Wow. I learn the most amazing things on this forum. Thanks for a fascinating post :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hairfixr
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Wow. I learn the most amazing things on this forum. Thanks for a fascinating post :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hairfixr
Was wondering how hair acquires iron buildup over time. :confused:
Wow - thanks for all of the information! I had been going to a stylist who colored my hair 4-5 times but was never able to cover those silver/gray "shooters". That's why I'm looking for somebody else. I have a bead on one person, so we'll see. She's been a stylist for a long time & has a big following. From what you've said, my wishes aren't for rookies because I do want subtle highlights & lowlights. Flat brown is too aging.
I don't mind paying for service. The stylist I saw would charge ~$160 for a cut & color ($60 for the cut & $100 for the color - but as I said - I ask for a lot.) But, I do expect to have those little nasty hairs colored, especially after five tries. I understand that some gray is "color resistant" but can't that be overcome with an H-bomb of color? :p
Shooting Stars ask: - Was wondering how hair acquires iron buildup over time.
Hair Fixr reply ~
Hair captures and retains minerals as you shampoo your hair.
Here are some of the more "un-popular" minerals frequently found in water. Iron, silica, lime, copper, calcium, lead, etc,
Look at the water ring in the bathroom stool. The color of the ring will tell you which mineral is predominate in your area.
Brown Rust color = iron from well water and old cast iron pipes found in municipal water systems.
Whitish crusty = lime, calcium, silica from well water.
Aqua Green = new homes with copper plumbing.
Mucky brown/gray = lead from well water.
Any of these minerals can cause havoc in a hair color formula.
How it happens: - When you stand under the extra warm shower stream, the cuticle layer of the hair opens up from the water temp. The hair acts like a filter as the body's "negative" magnetic attraction holds the "positive charged" minerals in place. As you Rinse the shampoo/conditioner off - the PH of the shampoo closes the cuticle layer of the hair hence trapping the minerals under the cuticle layer of the hair shaft. Day after day of this procedure builds up enough minerals that even virgin hair "no color" is changed enough that a professional colorist can tell. Blonds get warmer over time, Browns loose the Auburn luster, Brunettes get dull, the side effects are endless.
For you short hair girls - this is less of a issue as you keep the hair cut short so the serious build up is removed by regular haircuts. For the long hair styles it becomes a issue to deal with. Mineral build up is what makes hair appear dry and un-manageable many times. Think about what is making the ring in the stool - that is what is going on in the hair :eek:
When I was in Oklahoma I had my clients use a treatment when ever they felt they needed it to remove the hard water mineral build up. Ask your colorist what they suggest for your area. Every area differs with severity of minerals ;)
Note: The new home water filter systems are great for dealing with this issue. The older salt water treatment systems for hard water will not.
Hair Fixr
Ok I have to ask... am I the only one who keeps accidentally reading this thread title as
To be or not to be - gay ?? :cool: :D
Bwahaahahahaahaha!Quote:
Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl
BleeckerSt_Girl, me too. Exactly. I can't keep my brain from reading this either. :D
No, I've been reading it that way from the start. Gay or gray, you can cover it up but underneath it's not a choice :pQuote:
Originally Posted by BleeckerSt_Girl
lol!! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by zen
I thought I was the only one reading it that way! :p
I just want to celebrate the fact that I have found myself a local version of Hairfixr! :):):):):) Not only is this new stylist excellent at cutting hair, she gave me a gorgeous color (a more vivid red that looks natural). She actually cut my hair to make the most of my hair's assets---i.e., wavy curls---while keeping in mind the fact that I am a wash-and-go kinda gal. The salon is very professional---all the stylists and the owner work, don't gossip---and the place is clean/pleasant. In addition, it's located within walking distance of my house.
My final appointment at my old salon was very disturbing. I won't get into the details but it's been a long time since I've been treated like crap by a service provider (particularly someone whom I've been patronizing for more than a year and whom I tip very generously).
