It's Ok NOT to Be Gray

There is supposed to be a short video that I made right here. ↑ (You can see my new haircut!) For some reason though, Blogger's video platform is malfunctioning at the moment. Until the new video gets up, or even just because, please run over to How Bourgeois' Facebook page to see the video and join in more How Bourgeois fun! 😃

Hi Silver Sister! Long-time- no see! I just wanted to pop in an have a super quick, little chat with you. Just something that came to mind and I wanted to share!

For as long as I've been blogging about going gray, I've received regular emails from fellow silver sisters about the trials and tribulations of growing out our hair. Often these emails made me feel sad because the sweet women writing me were themselves sad. Some didn't love their newly gray hair and were unsure of what to do. Some felt terrible guilt for deciding to color their hair after a time of growing it out. There has been a lot of talk of being a "failure" over "just not being able to do it." 

I want to tell you, although I often sit here and cheer on the "Silver Sister," I hold just as much respect, admiration and love for all of our Silver Sisters who just happen to be silver underneath their brunette, blond, black and red hair. It's true! It is absolutely, 100% ok to just be the version of YOU, that works the best for YOU! 😊

In fact, I often find myself responding to these emails with the truth- the truth that, if my gray hair had grown out all those years ago, and I didn't like it enough, I'd be searching to the ends of the earth for a brown hair dye that I wasn't allergic to. I'd still be brunette today!

So, gray or not, short hair, long hair, no hair, it's all ok. Go easy on yourself know that you are great just the way you are. 💖

Until next time!

Love,

Lauren 

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Patiently- Impatiently......

\('o') Ok, raise your hand if you've ever regretted trying to "give yourself a little "haircut," or figuring that "baby bangs" would be an awesome choice! ;) It's so much fun changing up our hair. Thankfully, cut or COLOR, it's all reversible eventually. LOL 

Glaze Days!!! A Tiny Update Post-Hair Salon and What's Coming up on How Bourgeois!

Hi Silver Sisters, it's Lauren from September 2018!  I have the most amazing update for you - my husband Jon and I have launched our very own hair care line!  I have learned so much on my gray journey, and our new products incorporate all of my "tips and tricks" for making silver hair look terrific.  I am leaving all prior recommendations in place because I hope that they will continue to be helpful to people, and I will continue to use and enjoy many of the products that I have written about in the past. My opinions still stand on them. 

I hope that you will take a look at our new line By The Way, Your Hair Looks Fabulous!™  - it is a complete line of hair-care and styling products made especially for Silver Sisters AND for anyone who wants their hair care to be more natural and more affordable! 

- - 

HELLOOOOOOOOO........ my sweet, wonderful, caring How Bourgeois readers! This quick post is for all of my gray-haired friends out there. I just came back from the salon and I knew that a few of you would want to know some of the new information I just learned!

First though, I just want y'all to know how much I've missed writing this past week, and how I have at least two, partially completed posts just waiting to be finished up and published! These days family and home have kept me quite busy. I LOVE blogging, but as many of you personally know yourselves, family is a priority. Noah only had school two days last week, and just went back today, so that's where I've been. Anyway! More to come on the blog very very soon! :)

Sooooo......guess what I did today? Early this morning, as soon as Noah was off to school and Jon to work, I rushed over to my FAVORITE stylist ever, the lovely Lydia at New You Salon,  for a what I call a HAIR GLAZE and a trim!!! These glazes last about three months. They cover the hair shaft and leave it feeling soft and looking smooth and shiny. Lydia adds just a touch of violet color into her glaze, that takes away any yellowing to my whites and then my gray end up bright! I just love it!!!

HERE is an older post that I wrote specifically on hair glazing, you might want to read more!

This is the new info that I learned today from Lydia: first, the treatment is  also known as "SHADES!" Lydia uses a product called "Shades by Redken." She said that she puts in something like ( wait, am I remember this wrong?) a 1/4 oz. violet color to 1.5-2 oz. clear. Oh gosh, don't quote me on these numbers! Now I think I might be remembering incorrectly. The point is - #1. it is a small small amount of violet color, and #2. ALWAYS ask your stylist as this color stuff seems like tricky business and I think quicker than you know it, you could end up with purple hair! We all have different hair, so ask a professional first! ;)

Lydia also said that this product is similar to a demi -permanent color. It washes out completely within about three months.

Ok, so there you have it! That's all I've got! Sorry, not much.

Here's the thing, before growing out my hair, I just colored it myself at home, and never got it cut. My Mom would sometimes trim my ends, and many-a-time, I'd even "practice" cutting my own hair. It was so much fun, but always turned out terrible, because I had NO IDEA what I was doing. 

I've now learned that going to the salon once in a while can be such a nice thing, and important. There is something about Lydia's nice, professional sharp scissors that can do an infinitely better job than I can. Oh, that and all her education and training! Yeah, I will never cut my own hair again!

So, if you're not a big salon person, I truly understand, but if you're on the fence, I think they can be very nice places to go.

Also, those of you who have been reading for a while, know that in my day-to-day life, I try to use as natural of products as possible. In fact, one of the reasons that I stopped dying my hair, was to be able to give up my monthly hair dye with all of it's chemicals! I've come to realize that if I need a clear, wash-out-able hair treatment every three months, it's worth it. I felt very guilty about putting this demi-permanent color on my head at first, but later realized that moderation is key.  It takes away the inevitable yellowing of my white hair from shampoos and other products and it helps with shine, which we lose much of as we gray. 

I don't know why I am telling you about this, but perhaps because I struggled with the salon trip idea, and I just wanted to share my experience. 

So that's what's been going on! The next post up to bat is a basic catch-up with some pictures new and old, a funny story, a video and some recipes! Then we have the third installment of Year of You, which will be light and happy and all about making your own little space in the world. I'll share the mini-makeover that I did on our tiny office to make it a cozier and more creativity friendly in just one day and on the cheap! Also, my spring/summer wardrobe piece is coming up. I've been experimenting with soft, pastel colors, because who doesn't want to feel pretty!?

Well, until next time, stay YOU my friends!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo,

Lauren :)