Oh what a silver wig we weave when we're patient & believe

It's another quarter since I've updated my blog. I have not trimmed my hair since Sept 2016 so it is due for a good 3 inches of culling, which I intend to do at the beginning of April before I fly overseas for a few weeks.

At this point of my transition to the other side of me I have reached a point of acceptance and what I believe to be an emerging sense of pride in my crowning glory. I have achieved this. Not just the appearance change, but the attitude change. The hair regrowth acceptance & the self acceptance.

My gorgeous 8 yr old Grandson quickly corrected me recently after I jokingly said I was old because I had grey hair. He told me I don't, it's silver. Which made me feel he was just as precious as the metal he described. I proclaim it to be official....I have silver hair.

By this time next year I will have a totally waist length, silver head of hair. Oh how there will be rejoicing in the streets (well in front of my bathroom mirror anyway). How the masses will swoon at my crowning brilliance (well my partner may notice if I hint off enough). Social awareness will be forever uplifted (well my hairdresser will forever give up the notion of getting me to recolour). I shall swish and flick with gay abandon, looking tres chic and confident to all (at least in 1 selfie after many attempts, where the angle & light are just so).

But until then I'll keep spinning & sprouting silver threads at a rate of 1inch per 2 months like a little silk worm.

Silver Bells, Silver Belles...

Ok so we are heading into the silly season and I thought I might post a quick update on my transition to grey so far. Whilst I don't resemble Mrs Claus I don't much resemble the old me either lol. I have yet to get my obligatory 2 inch quarterly trim this month, but as Summer has hit OZ, it is easy and convenient to just plait or put up my long hair which also disguises most of the regrowth now. This helps me to bide my time amongst the hectic Christmas schedule.

Our bright sunny skies help my silver scone reflect beams of light towards unsuspecting onlookers hahaha. Hey I have byo tinsel for any festive gathering no
w lol. I'm actually enjoying how light  my hair looks these days. The natural and very gradual regrowth process has not been the dramatic shock a sudden colour change would have incurred. So I am really glad I persevered with my choice to grow out naturally.

Another interesting fact for me was that as a young child I was naturally light haired for my first few years. This little bit of info has helped me during those times when those rare but inevitable questions from within occurred. It strengthened my resolved to let nature do her thing, just as she did in the beginning. Light hair was naturally mine once before right?

Christmas colours of red, green and silver, beach colours of blue hues and pastels & NYE LBDs are all going to suit me now, even with my older skin tone. I can do dark eye make up OR bright lips and not seem harsh or drawn now, as my silver, lighter hair softens that starkness.

I feel lucky as I have a lighter version of my mother's very dark olive genes which means my silver hair won't go completely white, but will retain some strands of darkness for that b & w depth of look that I am quite partial to as well as skin tone that will never be ghost white, ruddy or pasty. Yeah I think this is going to work out ok :)

Silver bells, silver belles...

Shine A Light....

I am now half way into my transition. Only another 18mths to go to reach my desired length, which is waist length locks.

I recently had another 2 inches lopped and long layered. It had been 4 months since my last cut. I am really pleased with my hair's health these days. The shine and bounce, to me, is very noticeable. My hairdresser spontaneously commented, rather surprised, that my hair is really healthy. Funny that...natural can be healthy lol.

The interesting thing I am finding now is the unsolicited negative comments are becoming balanced out by unsolicited compliments. This seems to coincide with the regrowth length ha ha... half & half now.

My only daughter was a strident naysayer until recently, when she told me "It looks good now Mum". High praise indeed! Although it was my son--in-law who made my week. Quite unexpected he came over to me in public, began playing with my hair and said "I love your hair it really suits you, it really shines." Vindication finally! lol. As another observation- it is the younger males who seem to compliment pics of my hair?? Maybe I'm on trend with my reverse colour and Earth mother statement haha. Whatever their perceptions, I am enjoying the positivity.

