Long Salt/Pepper Hair

[KoKonut]

Since my last bleaching nightmare disaster last October, I've decided to swear off bleach for good, the bleach took half my hair away so now I'm back to square one with getting length back as it was MBL before. So I'm doing nothing with it but botanical treatments once a week along with shampooing at the salon. I see that I now am salt & pepper all on top, not much in back of head, and I'm determined to not do any kind of color at all for as long as I possibly can which for me means not going anywhere without a hat or turban because the left over color on my hair is horrendously ugly, very dull blonde with very brassy hair next to the salt & pepper, its one heck of a mess right now. So I'm on the fence right now with whether I could possibly be okay with showing salt/pepper and finally have my hair back healthy and strong again or if I would want to just go ahead and get a permanent color in my natural color (med. brown), but I know that means a certain amount of damage still. For the first time since I was younger I'm finally starting to care more about treating my hair right. I just think the salt/pepper will maybe make me look older and also it seems like I would be able to maybe accept it more if it was just really long, but that will take a long long time. :confused:

[cjk]

How abrupt is the line of demarcation?

And how obvious?

My hair has natural highlights, in that way I am fortunate. But the natural variations in tone must also be considered when styling, I enjoy braids because it shows them off and makes them a focal point. Take a weakness and turn it into a strength.

I've seen mention of washes, baking soda and vitamin C being ones often mentioned, for fading and blending color into natural hair. I've not tried that, so I don't speak from experience, but maybe something like that could help blur the line a bit?

Additionally, there are so many styling options available to women that surely something could show off the differences, rather than hiding it. An ombré is a transition of two colors, on purpose. Maybe starting from that conceptual idea might help you find an approach that would work.

Good luck!

[lapushka]

If you want to see a gal (around 40) with gorgeous salt & pepper hair. Try YT, the channel "MrKongsMom". Her name is Melanie, and she had previously dyed blonde hair and also grew it out, with some help from the hairdresser. I'm sure those vids are on her channel still.

Salt & pepper can be lovely, but you have to be able to look at yourself with it.

My mom is 73 and is fully gray/white, she dyes it a light to medium blonde (Syoss dye) every 3/4 months as when it grows out it is barely noticeable.

Could your hairdresser perhaps do something to help you grow it out; worth the question if that is the way you want to go. They will work with you and not against you.

No need for those hats, hon, honestly!

[KoKonut]

How abrupt is the line of demarcation?

And how obvious?

My hair has natural highlights, in that way I am fortunate. But the natural variations in tone must also be considered when styling, I enjoy braids because it shows them off and makes them a focal point. Take a weakness and turn it into a strength.

I've seen mention of washes, baking soda and vitamin C being ones often mentioned, for fading and blending color into natural hair. I've not tried that, so I don't speak from experience, but maybe something like that could help blur the line a bit?

Additionally, there are so many styling options available to women that surely something could show off the differences, rather than hiding it. An ombré is a transition of two colors, on purpose. Maybe starting from that conceptual idea might help you find an approach that would work.

Good luck!

Currently, the dark and silverish colors seem to be blending in with the left over blonde somewhat but I also only have an inch of root growth too, so kinda hard to tell at the time.

I've read some articles about those kind of natural highlighting things and am curious of how that would work. IF I can stand going that long without any coloring I will try it, but its gonna take me a heck of a long time to grow all this blonde junk out.
It would be different if the blonde was a prettier looking hue, but it's very dull and has some goldish looking color and very brassy against the darker hair, its just plain ugly so the ombre transition thing just wouldn't work on me unfortunately.

Thanks, I need all the luck I can get!!

[KoKonut]

If you want to see a gal (around 40) with gorgeous salt & pepper hair. Try YT, the channel "MrKongsMom". Her name is Melanie, and she had previously dyed blonde hair and also grew it out, with some help from the hairdresser. I'm sure those vids are on her channel still.

Salt & pepper can be lovely, but you have to be able to look at yourself with it.

My mom is 73 and is fully gray/white, she dyes it a light to medium blonde (Syoss dye) every 3/4 months as when it grows out it is barely noticeable.

Could your hairdresser perhaps do something to help you grow it out; worth the question if that is the way you want to go. They will work with you and not against you.

No need for those hats, hon, honestly!

Thanks for that link info, I will check that out for sure!!
Yeah, my hairdresser is helping me with the weekly treatments along with me taking all my vitamins and supplements and healthy diet and all, we're working together on getting my hair very long.

[spidermom]

I think it takes a special kind of person to grow through two-toned hair but after a number of months, maybe up to a year, hair can be pulled back and up, and the difference won't be noticeable anymore. I've never cared about growing out a color I don't like, but I have a hard time with uneven ends. I've made a vow to grow without trimming to waist length, and I'm struggling. It's been a year, and I'm sure it will take at least another year. We all have our struggles. Good luck.

[SurprisingWoman]

I decided to quit coloring overnight. I rocked two tone hair for a long time. My daughter even got married while I was rockin the two tone!

Here is an example about mid-grow: https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=478&attachmentid=35613

[KoKonut]

I think it takes a special kind of person to grow through two-toned hair but after a number of months, maybe up to a year, hair can be pulled back and up, and the difference won't be noticeable anymore. I've never cared about growing out a color I don't like, but I have a hard time with uneven ends. I've made a vow to grow without trimming to waist length, and I'm struggling. It's been a year, and I'm sure it will take at least another year. We all have our struggles. Good luck.

