How do I stop coloring my hair and go gray?

A guide to ditching the dye and embracing the glitter that nature gave you

Hello, beautiful. I’m really excited that you’re ready to explore what life on the silver side could look like. Even if you’re not ready yet—you’re taking the first step by reading this blog, and I’m so proud of you!

I’m guessing you’re here because you…

• have been told your whole life that you need to “stay young” and cover those glittery strands.

• are at a point where you’re sick of the every 4-6 week touch-ups.

• dread seeing the “skunk stripe” grow out within a week of coloring your hair.

• have seen other women embrace their gray hair, and want to know more about how to get there.

Whatever your reason, welcome to the corner of the internet where your silver curiosity turns into silver fox status. Or not. Only if you’re ready. We’ll get into that later.

For now, my job is to shed some light on the available options so you can do what feels best for YOU. But before we dive in, let me try to sell you on silver fox status…

Benefits of going gray

I do realize I’m biased. I happen to think that white/gray/silver—whatever you want to call it—is the most stunning hair color out there. I also believe that you’ve earned every single strand of it that grows out of your head. 

But there really are some benefits that you can’t argue, even if you’re not on team sparkle… yet.

1. Scalp & hair health

   I know you already know, but I still have to say it: the chemicals in permanent hair color are not good for you. They can cause scalp irritation, allergic reactions, and dryness (among other things), which can all lead to thinning and breakage. No bueno.

   Give me a second to nerd out… The ammonia in permanent hair color is significantly more alkaline than your hair and skin. To paint the picture: On the pH scale of 1-14, your hair and skin sit at around 4-5 (acidic), pure water sits at 7 (neutral), and permanent hair color sits around 9-11 (alkaline). The alkalinity of the color causes the outer layer of your hair strand (the cuticle) to swell and open up so that the color can get inside the hair strand to shift the pigment. Done repeatedly, it causes permanent damage to the hair until it’s cut off.

   
   

   In less words: nothing about covering your grays benefits the health of your hair or scalp. 

   
   

   Often, one of the first things I hear from my gals who go gray is that the new growth coming in is significantly fuller, softer, and shinier. 

2. Saving money (and time)

   Who doesn’t want to save both of these things? Whether you’re getting your hair professionally colored or doing it at home, you still have to budget the time and money to do it every 4-6 weeks. Think of what else you could be doing with those resources: Spending time with family and friends, treating yourself to some self care or retail therapy, taking a nap and putting that money into savings (my personal favorite). So many alternatives to explore! 

3. Confidence

   I’m sure there are some folks out there who will strongly disagree with this one, but hear me out. Once you decide to drown out the noise—and, trust me, it is a decision. You’re not just going to wake up one day and “feel ready”—everything changes. 

   
   

   And look at you, taking the first step toward a snowball of confidence that could literally change the  trajectory of your life. Don’t come at me for being cheesy. This shit works. 

   
   

   Bonus, you’ll start getting compliments from strangers on your hair color. And while this isn’t about external validation… It’s (almost) always nice to get an unexpected compliment. (Hi, it’s me. I’m the stranger who compliments anyone with silver hair.)

Okay, now that you’re on (or closer to jumping on) the bandwagon, let’s get into why you’re here: How do I embrace the glitter?

There are tons of options, you’ve probably heard them all called something different, and the ones I've listed below are just a few. If you want to talk about your specific goals, schedule a free in-person consultation or fill out my online consultation, and we’ll find what works for you.

Choose your own adventure

We’re all different (which is the whole beauty of being human, isn’t it?). We have different starting points, different lifestyles, and different goals. And there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to blending or fully embracing your gray hair, but these are a few good options to start exploring:

Cold turkey

Just stop coloring it. Let it grow. See what happens. Could be fun.

This approach isn’t for everyone, but for the women who’ve done it (or are in the process), it’s incredibly empowering. The saying goes, “A year to the ear.” Granted, because we’re all different, that may vary. But, on average, hair grows about half an inch a month. So it’s a safe estimate. 

Maintenance: Zero (minus the occasional pep-talk)

Cost meter: Free

Things to consider: It takes patience. A lot of patience.

Demi-permanent color (aka gloss/toner/root shadow)

A great option for anyone who is ~50% gray or less and wants a softer grow-out. 

Think of permanent color as “lipstick,” and demi-permanent as “lip gloss.” Where lipstick gives you a solid, opaque color, lip gloss gives you a subtle, see-through shift in pigment. This approach makes the grays look more like highlights, so as your natural gray pattern grows out, it’ll blend with your “highlights.” 

Maintenance: Depends on the individual. Generally, between 6-10 weeks.

Cost meter: $-$$

Things to consider: Some gray hair can be very resistant and may not take to this approach.

Highlight/lowlight combo

They’re calling it “French blending” these days. Essentially, it’s silver hair camouflage. 

You still get coverage from the lowlights, while the highlights mimic your natural gray pattern as it grows in, and it can be finished with a toner/root shadow so any grays that remain get tinted. When the “skunk stripe”—known in the biz as the line of demarcation—is softer, the grow-out looks much more natural and it’s easier to go longer in between appointments.

Maintenance: Depends on the individual. Generally, between 6-12 weeks. Option to do just a toner in between foil appointments.

Cost meter: $$-$$$

Things to consider: Still costs time and money—arguably more than just a standard all over color re-touch. 

Full-on silver transformation

The most effective way to rip off the going-gray bandaid. 

It’s a one-time, pretty long (we’re talking 5-10 hours), very tedious, and pricey appointment. But the goal is to pull your gray pattern through the color so you leave looking like you never colored your hair in the first place. One-and-done silver fox status.

Maintenance: Occasional toners if necessary

Cost meter: $$$-$$$$$

Things to consider: Requires an in-person consultation. Not everyone is a candidate (depending on starting point and hair health). Can be a shock if you’re not ready to fully embrace the glitter.

So, babe. You ready?

No pressure, really. I’m just excited for you! 

If you still need help figuring out the right option for you, or just have questions, schedule a free in-person consultation or fill out my virtual consultation and we’ll talk it over together.

Gentile reminder: You're the only one who has to live with your hair. So whatever direction you choose, even if it’s to keep covering your gray, that’s the right choice. Because this is your journey—I’m just here to guide you and cheer you on.