If you’re going back to your natural hair color be prepared to change your wardrobe!

To color or not to color? That’s a question many women are asking themselves. After years and years of coloring their hair, doing the highlights and lowlights and middlelights, they’re wondering if going natural would simplify their lives.

Here’s something to consider as you wrestle with this decision: If you go natural, your wardrobe colors will need to change and you’ll need to go shopping. Don’t worry about the money. Just think how much you’ll be saving when you call it quits to all the hair appointments. You’ll have what you need to buy the items required to get your wardrobe balanced and purring along. Besides, I’m going to help you with some shopping strategies.

Case in point: from redhead to icy platinum

One of my clients had been a redhead from some time early in her adult life on into her 60s. It wasn’t Prince Harry red, it was more Susan Sarandon red. Colors she wore so well included olive green, mustard yellow, caramel brown, and terra cotta.

Over time we noticed that her hair roots were nearly white. One day she asked me what I thought about her going natural. I said, “Your root color is just gorgeous! It’s bright and vibrant looking. You’d look great in your natural color.”

She did it. She let it grow out. It was a commitment but she stuck with it. On subsequent closet visits we realized we had to do something about her wardrobe. Her clothes were looking like they belonged in someone else’s closet, like Susan Sarandon’s.

Bit by bit we exited her warm color palette and began bringing in cooler colors. I wish you were looking in the mirror with me and seeing her reflection the first time I put a raspberry-colored scarf around her neck. G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S. I couldn’t contain myself! After seeing how great she looked in bright, clear colors there was no going back. On the next shopping trip I got her into bright pants in cobalt blue and hot pink. She looked fabulous in white or any print that had white as its base. Oh, and silver was beautiful on her. Later I found things that were turquoise and magenta.

Even her shoe colors changed. Brown or olive green shoes and boots were sent to the consignment store. Now she enjoys wearing shoes in silver, pewter, bright blue and shades of bright pink. Her feet are so happy!

My gray linen blazer will be in full use again this summer

It happened to me with the encouragement of my hair stylist

When we moved up to Sonoma I got a new hairstylist and colorist. She was the one who encouraged me to go natural. “Really?” I said while squirming in the hydraulic chair. She told me many of her clients were doing it. It took me a few months to decide but then I jumped on the bandwagon. My hair color went from an artificial chestnut brown with strong hints of red to an ash light-to-medium brown. It went from warm to cool.

You change one thing and everything changes

We’ve all heard that line before about changing one thing and everything changes. It probably was in a different context than hair color. But it’s very true when it comes to introducing your new untreated hair color into your closet. Your clothes colors are going to fight. It takes a bit of time to find the sweet spot between your hair color and colors that are friendly to it.

Start simply.

When this happened to me, I got a strong foundation first by choosing a new neutral color for outerwear and accessories. While my neutral color back then was a warm brown, now I needed shades of gray to look put together and harmonious.

I’d never worn gray before. Now it was turning into my new best friend.

Charcoal, ash, smoke, fog, pewter, graphite, pebble, gunmetal, slate. They are all great shades with my hair color.

Should I add a gray spring jacket this year? Absolutely!

So starting with outerwear, I looked at bringing gray into jackets, coats, blazers and shawls. If that outerwear piece relates to your hair color it makes you looked pulled together immediately.

This J.Jill jacket and my gray plaid sweater are easy pieces to reach for

I’m pretty thrilled with any shade of gray right now. Honestly, it’s so exciting. It’s like having a love affair to wear a new-to-your-life color that you feel so delicious in!

Here I’m adding raspberry to my J.Jill Chelsea coat. Purchasing gray cashmere fingerless gloves was a no-brainer. Note the gunmetal earring. These are earrings I could wear every day.

Adding a raspberry scarf to J.Jill Chelsea coat

My multi strand Chico’s necklace is a winner

Let’s talk more about accessories. Think bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings, scarves. I used to rely on gold, burnished gold, and copper as my main accessory colors. They were perfect with my warm hair color. Now I’m favoring pewter, matte silver and my very favorite, gunmetal.

Here is the gray shawl I wore all fall and winter (by Echo) with my gunmetal necklace and the shoulder strap of a handbag that I’m using as a belt. I’m essentially building gray Beauty Bundles. As I collect gray accessories, I make getting dressed super easy.

My gray Beauty Bundle takes shape

Here I’m enjoying lighter shades of gray in this outfit I’d wear to a party.

My leopard print accents went from brown and caramel to shades of gray. I wear my gunmetal cuff and arty ring constantly!

My leopard prints are cooler now.

Do you see that with some strategic shopping you could easily start building core pieces into your wardrobe that will be friendly to your new/old hair color? Start with outerwear and then accessories and then branch out. I don’t wear gray exclusively by any means. Although to be honest, I probably get on a roll with it from time to time. I am always keeping my eyes open to pieces that would add to my gray collection but really, I’m pretty much set. I did add other colors as well but more slowly. I wanted to get my base covered by focusing on my new best neutral shade.

Have you been thinking about making changes with your hair? Have you already? What did you notice about what worked and didn’t? Let’s talk hair! I can’t wait to hear your comments!

XO