That's my thought right there, is I can always just wear it up with headband to conceal a little more and especially throughout the heat of the hot TX summer! If you don't trim doesn't that make it more likely to be more straggly? I wish I could go without trimming but I have so much damage on the ends.

[KoKonut]

I decided to quit coloring overnight. I rocked two tone hair for a long time. My daughter even got married while I was rockin the two tone!

Here is an example about mid-grow: https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=478&attachmentid=35613

How can someone have such gorgeous long hair like yours?? Not fair!! I tried to click on that link but it takes me to the old message again saying I don't have privileges or something to that effect.

[lapushka]

How can someone have such gorgeous long hair like yours?? Not fair!! I tried to click on that link but it takes me to the old message again saying I don't have privileges or something to that effect.

Have you read the sticky yet? You currently have 17 posts. ;)

[SurprisingWoman]

How can someone have such gorgeous long hair like yours?? Not fair!! I tried to click on that link but it takes me to the old message again saying I don't have privileges or something to that effect.

Sorry, here is the image. I don't spend a lot of time on the forums and don't always think about things.

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com...chmentid=35613


I wish I could claim credit but it's all genetics. I got lucky in the hair department. There are many others I wasn't so lucky but I got my hair from this guy:

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=478&attachmentid=35606

I linked some IMG files in here. They aren't showing. Anyone have any idea on why?

[lapushka]

Sorry, here is the image. I don't spend a lot of time on the forums and don't always think about things.

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com...chmentid=35613


I wish I could claim credit but it's all genetics. I got lucky in the hair department. There are many others I wasn't so lucky but I got my hair from this guy:

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/album.php?albumid=478&attachmentid=35606

I linked some IMG files in here. They aren't showing. Anyone have any idea on why?

I think you need to grab the URL from your image itself (mouse over, menu, and then copy the img source). Provided the album isn't private. And OP can't see images as she hasn't got 25 posts yet!

[spidermom]

That's my thought right there, is I can always just wear it up with headband to conceal a little more and especially throughout the heat of the hot TX summer! If you don't trim doesn't that make it more likely to be more straggly? I wish I could go without trimming but I have so much damage on the ends.

Well, straggly is a matter of opinion really. My ends are likely to get uneven. Around here we call that fairy tale ends because in a lot of illustrations in fairy tale stories, long hair is pictured with uneven tapering ends. As long as the hair itself is in good condition, it's just another way for long hair to look. I've had every other kind of shape - blunt cut straight across, a U shape, a V shape. I'll definitely start getting it trimmed if I feel that my ends are getting trashed.

[SurprisingWoman]

Okay, let's try this again: This is the picture of my dad and I. I got my silver and texture from him. My mother had thick hair but she wasn't as gray when she passed at 86 then I was at 45. My hair would have been silver in this picture but I was still coloring auburn. (My natural color)

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1301/1145146172_07d7de9288_q.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2Kcb4w)Oct 11, 2000 (https://flic.kr/p/2Kcb4w) by SurprisingWoman (https://www.flickr.com/photos/87407543@N00/), on Flickr

Here is my hair about half grown out, July 2004

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1391/1145146964_200beb6111_q.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2Kcbib)July 2004 During my grow out "multi" stage (https://flic.kr/p/2Kcbib) by SurprisingWoman (https://www.flickr.com/photos/87407543@N00/), on Flickr

This is April 2005. All the auburn is gone and it has been growing and getting chopped every since.

https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1420/1145146402_7996877882_q.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2Kcb8u)April 2005 It's short, but no more auburn! (https://flic.kr/p/2Kcb8u) by SurprisingWoman (https://www.flickr.com/photos/87407543@N00/), on Flickr

I would love to take credit for it but it's just genes.

[2gaits]

A good colorist should be able to help you transition if that is really what you want to do. Silver hair can be really beautiful. I also don't think it ages women any more than trying to maintain dye. That can look aging as well and unnatural. Keeping your make-up and clothing updated can make a big difference.

[Jo Ann]

Have you tried purple shampoo to help curb the brassiness? Maybe a demi-permanent gloss or a semi-permanent violet dye mixed with conditioner can help you out (semi-permanent dye doesn't damage your hair, BTW, and you can mix the dye and conditioner to the color depth you would need. Best part is, if you muck it up at home, you won't be stuck forever with the result).

You can ask what your stylist/colorist would recommend to help you with the brassiness.

[KoKonut]

Have you read the sticky yet? You currently have 17 posts. ;)

Yes, I do realize that and that it takes 25, but there are some links that have allowed me to click on and see so I didn't know if this was one of them. But thank you for the reminder.

[lapushka]

Yes, I do realize that and that it takes 25, but there are some links that have allowed me to click on and see so I didn't know if this was one of them. But thank you for the reminder.

No worries. Just be patient, and post with us; you'll get there soon enough. If you sometimes do get pictures, that's because those are on photohosting services, apart from this site. A lot of us have both the albums here as well as that.

[Liz_H]

KoKonut, if you're still dealing with the brassiness, there is something else you can try. Amla is an herb that gives a cool brown tone to hair. It's also very conditioning. You could try it first in a gloss. As always, strand test first.