Read Why and How Nina Embraced her Natural Gray Hair!

Nina is a constant source of encouragement in the silver sisters community on Instagram. She keeps on inspiring and motivating others with her uplifting posts. Her Instagram handle is @naturally_graysful. She is a YouTuber with her channel- Naturally Graysful, and a Blogger- Naturally Graysful

Nina's Gray Hair Transition story as she narrates:

It’s ironic that the thing I feared the most turned out to be the most striking feature I have come to love.

My name is Nina, and I am from New Jersey, USA. I am happily married to an amazing man and mom to a precious 4-year-old.

I don’t remember the exact age I saw my grey hair come in. I know that because of genetics, premature graying runs in my family. My dad was gray in his early 30s. I grayed in my late 20 s the early 30s. I dyed my hair with semi-permanent colour for almost a decade.

Having my son was the catalyst for me going gray. I did not have the time and energy to be a slave to my roots every two weeks. My mom had gone through the gray hair transition, or “skunk” grow out, as I called it. I did not like the transition, but once her gray crown fully came in, it was STUNNING!

Mildred Naturalsilversista and Samantha Pollock were other inspirations for me to go gray. I also am fortunate to have a supportive husband and sister, who were my cheerleaders!

I decided that I wanted to cut my hair so that the contrast of growing out my hair was less painful. I had already done a “big chop” to embrace my natural hair in 2011.

I did get comments, especially that I was too young to have so much gray. I find that self-compassion is a fantastic tool on the gray hair journey. I learned to accept that some comments sting and that I have insecure moments.

I also learned how to have an emotional boundary and ensure that I was not allowing others’ opinions to be my truth.

I love using kaolin clay, purple shampoo and conditioners to brighten my white and gray. I also use styling products with no colour to help avoid yellowing my hair. I am still testing what works for my hair.

After going grey, I felt even more comfortable in my skin, wearing a red lip and Lots of Color. I find that I wear less jewellery because it’s like my hair is its own piece.

My major support was my hubby and sister and the amazing silver sisters community on Instagram.

I have never felt so comfortable in my skin as I do now. I challenged the belief that I would look old going gray. I also proved to myself that beauty is not defined by the colour of my hair.

I see that when you see more of those who look like you, you feel you belong.

Nina's words of wisdom:

I am so happy to see the many women breaking the stereotypes, especially that women only gray when they are older.

I love that we are showing gray can be beautiful.

I would say to women that no one escapes the gray hair process. When you embrace your gray, you may be pleasantly surprised and how much you gain rather than lose.

This blog has been created to give voice to women worldwide, embracing their natural grey hair. You can be one to boost their thoughts and experiences by sharing this post. Thanks!