Thursday, September 13, 2012

Happy Anniversary to Me

At the end of August I arrived at the anniversary date of the last time I colored my hair.

Over the last few weeks I have tried to reflect on the past year.  What I have been through.  What this experience has meant to me and how it may have changed me.  All I keep thinking is...How do we define a year?  How do we measure it?

Technically its 12 months....52 weeks....365 days.  Wasn't this a leap year?  An extra day to transition.  Another day to measure.

Here are some of the ways I've measured my Year of Going Grayt

  • A mirror.  Everyday, multiple times a day a mirror.  When a women begins her transition the mirror becomes like a drug and its not about vanity.  Its about curiosity, impatience, wonder and analysis.  A year equals really getting to SEEING yourself.   
  • It is possible to measure a year with a ruler.  A ruler and, in my case, a patient, loving husband willing to measure my silvering roots.  A year equals six inches of silver.
  • For some, this year can be measured in savings.  Less salon visits, no store bought dye.  For some, this year is measured in bonus money for NEW SHOES and MORE NEW SHOES.
  • How about measuring it in time saved?  Two plus hours every month not hiding out in the bathroom chemically destroying our hair.  A dye free year equals gaining 24 hours.  In a leap year I actually gained two days.
  • Can we measure a year in shampoo?  NoPoos, Blue Shampoos, Organic, Clarifying...A year equals 4 bottles of shampoo.
  • Finally, photo documentation.  One year = 169 root shots.
For me I will measure this year in the confidence I have gained by being a more natural self.  I will measure it in the treasured friends and cohorts who have held my hand through the questions, the skunk stripe, the severe impatience.  And, I will measure it in those six inches of joyfully silver strands.



One year down and shooting for a pre-New Years completion...
And with that completion, a transitional slideshow.

2 comments:

  1. I just found your blog through the SS Gray Cafe :)

    Your hair is lovely and I'm enjoying your blog.

    This is my 3rd attempt at transitioning....YIKES!!! The first time was at least 3 or 4 years ago and I stuck it out for about 6 months, but I just wasn't ready to "commit". The second time was last year and I was almost done (14 months) and I got a bright idea to get rid of the remaining old dye on the tips. No...I didn't cut it. I should have. I did something REALLY stupid and I won't embarrass myself by telling you. Needless to say...I ruined my beautiful silver :( That was in May so off to the beauty shop to get it "fixed". I had to have it highlighted and lowlighted. I haven't colored it since but I'm starting over....again! I just had another hair cut on Wednesday and it's short (NO JLC, though) so if I keep it short (which looks best on me anyway) it won't take too long to be finished.

    I'm looking forward to reading about more of your transition.

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    Replies
    1. Colleen, so glad you are enjoying the blog and thank you for the complement!

      So glad you are joining the Silver Sisters in your transition and I'm dying to know what you did to those ends!?! ;) See you at Cafe Cray!

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