My Silver Gallery
The first gray strands appeared when I was just 18. At first, I simply plucked them out — there were only a few. But as time went on, dyeing became necessary. It all began with those tinting shampoos that slightly masked the growing silver. Eventually, I had no choice but to turn to hair dye (you can see that phase in the 2018 photo).
After turning 40, I noticed a change — my hair was getting thinner, less dense, as if it was slowly losing its fullness. I started by trimming it a little, but eventually, I went for a more drastic cut to shoulder length (as shown in the 2020 photo).
Still, the hair kept falling out. It wasn’t about my diet or lack of vitamins — I’ve always been health-conscious and mindful of what I eat. I started to wonder… could it be the dye? And today I know — yes, it was. The dye was weakening my hair follicles, causing thinning, and damaging the overall health of my hair. Since autumn 2022 (October, to be exact), I’ve said goodbye to hair dye.
I feel FREE. And guess what?
NOW – my hair is thriving — fuller, healthier, and simply happier 😉
The SILVER Story 🙂
October 2022 – this was the turning point. My last hair dye.
I don’t have any photos from that time — who would’ve thought they’d be needed? 🙂
But… just two months later, in December 2022, I began documenting my transformation. These were the first photos — not just showing my gray hair, but also reflecting a shift in how I saw myself.
It was also when I created my Instagram account (first: silverstory50, later silverstorylife) dedicated entirely to this journey. I wanted to not only show how I looked, but to reclaim my image — no filters, no masks, just full acceptance of what’s natural.
December 2022 — the beginning of a new chapter.
February 2023 – this was a tough one.
The contrast between the dark dyed hair and the light roots was hard to miss. That bright white line practically glowed from a distance. The classic “badger stripe” — and yes, everyone saw it.
I felt terrible. But I had already made the decision to go natural, and I was determined to stay on track.
I booked a consultation with my hairdresser and asked honestly:
“What can we do about this awful regrowth?”
After discussing the condition of my hair, we agreed on subtle highlights — just on the top layers.
My hair is naturally curly, which means it’s also quite sensitive to chemicals. That’s why we chose highlights instead of a full color removal — going that route could’ve completely destroyed my hair.
The highlights were a way to soften the contrast, help me get through the hardest phase, and give me some peace of mind when looking in the mirror.
And what did I wear on my head during that difficult time?
Anything that helped hide that infamous regrowth line! Hats, scarves, headbands — they became my daily allies.
Sometimes I’d braid my hair in a way that covered the front part, just to conceal that still very visible line of transition.
It took a bit of creativity, but hey — it worked! 😉
March & April 2023 – the next chapter of my silver journey…
This was when I slowly started to see the first real signs of transformation.
The grays were no longer just “regrowth” — they began forming patterns, telling a story on my head.
There were still contrasts, sure, but things were beginning to blend.
Looking in the mirror, I wasn’t just noticing flaws anymore — I was seeing progress, change, and courage.
During March and April, I wore my silver strands with a bit more confidence.
I still relied on headbands and hats from time to time, but more and more often, I just let my hair be.
Just as it was.
It was a time of building a new relationship… with my own reflection.
May 2023 – I visited my hairdresser again.
This time, we added more highlights — including the lower sections of my hair.
The regrowth line wasn’t as harsh anymore. Of course, it was still clear that I was in the middle of a transition, but the softened blend made a big difference for how I felt.
If you’re considering a similar step — book a consultation with your hairdresser and discuss the option of highlights.
Just remember: every hair type is different, so it’s important to find a solution that suits your texture, color, and condition.
Each time I visited my hairdresser, I also had my hair trimmed a little — a small step, but it brought lightness and a fresh feel.
As you can probably see in the photos, the dark dye had almost completely faded after the highlights.
I was left with a “warm” version of myself — soft brown with orange tones 🙂
The sun added its touch too — it naturally faded the remaining dye on the lengths of my hair.
An unexpected side effect of lightening, but one I welcomed.
Warm tones, however, were never really “me” — so I began exploring ways to cool down my overall look.
And that marked the beginning of the next phase of my transformation…
August 2023 – my 50th birthday!
I celebrated it with 10 months of natural regrowth — and I was proud of every strand.
But there’s something I really want to highlight.
During these ten months, I noticed so many unexpected positives:
- By month three, I started seeing tons of baby hairs, especially around the front of my head!
- Hair shedding stopped — finally!
- My natural curls started coming back — more defined, springy, and truly mine again.
It was a gift I never saw coming.
Not just for my 50th birthday — but from life itself.
September 2023 🙂 Homemade TONER Process 🙂
I didn’t quite vibe with my orange-yellow bleached hair – unfortunately, that’s the side effect of lightening multiple layers of color on my hair. I was on a quest for a solution to return to a “cooler” version of myself, not wanting to be a “golden autumn” all year round 🙂
Turns out, the toner I applied to my dry hair did the trick! Note: I kept it on for just 10 minutes on dry hair! ( I used Wella True Grey Graphite Medium Dark).
Lucky me! Of course, I only applied it to the sections with bleached hair, leaving my new, gorgeous silver strands untouched! Take a look – the result is truly intriguing 🙂
Hello October 2023 🙂
After my sunny vacation in Zanzibar, I had to refresh my color with a toner, and once again, I kept the toner on for just 10 minutes on my hair 🙂 In Norway, there’s no sun, so the risk of toner fading is not a concern – at least until the next vacation 😉
December 2023!
January 2024!
January 2024 – there’s nothing like starting the New Year in a fantastic mood!
My hair is growing, fuller than ever, and looking back at photos from previous months fills me with pride.