Good for you, MickChick! I'm tired of the local shop experience too and the fact that I have no "style." I want something that is attractive and flattering no matter if it is styled or not (ie after removing the bike helmet or running 5 miles). I have an appointment Wednesday and hope I have the same experience.
An old buddy from high school has become a very successful stylist with 2 upscale salons a couple hours from me. He has begged me to come see him and let him cut my hair. (BTW, my gray drives him nuts.) I took the day off this Wednesday and am going to spend the afternoon at his salon. I'm excited about getting a new style but I have told him the gray stays. I'll keep you posted on the outcome.
Several years ago, I used to drive an hour to have my hair colored by one of the best colorists I've ever had do my hair. I considered this person a friend and she really cared about making me look good. Luckily, the stylists there were all great, too, so my cuts were nice, too. The colorist moved about 50 miles away, which was just too far for me. I still miss her and on many occasion, I wish I hadn't lost touch w/her. I consider myself very fortunate to have found this new stylist.
My point is that sometimes, it's simply worth the drive....
Good Luck!! I'm sure you'lll look gorgeous---take a risk and let him color your hair! It'll keep you going back to him. ;-)
Thought I found somebody who could do color. She gave me a gorgeous butterscotch/brown color that fit my facial coloring perfectly. Within two weeks, it turned red. And I'm using good shampoo & conditioner (Pureology) tepid water, etc. Maybe I'll just dye it black, get me a broom, pointed hat & a cauldron. I already have the black cat.
Dogmama, call her and tell her what happened. I bet she will fix it, gratis.
@ dogmama +1 to what mickchick said. as a hairstylist, we almost always will fix stuff like that for free. sometimes you just can predict how hair is going to hold on to a color. especially if you are going light to dark and especially on gray. gray is just a resistant hair texture sometimes. annoying lil buggers i tell ya. good luck!
I just found a new colorist/stylist, too! Amazingly, she's right down the street and I had never paid attention to it. I've been coloring my own gray for years... I have long dark brown hair, but I'll bet that I'm actually about 50% gray. Then I broke my wrist (bike crash) and couldn't do the coloring myself, so in a panic I called this salon down the street and made an appointment.
They knew right away that I was coloring my own hair and started taking steps to condition it and even out the color. Wow, it's been only 3 visits and my hair looks completely different.. more natural, more shine and way healthier. I just had a Brazilian Keratin treatment done and it's amazing. My hair is super silky and straight instead of frizzy, even after I have it in a ponytail under a bike helmet! I'm in love with this salon.
I'm just not ready to go gray and I may never be ready. As long as my hair looks this good, I'm not going to think about it. :D
tctrek, which salon? i used to live in atlanta. and congrats on the fabulous new 'do!
It's called Salon Greco. It's actually north of town in Suwanee.
Reviving this thread! 'cos I am about to Go Grey. :D
No, I don't "feel" grey, at 41 (and I am grey, maybe 60-70%), but I'm ready to try not caring. I hate the yellow colour my dyed hair goes in summer. I don't like even thinking about that I should wear something over my hair in the sun. I'm pissed that men get to go grey and still look cool and sexy while women who are grey look "old". Sure, many women in their forties (and thirties) don't have grey hair, but then again, many women DO.
etcetcetc.
Anyway, I sort of have to try a new hairstyle since I'm cutting a fair bit off. Does anyone have any tips? Any good sites to browse through?
I have a longish face and dry curly hair that goes frizzy easily. So I'm a bit wary of cutting it too short. Any ideas or pointers? Haven't had a "hairstyle" since I was a teenager so I'm a bit out of it.
I'll be very curious to see what you think of being grey at 41!
As I think I posted, I tried it but ended up coloring again. I was grey for about 5 months I think. At the time, my self image was in the toilet, so being grey just made it worse. I often wonder how I'd feel about it now that I'm in a better place. I may try it again before my personal target at 50. ;)
Anyway, when I did it, I let it grow out as much as I could (which might be easier for you being blonde) and then basically buzzed it off. I think it was an inch long or so and I had my stylist at the time try to make it look a little edgy with pieces around my face instead of just getting a buzz cut like my husband wears! I'm lucky that I have very thick hair so that I could wear a cut *that* short and still look polished. The photo I posted earlier in the thread was about 3 cuts after the initial one.
