I use to highlight my hair then I wanted to donate it so I had to let to gorw out. they wanted virgin hair. It was past my waist and then was told I couldn't donate as they will not take gray hair. I cut it shoulder length and left it natural. I would say about 1/8 of it is gray. I will grow old gracefully no more highlighting for me. On top of that I don't have the money to do it even though I always did it myself since I was 16, no salon for me,