Silver Hair: Say Goodbye to the Dye and Let Your Natural Light Shine: A Handbook

I pre-ordered this book almost a year ago (back in March of 2017), and am so happy that it's finally out! Although I've already transitioned to my silver hair and just passed my three-year dye-free anniversary, this is such an invaluable resource -- for those who are thinking about transitioning, for those who are in the process, and also for those who have already finished. If you're not familiar with Lorraine Massey, she's the author of Curly Girl: The Handbook and the creator of the Deva Curl line of hair products. Her book helped launch the Curly Girl Method of not using silicones or sulfates on your hair, and helped me make the transition to embracing my natural waves when I first discovered her book over seven years ago. This new book does the same thing for the silver-hair movement that her previous book did for the curly-hair movement, and is a wonderful guide to embracing your natural silver hair. The book is organized into several main sections: * The Glories of Being Silver -- explains the benefits of going dye-free * Enlightened -- provides suggestions for how to grow out your hair without adding any chemicals * The Highs and Lows of Transitioning -- explains how you can use highlights and lowlights to help with the growing-out process * Silver Streaks -- explains how adding a few streaks can help make the transition easier * Pixie Magic -- shows examples of how cutting your hair short can help start the process * Dyeing to Be Silver -- highlights (no pun intended) how adding silver can jump-start the transition * Glorious Grey to Stay -- includes homemade recipes to help keep your hair healthy and shiny, especially if you want to avoid silicones and sulfates * Silver Wear -- covers how to select clothes and makeup for your new coloring What's great about this breakdown is that it covers all the various techniques that are out there for transitioning so that you can make the best decision as to how you want to go about it. For me personally, when starting the transition process, I had considered adding highlights or going for a pixie cut, but decided in the end to cut about 13 inches off my waist-length hair and to gradually grow it out. The first few months (when it looked like I was just lazy about coloring my roots and had a "skunk stripe," as it's called, going on) were the hardest, but using different styling techniques and cutting off most of my hair made the process easier for me. After initially cutting it to that shoulder-length lob, about ten months in, I decided to get it cut to just below my ears. The last two chapters are especially invaluable, and I also love how many photos are included throughout the book to show what the process looks like on so many different women. Seeing photos provides motivation and makes the process seem less scary. It helps to know what to expect as you start this journey. As mentioned at the start of my review, I just passed the three-year mark of being dye-free. When I made the decision to stop dying my hair at the age of 43, only a small handful of my friends were supportive; most told me that letting my silvers sparkle would age me, and there were only a few books out there that helped with the process. I decided to trust my instincts and stop dyeing, and have been so happy with that decision. Although I have much less grey than I thought I did and it seemed to take so long to grow out, the process helped me learn a lot about myself. The decision to stop coloring is such a personal one; many women stop because they can no longer handle the fumes or because they have allergic reactions to the chemicals in the dye. For me, it started because I wanted to move away from chemical color and had been doing my own henna for a few years, but it had stopped covering the grey. I finally realized that I also wanted to dismantle the stereotype that women can't look chic and youthful when they embrace their greys. Whatever your epiphany or "ah ha!" moment is, this book can help you through those rough patches that are bound to crop up. Here are a few other tips while transitioning: * If you're on Facebook, consider joining some of the grey hair groups that are out there. Checking in and seeing the process and the finished looks helped keep me on course during the process and kept me from wavering. * Take monthly progress photos. It helps motivate you to see how you *are* making progress, even when it may not feel that way. (Warning: when you were dying your hair, it seemed like it would grow so quickly and you always had to color your roots, but when you're growing it out, time seems to slooooow way down! :-) ) * Start a Pinterest board of inspirational women with silver locks. When I felt my resolve wavering (and, to be honest, it's happened even recently), looking at those photos helped remind me that silver hair doesn't age you. I still pin new looks and images of silver goddesses to inspire me. * Check out blogs and websites for more ideas. Lauren of How Bourgeois in particular has some wonderful posts about the process, as well as tricks for styling your hair during the grow-out process. Her half-up style was my go-to to help hide the demarcation line. My hairstylist (who does Deva cuts for curly hair) said that Lorraine Massey may also be coming out with a line of hair products for silver hair, and I sure hope that she does! Wherever you're at in your journey, I'd recommend getting this book. The information is so helpful and important, and I know I will return to this book again and again for ideas, just as I do with the _Curly Girl: The Handbook_. Lorraine, if you're reading this review, thank you for shining your light on us and providing us with such wonderful information!

