Over a year into the process

My hair has always grown incredibly fast...until now.  It's been a year and 2 months and I'm almost halfway grown out.  Of course, I wear my hair long so that is what I get.

I am mainly using the colored mousse still and for the bottom that was highlighted, I use root touch up to brush in color each time it lightens back up.  The mousse goes into the top portion and I blend it into the bottom.  I have too much grown out to do much with the hair mascara and it is so heavy on my hair it makes it hard to style.

Pulling some of it back into a barrett helps as well and this summer it will be ponytails for me and lots of caps.  Hopefully by next winter I can cut the remaining old color off and go completely natural.

Good luck on your journey!

Mousse

A slight change in plans.  After the hair mascara, I will use this mousse I got at Sally's. http://www.sallybeauty.com/color-styling-mousse/SBS-700559,default,pd.html
The Fanci-Full rinse you can get at WalMart is harder to use for me (I do know someone that squirts it on a mascara-type brush to apply to regrowth with good results).  My hairdresser comfirmed the mousse would be easier but will have some degree of build up over time.

And of course, it feels like my hair is growing slower than it ever has. ;)

Temporary root color

There is a lot of information about going gray available, including pictures of lots of bold women who grow it out showing off their 'skunk stripe.' I am not so bold.

And I don't want anymore damage to my hair.   Sooooooo, I will use my root mascara, then either a temporary rinse or powder as it grows out.  At least that's the plan for now.

I will post pics as it grows with and without the temp color.  Ready to get started!

Starting the journey...

Covering up the hair God gave me has convicted me.  This summer, 2015, I started styling it more in its natural curliness.  I use to be ashamed of the curl, feeling it was ugly.  However, the freedom it brought, along with a few compliments, changed my attitude about my crazy tresses.

Now about all the coloring I do.  It's dyed brown and highlighted.  This is both costly and time consuming.  My hair grows so fast, I use hair mascara within two weeks of my last coloring.

At 42, I'm ready to accept I'm out of life's younger years and to embrace the woman God made me to be.

There are different options in going gray when you color your hair.

• Cold turkey- suck it up and deal with the two tone look for months on end until all of your dye is gone.  
• Add low lights and highlights to the regrowth, but not the ends of the hair to reduce the color build up.
• Add just highlights to blend with your gray and your colored hair.
• Cut your hair short to greatly reduce grow out time.  
• Use a demi or semi permanent color that is more translucent and washes out in 8 to 12 washes.

I am leaning toward just highlights.  After 8 weeks or more of regrowth (I just recolored 6 weeks' worth, ugh), my hairdresser and I will look at the pattern of natural color to make the decision.

This journey will take at least a year, but I'm finally ready.