Another perk to flaunting my silvers is the different attention I now seem to get from shop keepers. All age groups are seemingly less guarded towards me and more open to friendliness and helpfulness. Silver signifies nothing to hide maybe? Silver signifies open and natural maybe? As I commented to an older lady who pointedly stated directly and disdainfully that she would never stop colouring her hair, " Each to their own."   Hmmm...who's really the colour blind?

Just as an aside, my tatts never rate a mention?? Thus proving societal perceptions on what constitutes acceptable individualistic appearances for older women can change...but frankly I don't give a toss (of a long shock of silver hair) lol.

Anyway here's my latest lock, I mean look :)

Silver Hair a Lightening Rod

My grey hair has been attracting comments. Unsolicited comments from both males & females. I have to admit the comments were thinly disguised criticisms for the most part & 2 sincere attempts at making me feel better. All occurring on the one night. A Full Moon night at that!

"Oh you are very brave, I wish I was brave enough to stop dyeing my hair."
"Now I don't want you to take this the wrong way but your daughter would really like to dye your hair. You should let her."
"Here comes the scary hair lady." This one not so thinly disguised.

To make it worse I had spent 2hrs and top dollar to have my hair placed in an updo for my daughter's wedding.

I am now thinking that my personal property ie. my metallic hair colour, acts as a lightening rod. It attracts flashes of cracks out of the blue, straight back to me. Logically I must prepare for the shocks. So what to do? Quit blinding people with my polarising attempt at natural hair colour by giving out free tinted sunglasses? Wear a T Shirt that says " YES I KNOW, It's On Purpose"? Silver gaffa tape across their laughing gear to match my grey locks may come across as a bit extreme. Possibly a handbook on good manners? No, just a toss of my mane & a cheeky wink is all I need. Zap right back at ya!

Curiously no one approached my elderly, white haired mother to pass comments. Nor to any of the silver haired or bearded gentlemen present.

My journey towards long silver locks has now become a personal crusade. It is my shield and banner displaying  my right to my own hair choices. Picture me holding aloft my wide tooth comb as I proclaim this. I have roughly 2 years to go to achieve my goal of waist length pewter, silver & white tresses. My rainbow (g)rays. I will not be dissuaded, cajoled or insulted into abandoning my path. Peace.

I have booked an appointment for a long layered style cut next week. My aim is to get a substantial (at least for me) amount of old colour lopped out, as well as some cool shape happening without sacrificing my length. I have sought some example pics for my stylist whose talent I trust.

My grey is growing in at seemingly distinct lengths. The top layer is the shortest, followed by a mid layer that now reaches my jaw line, then the underneath section that is to my shoulders. Ideally the style cut will blend these distinctions, leaving just the length from my shoulders carrying the old colour burden.

I've posted some pics of long hair layered styles, myself dolled up at wedding, me a la natural & regrowth undercover. I've also now added in 2 pics of my newly long layered cut.

I'll go back to the salon in 4 months to trim off 2 more inches, followed by 2 more inches 4 months hence. By my calculations that will then only leave approx. 2 inches of regrowth at the longest lengths to be chopped sometime early 2017.

Pewter Progress

As it is about to become the silly season I thought I'd update & muse over my silver regrowth this past year. Yes it's been almost a year since my resolute resolution to my grey hair conundrum. That I can say as I have yet to imbibe any Christmas cheer lol.

One thing's for certain, I do not have a single regret! Even when recently, my youngest Grandson, was looking through some photos and spied one of me taken only last year. He proclaimed in astonishment, "Oh Ninna, you were really young there!"  I had my roots died in the photo hahhaha. So I pondered the connotation of grey hair equating to old age in the perceptions of children. True, grey hair & wrinkles are outward indicators of aging. Yet I began greying at 19 years of age?? What if I had the courage back then to let nature take its course? By my 3rd child I would have been doing the pregnant waddle with a full head of greys. Wouldn't that have upset the stereotype! So my conclusion is children are impressionable & adaptable. This same Grandchild was equally surprised to see me recently cycling with him, "Ninna I didn't know you could ride a bike!" Yes it's amazing what us grey headed women can do when we rise from our crypt lol. This darling lad has cemented my convictions!

