One Year Dye Free - Woohoo!

One year dye free!! What can I say about this journey. First off, it flew by! And I thought I would be so much further along! When I decided to stop dyeing my hair, I wasn't sure if I was going to stick with it. I just knew I was tired of dyeing my hair every two weeks. The first few months are the hardest. I'd get strange looks, people telling me I would look old, was letting myself go. So many negative comments and naysayers. There were times I'd think about hitting the dye bottle again, but I resisted and so glad I did!

I really feel this journey is so much more than hair. I think about my Mom, who died at the age of 31 from cancer, my son who died at 19. They weren't given the gift of long life. Long enough to see the sparkle of grey in their hair. I have been granted this time on earth and I'm no longer going to hide that I am getting older. Guess what? We are all getting older! Every single day! And it's beautiful and a gift many were not granted! This journey has been about accepting myself, just as I am, not conforming to what others or society deems as beautiful. I've noticed so many women embracing their grey. We are not letting ourselves go, we are beautiful, unique, strong and starting a revolution!

The pictures below are my journey so far. They are mostly in order, and I'm so glad I took pictures to document this year. What a year it's been! I feel magical with my white hair! I can't wait to see how it grows and transforms in this new year!

Silver Journey - 8 Months

Every Grey Hair Tells a Story

Today marks 8 months and 2 days since my last dye. This has been such amazing journey. A journey of self-discovery and love. Most of my life I’ve struggled with low self-esteem. As a teen and into late 20’s I suffered with severe acne. So much so that I would hide at home and hate going out. I always felt I wasn’t enough. Wasn’t pretty enough, wasn’t the right size, didn’t fit societies beauty standards. Into my 40’s I finally started to feel comfortable in my own skin. To slowly start loving myself flaws and all. A few days after turning 48, I decided to stop dyeing my hair. Standing in the mirror, getting ready to dye, I decided to embrace this beautiful grey/white hair God gave me. Eff society’s beauty standards! I am enough and beautiful just as I am!

8 months and counting!

Grey Hair Don't Care

Two weeks ago I was in front of our bathroom mirror, getting ready to dye my roots yet AGAIN, when all of a sudden I just couldn't do it anymore. I looked over at my hubby who happened to be standing there and declared "I'm done!"

I started going grey in my late 20's, early 30's and started dyeing my roots. I've been doing it ever since! The past few years it's been every 2 weeks. Like clockwork, my grey roots start peeping through and I'd go to the beauty supply store, get my dye and dread the task at hand. I hated dyeing my hair, but I just couldn't see myself stopping anytime soon. Society puts such an emphasis on being young and beautiful, that it's so easy to fall into it's trap. God forbid if you have grey hair! Everyone will think you are old and let yourself go! Must cover the grey! And so I was a slave to the dye. Well, no more! 

I'm ditching the dye! 

Let me tell you, since I made that declaration I have second guessed myself every day! Yes, every day! The first day I decided to stop dyeing my hair, I went to Instagram to find inspiration for my grey hair and found a movement of women ditching the dye! There are so many women like myself that have had it! I've spent way too much time on IG and Pinterest searching my silver sisters. I've showed Fonzy(hubby) countless pictures of women who are no longer dyeing their hair. I'm sure he's done with my obsession with grey hair right about now. One of my biggest worries is how he is going to feel about me going grey. Would he be embarrassed whenever we are out together? When I show up at his games or at the school will people think who is this old lady he's married too? It's not like he doesn't have grey, he does. But grey on a man is perceived so differently than on women. It's distinguished and sexy on a man, but an old hag on women. Why is that?! I've asked Fonzy how he feels about it, and he says do what makes me happy. I know he will support me regardless, he always has, but I'm sure the transition will take some getting use to, for the both of us. 

I find myself stopping in the mirror more often checking out the grey and already notice people glancing up at my hair when speaking with me. This is not going to be easy! But change never is. I've read it can take up to 2 years to completely grow out the grey. That's a long time for someone who is very impatient (me!) This will truly be a test of my patience, and resolve. I'm definitely going to need the support of the other women on this journey. A negative comment will have you wanting to hit the dye bottle! When I feel myself getting weak, I go to Instagram and get the encouragement I need. I CAN DO THIS! Last night while scrolling I found the most beautiful woman with grey hair, JoAni Johnson. Her Instagram account here. She is my hair goals!

I'm going to document this journey. Post pictures of my grey transformation and sharing my thoughts and fears of what it's like to be my true authentic self. Why keep pretending? We all grow old, we all get grey hair, so why fight it and waste precious time covering it up. These pictures are 3 weeks and 1 day into my grey transformation. I've never let my hair go this long without dyeing it. It's a whole new world for me. 

I'm embracing my grey! Ditching the dye! Going grey on purpose! Grey hair, don't care! Let's do this! 

Last dye: January 26, 2019