I had a hair appointment lined up for the week the U.S. went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, I thought little of it; I assumed I’d just let my hair be for a while and see what unfolded. What started as a brief pause turned into an 11-month journey.
Having just turned 41, I noticed a good amount of grey emerging in my naturally dark hair. My roots weren’t quite a stark contrast, but they were definitely visible. As my hair grew, the grey became more pronounced. After 25 years of coloring, I had completely lost sight of my natural shade. The inability to schedule a color appointment, paired with my curiosity about my true hair color, encouraged me to embrace the change.
I began to admire those little silver strands glistening every time I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. They were captivating, and I found myself liking them more and more. As months passed and life started to return to normal, my stylist reached out to see if I was ready for a visit. I eagerly accepted and opted for a significant chop—from a bob to a pixie cut. All the previously dyed hair was gone, revealing a fresh head of hair with plenty of grey peeking through. It felt so freeing to break away from the routine of dyeing every four to six weeks. No more spending money on pricey color-enhancing shampoos or washing my hair in cold water to maintain vibrancy.
For months, I thrived in my natural hair color, grey included. I loved how it looked, and as I ventured out more, I saw many women my age embracing a similar style. Although we were pushed into this transition, we felt liberated and joyful.
I also became bolder in my makeup and clothing choices, opting for vibrant prints and colors. I was embracing myself in a way I hadn’t in years, and it felt rejuvenating. However, after a while, that burst of confidence started to wane. I was used to vibrant hair colors and stark highlights, having been a redhead for years. As winter transitioned to spring, I couldn’t shake the urge to return to my previous look.
Before I knew it, I found myself back in the salon again, but this time I wasn’t just looking for a trim. Just two hours later, I left with a fiery new hairstyle that felt like my true self. My friends seemed almost relieved to see me back to my old ways, as if they were unsure I could pull off the natural look.
Was it enjoyable to be low maintenance? Absolutely. Did I feel beautiful? Yes, indeed. But deep down, I realized I wasn’t quite ready for grey hair to be my permanent choice. Embracing grey was a phase for me, much like when I experimented with being blonde a few years back. It was fun, but ultimately, it wasn’t me.
That’s the beauty of hair color; you can express yourself however you wish, and the best part is that you can change it whenever you like. If you’re ready to flaunt those silver strands, go for it! After my experience, I simply understood that I wasn’t quite there yet. For more insights on embracing your choices, check out this blog post or learn about available resources here.
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In summary, my adventure with grey hair during COVID brought a wave of self-discovery and freedom, but ultimately, I realized it was just a temporary phase. I learned that hair color is a powerful form of self-expression, and it’s okay to change it whenever it feels right.
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