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Growing Grey Hair & the Big Chop: What It’s Really Like to Start Fresh
- Embracing the Silver Lining
- Nov 12, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 5
Thinking about a big chop to embrace your grey hair?
Remember, it’s more than just a haircut. Just like it’s more than just grey hair.
As I’ve learned from my amazing silver-haired community, the transition to shorter hair can be just as challenging as embracing your actual grey hair can be.
So, take your time and choose what feels best for you.
Are You on the Chopping Block?
Ok, so not only are you well on your way into your natural grey hair grow-out, but it’s been approximately 6 months of walking in confidence and trust in what is to come.
Ok, yes, and maybe we hid in hats, used root spray, and wore headbands and scarves and tried twisty, cutesy hair twists and styles you’d normally never wear.
Maybe you ‘gave up’ and dyed it again. Now you have tried it a second time. You’ve experienced the "What the heck am I doing?" phase.
You’ve probably questioned how you ever thought grey hair was for ‘old people’ and that SILVER was boring?!
You’ve probably realized that you haven’t disappeared like you feared you would! You’re getting a lot of attention, good and bad. You’ve probably been questioned tons of times.
You got YOUR FIRST COMPLIMENT! You’ve probably realized grey hair is NOT wiry, and all those flyaways on others weren’t broken old hair; it IS NEW GROWTH hair! Baby hair!
You wonder how you ever thought this way about hair, age, and women? And then you start waking up. You’ve canceled plans because just NO, you can’t go ‘like this’!
You’ve documented your progress, you are adjusting to seeing this new color next to your skin, and you’ve been keeping your eyes on the silver prize by finding inspiration from those in the journey just ahead of you.
Maybe you are already shorter, and the light at the end of the tunnel seems to be nearing.
Do you go a little shorter to get rid of the dreaded demarcation line (the harsh line between the new growth hair and the previously dyed hair)? This can be very drastic and harsh for some people or much more subtle depending on how you were coloring your hair before ditching the dye.
Your transition will be complete! Pixie cuts are super cute, you keep telling yourself, and go looking at shorter hairstyles on silver hair. It could work!?
It’s just hair; it’ll grow back, you tell yourself. After all, having been through this hair journey, I’m sure a change in haircut length or style should be a no-brainer, right?
WRONG.
This is the second biggest pivotal time of the silver hair grow-out journey.
The Most Common Grey Hair Grow-Out Complaints
Having now experienced and witnessed many a grey hair transformation, the 2 most common complaints I have heard from other women, by a mile, are trying to color match, blend dye, or lighten or highlight the lengths.
This causes more color confusion (initially or after a month or so) and more damage and dryness to their hair, leading to more frustration with the process (and yes, some women are very satisfied with their results as well; the choice is yours—I’m just sharing the consensus!)
Next is regretting doing the BIG CHOP! If I had a dollar for every time I thought about doing this, I’d be rich (well, maybe not rich if it was in Canada, but... ha...).
Looking back at old photos of myself, the few times I had shorter hair in my life and thought, ‘It wasn’t so bad’ (it was so bad I’ve never loved having shorter hair on me, but I have always loved change).
My hair grows fast. It’ll grow back in no time! This 19 months of growout feels like a lifetime already, and I’m barely at the shoulders... I could try bangs.
Bobs are cute and trendy.
This is where I think you should pause. Take some time to sit and feel the feels. No spontaneous decisions or actions are recommended at this time.
This can be such a challenging phase, but hear me out: it’s hard enough to transition into a new color, especially grey hair, but then a new drastically shorter cut too sounds like risky business to me!
And if you’re doing this hair transition in your late forties like I am, there are already so many changes happening to our bodies and appearance that are beyond our control that maybe it’s good to transition with ease.
Where Are You in Your Journey?
It truly depends on where you are in your journey. I’ve chosen to embrace my grey hair, aging face and skin, sun spots, and wrinkles and to celebrate aging.
I want to control the narrative around my personal experience with it all. I believe we should boldly face our fears. Scared to show your natural, bare face in public?
Try it in baby steps; start by going to the post office with no makeup!
I refuse to allow anything or anyone to get in the way of me living boldly and showing up as I am in every phase of my life. Even more so as I get older.
Revamp and Transform
The very last thing you want to do is YOU WANT TO REVAMP AND TRANSFORM yourself and your look, which I am a huge advocate of!
I LOVE a GOOD REBRANDING, both physically and philosophically!
Heck, I chopped off all of my dark hair and went for a short blond bob because I wanted a drastic change, so I was happy with it overall because that’s exactly what I wanted.
But this journey for me is a bit different. I am embracing my natural authenticity here with my hair journey.
It's about accepting me as I was created and designed, so making massive changes isn’t what it's about for me. This time. It’s an unveiling.
Your hair.
Your choice.
Your body.
Your voice.
Isn’t it wonderful that we have a choice?
Don’t you feel blessed that we have a voice?
Things to Consider Before Deciding on the BIG CHOP
1. Evaluate Your Personal Style Preferences
Think about how you truly feel about short hair vs. long hair on yourself. Do you love your long hair, or are you genuinely ready for a shorter style?
Consider if a big chop aligns with your personal style and comfort level.
2. Understand the Transition Commitment
A big chop may accelerate the transition to grey but also comes with its challenges.
Ask yourself if you’re prepared for the immediate change, or if you'd prefer the gradual transformation with trims.
3. Consider the Texture and Maintenance
Shorter grey hair may have a different texture; it could be more coarse or wiry (however, my hair has been softer and silkier like a newborn baby’s hair!), and it will require a new maintenance routine.
Be ready to experiment with products to keep your hair healthy and manageable.
4. Prepare for Emotional Responses
The big chop can feel liberating but might also bring unexpected emotions.
Embracing grey and a shorter length simultaneously can be a lot, so think about whether you’re emotionally prepared for both changes.
5. Acknowledge It’s Not Irreversible—But Takes Patience
Hair grows back just as long and thick (we hope!), but a big chop is still a commitment that can take a while to undo. No ponytails, hair buns, etc.
If you do decide to go short, know that it is reversible, but you may need to practice even more patience if you later decide to grow it out again.
Will I Do the Big Chop?
✂️ I won’t be doing a big chop. I’ve had long hair for most of my life, and I prefer it on me.
I also love watching the progression and having something to keep track of. It’s nice to have something to look forward to!
Plus, sharing the journey here has been wonderful!
After 19 months of growing out my hair, I’ll maintain trims and cuts, but I’m here for the full grow-out.
Yes, even though I just turned 50, I am keeping my hair super long because this is how I like it!
Remember, embracing your grey hair is a journey, not a destination.
Grey Hair Blog
Follow Jennifer David’s empowering journey of going grey and choosing authenticity over approval. A celebration of aging boldly, living unfiltered, and embracing the silver within.
Jennifer David
Meet Jennifer David—writer, traveler, coach, and voice behind “A Broad Perspective.” Explore her journey through grey hair, self-expression, full-time travel, and radical authenticity.
So proud of you and your journey 🥰