But the more pressing concern for me is my daughter's upcoming wedding. Namely MY dress, MY makeup & MY hairstyle. hahaha. After all it's all about me don't you know? So to suit my transitioning tresses I have gone for a blended black, white & light grey irregular lace & chiffon, slightly embellished number. Silver strappy heels & some bling accessories. Topped off with a loose French roll with my silver tendrils highlighting my face and nape. Bold lips & nails for contrast. False eyelashes at a tasteful length to prevent my eyes from disappearing into the silver light lol.Lets see how that all comes together. It's a mid Summer affair here in Oz so the obligatory tan may actually promote my shiny silver locks too.

Here are some up to date, candid photos of my pewter progress.

And my dress.

Silver Lunar Lady

Well here it is almost 10 months since my foray into grey & what have I learnt? I have learnt that no one really blinks an eye at my dappled dome these days. Now that may be in part due to my ...ahem...mature years, or it may just be that I am now so comfortable in the process that I don't look for signals anymore.

My silver halo is dropping ever so slowly to almost my jawline these days. The undergrowth is sitting at collar length. Quite frankly I am disappointed that my regrowth is so uneven. I would love to see the uniform effect of all my silver slivers brushing my shoulders together. Although I can get a nice effect if I wear my hair up piled as the wispy underneaths frame my face with the whiter look.

I have had approximately 4inches trimmed since beginning this journey so my ends have never looked better...pity they're so faded these days. Yet I am still stubbornly determined to not be deterred. I have only another 2 and half to 3 years until I am waist length in silver, white and pewter hair aura.

Here are some pics I took yesterday. I usually wear my hair up for convenience and to show less contrast. But just recently I have begun to embrace once again, my naturally long, wavy locks. It is quite freeing and is all part of making no apologies for my choice to be me in whatever way I choose.

I am embracing my 50s, my creativity and my silver tresses. I have been the Maiden, The Mother & I am now in my next Lunar Goddess phase of the Crone. )0(  Silver is the Lunar Lady's colour after all.

Finding the Silver Lining

Well my monthly journal is morphing into a quarterly journal, just as I am morphing into a long locked lady of silver. My vision of a white haloed ethereal portrait of elegant, ageless womanhood is becoming more of a down to earth reflection of some white, some silver and (quite surprisingly) still some dark hair sprouting out of my scalp. Nevertheless, I am an optimistic soul at heart so I'm convincing myself that the longer it grows, the more silver white on the top while the blended colour will be relegated to the lengths of the eventual lopped locks at the bottom.

I have to say that the transition for me thus far, has been relatively painless. The only complaint I have is that it takes soooo long. I really am excited to see my colour at a longer length. I don't mind that it will take years to achieve the waist length that I will always have. But I am very impatient to get to a length that frames my whole face.

I have been keeping myself up to date with new colours for my new hue. It really has been true that the more natural the colour of my hair, the softer & more complimentary for my complexion. I like the fact that my eyebrows are still dark brown so I won't be fading completely into oblivion. Yes I'm still holding tight to my vision of white/silver. Also I don't know if I am deluding myself, but I seem to be noticing my eye colour a lot more in my reflection. I am gravitating to silver or black drop earrings at present to offset wearing my hair pulled back, either in a plait or a bun. I haven't felt the urge to hide my regrowth under hats or scarves. I have noticed I do need mascara at all times. The bonus for me is I can now go back to more colourful makeup and clothing. This is such a release for me because I absolutely love love love colours. Wearing them, looking at them, designing with them. I realise the compromises I had to make for my coloured tresses now. All those neutral & pastel shades....yawn. Whodathunk a chick in her 50s could scrub up sporting a vivid lilac and lime green print dress and lace up ankle boots, with salon straightened hair incorporating a wide silver regrowth, along with an actual red shade of lippy and get admiring male attention & compliments? I sure as heck didn't but guess what?

So here a few more real life piccies of my journey. Roughly 4 months to date of regrowth.