Searching for short, grey hairstyles online mostly got me images of Jamie Lee Curtis...but you might find one or two that would work for you.
Definitely post pics after you do it!! :D
I don't have your type of hair, lph so really I shouldn't give any suggestions on cut/style. Except whatever you choose, may the cut look elegant under whatever weather conditions and even after taking off your helmet.
I'm getting abit more grey strands but it's not obvious or much...considering the fact there has been some significant life-changing stresses in past 5 months. I think there's other aging factors I have to remember: it's more the fact the air in Alberta/the prairies is much drier so people might wrinkle...faster.. :rolleyes: We get alot more sunny days than Vancouver. Way more than Toronto.
I'm more concerned about my skin vs. my hair colour..which the latter is still natural.
Still gray here! Once I stopped coloring, I've never looked back. I'll be 43 this year and wear my hair VERY short (not buzz, but definitely about the same length as the Jamie Lee Curtis style to which GLC referred).
And for me, it's more about the not caring. This is who I am. I did, however, think it was funny when I saw my mom this winter after a couple of months of not seeing her and she commented on how gray my hair was :D Of course, she's gray and still colors hers!
Go for it. Embrace it. Enjoy it. And think about the savings ;).
SheFly
Yea, it amazes me on the additional costs when I hear some women who go to salon to have the hair colour job..vs. the store-bought DIY home efforts.Quote:
Originally Posted by SheFly
I honestly believe any woman with the right hair cut for her face shape, lifestyle, looks fabulous. That's the foundation for hair looking good plus the health of the hair.
Oh, that is indeed part of it all. ;) I can afford it, but I wasn't happy about my haircut until I started cutting it cut and coloured at a pretty swank salon. It's close to work so I'll probably still go there, but it really isn't me to want to pay a whole lot of money to look smashing. I'm probably their only customer who on purpose lets her hair grow out in between seldom visits, to see "what it really looks like" :p And I'm coming in to some serious dental bills for both me and my son soon, so I could do with saving some money.Quote:
Originally Posted by SheFly
I don't feel quite up to a buzz cut... and I have thin hair. I wouldn't mind looking like Jamie Lee Curtis (who would? :D) but I have no idea how my curls would behave at that length... And the last thing I want is a head full of top-heavy loopy curls that take an age to grow out. But I do like the way I look with my hair up, so maybe I should just go for the buzz... :eek:
Yeah, my hair is curly too - you should see it now that it's almost to my shoulders! The only way I can look good with short hair is if it's short enough to basically cut off the curls. Otherwise, it just gets BIG and unflattering. ;)
Honestly though, now that I color it myself and only cut it about every 6 months or so, my costs are WAY down. I use L'Oreal's 10 minute color so it barely takes any time at all, too. :o
Editing to add: Just to clarify, I do NOT think you should color it. In fact, you are inspiring me to think about trying the grey again myself!
I have been grey for 2 years now. I survived the Italian relatives last year, only 1 asked me "what's wrong with you?" As I will be 60 at the end of this year... I knew I didn't want the hassle but most of all I like the way my hair FEELS.
My answer hasn't changed from the beginning of the thread...
Never.
I had to look back to the beginning of this thread, because I couldn't remember if I was going gray last year. Well, I am now! My red hair is now more buff, which I heard would happen. I'm just going with it. It looks fine. I like it. My hair is light, so I don't really notice all the white ones unless I specifically look for them. However, they seem to show up in pictures, so maybe I'm just in denial. :o
I plan on being one of those gorgeous old women with long gray hair (well, I can achieve part of that, anyway :p). I can't imagine ever coloring my hair, mostly because I'm one of those earthy crunchy no make up types who can't be bothered with grooming. I like the idea of accepting the inevitable. I'm a slacker to the core.
