My gray hair TRANSITIONING Journey
to NATURAL gray (silver/white) hair
Speaking as a mature stylist.. naturally I have become a gray hair expert...yes, many years of experience in this area came about by helping my clients decide what path to take.
As you can see in the photos above, hair color really is a personal choice of how to grow out (or into) natural gray, is also a choice.
GO FOR IT.. PIXIE CUT.. BUZZ CUT.. are you ready to just cut the old color off?
GROWING IT OUT GRACEFULLY.. with the help of a colorist and regular haircuts, the transition can be a gentler, graceful process. Add a few pops of gray with highlights toned silver, and maintain at home with intense purple tone shampoo and conditioner, as needed. It depends on how porous your hair is, how often you wash your hair.. the shampoo you use.. etc, etc.
Hair color transitioning is a hair color journey we get to usually when we get so much gray we tire of the increased time it takes to "cover the gray" .. growing out hair color presents new options. I consult with my clients, give the options (based on each persons needs), learn about likes and dislikes.. to achieve something totally different.
Gray or white hair offers a fresh slate.. we can still work with the natural colors or may go back to coloring parts or all over..or just use glaze to tone the gray hair to a shade of pale blonde (which means less contrast with the new growth and less obvious roots!).. but what looks best on each person, all really depends on the texture and tones of hair, and tone of skin color. It's not a one size fits all.
Another option is to strip out hair color and tone it silver.. I don't recommend this step unless your hair is on the short side. If your hair is long, I prefer to only deal with the part that shows the most.. the part line and around the face. Think of face framing highlights.. or partial highlights. Lifting old hair color out is a "corrective color process" which is time intensive as well as expensive.. it is also drying to the hair that is lifted and toned. Therefore, it is best to tackle this process slowly as the grow out process will take many years. Let's be gentle and take the time it calls for.
Accenting with silver or steel gray streaks and potentially a contrasting shade.. Like high or lowlights, it's much a lower maintenance choice compared to monthly root coverage. Instead of an average 12 times a year, color appointments are reduced down to an average of 3 color appointments per year.
As you can see in the photos above, hair color really is a personal choice of how to grow out (or into) natural gray, is also a choice.
GO FOR IT.. PIXIE CUT.. BUZZ CUT.. are you ready to just cut the old color off?
GROWING IT OUT GRACEFULLY.. with the help of a colorist and regular haircuts, the transition can be a gentler, graceful process. Add a few pops of gray with highlights toned silver, and maintain at home with intense purple tone shampoo and conditioner, as needed. It depends on how porous your hair is, how often you wash your hair.. the shampoo you use.. etc, etc.
Hair color transitioning is a hair color journey we get to usually when we get so much gray we tire of the increased time it takes to "cover the gray" .. growing out hair color presents new options. I consult with my clients, give the options (based on each persons needs), learn about likes and dislikes.. to achieve something totally different.
Gray or white hair offers a fresh slate.. we can still work with the natural colors or may go back to coloring parts or all over..or just use glaze to tone the gray hair to a shade of pale blonde (which means less contrast with the new growth and less obvious roots!).. but what looks best on each person, all really depends on the texture and tones of hair, and tone of skin color. It's not a one size fits all.
Another option is to strip out hair color and tone it silver.. I don't recommend this step unless your hair is on the short side. If your hair is long, I prefer to only deal with the part that shows the most.. the part line and around the face. Think of face framing highlights.. or partial highlights. Lifting old hair color out is a "corrective color process" which is time intensive as well as expensive.. it is also drying to the hair that is lifted and toned. Therefore, it is best to tackle this process slowly as the grow out process will take many years. Let's be gentle and take the time it calls for.
Accenting with silver or steel gray streaks and potentially a contrasting shade.. Like high or lowlights, it's much a lower maintenance choice compared to monthly root coverage. Instead of an average 12 times a year, color appointments are reduced down to an average of 3 color appointments per year.
Holding onto the "hair color" of my youth.. photo taken in 2018.
I'm asked the question a lot, so I decided to share my own hair color journey towards incorporating lower maintenance gray highlights into my own hair.
A professional hair stylist since 1981, and at the age of 19 I already had a few strands of gray hair.. but it wasn't a big deal as I liked coloring my naturally fine (limp) hair... just to give it some body.
Fast forward to 2018.. After 10 years of helping other ladies through their own journey of embracing natural hair color changes.
One day someone asked me why I hadn't "embraced' my own graying hair?.. in 2018, I was age 56 and growing tired of the color upkeep myself.. after thinking about it, I decided to just try it. I could always go back.. right?
A professional hair stylist since 1981, and at the age of 19 I already had a few strands of gray hair.. but it wasn't a big deal as I liked coloring my naturally fine (limp) hair... just to give it some body.
Fast forward to 2018.. After 10 years of helping other ladies through their own journey of embracing natural hair color changes.
One day someone asked me why I hadn't "embraced' my own graying hair?.. in 2018, I was age 56 and growing tired of the color upkeep myself.. after thinking about it, I decided to just try it. I could always go back.. right?
The growing out phase.. which was covered with color matching mineral root powder before going in public :)
So, since I wasn't yet sure about keeping the "look".. the method I choose was the HIDDEN, gradual grow-out.. covering my new white roots under a water resistant, natural mineral hair powder in the shade of dark brown.. upon shampooing, usually every 3rd day, I could examine and marvel at the amount of white hair I'd acquired.
Eventually I began adding dark streaks to break up the nearly solid white.. why? because my hair looked far too limp and lifeless..and yes thin... pink scalp showing at the part line wasn't attractive. So with the fine hair curse.. "au natural" didn't cut it for me.. but that really is part of everyones process... figuring out what works and looks best on yourself.. in my case all white also looked dingy.
I always liked the contrasting look of low lights much better... the best of both worlds. Low maintenance because instead of monthly touchups, I now do quarterly touchups and use the dark powder as needed. (hint.. the dark powder at my roots has a thickening effect and I also prefer the Rooty look). Despite some mixed reviews, I am enjoying the 'au natural" white streaks.
Eventually I began adding dark streaks to break up the nearly solid white.. why? because my hair looked far too limp and lifeless..and yes thin... pink scalp showing at the part line wasn't attractive. So with the fine hair curse.. "au natural" didn't cut it for me.. but that really is part of everyones process... figuring out what works and looks best on yourself.. in my case all white also looked dingy.
I always liked the contrasting look of low lights much better... the best of both worlds. Low maintenance because instead of monthly touchups, I now do quarterly touchups and use the dark powder as needed. (hint.. the dark powder at my roots has a thickening effect and I also prefer the Rooty look). Despite some mixed reviews, I am enjoying the 'au natural" white streaks.
This was my 2020 hair color, using natural gray as highlights. and as needed, low lights for contrast, I call it modern gray!
Stylist225
AKA "Leigh Anne Watson
So whats your process gonna be? Come in for a consultation... I'd love to help you discover what looks best on YOU!!
Call or text 225-791-9401 to schedule a consultation. My station and new private studio!