In this book Lorraine teaches you how to grow your hair out naturally and say goodbye to dye and harsh chemicals! I haven't dyed my hair in about 6 months. I still have most of the color I was born with but I really wanted to honor my hair and who I am as a woman. Now I have natural silver highlights! I wanted to learn how to be more natural and authentic. The book helps you no matter what stage of the process you are in. Lorraine will encourage and provide tips on how to be successful and feel confident!

I am at the beginning of my going gray journey. I’m in my early 50s and had been dying my hair for about 10 years. This is a very inspirational and positive book. Many of the women in this book had different reasons for going gray but what they all had in common was that they had no regrets after doing it. There are also different ways to go gray from going “cold turkey”to having your colorist assist you in slowly revealing the gray. This book left me feeling good about my decision. The reason I’m not giving it five stars is because African American women were hugely underrepresented in this book. There is only one in the entire book. This was disappointing. Part of what helps you to feel good about this journey is seeing women who look like you. Thankfully there are online resources for this.

I’ve been coloring my hair since I was 23 and I’m sick of it! (I’m 45 now.) I tried to ditch the dye a few years ago and after 4 months, I cracked and went back to the colorist. While my hair looked ok, I was mad at myself for putting in all that time for nothing. I’ve been wondering when the appropriate age is to stop coloring the greys and you know what...there is no set age. It’s up to you. At first I thought I’d wait until after 50, and then it was when I turn 46. Then after a conversation with my Deva stylist a few months ago, I ordered this book. By page 18, I was hooked on the feeling that while I’m going to EVENTUALLY ditch the dye, I will be utilizing highlights and lowlights to get me over the worst of it. The point is, no matter how you’re going to tackle this change, this book will explain the science behind going grey/silver, utilizing color to attain this goal, or even going cold turkey! By only page 18, I was 100% positive that I’m making the right decision to ditch the dye. I highly recommend this book!!!!

Great book for empowering women to shine in their natural beauty. There is a lot of helpful tips and home made recipes which is cool. As a no fuss girl that I am it’s hard to take the time to make them myself. I would like to see a reference of specific names of products safe for my wavy grey hair. I still have not found a shampoo or conditioner that does not contain ingredients from the no no list in this book.

I loved this book - it inspired me to transition from my very long and dark hair to my natural silver. Before I got the book I had thought about growing out a silver "streak." Well, the book has a whole chapter on streaking! The book got me excited about one day being silver - it's going to be a long and sometimes awkward process but I can't wait to be fully silver. Very encouraging book with many great stories shared by women who have gone silver. Update: It's 2024 and I now have very long silver hair (except for the hair underneath in the back that wants to remain dark). I can tell you it was worth the long awkward stages that I thought would never end and I am so much happier and healthier without putting toxic chemicals onto my head. You can do this!

Gave me the courage to let my gray grow out. Great photos and hair styles. Mission accomplished!

Very unexpectedly, since I intended this body I live in to have dyed (darkest brown) hair forever, I have become greedy for super healthy hair, whatever the color. I’m 49, and most of my natural hair is silver. It’s been heavy on the silver for at least a decade... very cool toned, by comparison to the warmer tones of my late teenage years. Suddenly, my natural hair (and everyone else’s) looks gorgeous to me...like I’m truly seeing it for the first time. I can’t wait for more of it to grow out. This book has lots of helpful tips, and beautiful photos. I would add the tip to drink bone broth and isolated whey protein (the easiest to absorb protein known to science) to hasten your hair growth.

Perfect read for those coming to terms with going white, even at an earlier age. I’m 25 and started going white about a decade ago. This year I have finally come to terms with just going natural and this book helped the process along!

Such an interesting book. Was looking for some support while starting my silver journey - and this was it.

Great book if you are transitioning or thinking of transitioning to SILVER hair

sono molto contento del prodotto

I loved this book . Lorraine Massey author of The Curly Girl guide has come up with another cracking book. There’s great advice , encouragement and humour about embracing your silver hair . The photographic transformations are excellent she gives you the courage to let you natural hair grow in , in all its natural glory .