Issue link: https://beautysense.associatedhairprofessionals.com/i/1116298
associatedhairprofessionals.com 5 By Anny Vandriel, hairstylist and owner, Be Rosie Salon @AnnyVandriel @berosiesalon Thinking about going gray? Great! Gray is trending right now! Look around and see all the lovely women rocking their natural locks. Have you wondered what it would be like to stop coloring your hair and jump on the gray train? Here are some things to consider before taking the leap. • First, you must exercise a lot of patience. Your hair has many years of color on it, and it will take a long time to grow out completely. This is assuming you want to keep your hair at a medium to long length while transitioning to gray. Obviously, the more hair you cut off, the faster you will become completely gray. • You have to get comfortable with seeing yourself differently. When you look in the mirror, you will look different. If you've spent your life with dark hair, seeing yourself with light hair may be shocking! But remember, nature did this to you, so it DOES look good. Gray hair is dimensional and has more texture and body. Most people love the extra volume gray hair provides. • You need to change your attitude. Gray does not have to look "old." It can look stylish, sophisticated, shiny, and current. But let's be honest—if you do not maintain a fresh haircut and updated style, it may not have the trendy effect you're looking for. • You may not want to be completely gray and that is OK! You can still transition from coloring every single hair to letting some of your natural come through while keeping some color. This offers a more blended, natural look and requires much less maintenance. • Do a search for "gray hair" on Pinterest and see what you come up with. It's inspirational to see other women with gray hair. This can help you visualize what you'll look like and how you may want to alter your style slightly once you've gone gray. • There are many different professional techniques that hairdressers use to transition clients from full coverage color to a more natural look. Talk to your hairdresser about this and ask them about their process. They should be able to explain what you can expect, including overall desired result, length of time to achieve result, and price. • About price—if you're used to having a basic tint retouch to cover your gray roots, you can expect this service to be more expensive than what you're used to spending. But keep in mind that you're transitioning away from coloring your hair, so the higher price will be temporary and less frequent than your current gray touch-ups. • The most important thing to remember is this: if you decide to embark on this journey and then hate what you see, you can color your hair! It takes a phone call and color application to turn you back into the brunette you've grown to love. If this has inspired you to think more seriously about growing out your gray hair, I hope you take the next step. A professional hairdresser will provide guidance and support along the way, and will make sure that you look fabulous throughout the process. Good luck! ■ Originally appeared on Be Rosie's blog: http://berosiesalon.com/going-grey.