Growing Out My Gray Hair: My Honest Journey

I found my first gray hair when I was 17, and I immediately went into full cover-up mode.

From that point on, I became a full-on “fashion hair color girl.” I was always in the salon, trying different shades, staying on top of my roots, and doing whatever I could to hide the gray.

At first, it was fun. But over time, it became… a lot. The upkeep, the maintenance, the constant appointments. It honestly started to feel exhausting.

When I finally decided to start growing out my gray, my hair was actually blue. And not just a subtle blue—I had to bleach it to get it there. As it faded, it turned that not-so-cute green that anyone with fashion color knows all too well. That was kind of my breaking point. The maintenance was just too much.

I decided to strip out all the fashion color and fully commit to my gray hair transition. My stylist (also my best friend since childhood and a literal SAINT) added chunky lowlights to help blend the darker tones with my natural white and gray coming in.

I’m not going to lie—this part was mentally hard.

If I’m being honest, there were times I felt frumpy. And I know that’s something a lot of people feel when they’re going gray naturally. There were definitely moments where I almost gave up and just dyed it again.

What helped me push through was adding money pieces in the front. Bright, face-framing sections that I would bleach almost white. It gave me something that still felt styled and intentional, even when the rest of my hair didn’t.

Here's a video explaining my journey in even more detail:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBy_pQgNgH4

My Biggest Advice If You’re Growing Out Gray Hair

• Find a stylist who really knows gray hair transitions. This is everything. They’ll help you through the awkward stages—keep in mind, it might not be the stylist you’re currently with.

• Be ready for the in-between phases. It’s not always going to look amazing, and that’s just part of it.

• If you add color, you have to grow it out again. Every time you bleach or tone, you’re extending the process.

• Do what you can to support hair growth. If I had used supplements to help speed things up, it would have made a world of difference. But that's something I didn't learn until much later on.

  
  

What The Journey Really Looked Like

This is such a personal journey. For me, my hair was a big part of my identity. Letting that go, and letting my natural gray come in was more emotional than I expected.

The whole process took me about four years. But that’s because I dyed and bleached along the way. If you just go for it and don’t gray-blend, AND add in some supplements, you can speed this up by years. But it’s such a personal choice. There’s no right or wrong way to do it.

My Haircut: What I Ask For

I'm absolutely loving my current haircut. The right cut can make your hair look polished, even when you’re in the middle of growing out your gray hair. And if you're comfortable cutting it shorter, it'll help speed the process up too.

Here's what to ask for if you want my cut:

My Favorite Products During and After My Gray Hair Grow Out

If you’re in the middle of growing out your gray hair, the right products really help—especially when your hair feels a little unpredictable.

These are the ones I actually used and loved:

• Force Factor Hair Growth Accelerator Gummies

  These really helped support hair growth and will hopefully made the process feel a little less drawn out.

  
  

• Chris McMillan Blow Dry Spray

  This will make the texture of your hair feel so silky smooth, plus it cuts down on drying time. I can't recommend this spray more!

  
  

• Olivia Garden Hair Brushes

  A good brush matters more than you think—these were gentle, easy to use, and helped avoid breakage. I hate round brushes that get caught in my hair, these don't do that!

  
  

• Kitsch Rollers

  Perfect for adding volume and giving that effortless, styled look without extra heat.

  
  

• Eva NYC Hair Mask

  My go-to for hydration. This helped bring my hair back to life after all the bleaching.

  
  

• L’Oréal Elvive Shampoo & Conditioner

  Affordable and easy to grab and made my hair feel noticeably healthier during the transition.

  
  

• Bio Ionic Tools (Curling Iron, Blow Dryer, Straightener)

  These are my favorite tools. They made styling faster, easier, and helped my hair actually look good—even when I didn’t feel like it was.

Need Help Giving Yourself a Perfect, Voluminous Blowout?

Here's a tutorial showing you how I do mine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ypdej_YnQs

Where I Am Now

The freedom you get on the other side of this is honestly immeasurable.

My hair is the healthiest it’s ever been. I don’t think about roots. I don’t stress about appointments. I can wash it every day if I want and not worry about ruining anything.

And more than anything—it just feels like me.

If you’re in that awkward in-between stage right now or thinking about growing out your natural color once and for all—just know, I see you. It’s not always easy, but getting to the other side is so worth it.

Love & Light

KRS