I don't know about coloring, but I wonder, is it possible to stop dyeing in sections, like the way they put in highlights, so you can do it gradually? Or do you have to cut all the dyed stuff off at the color line? That sounds so drastic. I can't help but think of "Twin Peaks", going gray over night.
Since I started this thread, I've been doing highlights/low lights. Found out that my gray is very resistant to color. My hairdresser, who I do like, sometimes really blows it & my highlights are too yellow, but it does hide any gray hairs. Unfortunately, blonde hair totally washes me out (I'm naturally dark brunette.) So, I can go blonde & be washed out, or go darker but have the gray roots show more (I'm about 25% gray.)
Honestly, I'm getting tired of messing with it. I have to be careful in a pool - putting special conditioners on, I have to wear a hat in the sun, use special shampoos & condition like crazy. It's just shoulder length and I'm thinking about just letting it be gray. If I do it now, I won't have to suffer the skunk gray stripe while I'm growing it out - or do a Jamie Curtis cut. I like being able to pull it back in the gym, when I'm lazy or when I'm hot flashing.
I do resent, as was stated, that men get to be gray and distinguished. They also get to be a little chunkier as they age. The good news is that we don't have to worry about E.D.! :p:p:p
Quote:
Originally Posted by redrhodie
I asked this myself of two different hairdressers from two different salons and they literally both looked at me like I had two heads. The little caption over their identical expressions would have read simply: 'Huh?". I don't think either of the 20-something hairdressers I'd had could comprehend why a woman would want to let her hair color go natural. It actually struck me as funny because you'd think in such a 'crunchy' place as Portland, it would be common. (my last haircut was done by Lonnie (hairfixr) and I know that he wouldn't get confused if I asked to go grey again! ;))
You would think there would be a 'grey' hair product that would allow an easier transition. I literally did the overnight grey thing and I got a LOT of strange looks and whispers behind my back. Oddly enough, people only commented on my hair cut to my face and not the color which was funny since I'd been that short before and the color was clearly the striking change...
I'm a little obsessive about getting my hair styled. I love my hair. I do. I'm not going to apologize for it. Loving my hair is purely about allowing myself to be pampered--has nothing to do with image.
I recently started having my hair colored when I get it cut. My stylist is amazing! She competed in the Hair Olympics for the US a few years back. Anyways, for a cut, color, style, and tweeze/wax of the brows it is only $35.
She used to work at a swanky, expensive salon--which is how I found her. When we were really struggling financially I would save my pennies and collect pop cans so I could go. I only went about once every 4-5 months. There is something so relaxing and luxurious about a good hair styling.
http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/about/
I have straight but headful of fine, no-coloured hair. My cut has become shorter over the past 4 yrs. (Scroll down on pg. after going to link..)
Photo taken last year. In the photo, I did not use a curling iron nor blow-dry any fullness into it. I was in Europe for that photo...and there I realized I could wean myself off from curling iron and blow dryer for first few months.
The fullness at the back is achieved by the right cut. A short cut makes me look younger...and not so tired looking by lifting the weight of hair upward over my ears. :p
I turned 52 this yr. This photo hides my fine aging lines when I laugh..
So a precision-cut, well-chosen is where I spend my "fashion" money on myself.....approx. every 3-4 months. (Should be abit more often, but I can't afford it.) I'm not into sauna weekends, pedicures, facials, manicures... I totally agree, limewave a wonderful hair cut and styling job is beauty pampering that lasts ..for months. I really do assess a hairstylist skill ..cutting straight hair, especially black...can really show a mistake in unevenness, etc.
Unlike some folks here, I wash my hair daily. With black hair I gotta seriously monitor if the dry prairie air will shrivel up my scalp..into dandruff..
My hair can be maniacally unruly.
The relatives' question "What's wrong with you?" reminds me of my kalabash granny who in her 90s, listened patiently as her doctor informed her of her blood pressure, cholesterol, lung deterioration, osteoporosis, etc., etc., etc., and then she calmly asked him,
"Well, Doctor, have you checked my age lately?"
