End of an era....

        
 I have grey hair. It started turning gray in my late 20s and by my mid-30s I was almost fully grey.  Some people would say my hair is white, I guess that is true, too.  I decided early on that I would embrace the color and never tried dying my hair.  I sometimes wonder if my life would be different if my hair was still brown, I wonder what I would look like, or how I would feel.  On the other hand, I am frequently stopped by strangers, male and female, who comment on my hair. It has definitely become a key part of my self-identity.

After I was pretty fully white headed, I noticed that sometimes my hair would take on a yellow tinge.  A little research revealed that this is a common problem with white/gray/grey hair and that one thing that helps is to use purple shampoo and conditioner.  Apparently some of the color of the dye remains on your hair after washing and counteracts the yellowing.  This is NOT the same as the blue rinses that are often associated with older women (although I have occasionally used a rinse to brighten my hair.)  The purple hair products give a more subtle effect.

A little experimentation led me to Pantene Silver Expressions, a purple shampoo and conditioner line that was designed specifically for gray/white hair. I fell in love. The products made my hair shine and left it soft and manageable. They were some of the best I've ever used, brown hair or white.  They could be a little tricky to find, but I knew a few stores that regularly stocked them. Then, one day, I couldn't find them anymore. I ended up searching online and found that they had been discontinued. I ordered what I could and crossed my fingers.  YES! a year or so later, they were back.  I should have taken their temporary hiatus more seriously, though, because a short time later they disappeared again.


Anxious I turned to a wider internet search. I bought some bottles on eBay, I hoarded and stockpiled.  Today, I used the last of my last bottle of conditioner.  I looked to see if I could still find it online.

 And found these prices.....$129 for a bottle of shampoo, $44 for a bottle of conditioner!!! I found one listing for a 2 pack of conditioner for $322.  Sadly, it is time for me to move on....

 Pantene Silver Expressions Color Enhancing Conditioner 13.5 Fl Oz (Pack of 2)   1 new from $321.99


I've been using an alternative shampoo for a few months and ordered their conditioner. But it doesn't look or feel the same.  I'm sad.  I've lost a constant in my life, a dear friend.