one-year anniversary

Today marks exactly one year since I last had my hair colored. 

I had expected that in one year's time, my hair would be gray, and I could then assess if I wanted to keep it gray or not 

I was wrong.

I am nowhere near a full head of gray hair.

I read online of some woman with similar length hair as mine and it took her 18 months to grow it out.

It's not just about the time and money I'm saving. I love the freedom of not being a slave to monthly colorings. 

I also think that my hair is in better condition since I stopped coloring it.

My one fear is that it will make me look old. Forget the fact that I am old (oh how much I hate to say that). My intention, in the end, is to not have boring, elderly-looking, gray hair.

But I am getting tired of the way it looks now — silvery gray on top and an ugly brownish-reddish on the bottom. I've considered lots of things to help it along (NOT including going for a short haircut). But all of them involve some kind of bleaching and that would be bad for my hair.

So for now, I am continuing as is.  And really, since I barely see anyone, it's mostly me who doesn't like what she sees.

I pulled some photos from the past 12 months. It's a slow slow process, made tolerable by the new look I imagine having one day.

July 25, about 5  1/2 months out

August 30, 6 1/2 months out

October 2, almost 8 months out

So at one year, I still have very far to go. I'm losing patience and am considering accelerating the process. 

Here's my aspirational look. 

And though  I'll need a lot more than a new haircut, evenly dispersed gray hair, and blue eyes to achieve this look, it's nice to have a goal —even an unachievable one.