Going Gray: One Year Update 🎉

I CANNOT believe it has been one FULL YEAR since I last covered my gray roots. Literally— cannot believe it one bit.

I remember going into my last hair appointment being fairly confident that it was going to be the last time… but thinking of myself a year out, or even six months out, seemed impossible. And now to be on the other side of it and being so thankful that I stuck with it is so surreal.

This post will be a bit of a gray hair grow-out update, plus some more pictures from along the journey!

One Year Gray Hair Grow-Out Update!

If you read my last update from a couple of months ago, you know I went to a local hair salon for some gray blending. And I LOVE it!! It was a game changer when I got rid of the brassy ends, evened out the different tones, and having the ends of my hair be lighter has been so FUN.

If you have the ability to do some gray blending through your grow-out process, I highly recommend it. It brought me back to really enjoying the process and not just “toughing it out”. Since getting it done, I honestly haven’t thought twice about my roots, or how much longer until I’m “done”.

What I’ve Learned

This whole process has made me reflect on several things— confidence, self-identity, the idea of “being high maintenance”, and how I want others to perceive me. First, I don’t think I have ever been more confident. That is not to say I don’t have moments of insecurity or struggle with confidence. But my confidence since embracing my hair is far greater. I think that is because I am showing up as me. And I genuinely don’t care whether people agree with my decision, think it’s crazy, or don’t understand. I am so set and confident in why I wanted to go through the grow-out process in the first place that no external opinions really get to me. And for someone who has struggled with confidence frequently in my life, that has been really cool.

Second, it has confirmed that my self-identity is not the physical body that I show up in. My hair color is not who I am. In the same way that my identity is not in my weight, clothing size, or height. Whether it’s a positive feeling about my physical body, or a negative one, my identity is not tied to it. I want others to know me as someone who loves God, loves her family, is kind, patient, present… I want people to leave feeling loved. And I have much more capacity for all of those charges when I’m not so concerned about my physical appearance.

Finally, I think I have been reminded that we are capable of so much more than we think. We just have to try. I don’t think growing out your natural hair color is this crazy, impossible thing to do.. but I did have some fear and uncertainty going into it. And I can confidently say that it has been far easier than I ever thought it was going to be. Yes, it’s been a little uncomfortable at times. Sure, it has come with some awkward hair phases. But overall, it went far better than I ever planned. I pushed through, stayed consistent, and reminded myself of why I started this.

And now, being so much further into it, I’ve been reminded that I am far more capable than I often give myself credit for. It’s really not about the hair color. I think that anytime we put ourselves in an uncomfortable position (no matter how big or small), we have the opportunity to be reminded of what our limits are (and are not).

Community

I have received amazing feedback on any of my posts about gray hair and embracing this process— and they have quickly become some of my most popular posts. While it was not something I initially expected, I have seen a huge desire for community in this area. Women coming together with other women to support, encourage, and remind one another of their beauty, worth, and uniqueness—which is honestly the coolest thing of this whole process.

That said, I am looking to create more resources to support women in this space. If you are on this journey (or thinking about starting it), what are some things you need to feel supported? What are the questions you have before, during, or even after the process? I would love to hear from you, brainstorm with you, and come alongside this beautiful community of women breaking out of the status quo and external expectations.

Kaelyn