View Full Version : Ugh! What to do?!
Mesmerise
January 5th, 2013, 04:51 AM
So, quite randomly the other day, I decided to grow out my henna... this is odd because I really, REALLY thought that I wouldn't show my gray hairs for at least another 10-15 years! But... I don't know... I just thought "what the heck... I'll let it grow out and show my gray hairs!". As it is, anyone up close to me can see that my hair is graying within a couple of weeks of colouring, and I'm not about to start hennaing every two weeks (as it is it's a 4-5 hour process lol). And I sort of have a hankering to know what my hair ACTUALLY looks like.
The thing is... the regrowth is going to look HORRIBLE! Part of me thinks I should just cut it all off and start again (when I've got enough regrowth to actually make it worthwhile... I don't see the point of cutting now when the amount of regrowth is only about 1/2" if that) or if I should persevere. The thing is... persevering will take YEARS. That is YEARS of having weird looking hair! I have seen some ladies grow theirs out, and it looks okay... especially if it's sort of a blonde to gray transition. But mine wouldn't be. It'd be henna red to brownish with silver strands.
But I don't want to go short again!! Even though my hair is horribly thin from shedding (which I'm hoping will get under control soon) I STILL don't want to cut it off! BUT I don't think I want to leave it grow out for five years either...
Gah!
Okay, this isn't something I have to worry about right now... as I've said, there's no way I'd cut it off yet anyway, as I'd need long enough roots to actually give me SOME hair (I'm about to start looking for work again very soon, when the maternity leave position I'm in runs out) and I'm pretty sure shaved all over isn't going to help my chances of gaining employment!! (Besides which, I'm pretty sure I don't have the looks to pull it off :D). So as it is, I've got a few months to decide, because it really won't be long enough for a little while.
So... what would you all do in my position? I know it's a hard question ;). We're all different and we do different things. A couple of weeks ago I wouldn't even have considered growing out my natural hair!
MegaMystery
January 5th, 2013, 05:25 AM
I personally find the pictures of the people with two(or more) colors of hair in a french/dutch braid or a bun look really cool and unique, so I'm just going to go ahead and say that I think you should grow it out and not cut it.. but that's just me :)
Maybe you could start doing henna glosses instead of a full henna treatment? It takes less time and maybe your regrowth will blend a little better with your hennaed hair? Obviously if you want to grow out your natural hair color you'd have to stop doing even that, but it might help with the transition a little bit :)
sarelis
January 5th, 2013, 05:26 AM
Maybe try a semi permanent dye to blend the demarcation line that will wash out? Adore do some that approximate henna colours :)
Lauram
January 5th, 2013, 05:28 AM
I'd try lifting some of the henna ( honey, vit c , color fix) then re color as close to your natural color as you can.
Get comfortable with scarves and headbands as they will hide the regrowth.
I had hennaed only a few times but was able to lift it enough to grow it out without too much of a line of demarkation. I'm 27 and have a few Greys that im trying to embrace and would like to grow my hair without coloring as I like my natural color.( but getting bored here and there has always made me change/cut)
I hope you find a perfect new job!
Mishka_84
January 5th, 2013, 05:55 AM
I've hennaed my hair off and on for the last 7 years. My natural color is a medium dark brown, kind of a flat, mousy brown really. When I don't henna for a few months, you can see my roots at first, but the henna does start to fade naturally on its own. So by three or four months with no henna, the faded color just looks like a slightly richer brown and my roots are not nearly as noticeable.
metricfuture
January 5th, 2013, 06:01 AM
When I was growing out old dye (it was dark brown, my natural color is red, so the demarcation line was super noticeable) I continued to dye it for a few more months, each time using a color that was closer to what was growing out of my head. I had multicolored hair (still do on the lower layers), but it looked more intentional, if that makes any sense. Maybe you could keep using henna for a few months, but use a progressively weaker gloss each time to "blend" the colors a bit?
WaitingSoLong
January 5th, 2013, 06:10 AM
Your sig says you are trimming to thicken your hemline. I would just keep doing that until the virgin color reaches your current length or whatever length you are comfortable cutting back to. How long is your hair now? My demarcation line is much more subtle than what you would have and I could barely stand it until recently (its been over 2 years, I have about 12" of "roots"). For me, personally, I would not be able to endure the color contrast and would cut back as soon as I was at an acceptable length.
goldloli
January 5th, 2013, 07:38 AM
I kinda agree with everything here. don't cut it, try to fade the henna, find a colour that matches your natural hair and dye/gloss it, then grow it out. in your avatar, the henna doesnt even look that deep and red so i think you'll have a lot of success with fading and dying.
KittyBird
January 5th, 2013, 07:55 AM
I saw a few blog entries a while ago about using ivory soap to make henna fade and make the demarcation line between henna and virgin growth less prominent. It could be worth a try. I did a search and found a thread about it too (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=108834&highlight=ivory+soap).