It reminds me again and again — this was the best decision I could have made.
And honestly, it’s not just my hair — I feel like even my face has changed.
It looks brighter, lighter… like it’s glowing with a silver kind of light ✨
February 2024! The silver journey continues!
March 2024 🙂
April 2024
Mai 2024 🙂
June 2024 🙂
June marks the 20th month of growing out my natural hair 😉 I’ll stop referring to them as gray—because they are NATURAL! And they just happen to be this color 🙂 Oh well 🙂 It’s beautiful! Among the thousands of comments I’ve received lately, some suggest these aren’t my natural hair but done by a stylist 🙂 What a wonderful compliment! Though, of course, I don’t believe a stylist could achieve such a magnificent and lasting effect 😉
July 2024
I started testing shampoo bar. I’ll definitely do a separate post about it soon, because it’s worth it 🙂 One thing I know now -I highly recommend it! I thought my hair would feel “unclean,” but surprise – my hair is great after washing. Really, the bar formula works well -the only thing is that, you need to choose the right ingredients – I already know that any oil additives in shampoos don’t work for me -they make my hair too heavy and less fluffy, but for straight hair, it might be the ideal product.
August 2024
September 2024 🙂
October 2024! 2 years Silver Journey!
Two years ago, in October 2022, I dyed my hair for the last time. That was the beginning of a journey that changed not only the color of my hair but also my entire perspective on life. This decision turned out to be the best “side effect” of my transition to silver. Only those who have gone through it will truly understand – it’s more than just giving up hair dye, it’s a deep, inner transformation.
What ended?
- The monthly fear of “those silver strands” showing up again is gone.
- The persistent itching and stinging of my scalp during every dye session are over.
- The battle for my curls has ceased, and my hair stopped falling out in clumps.
Yes, these two years have changed everything. Slowly but steadily, centimeter by centimeter, I walked towards freedom. Freedom from the “necessity” of dyeing, from the fear that my gray hair would reveal my age. Freedom from old beliefs that “this isn’t for me” and from the worry about what people would say.
Today, I am a more mature woman. I wear my hair with pride because I no longer want or need to hide anything. I live without the fear of others’ opinions and wholeheartedly encourage other women to take this step. Because the “side effects” of this decision are priceless:
- You will discover a strength within yourself that you may not have known existed.
- You will gain confidence or reinforce the confidence you already have.
- You will experience an incredible sense of freedom.
- And along the way, you’ll meet fantastic new friends who have walked the same path.
I don’t regret this decision for a single moment! It was hard – the transformation took time, and the regrowth was always visible. But I didn’t want to chop off my hair drastically, so I had to persevere. And you know what?
Time passed anyway! So, if you’re at the start of this journey today, my Dear, keep moving forward!
Don’t look back, because it’s worth it – a thousand times over.
November 2024 🙂
December 2024
Hello 2025! ✨
Another year of this amazing journey!
I’ve now trimmed the last symbolic ends — the final traces of old dye are gone.
My hair is in fantastic condition — shiny, healthy, and shedding only a tiny, normal amount.
But what truly fills my heart?
Five women from my own circle have started the same journey — how incredible is that?!
And on my Instagram — thousands of women are sharing that they’re doing the same.
They’re happy.
They’re seeing the benefits.
Their scalps no longer itch or burn, and those little baby hairs just keep popping up.
It’s a true silver revolution!
Products I Use Regularly:
- Hair-strengthening lotion – recipe is at the bottom of the page. It’s natural, easy to make, and really works!
- Shampoos and conditioners – free from oils, SLS, and SLES. Gentle for the scalp and perfect for curly hair.
- Curl styling products – creams, mousses, gels. I’m constantly testing different ones and sharing updates in my IG stories.
- Purple shampoo – I used it during the transition to slightly darken the silver and add a cool tone (sometimes even purple!). It helped soften the contrast of regrowth.
Now that the transition is complete, I use it very rarely — only when needed.
Almost… the end of the story 😉
Many people struggle with hair loss — so at the end of this silver hair journey, I wanted to share something practical.
Here’s a link to a natural, strengthening hair growth tonic that really worked for me!
It’s affordable, quick to make, and does wonders for the scalp.
You can whip it up in just 5 minutes and use it regularly with confidence — no harsh chemicals, just simple ingredients.
Highly recommended — let this journey be not only beautiful but also healthy!
Here you will find a recipe for a natural hair strengthening lotion!
Not Quite the Last Word 😉
Before I wrap this up, I want to leave you with a few final thoughts — maybe the most important ones of all.
The truth is: your hair color doesn’t define who you are.
It doesn’t take away your worth, your strength, or your beauty.
Gray hair is not the end of the world — it’s a symbol of experience, of wisdom, of self-acceptance.
Every stage of life carries its own weight and its own beauty.
We won’t win the fight against time — we start aging the moment we’re born —
but we can age with awareness, with grace, with health… and with a sense of humor.
And that’s where true happiness begins.
If you’ve read this far — thank you, truly.
But before I go, I have to mention something important…
You’ll likely come across some negative comments.
I do — all the time.
People sometimes call me names like “old woman” or even worse…
And yes, it can hurt.
But I’ve learned that those words say more about the people who speak them than they do about me.
We still live in a world that worships the illusion of eternal youth,
where aging is something to be hidden, filtered, and fought against.
But in doing so, we miss what’s truly valuable —
the wisdom, the resilience, the calm strength that comes with time.
So let’s not play that game.
Let’s age on our own terms — with joy, in good health, and without apology.
Because time will pass no matter what.
And how we choose to live it — that’s entirely up to us.
With LOVE
ILONA
