Two questions for you curlygirls that are gray . . .

in Going Gray
My first few strands of white hair started to appear when I was sixteen or seventeen; now that I am pushing 44, my head is nearly all gray. I am continually on the verge of going natural, but after I get two inches of gray roots, I run back to the salon, ready for more color.
Here are my two questions.
1. How old were you when you decided to stop dying your hair?
2. Once you went gray and stopped coloring, was your hair healthier?
Here are my two questions.
1. How old were you when you decided to stop dying your hair?
2. Once you went gray and stopped coloring, was your hair healthier?
3B/C shoulder length and silver. Neuma products: Smooth Shampoo, Moisture Conditioner, Tangle Me Free Spray, and Styling Gelee.
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Comments
Low to normal porosity, coarse, kinky, normal elasticity
Current favorites:
Low poo: Yes To Cukes Color Protection (the no sulfate one)
Conditioners: Renpure MPHIP, CJ Smoothing Lotion, AB LI, CJ Curl Rehab, CJ Argan/Olive, Darcy's Pumpkin
Style: FSG, BRHG
Pre-poo/DT: Conditioner with honey & coconut oil
iHerb discount code: PNQ285
and it was very time consuming, while i did not go to a salon the last several yrs, a friend of my daughters from high school who is a hair colorist would come by, do the roots, and leave. then i'd wash it out. so, it was easy for me, and less money, but still we had to arrange our schedules and i had to take the time to let the color take, then wash & dry..... too much time, energy, $$ for something i hated. i had always known i'd stop as soon as i could deal with the transition phase. i stopped over 4 years ago and love it! i get soooo many compliments on it.
3a, some 2c & 3b, medium texture, porosity normal, low elasticity :-(
washing/cowashing, conditioning, protein tx: curl junkie products
leave in:curl junkie conditioners and treatments as leave in
styling: curl junkie
sealants - jane carter nourish & shine
Low to normal porosity, coarse, kinky, normal elasticity
Current favorites:
Low poo: Yes To Cukes Color Protection (the no sulfate one)
Conditioners: Renpure MPHIP, CJ Smoothing Lotion, AB LI, CJ Curl Rehab, CJ Argan/Olive, Darcy's Pumpkin
Style: FSG, BRHG
Pre-poo/DT: Conditioner with honey & coconut oil
iHerb discount code: PNQ285
Med to coarse, normal to high porosity, normal to high density. Likes protein, hates glycerin. 3A/Corkicelli
Poos: KC Come Clean, SM Moisture Retention
Co-Wash: As I Am Coconut Cowash
RO: Yes2Carrots, Mill Creeks Botanicals (Henna & Keratin), AO Honeysuckle Rose, GVP Conditioning Balm
LI: KC Knot Today (HG!), SM Milk, Y2C
Stylers: KC Curling Custard (HG!), Goddess Curls Gel
In my early-mid 40's I used henna/indigo because my hair was dry and drab and needed a boost. Then I found NC and didn't need that anymore.
When I started going grey I decided that the time and money and damage involved weren't worth it and I just let it grow in naturally. I have dark brown hair and yes there was a nice skunk stripe for awhile but it was worth it. My hair and I are very happy being natural. I get compliments a couple times a week at least.
--My CG and grey hair progress -
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/going-gray/179328-jeepys-grey-hair-progress.html
--My article at NaturallyCurly about going grey -
https://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/color/how-i-went-completely-gray-and-loved-it
However, since I notice a ton of gray hair on my face I go with the clean shaven look to look younger. Most people are surprised when I tell them my age.
http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/members/bobby-albums-my-album.html
"Curls aren't just for girls"
One of the things that convinced me to stop coloring was the stark difference between men and women. If you guys can do it, why can't I?
Low to normal porosity, coarse, kinky, normal elasticity
Current favorites:
Low poo: Yes To Cukes Color Protection (the no sulfate one)
Conditioners: Renpure MPHIP, CJ Smoothing Lotion, AB LI, CJ Curl Rehab, CJ Argan/Olive, Darcy's Pumpkin
Style: FSG, BRHG
Pre-poo/DT: Conditioner with honey & coconut oil
iHerb discount code: PNQ285
Totally agree CurlyGrey! I am just too lazy to dye and/or go to the stylist every four weeks for touch-ups.
And Bobby, even with the "salt" growing in my pepper hair, I am still mistaken for someone younger :-)
1. The last time I had permanent dye in my hair was when I was 38 and it was some highlights to camouflage the few gray strands I had started getting.