I personally think that two-tone hair can look very pretty, especially in updos and braids. I've seen lots of gorgeous two-tone buns and braids here, and I get many compliments on my own two-tone hair as well. One particularly striking braid I can remember was on a girl with blonnette roots and henndigo length. :)
jacqueline101
January 5th, 2013, 08:03 AM
I agree wear something to cover the new growth unless you want to redye the new growth. I'd just wear a head band and braid it.
jillosity
January 5th, 2013, 09:09 AM
Definitely try a temporary color like Jazzing, it will blend between the 2 colors and does a decent job of covering grays, usually lasts up to 3 weeks when you use some heat while applying. I'm dealing with this right now myself so I know that feeling when the line becomes unmistakable on your head, it made me nuts I tell you! You can also try some of the lightening techniques, but keep in mind these techniques work best for hose who have just a little henna/henndigo/hair color/etc. on their hair (we're talking 2-5 applications of color), if you're a long term user it might not have much effect, but it's probably worth trying a few all the same.
Don't cut! I considered it for about a second, because I gave myself a pixie back in '05 because I wanted to stop coloring (lol at myself) and it was even more frustrating than the color weirdness.
ETA: I did 3 honey treatments in an attempt to lighten henndigo and experienced truly terrifying sheds, unlike anything in my life, if your hair is already thinned from shedding I'd do that one as a last resort. btw it didn't really have any effect on my hair color, and my hair still feels thinner. Vitamin C worked the best but even it did very little. YMMV
Rosetta
January 5th, 2013, 09:47 AM
Maybe try a semi permanent dye to blend the demarcation line that will wash out? Adore do some that approximate henna colours :)
I'd try lifting some of the henna ( honey, vit c , color fix) then re color as close to your natural color as you can.
I'd suggest one or all of the above :)
(You probably do not want to go down the route I took, i.e. removed henna and other red dyes with bleach, blonde dyes & Colour B4 ;) Although I'm not growing out grey, but don't think it makes a difference here.)
SleepyTangles
January 5th, 2013, 09:50 AM
Hi Mesmerize.
I'm no expert, but I wouldn't use semi-permanent dyes at all... on my opinion they worsen the demarcation line.
For different reason I've decided to stop hennaing until spring: my personal decision is to use a temporary dye when the difference between roots and lenght became unbearable. When I wil be fed off, I will wait for the pigment to wash off, and then have (I hope) my good inches of virtually virgin growth.
spidermom
January 5th, 2013, 11:40 AM
I'd just grow it and braid ribbons into my hair to blur the line of demarcation.
Unicorn
January 5th, 2013, 02:04 PM
I have to thank you for this thread Mesmerise, I'll have to deal with this before too long. I love the look of graduating grey locs as the hair naturally acquires more grey and imagine mine being this way in the future as my locs get longer and I acquire enough greys for the hair to be 'interesting'.
However, because I have coarse almost black hair, the root bulbs show up on my locs as little specks on my dark locs. and the Henna is the perfect colourant to disguise the bulbs, plus the wonderful clarifying, conditioning properties are perfect for my locs. At some point I'm going to have to choose between displaying my greys and the benefits of henna, :( so I'm keeping an eye on this thread for future ideas, I absolutely do not wish to cut my locs to a short length.
I do think the current trend for ombre hair is in your favour, perhaps a suitable semi-permanents or deposit only colour to create an ombre that you're happy with? I'm another who loves the contrasts of vari-coloured hair, both natural and artificially assisted. It can create the most amazing effects in braids and buns.
Unicorn
Mesmerise
January 5th, 2013, 02:54 PM
Thanks for the advice everyone! Ordinarily if I was trying to grow out dye (or henna or whatever) I'd put on a dye that was close to my natural colour to avoid such a strong demarcation BUT because of the graying I figured that wouldn't work, as the demarcation is going to be between hair that's all one colour, and hair with gray through it... so even if I could perfectly colour match my own hair (which I don't think is possible anyway) it would STILL have a demarcation (if that makes sense).
However, I will think on it some more!. I don't mind playing around with Manic Panic and similar colours as my hair grows, but I don't know that I want to do it all the time.
Someone mentioned that the henna in my siggy doesn't look all that strong... Unfortunately, I think that was after only 1 or 2 hennaings (the pic was taken in the early months of 2011). Since then I have hennaed my full head each month, so it's got literally probably 20+ more layers of henna over it on the length!! There is always the hope that the henna will fade somewhat... BUT again... with all the henna that's been applied over the past two years, I don't have many hopes of it fading (although the hair nearest to my scalp may fade more, simply because that won't have as many henna layers... which may help it blend a bit).
