Gray Hair, Don’t Care: How I Learned to Embrace It (and Dye It)

I used to be so ashamed of the fact that I’ve had a gray hair problem since high school. It’s not my fault since it’s genetic; I’m well aware of that, but it’s not easy to act like it’s nothing when curious people point it out. My sister has struggled with the same issue, even at a younger age than I did. When genetics run deep, natural phenomena are truly unbeatable, huh?

Even though hair graying is not irreversible, both my sister and I have actively looked for a solution. And the solution, my friend, consists of a few percent peroxide and other chemicals to dye our hair brown. My sister gave in to the temptation of eliminating her gray hair with at-home coloring not long after that. I was still idealistic, thinking my virgin hair shouldn’t be exposed to such toxic ingredients. “I don’t want my hair to get rough after being dyed!” I reasoned.

And it stayed that way for years… until the end of 2022. I couldn’t help it anymore. The gray hair bugged me more than it should have. I realized it also affected my confidence when I started to feel wary every time someone taller stood behind me (for your information, I’m only 5 feet 1 inch). Finally, I decided to dye my hair brown.

It was truly a life-changing decision.

Since then, I’ve been dyeing my hair every three to four months. I know it might not be the healthiest decision, but I’m learning to accept the flaw and say, “So what? It’s just gray hair!” when the brown starts to fade. I’m learning to embrace the color contrast and believe it’s still beautiful, regardless of the gray. The deep-rooted shame has slowly faded away, replaced by the idea that I can do something about it, but if I choose not to, that’s okay too.

At the end of the day, accepting oneself is a journey of self-love. Everyone has their own insecurities, and we all have to deal with them. If I choose to hide my gray hair with these chemical substances, that doesn’t automatically mean I don’t accept myself. Instead, I see it as an opportunity to work on my insecurity and become the best version of myself. Who would’ve known if brown hair would suit me better if I hadn’t tried it?

If you’re curious, today is my regular hair-dyeing day after nearly five months. I’ve been using Liese Bubble Hair Color Foam lately, as recommended by my hairdresser. After trying (and loving) how the dark chocolate version worked on my hair, I’m using the chestnut brown one this time. I believe it’s the best-selling option since it sells out pretty often in e-commerce.

Liese Bubble Hair Color Foam is also really easy to use. After mixing the ingredients, all I need to do is take out the foam and spread it evenly on my hair. I then let it sit for around 40 minutes. My hair looks great and is ready to be blow-dried. I genuinely love how it doesn’t cause any damage to my hair.

Disclaimer: an allergy test is important if you’re new to a hair-dye product! Follow the instructions on the box to see the step-by-step manual.

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