A Healthy Conversation
The decision to go gray is a personal one, and with it can come a lot of emotions. Good and bad, happy and sad, the ups and downs can be tough to navigate. To help you prepare for what lies ahead (and to piggyback off May being Mental Health Awareness Month), we sat down with Claudia Moreno, who began her gray journey 1.5 years ago, to talk about how she stayed positive during the process.
Claudia Moreno had been getting her hair colored for years. She and her hairdresser loved to switch things up, experimenting with highlights and a variety of colors. In 2018, she started doing her own color at home but was growing increasingly tired of the maintenance involved every 3-4 weeks to cover her salt and pepper roots. She stopped coloring altogether in November 2021 after realizing the Go Gray products her employer manufactured were readily available to help take her through her journey from start to finish.
“Of course I was initially afraid of going gray,” she exclaimed. “We all fight getting older, and so the idea of looking old and the judgements that come with that were a deterrent. But my husband has always been my biggest fan, encouraging me to go gray long before I even considered it. Knowing I had his support and easy access to products I could use at home, I decided to go for it!”
From the get-go, everyone was really encouraging. Claudia said she started by using the Go Gray Charcoal Shampoo and Conditioner Duo to help remove some of the artificial dye without excessively drying out her hair. Always good at tuning out the noise, she said she didn’t go out of her way to find or listen to negativity regarding her appearance once she stopped coloring her hair. Her mindset was steadfast: that she was going gray for herself and no one else. “I really didn’t care what anyone thought.”
As the months passed, she began incorporating the Purple Shampoo into her cleansing routine. She said her hair looked and felt healthy, giving her the confidence to go out and about instead of avoiding events with a lot of people who might be judging her. Her children were big fans of her choice, and she marvels at how much stronger her bond is with her daughter. “She comes over to help me do my hair and makeup, which has really brought us closer together. I’d like to think I’m inspiring her and my son to do things that aren’t the norm.”
Claudia admits growing out her gray hasn’t always been rainbows and butterflies. Some days she felt like her natural hair was taking forever to grow. She even considered cutting her long hair shorter to speed up the process. Instead, she settled into trims at the salon every 3-6 months. But inquiring minds want to know: how did she cope with the down days?
“It’s impossible to be happy every second of every day. And there were definitely days when I didn’t feel my best, but I have always tried to prioritize my mental health, and I have a handful of things I do to get out of my head. Exercise helps me refocus. I can walk around the neighborhood, take a yoga class, or go to the gym. Reading is another thing I really enjoy because it helps me escape to a different world. And lastly, I enjoy puzzles. It’s such a great way to keep my mind busy.”
Eighteen months in, Claudia says she has about one inch left until she is fully natural. Her hair has never looked better, and her only regret is not going gray sooner. She doesn’t style it any differently, choosing most days to wear it down. She uses more thermal protectant and anti-frizz products than before because she says she put so much effort into getting to this point that damaging her hair with heat styling would be shameful.
Claudia loves being able to walk to her corner Walgreens store to grab Go Gray when she’s running low. Her current regimen includes alternating between the Go Gray Charcoal Shampoo and Conditioner Duo, her regular cleanser, and the Purple Shampoo. She uses the Purple Masque every few months as a hydrating treatment.
Going gray has also given Claudia an opportunity to become an influencer for the brand, something she never could have imagined happening without leaving artificial dye behind. “I love doing the updates because I get to forward them to all my friends and family. I’ve even inspired a former co-worker to go gray. She’s just beginning her journey, but we share stories when we get together!”