Silver foxes revisited . . . .

[Bucky]

Hi everyone,

Two years ago, I had a thread asking if there were any Silver Foxes among us, and found there were several of us.     Here's the thread if you want to refresh your memory:  https://sjogrensworld.org/index.php?topic=25135.0

Well, now it's two years later, and I was wondering if there are any new Silver Foxes among us or any of the transitional foxes from 2014 with an update?

My hair seems to be a lot of different colors.  I haven't colored it since Nov. 2013, so it is now totally au naturel, with white in the front and top layers, but very dark gray underneath in the back. 

Right now, my hair is below my shoulders, but I am going to be getting a cut soon, and Annie will probably take 2-3" off.  I have to have my hair layered on the crown of my head as I have very thin hair up there and the layering helps to camouflage the thinness and pinkness of my scalp.  I still use my hair powder (love, love, love this stuff - never leave home without it . . . pm me if you want to know about it) that helps fill in the sparseness of my crown hair - I did have to change powder color to salt and pepper from blonde.

I've seen some cute shorter hair styles for silver foxes, but since getting Sjogren's and being on Plaquenil, I've also gotten Poikiloderma of civatte which refers to redness and mottled pigment on the sides of the neck (common in fair skinned people). (This is usually attributed to people who spend a lot time in the sun, but, I don't spend a lot of time in the sun, as I have a sensitivity to the brightness and I get sun rashes.) So, I keep my hair long to help hide that.

Prior to being a silver fox, my hair held a curl really well.  If I wash my hair and let it dry naturally, it is wavy.  If I use a curling iron, it will curl nicely, but the curls don't last like they use to.  Within a couple of hours they tend to be gone.   

So, any old silver foxes or any new ones want to share your story?

Bucky

[Sleepy In Seattle]

Yes!!!! Stopped dying my long hair about 6 months ago, and then got it all cut really short (pixie) to get rid of the dye line. I love it! I'm about 25-30% silver now, and it's a nice, shiny silver.

I use special silver-hair shampoo and conditioner once every 10 days or so to keep it from looking "yellowed" - it really makes it shiny!!! The products are bright purple and kind of fun to use. I just use regular shampoo and conditioner the rest of the time.

I like the short hair but am thinking about growing it out again now that it's much healthier - the dye made it crispy.

Although - the other day a checker did ask me if I qualified for the 55+ Senior discount - I'm not yet 48!!!! 

Oh well. My husband and daughter like it, so to heck with everybody else 

[quietdynamics]

Bucky.. thanks for the info "Poikiloderma of civatte".. I have a neckline that looks like I have been strangled..lol. Myself and children are fair. I always seemed to have freckles even from the shade, summer brought out red highlights in my hair. Then I had two red-haired children.

Still enjoying my two "Cruella De Vil" white stripes in front/top of head. ( One for each of two offspring.. the wider for the one who causes more 'stress'..lol) When I want more white stripe to show I blow it (cool setting) on that side,less white, blow the other direction.
I really enjoy them.
Every so often.. like 4 months or so.. I will paint on a semi-permanent color (says it washes out in 28 washes, but really lasts longer) I just braided my two stripes to get them out of the way and paint in .. and touch the random white eyebrow hair as well ( does not work as well).
I like this better as I never used a permanent color.. seemed like to much maintenance and the harsh line.
I started doing this to get rid of the strands of white hair as opposed to my stripes and so make them 'pop' more.
Was really cool when my hair was fuller and longer and did a french braid or french twist.

When my hair was coming out to the point where I did not even want to wash or brush it.. groan.. I cut it to chin level. Not as much fun.

Every so often I do a white vinegar rinse to remove product build up and sometime wash after shampoo with baking soda. Both make hair shine.

[susanep]

It's funny I came across this. I am in a inner debate to let mine go gray or should I say gray until it's all gray. I have only kept it colored with less harsh color at home, but on days I don't feel well, which is often it takes a lot of energy to keep this up. My husband is sweet and goes along with whatever I want, but I am older than him. I don't want him out of his love to just hold it in if I thought he would rather me keep it colored at home.

It seems like it is no time after I color it that the gray roots show in the middle and then all the other places. I am thinking of cutting it layered and shorter all over as it is, and  at least see how it looks showing more of the gray.

My hair always mostly was layered due to being so thick. Now it's not that thick, but still tends to lay flat if not layered and fluffed up.

I started if I decide to use any hair spray for those occasions going out and wanting it to look a bit better to spray it on my brush, and then use the brush through my hair. It does nicely that way.

I will have to go back and read those former posts. If it was just me, i would not have a decision to make. lol...

Hugs,
susanep

[susanep]

I forgot to add, I am not in my 40's, but 62 soon to turn 63.

susanep

[susanep]

Ok, 3rd post. lol.. 3 #'s ,and I am out for the night.

I read all those back posts, and had some laughs at all the comments. Lot's of fun and good info too.

I think I am at the place that I am going to cut my hair layered, and not color it, and see what happens. 

I think I would be a bit like one past comment  that said they would dress how they wanted, and not just go by the latest trend, and I can see doing that. Have pretty white or gray mix hair until all gray, and next pair of glasses I get might be red or something like that.  Maybe just the bolder black glasses.

Hugs,
susanep

[SjoDry]

At one point I declared..I'm going gray..that's it. All of the matriarchs of the family had/have beautiful silver white hair..bring it on.

And then..enter non-conformist gray hairs which refuse to follow the style with everyone else. And did I mention that the dryness has given my hair a crunchy, scarecrow quality. Of course, all of the skin things ( things including liver spots, pseudo-pimples & random crusty lesions ) starting jumping out at me..a sad state of affairs for sure.

So as I stared at my very pale & sickly skin reflection in the mirror, I knew that color was once again required for my critical Sjoggie condition. I rationalized that it would lift my mood..if not my hair.  I am too fatigued to enjoy the color very much..but those pesky, gray hairs have settled down.

Until my next touch-up...
SjoDry

[Bucky]

Well, I just had about 4" cut off today. It feels so much "lighter" now.     My hair cut is very similar to Jennifer's, although, I have bangs and mine is gray/salt & pepper and not blonde.

http://yourhairstyleideas.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Jenn%C5%9Ffer-Aniston-Hairstyles-2014-.jpg

Bucky

[Jonchri]

I am 50. I gained a lot of gray in my early 40's when my son died. As crazy as it sounds, I can't wait until my hair is all gray, silver, or white. Now it is a very mousy brown with a lot of gray. I keep saying I will just let it go. But every couple of years I get sick of the ugly natural color. I am so tempted to lighten my hair again to get rid of the brown. I have to find out if my meds react to the chemicals first.

[susanep]

Ok, I broke down. I am more leaning to sjodry. I haven't colored it yet, but bought a box. I hate doing it, but my hair looks terrible. My hair curls the way it wants to instead of if it was straight and thinner and hung pretty. Then I would have a silver pretty bob.

I don't have good skin either from my health. The age spots you name it. I have to do something until I get to that place I just can't anymore and have no choice.

I was ok looking at the more gray down the middle of my hair line and the mix until I was in the car the other day outside and seen it clearly. Oh my goodness I looked pitiful. lol....

susanep

[irish]

After reading this and all the trouble it takes I guess I will just put a paper sack over my head.  Irish

Also, I colored my hair years ago and it does take time to keep up with it.