2. I remember my hair was pretty damaged after that and at 41, I did a big chop. It was healthy, but i was using sulfates and 'cones. Fast forward another nine years and I am now six months CG and my hair is very healthy.
A few years ago (post separation/divorce at 44/45 years old), I read "Going Gray" by Anne Kreamer; I highly recommend this book.
how does this book compare to "going gray, looking great," by diana jewel? i loved that book and her old website, got me thru my transition!
3a, some 2c & 3b, medium texture, porosity normal, low elasticity :-(
washing/cowashing, conditioning, protein tx: curl junkie products
leave in:curl junkie conditioners and treatments as leave in
styling: curl junkie
sealants - jane carter nourish & shine
I haven't read that book, but will see if I can find it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble. I don't like going to the hairdresser and now that my hair has gotten long enough and healthy enough, I only go twice a year to get it trimmed. I know if I was getting the gray dyed out of it, I'd have to go every three weeks and I would start resenting my hair and the whole process in general. It has been awhile since I read "Going Gray", but I do remember the author estimated how much money she spent dyeing her hair over the years and it shocked me. Of course the money I've spent on hair products in the last six months is shocking, but the products that didn't work for me went to my daughters or a friend with a curly haired child.
RBB and CurlyGray, I love the pics of your hair in your avatars.
Do you feel like you look older or pale? Or does this not matter? My vanity sometimes gets in the way of my principles. ;-)
Do I look older? Probably older than if I colored, but I don't care. Who am I trying to fool? :-) I resent the over emphasis of youth as the only representation of beauty anyway.
I don't wear makeup, so I'm the wrong person to ask about looking pale. If you're looking for a more polished or professional look, I certainly think you can achieve it with gray(ing) hair.
I understand it can be scary. It took me a while to figure out what was important to me. I do it for so many reasons - needing to learn to love myself as I am is part of it, but a hatred of the beauty industry, laziness, cheapness, and getting a kick out of not doing what's expected of me all play a role too.
Low to normal porosity, coarse, kinky, normal elasticity
Current favorites:
Low poo: Yes To Cukes Color Protection (the no sulfate one)
Conditioners: Renpure MPHIP, CJ Smoothing Lotion, AB LI, CJ Curl Rehab, CJ Argan/Olive, Darcy's Pumpkin
Style: FSG, BRHG
Pre-poo/DT: Conditioner with honey & coconut oil
iHerb discount code: PNQ285
thanks!
i don't think i look older or pale, but that could be because what colors i wear has changed in that pale/light colors don't work -- no white tops, makes me look like a ghost!, pale colors.... i got a lot of helpful info in the going gray looking great book by diana jewel. she gives lots of tips on makeup, jewelry, clothing colors -- ie, adding a dark color on top with a light top makes a big difference.... i felt coloring my hair made me look old, harsh. also, keeping the yellow out of the gray is important. and that is easy.
3a, some 2c & 3b, medium texture, porosity normal, low elasticity :-(
washing/cowashing, conditioning, protein tx: curl junkie products
leave in:curl junkie conditioners and treatments as leave in
styling: curl junkie
sealants - jane carter nourish & shine
When I see older women with very dark hair it looks aging to me. There seems to be a typical style of flat black that many of them get.
Yeah, I don't bother with makeup, jewelry (I only wear my wedding ring and earrings - I love earrings), or clothing tips. I just wear what I like, which is typically jeans and t-shirts, and sundresses when I can in the summer.
Low to normal porosity, coarse, kinky, normal elasticity
Current favorites:
Low poo: Yes To Cukes Color Protection (the no sulfate one)
Conditioners: Renpure MPHIP, CJ Smoothing Lotion, AB LI, CJ Curl Rehab, CJ Argan/Olive, Darcy's Pumpkin
Style: FSG, BRHG
Pre-poo/DT: Conditioner with honey & coconut oil
iHerb discount code: PNQ285
Sure, some people do that, but certainly not all. This stereotype of the older woman coloring her hair very dark persists though. It seems that so many people just assume that the grey-haired person always dyes their hair black or dark brown. Not so at all! In real life, there are many women who color their hair and look wonderful. It all depends on the woman and her look and lifestyle. For me, it was(and still is)very freeing to go in the opposite direction and COLOR my hair, as I grew up in a family and location where hair coloring was really frowned upon(I'm far away from both now, plus my parents have been gone for a long time). And right now it almost seems like there's some pressure in certain circles for women NOT to color their hair. But to each their own, and some time will come(not yet though)where in fact I will grow my hair out. It really will have to be just about all white though. I do get a ton of compliments on my hair now with its rich reddish brown that is not too dark at all.
