Could perspective be the secret ingredient to transitioning to grey, graciously?
Above: Hair by the team at Blown Away Hair Spa
Hello,
My name is Kalli and I’m the founder of Blown Away Hair Spa, (Southern Sydney’s Low Toxin Hair Salon) Intuitive Holistic Health Coach & Reiki Practitioner. When I’m in the the salon it’s all about Low Toxin Living and Low Toxin Hair and Natural products.
I’ve been in the hairdressing industry for over 20 years and in business for 14 years. Making the switch to a Low Toxin and Holistic Salon became a priority whilst overcoming fertility challenges of my own. Implementing embodying a Holistic Lifestyle.
One area of Low Toxin living which I feel is as important as the products we use and the foods that we eat is mindset. Embarking on a Low Toxin journey may look different for each individual, however at some stage we begin by slowly swapping out products and foods that are no longer serving us. Did you know we have this option for the thoughts that we think? With mindfulness practices we can actually cultivate awareness around what we are thinking and the stories which we have chosen to take on from parents, teachers and so on. We can begin to explore the mysteries of the mind and what really is our own truth. Playing with perspective.
Often clients that visit the salon eventually explore the option to grow there natural colour out, to let their hair go grey. Clients sometimes think I’m being nice by agreeing to support them on this “grey-cious” journey, as they sometimes think that it may not suit them. I explain,
“I would much prefer to colour your hair, that’s my job..” however going grey is a beautiful process and one to be enjoyed.”
All my teenage years and well into my late twenties I would blow dry my hair every single day.. sometimes twice a day! I wanted to have straight hair just like all the “cool girls at school” and I never really liked my curly “boofy” hair. I really believed that straight hair made me more beautiful. A real turning point for me was at the age of 32 shortly after I separated from my now ex husband, I remember looking in the mirror one evening after having a shower and leaving my hair to dry naturally and the curls where out of control. I remember looking at them and thinking “wow! how beautiful are these curls” and even more importantly, I had finally realized that they were the curls I was given. I embraced them wholeheartedly, no matter what anyone said. And till this day I love my curls, occasionally blow drying my hair for a night out.
Now in the salon I’m so grateful to be able to support women on their journey transitioning into grey-ciousness, because it’s so much more then the hair service itself. Along the way the women in the chair are looking straight into the mirror at their own reflection. There is literally no hiding and let’s face it.. sometimes us women can be our own worst critic! We have this image of ourselves, and when something or someone challenges this we can tremble a little. So this is where playing with perspective and mindset matters. Challenging the thoughts and belief that you have chosen to pick up along the way and being willing to let it go. Here are some tips and questions to ask yourself before going grey, graciously.
~ Why do yo want to go grey? Your why is important and this is what will keep you on track when you feel like giving up or getting your hair coloured.
~ Identify your support. Who can you speak to about this? This may be your family, friends, therapist, hairdresser ect … There will always be someone in your life that won’t agree with your decision. And that’s ok. Remember your why, remember why you started.
~ Take Stock. Speak with a professional about which way is most suitable for YOU to transition to grey hair. Options may include cutting some of the older colour out first, lightening the colour you already have to make the grow out process less obvious ect… you get it.
~ Phase in phase out. As we phase out colour services, you’ll notice that may mean less trips to the salon. If visiting the salon is a practice of self care that you think you may miss, remember there are other options such as hair and scalp treatments and blow drys. What great Low Toxin Swaps, that are also super relaxing and therapeutic.
~ Hair at home. Now you’ll be saving $$ on hair colouring so this would be a great opportunity to play around with some new Low Toxin make up. The colour of your hair may mean that your make up might need updating. I’m no make up artist, however from experience in observing many women in the salon, more neutral tones compliment grey hair. 😉
~ Create success whilst going out. Embrace it, challenge yourself and tell yourself that your beautiful and that you love yourself. Yep! And I challenge you to do this in the mirror. And…. until you mean it. The way you would like someone that truly loved you, to say it to you. Remember that everyone will have an opinion, what matters most is how it lands in YOUR BODY.
Lastly I’d like to leave you with a story. One of the clients which I supported in going grey, graciously found it very difficult to look at herself between the transition period. I would style her hair weekly and ask her, ” Would you speak to your friend the way you speak to yourself in the mirror?” Of course the answer was NO. A few months after her grey hair had completely grown out, and as I finished her blow dry another client walked through the door that had never met this woman before. The first thing she said was, WOW! your grey hair looks amazing.
This client sitting in the chair that had grey-ciosuly transitioned to grey hair had been so used to seeing herself with blonde hair that she had temporarily been unable to see her natural beauty. It’s been a few months now that this woman has been grey and she now loves it. In fact she tells me on a regular basis….
“I couldn’t imagine having my hair any other way, I love it.”
I invite you to play with YOUR perspective, challenging YOUR mindset and the thoughts YOU chose daily. Above all Love Yourself.
View this video below to hear a success story.
Kalli Fardoulis xx
