love it! I think you look wonderful! We need more women who are proud to show off their silver (never gray ;) hair. I don't have time to look it up, but I think it's in Psalms where it says that gray hair is given as a crown. =)
Posted by: Sarah D. | February 27, 2009 5:46 PM
Like everyone before me.....I LOVE IT. You look awesome Barbara!
Posted by: Kim O. | February 27, 2009 6:25 PM
You look great, Barbara! I like the cut and the color, and you look like your weight is a good one as well. Congratulations1
Posted by: Angie | February 27, 2009 6:42 PM
You look beeeeuuuutiful!
Posted by: Diane | February 28, 2009 3:28 PM
Barbara, honey, WOW!!!
I do like this, very much.
The cut makes you look more vital, like a person of more energy, more youthful--even with the gray--and sophisticated, too.
I call this look "controlled-messy" and think it is perfect for busy moms (or any woman in the real world) since very little can really mess it up.
Hey, I bet you are saving more on shampoo and conditioner, too :-)
Funny that you've posted about your gray hair.....not long after I first started reading your blog, I composed an e-mail asking if any other women were just letting the gray happen naturally. (I was so new that I didn't send it.) EVERYONE I knew was coloring their hair; my girls thought I should color my hair; it gave me a crisis.
I didn't want the burden of the keeping my roots covered, so I've just gone grayer, little-by-little. I'm not totally gray or such (I still have a ways to go) but am well on my way to being "white headed". With the blending that is happening folks think that I'm blond instead of the natual red-head I've been since birth. So while my family and I see a lot of gray, everyone else thinks I'm a 47yr. old natural blond. What a hoot.
You do look fabulous, but no matter what others think, I hope you enjoy it.
Blessings...
Posted by: von | February 28, 2009 9:49 PM
That's an awesome cut on you, and I think the chestnut ends are cool! (Or is that the lighting?) I've decided to let my "mousy" brown grow in too. I will highlight it lightly, but nothing where I'd have to keep up with roots.
Are you using those blue/purple shampoos and conditioners that keep silver and blonde hair bright? I've used both Aveda Blue Malva and Redken Pure Pearl when I did blonde (never worked with my skin tone!) Pantene Silver Expressions is good too.
Posted by: Kristina | March 2, 2009 2:41 AM
Wow, you look GREAT with your grays hanging out so naturally. Just think of all the money and gray-day cover up hassles you'll be saving yourself. I'm so inspired by your willingness to share this writing! Thank you!
Posted by: Renee | March 3, 2009 8:22 AM
Barbara,
You look stunning. You've made me think over and over about whether or not to color - I'm quickly going gray and at 33, it's not an easy pill to swallow.
Posted by: Holly | March 11, 2009 12:11 PM