An experiment I did many years ago when my hair was turning some grey and I was on the fence about coloring or not. I went to a store where there were grey wigs with differing amounts of grey in them, and they ALL looked awful on me, washing me out like you would not believe. The only one that "sort of" worked was the nearly all white one. I've stayed with the bottle ever since LOL!
i use ardell red/gold corrector -- i add it to a conditioner, let it sit on my hair while i shower. i only do it periodically, like once a week. i got the idea from jeepcurlygurl. others use commercial blue shampoos but i found them to be very drying. this works perfectly for me. i buy it at sally's beauty online. you can see more about yellowing/care for on the thread, 'our grey journey,' and lots other threads. do a search.
3a, some 2c & 3b, medium texture, porosity normal, low elasticity :-(
washing/cowashing, conditioning, protein tx: curl junkie products
leave in:curl junkie conditioners and treatments as leave in
styling: curl junkie
sealants - jane carter nourish & shine
Low to normal porosity, coarse, kinky, normal elasticity
Current favorites:
Low poo: Yes To Cukes Color Protection (the no sulfate one)
Conditioners: Renpure MPHIP, CJ Smoothing Lotion, AB LI, CJ Curl Rehab, CJ Argan/Olive, Darcy's Pumpkin
Style: FSG, BRHG
Pre-poo/DT: Conditioner with honey & coconut oil
iHerb discount code: PNQ285
Thanks to both rbb and jeepcurlygirl on the ardell red/gold corrector tip, am going to have to try that. I was thinking my gray streaks around my face were looking a bit brown and thought it was from my foundation bleeding on to it. I am now thinking what looks brown to me is actually yellow.
Low to normal porosity, coarse, kinky, normal elasticity
Current favorites:
Low poo: Yes To Cukes Color Protection (the no sulfate one)
Conditioners: Renpure MPHIP, CJ Smoothing Lotion, AB LI, CJ Curl Rehab, CJ Argan/Olive, Darcy's Pumpkin
Style: FSG, BRHG
Pre-poo/DT: Conditioner with honey & coconut oil
iHerb discount code: PNQ285
On looking older: well I'm no longer a aping chicken, lol, but like a lot of those with Asian Pacific Islander ethnicity, we tend to look younger than we really are and tend to live longer, too. In Hawaii, the age where one can receive senior citizen's discount is at least five years older than it is here in the continental US (still not quite there for either place, lol). Years ago when my little Asian Mom visited me and my 'ohana here on the "mainland," she was tickled to get a senior citizens discount, since she had not quite reached that age back in Hawaii. She still had to show her ID to the cashier, cause they didn't believe she was that old!
Bring on the discounts!
ImageUploadedByCurlTalk1371235632.212626.jpg
Beautiful! You look way too young to have gray hair
Low to normal porosity, coarse, kinky, normal elasticity
Current favorites:
Low poo: Yes To Cukes Color Protection (the no sulfate one)
Conditioners: Renpure MPHIP, CJ Smoothing Lotion, AB LI, CJ Curl Rehab, CJ Argan/Olive, Darcy's Pumpkin
Style: FSG, BRHG
Pre-poo/DT: Conditioner with honey & coconut oil
iHerb discount code: PNQ285
Excellent! As a teacher, I do not need to worry about that polished look. I am particularly low maintenance in regards to jewelry and make-up. One of my students did a caricature of me with an inch or two of white roots. I am certainly not fooling anybody.
So, the book is a good investment? I thought about getting it a while back . . . it is kind of costly. My coloring is dark enough that I tend to stay away from pale colors . . . that's a start. ;-)
stacy - yes, the book is worth it. actually, i did not buy it, got it from the library. :-) but she has sooo many tips, including how to get thru the transition. i picked up ideas from the photos.
actually, headbands were how i did the transition. so i had white around my face, black in the back! weird, yet i cannot tell you how many compliments i got. some were for the way the white looked around my face and how great it would look done, others for the two-toned look. the two-toned look got compliments from men and women ages 45 and under. i did not like the two-toned look. :-( but i love the finished look now.
3a, some 2c & 3b, medium texture, porosity normal, low elasticity :-(
washing/cowashing, conditioning, protein tx: curl junkie products
leave in:curl junkie conditioners and treatments as leave in
styling: curl junkie
sealants - jane carter nourish & shine
3a, some 2c & 3b, medium texture, porosity normal, low elasticity :-(
washing/cowashing, conditioning, protein tx: curl junkie products
leave in:curl junkie conditioners and treatments as leave in
styling: curl junkie
sealants - jane carter nourish & shine