The Silver Journey
What began as curiosity about my natural hair became a journey toward something much deeper. Choosing silver taught me patience, challenged the way I thought about aging, and ultimately helped me become more comfortable with the woman I was becoming.
How I Chose Silver
It didn't happen all at once. My journey to silver unfolded through curiosity, a little courage, some difficult lessons, and eventually, acceptance. These are the moments that changed not only how I saw my hair—but how I saw myself.
01. Curiosity
For years, coloring my hair was simply part of the routine. But as more gray began appearing between appointments, I found myself wondering something I hadn't really considered before: What does my natural hair actually look like?
At first, it was only curiosity. I wasn't making a statement or trying to change who I was. I just wanted to see the woman underneath all those years of coloring.
02. Courage
I had tried to go gray once before, at 43, and I wasn't ready. After four and a half months, I went back to coloring my hair. So when I decided to try again at 49, I knew curiosity alone wasn't going to be enough.
This time, I committed to the change. I chose to bleach and tone my hair to help me through the transition. It wasn't the easiest path, but I was finally ready to see it through.
03. The Transition
The transition was the awkward stage. I was so eager for the change, but my patience was tested by how slowly my hair seemed to grow. There were times I wanted to cut it all off just to speed things along.
But I knew cutting it wouldn't make my hair grow any faster—and I'd probably lose patience waiting for it to grow long again. So I decided to own the awkward stage and let my hair grow at its own pace. Slowly, naturally, the change began to take place.
04. Patience & Grace
As my natural hair continued to grow in, something else began to change too. I stopped watching every inch and wondering how much longer it would take. I was learning to be patient with the process—and with myself.
There were still awkward stages and moments when I questioned how it looked, but I wasn't tempted to turn back anymore. Little by little, I became more comfortable with what I saw in the mirror. What had started as curiosity was beginning to feel like acceptance.
05. The Reveal
Eventually, there wasn't any colored hair left. For the first time in decades, I was looking at my natural hair—and I loved it.
What surprised me most was how much the silver felt like me. I had started this journey simply wanting to know what was underneath all those years of coloring. Somewhere along the way, I stopped worrying about looking younger and became more interested in feeling healthy, confident, and comfortable with myself.
I chose silver. And I haven't looked back.