Hello, everyone!
Today, December 23, 2025, marks exactly one year since I last dyed my hair. On December 23, 2024, I stood in my bathroom with that final box of colour, feeling a surge of determination. That was the end of an era—no more covering the emerging silver strands. I decided to embrace the transition to my natural grey, fully and unapologetically.
 |
| Here's a photo of my hair taken today. |
If you've been here for a while, you might recall the post where I first opened up about going grey. I shared how exhausted I was with the constant upkeep: the every-few-weeks root touch-ups, the fading colour, and how it all started feeling like I was hiding a part of my true self. At 40, it wasn't really about "ageing gracefully" in the stereotypical sense; it was about authenticity, shedding the maintenance, and showing up as the real me.
This year-long journey has been full of real, everyday moments. My hair is naturally wavy/curly, which has made the transition both challenging and beautiful—the curls help camouflage the demarcation line a bit, but the texture difference between dyed and new growth was noticeable at times. To speed up the process and remove the dyed ends as quickly as possible, I've kept it at shoulder length and handled the trims myself at home each month. No salon visits needed; just me, sharp scissors, and a careful cut to keep the shape while gradually saying goodbye to the old colour. It saved time and money and, honestly, gave me even more ownership over this change. (If you have wavy or curly hair and want to trim your own hair, I suggest checking out some DIY tutorials by Manes by Mell on YouTube—her curly-friendly methods were a game-changer for me!)
There were those awkward in-between stages—the stark root line on bad hair days and the mix of textures where the dyed ends felt smoother and the wiry new grey growth popped through. Some months, I'd stare in the mirror and wonder if I was ready for this shift. But patience (and a good curl routine) paid off.
Now, at the one-year mark, my hair is a beautiful salt-and-pepper blend: silver strands sparkling throughout, especially around my face and roots, with plenty of my original colour still holding strong. It's not mostly silver yet (I'm only 40, after all!), but the grey adds this cool, multidimensional depth and shine that catches the light in the most stunning way—especially with my waves and curls bouncing it around. The regular home trims have kept it healthy, defined, and full of volume, and I've fallen in love with how low-maintenance it all is—no more colour appointments dominating my calendar.
This milestone feels bigger than just hair. It's a celebration of choosing myself at this stage of life: embracing change, letting go of perfection, and finding confidence in what's natural. Turning 40 has brought so many reflections, and going grey has been one of the most liberating parts.
If you're in your 40s (or any age) and contemplating the grow-out—especially with wavy or curly hair—know that it's okay to take it at your own pace. Home trims worked wonders for me to accelerate the process; just go slow. The doubts fade, and the freedom (and those gorgeous natural highlights) grows.
Thank you for following along and supporting this chapter. Here's to more years of being unapologetically me.