I think I'll just have to play it by ear as the months progress... I know I wouldn't cut until I had enough hair to work with anyway, so I guess time will tell how bad it looks! (Oh, and while I do love my long hair and always want long hair... the hair I've GOT isn't really that great due to shedding, so it's not like I'm losing "quality" hair anyway lol... if I do get on top of the shedding and it goes back to "normal" the regrowth will probably be much thicker and will make the length look worse anyway... so ultimately I'm going to have to cut a LOT of hair, whether I chop it all the way back or not).
Ohh... and thanks to whoever pointed out the thread on Ivory Soap, I will definitely look into that! Even if I could get some fading it would make a lot of difference.
Kaelee
January 5th, 2013, 04:42 PM
I would do a dye that's sort of a mix between natural hair color and hennaed color and "blend" it....but I'm really not sure how it would look with a grey-dark ombre!!! But I would try it before I cut.
Lostsoule77
January 5th, 2013, 04:47 PM
In your position I think I would just microtrim at whatever maintenance length you deem appropriate. It'll slowly help your thickness to move down the length and the demarcation line to do the same. Then just keep your hair up in buns and/or braids. I think that looks great with multi colored hair and it has the benefit of not making the actual demarcation line noticeable.
Whatever you decide good luck! :D
lapushka
January 5th, 2013, 04:52 PM
Thanks for the advice everyone! Ordinarily if I was trying to grow out dye (or henna or whatever) I'd put on a dye that was close to my natural colour to avoid such a strong demarcation BUT because of the graying I figured that wouldn't work, as the demarcation is going to be between hair that's all one colour, and hair with gray through it... so even if I could perfectly colour match my own hair (which I don't think is possible anyway) it would STILL have a demarcation (if that makes sense).
You'd only need to find a semi-permanent dye to match the henna. There are semi-permanents out there that cover grays pretty well. It won't hurt to try. Worst case scenario, you'd have to wait x-number of weeks or washings to get rid of the dye. No biggie.
Kaelee
January 5th, 2013, 04:59 PM
In your position I think I would just microtrim at whatever maintenance length you deem appropriate. It'll slowly help your thickness to move down the length and the demarcation line to do the same. Then just keep your hair up in buns and/or braids. I think that looks great with multi colored hair and it has the benefit of not making the actual demarcation line noticeable.
Whatever you decide good luck! :D
This is a good idea too. As well as the demi-perm dye, if you're willing to go the chemical route.
teela1978
January 5th, 2013, 05:58 PM
Regrowth is never going to look good. I've done it twice, once I tried to do some highlights to help, once I tried some dye to help the growout, both times it worked a bit but still really bothered me. Basically, growing out your henna (or ANY other dye, on me even semi-perms leave a demarcation) is going to be a pain and its going to last for years. Do you want your multi-colored years to be now or later is the real question. Your length will look better as it grows out, the initial few inches especially right next to a vibrant red henna will look very dull and boring till you get a bit more length. Its really just biting the bullet and doing it.
Mesmerise
January 5th, 2013, 06:31 PM
Regrowth is never going to look good. I've done it twice, once I tried to do some highlights to help, once I tried some dye to help the growout, both times it worked a bit but still really bothered me. Basically, growing out your henna (or ANY other dye, on me even semi-perms leave a demarcation) is going to be a pain and its going to last for years. Do you want your multi-colored years to be now or later is the real question. Your length will look better as it grows out, the initial few inches especially right next to a vibrant red henna will look very dull and boring till you get a bit more length. Its really just biting the bullet and doing it.
A few years ago I had highlights which were supposed to help blend... I guess they worked to a certain extent, as I could go a lot longer between getting them done and having to re-do them (if that makes sense), as they did sort of disguise the grays a bit. (Actually I would go months after getting highlights without doing anything else, whereas any longer than a month with henna and the grays are REALLY obvious). I sort of contemplated going the highlight route this time... I'm really not keen on damaging my hair in that way, though (and I did find getting blonde highlights much more damaging than just box dyeing my hair).
However, I may just suck it up and grow it out and try not to think too much about my hair for a few years! I'm also going to try the Ivory Soap method of removing it (I went and ordered some online... I hope it works cause it cost me $25 to get three bars of the stuff - not that I need three bars, but the P&H was $12 whether I bought 3 bars or 1, and 3 bars worked out cheaper per bar). Even if it helps it fade somewhat and removes some of the demarcation I'll be happy.
browneyedsusan
January 6th, 2013, 02:50 PM
Let me know how it comes out! I will probably want to grow out my henna eventually. (Else, I'll be burgundy haired when I'm a little, old lady! --but that might not be too bad..... ) I've started thinning it down with glosses instead of full-on hennas, and my gray roots start getting on my nerves after about 3 weeks. I'll try to remember to check with you, as it sounds like our grow-outs will be similar. Good luck! :)
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