Your granny sounds cool.:DQuote:
Originally Posted by malkin
Sorry, being lazy reviewing this thread cos it's late & I'm tired from work, can't recall if I responded... but I'm going to turn gray naturally.
I have just a few white hairs coming in. I'm a natural redhead. I colored my hair once with highlights and end of relationship with the hair stylists was a disaster. No more color for me, ever.
The older I get, the less make-up and bling I've got going on too. Idk, I just feel better natural... still groomed though.
I read this book recently and enjoyed it, fwiw.
"Going Gray..." -Anne Kreamer
http://www.amazon.com/Going-Gray-Mot.../dp/0316166618
I'd been thinking about letting myself go gray for several years but never had the nerve to do it, mostly because of not wanting to look old at work. However, I had switched a gentler hair color a few years back that let some of the gray peek through between colorings, just to get myself ready. I used a color that was close enough to my natural color that I didn't even get serious "roots" with it, as I did with the heavy-duty level 3 permanent colors I used to use.
Last May, on our anniversary trip to Belize, I just decided then and there not to color any more. My hair was wildly curly from the humidity there, and I just decided I liked being natural and free. So, that's what I did. Haven't colored since.
My hair is a mixture of white, blonde, light brown, and very dark brown hairs, kind of a frosted look. I often think it looks blonde/frosted when I look at myself in the mirror, but when I see photos, it looks more gray. I can live with it, though. I used to have light ash brown hair when I was in high school/college, but after that I started coloring, so it's been interesting to see what it morphed into over the years. Here's what it looks like:
http://i816.photobucket.com/albums/z...mily_small.jpg
I feel very liberated!
Emily - I think the hair looks amazing! It suits you very well.
Here is a pic of me taken a couple of years ago. My hair is more gray now, and shorter. I LOVE having it so short - no dryer, no iron, still looks good after being in a helmet or ski hat...
SheFly
I'm with She Fly on the short hair; my hair is unbelievably unruly, frizzy, twisty, bendy. Not curly, just awful. The liberation I felt when cutting it really short and not having to worry about looking like a monster when I take my helmet or ski hat off is awesome. My water bottle is my styling implement!
I am a natural blonde; my hair has always been golden, not white, and many different colors. I started getting various kinds of highlights at around age 30, on and off, as my hair darkened. I can't even stand having brown hair, let alone gray. The dark color really washes out my face, as does anything silvery looking near my face.
So far, I have had a few periods where I seemed to get some gray near my temple, but I pulled them out and they haven't returned. The few wisps that are there look blonde. My stylist and I have found a great color that as it grows out actually looks like highlights; I only get it done every 3 to 4 months. Yes, I have to condition it and use a different shampoo, but I already buy really good products, as my hair as stated above is unruly. I don't ever put my head under the water, as I wear contacts, so I don't have to worry about that.
I guess that while my "regular" (non-cycling) friends would definitely put me in the crunchy category, it's more in the area of my values. When it comes to my appearance, my inner Jewish princess comes out! I don't care, because as Limewave said, going to the salon makes me feel great. In the next couple of months I will be going on job interviews, with 25 year olds as my competition. Enough said. It's a fact of life that most people don't see older people as active, like all of us are. The fact that my co-workers at my internship think I am in my early forties kind of amazes me. They just don't understand any of it.
Short, gray, wash and go, easy.
It's everything I want in my hair.
Scanned most of this thread.
I have almost shoulder length hair. At age 40 I finally grew it out (it was short short for 20 years), then I bobbed it and now it is a bit longer (I am 47 now). I started with high & low lights, now I get the roots taken care of and high/low lights too as needed. I am really good friends with my professional stylist...and she makes me look great.
My hair is not very carefree, but it is what I want/need right now. I really don't know when I will decide to give it up and go grey. Right now I would say never. I don't think I have a nice natural grey (yet) and still fighting the looks of aging.
I guess if I could not afford it, I would give it up. But it is my splurge and I like what I see in the mirror.
K