Dye my hair, that is. I’ve been coloring my hair to cover those pesky grays for over twenty years and I’m tired of it. Tired of the time it takes. Tired of the mess and the cost. Tired of planning my hair appointments around special occasions so the roots won’t show. Can anyone else relate to that?
Now that I’ve made my decision, I love to check out the progress as my hair grows in. I’m excited to see what it will look like as time goes by. I haven’t colored in four months now. It’s quite white at the temples and the sides, more salt and pepper on top and in back. Most people I talk to think I’m crazy. Most everyone tells me I’ll look older. Maybe I will, but I haven’t been twenty for a long time and I’m not fooling anyone.
What is it about the idea of gray hair that seems to get people so up in arms? Most women I mention my decision to are quick to tell me they’re not ready to stop dying their hair! Hello? I didn’t tell them to. I just said I was going to stop. Everyone has an opinion and no one is afraid to let me know what it is.
Is it the fear of getting older themselves that causes people to react so strongly? Yeah, the media is youth-crazy. The ads for hair color for both women and men tell you that you can’t get a date or a job without coloring your hair. Is it no wonder that most people think that way? Luckily my husband is totally behind my decision even if my kids aren’t quite so sure.
Chalk me up as one woman who’s ready to show the world that having gray (or white or silver) hair doesn’t make me old. Gray is just a color. I’m the same person no matter what color my hair is. I can do everything I could before. I’ll just have more money in my pocket, more time on my hands, and less stress to go along with it.
If you or someone you know wants to join the revolution, check out this website:
http://www.goinggraylookinggreat.com/ There’s great support there with a community of women, young and old, who have chosen gray for their hair color.
So what do you think? Is having gray hair a handicap?
Natasha
BOUND BY DESIGN-available now
www.natashamoore.com
I hear you. I’m starting to gray pretty good now. My daughter says it looks cool since my hair is so dark and I have like these concentrations of gray in certain areas.I do have a friend who’s been natural for years, her hair is really gray and makes her look older than her years.
Personally, I usually go natural unless I’m going to a wedding or something. In fact, that last time I dyed my hair was for a wedding two years ago. I figure, I’ll stick with natural until I start looking older than my years.
I totally let my hair go when I first had children. Unfortunately, the gray I get is more a dirty color than that pretty silver.
So, I’ve been back to hiding it. But money’s tight and I’ve got to choose. I call my hair currently “Recession Roots”. LOL.
I plan on keeping the natural look & hope that I won’t cave in the future. I can’t promise I won’t, but I don’t think I will because I just don’t like the idea of the effort of coloring nor the chemical smell. I’d love to see more people doing as you, Natasha, and not doing it anymore. Kudos!
Good for you! I’d do the same except, kind of like Jennifer, mine comes in white, which dulls and flattens my hair, which makes it look dirty. Coloring it WHITE isn’t an option, but fortunately, I have a talented hairdresser who matches my color exactly. I’ve never been any color but my own.
My “gray” is a very dull ugly haphazard scattering. So I try to keep it slightly streaked so it blends in to my natural look. Once it grows completely out I may reconsider, depending on how it looks.
you GO, GIRL!!!
I’m not ashamed in the least to have some grey creeping in there among the dark red on this old broad’s head…
Just think of it as wisdom strands.
I stopped coloring mine about 5 months ago when I got really sick. The checmicals, even in the more gentler dyes are a problem for me and burn my scalp. I used to grit my teeth and bare it but it doesn’t seem as important anymore.
You go girl
I tried to go natural about a year ago. My husband liked it. But I have some pronounced white streaks among the light golden brown, red, and blonde. One at the widow’s peak and one at the temple. I thought I looked like Cruella Daville. It doesn’t help that people have told me I look like Glenn Close!
It’s so hard to match my hair, if I wanted to go natural I’d have to shave it and start over.
Ash
Hi Natasha,
It’s wonderful that you are embracing your silver hair… My Mum is on the fence about hers but really I think that silver/grey hair is a badge of experience…I hate how society has spawned this negative image of women aging and how grey hair isn’t supposed to be acceptable or feminine…They continually perpetuate such ideas through mags and ads etc…I think that it is total balderdash…You are only as old as you feel…The physical characteristics should not define who or what you are…Why is it that when men have silver hair, they are considered to be debonair and aging gracefully??? and the complete opposite mind-set is used when applied to women??? I truely don’t know!!!
I only hope that someday soon society as a whole will change their outlook on this issue…and I do believe it has to start with women in general who have to stand up to asserting that no one physical characteristic can determine the age or identity of a woman…
Ultimately, it should remain your choice…whether you colour it or leave it au natural…Either should be equally accepted!!!
Happy Reading!!!
Anna
I started going grey in my early twenties and since my natural color is dark brown, nearly black, it showed.
I love the hairdresser’s, and I never go to a cheap one because it’s worth the special treatments and the pampering. I tend to go once a year so they can tidy up my experiments and maintain it myself in between.
I’d let the grey grow through except I had my colours done and I’m a Winter, the one type that is advised never to go blonde or grey. Ick. Maybe one day I’ll ask the salon to take a look, but it looks like I’m stuck with the bottles and the mess for now, unless I go blue or something! Those new ten minute colors rock, though. The ten minute thing is daft, but the colors are deeper and more true.
I confess I’m a hair color junkie … right now I have streaks of flamingo pink. It’s not that I mind the natural look, gray or blond or whatever … it’s just that I love color and love changing it as frequently as I can afford! I’m probably getting past the age for pink streaks, but what the heck. Whatever’s fun and comfortable for YOU, that’s what matters. So all power to you!
LOL, I can’t really say for myself, but my grandma completely hates her hair going white. It’s like, a sin or something for her, which I think is pretty funny. My mom on the other hand, likes having just white highlights in the front, but whenever they progress to the sides or back, she dyes it, leaving just the tip in the front white. It looks cool, even though she doesn’t look like Rogue from X-MEN like she insisits… I don’t consider it a handicap, but I don’t think I would leave my hair go au naturale. It’s not a matter of vanity or trying to look younger, or despair, whatever… For me, it’s a symbol that you are not ready to let go of life itself you know… I think leaving it completely white is a sign of that… That’s why I really love what my mom does, and once in a while I indulge her in saying that yes, she does look like Rogue…
I spent about a year coloring my hair purple(!) a few years ago, but just for the entertainment value. Otherwise, I’ve never colored my hair. My family goes gray early, so I’ve had gray hairs since not long after college. I figure that as long as it doesn’t fall out, I can live with gray.
You go girl!
I’ve never died my hair and I saw my first gray hair in my teens. I guess it’s because I’m a worry wart. But trust me, I’ve earned my gray hairs and I’m proud of them. If God meant for hair to be some other color, he would have given it to be in the beginning.
I applaud you on doing what works best for you. I have my gray and it’s here for keeps. More importantly, I never have and never will die my hair. I have never had the desire because I believe that aging is just a part of life.
Wow! I just got hom from work and I’m thrilled with all the comments. This seems to be a topic that women have strong opinions about!
Chris, I can’t wait to see how my hair comes in. I’m not going to cut it real short though. I think that would be too much of a shock – to me, as well as everyone who sees me.
Jen, maybe you’ll get used to your “recession roots” and decide to go with it! lol
Thanks, Ella. I tell people I can always color again if I don’t like it, but I hope I will be happy with the gray or silver or whatever I end up with.
Moriah, I would LOVE my hair to come in all white, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to.
Nancy, good luck growing it out. Hope it looks great!
Thanks, Sheryl, I’ll embrace my wisdom strands
Ann, I hate the chemicals too. Won’t miss them at all. Hope you’re feeling well now.
Ash, I bet you look really striking with those streaks! (I’ve heard of women shaving their heads when they decide to stop coloring. I’d never go that far!)
Hi Anna. I agree society has a twisted image of aging, especially women. I hope in another generation or two things will be different.
Lynne, it’s all about what you’re comfortable with. If you love coloring, then I say enjoy it!
Juniper, sounds like you have a lot of fun with your hair! I wouldn’t have the nerve to go flamingo pink
Tarsilla, I don’t think stopping coloring my hair means I’m ready to let go of life! On the contrary, I’m embracing it. I’m sinply choosing a different hair color.
Hi Gail! I’ve seen many women with beautiful gray/white/silver hair. We’ll join them!
Thanks, J! Sometimes I wish I’d never started dyeing my hair, but I guess I wasn’t ready ‘til now.
I can completely relate. Good for you for embracing nature!
I figure I’ve earned every silver strand, so I’m sticking by them.
Hi Natasha,
i started to go white ( i don’t do grey hair!), when i was 29, as i had fair hair it wasn’t a big deal.
Now as i have a very sensitive scalp it means i can’t use hair dye, not even a wash-and-go type either, so i could either “get-with-the-programme” and make the most of it or invest in a hat…………….!.
Now as the years have passed and i have a way more white hair ( and it’s thicker than my normal hair……..what’s that all about?)i like the fact that i have multi-coloured hair that doesn’t come from a bottle, when i wear my hair down and the sun shines on it, it looks kind of cool.
I hope my hair turns completely white soon, so i can stop worry about finding a new white hair…..i say bring it on and more power to me…………
Now if only my hair would stop falling out…..it’s fly-away and very fine and the iron tablets are only making a weeny bit a difference……………..hey maybe i should shave my head and invest in wigs…………
Monday – brunette
Tuesday – maghony
Wednesay – blonde
Thursday – brown
Friday – firery orange
Saturday – black
Sunday – anyone at all!
Monica
Hi Kate – I’m looking forward to every silver strand
LOL Monica. I love the way my silver roots shine in the sun. Now to get the rest of my hair to match…patience is the key word now.
Heh. I’ve been worshipping at the shrine of Ms. Clairol for so long I probably rate High Priestess status. I’ve been dying my hair since I was sixteen. I love experimenting with colors, highlights, and just having fun with it. Some day I may let it all grow out, since I know from my roots the grays I’m getting are a pretty silver color, but for now I’m going to go ahead and continue to color it and enjoy it.
I’ve been almost every shade of red or brown you can name (I even tried blue once, but that didn’t work out so well). I’ve avoided going blonde since a) it tends to make my skin look sallow, b) the one time I put a blonde wig on Dusty screamed like a little girl and c) my natural color is so dark I’d have to go double-processed and that’s just a pain in the patootie.
My sister-in-law, on the other hand, has decided to let herself go gray. She’s enjoying that, watching it streak her dark hair. She thinks it makes her look distinguished, and I agree with her.
I like experimenting with my color, seeing what looks good, finding new products and new shades. She loves the fact that her grays are thick, silver and have a slight curl to them her straight brown hair has never had. As they say, “To each his (or her!) own.”