My father and I ran into an old family friend whom we hadn't seen in years — a few very merciless years. Her once chestnut brown hair had gone completely grey, and obviously the shock showed on both our faces when we saw her.
"What? Do I look different?" she asked.
My father tactfully replied, "Jeez, you really let yourself go with that hair! You look older than me. Why don't you dye it?!"
Although utterly mortified, I couldn't help agreeing with him. She looked old — way older than her age. If it were me, there's no way I would let that grey stay! All you need is a bottle of Clairol Hydrience and you'll be back to beautiful in no time flat.
But I think I may be the only one thinking this way. The new trend is to let it go. Anne Kreamer, the author of who Going Gray
What do you think? Would you go au natural or fake it a few more years? Leave a comment and let us know what's better: being grey and confident no matter what your age or cheating nature and keeping your looks.
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I started going Gray at 13 years old, and now, at 26, if I were to let my hair go without coloring I’d be mistaken for 40 easily, just based on the color.
If people could look past the color and look for other clues, such as skin, clothes, smile etc…they’d see the person’s real age. Unfortunately, that’s not how it goes, so I have to suck it up and bite the bottle every 4-5 weeks until I can just blend in with all the other gray heads.
I was going grey at 16 & dyed it til age 25. I get mistaken for being older. I am (38). I was dying it every mo. til 2+ yrs ago. The straw that broke the camel’s back was a lady that asked if dh was my son. I am 7 yrs older than him, but I don’t look that old! I went back to dying for a while. I haven’t dyed it in about 6+ most, dh is ok with my gray streaks and I guess I just need to face the music. I am not getting any younger. So the grey will stay, until I get asked if dh is my son again
I don’t think it’s tactful to tell someone they look old. Grey hair is beautiful. Who cares what other people think!
Hair dye is lame. Toxic and fake. My long-gone mom dyed her hair from age 16 on; she stopped when she was diagnosed with cancer, and the soft gray-brown it became in those last few months was beautiful. I noticed my first gray hair at 38 and won’t say how long ago that was, but could not care less what anyone thinks, and have no intention of ever using dye, botox, any of those fake “age-hiders.” I’ve got the energy of an 18-year-old and the verve to match.
I’ve had gray in my hair since I was 18, though most people didn’t notice it. I started coloring it when I was 20. I’ve played with color off & on ever since.
Presently, I’m letting it go gray. Due to back problems, I’m no longer able to apply the color myself & I’m not willing to pay the money to have it colored in the salon. Besides, apparently my gray hairs don’t make me look old. My new manager was amazed to hear that I turn 40 next year. So I’ll live with them gracefully.
I started growing my gray in, about 4 months ago. I am still working with my hairdresser to blend the line of demarcation (I was dying a brunette color), so I have a long way to go, but I am comfortable with growing it out. I’m tired of dying it. I wear my hair long, so I probably have about 12-18 months before I will have gray down to the ends, but I’m willing to wait to see the results!
I really think it’s how a person looks vs. whether they should dye or not. My mom had gorgeous salt and pepper coloring and always received compliments. Mine isn’t like hers so I cover most of the gray. But, as I get older, I am convinced I’ll let it go and enjoy the gray. I like the natural look on older women. I hate to see a wrinkled face against a dye-job! : )
I like my haircolor. I’m 37 and have a white streak coming in (a’la Morticia) but have ashy brown hair otherwise. Unless you are hugging me, it looks like a natural highlight – which I guess it is.
Will I continue to not color? Well, I guess that depends on how it looks. If it starts to look bad, I may color it. I’ll admit to some vanity, but it is likely that I’ll be using a ‘natural’ product rather than the regular comercial ones. There are just too many unkind chemicals out there.
I have always admired women who grow old graciously. It is time we found some grace in this world of fake. I have seen 80 year old women with jet black hair. They did not look younger, they looked silly. It would solve a lot of stress in our lives if we would just be who we are without all the fight to look younger. It is not a disgrace to grow old. The disgrace is doing it without grace.
It all depends on how the gray looks. When one has gorgeous silver hair it looks great but if you have a dull gray it looks very aging and not flattering.
I dislike the idea that women, as they age, feel obligated to undergo plastic surgery and dye their hair in order to look … what? Certainly not young, because that’s seldom the result.
My mom has wonderful salt and pepper hair. She didn’t stop dying until my brother went to college. I think early to mid 40’s will be my cut off for dying. Unless it come in brassy or something.
We should think of gray as a COLOR — like blonde, brunette or red. Because there are so many gorgeous shades of gray. Silver, pewter, ice, charcoal. You can find lots of ideas for going gray — or not — at a new site http://www.goinggraylookinggreat.com. It should be up around the end of October. It’s not just for women who have decided to go gray — because it also talks about the best ways to cover gray, too. Whatever you decide to do, you’ll find lots of answers here. Hope you’ll check it out!
I’ve had gray hair since my 20s. When I had my daughter at age 33, my hair was plenty gray. That’s when I started to dye it. I let it grow out only once, and discovered it was a beautiful shade of silver. I got weak-kneed and began dying it again. Well, at 50 it’s time to let it grow out. I am in the ugly-duckling phase, but I am keeping the faith by visualizing myself as a silver swan.
Regardless of what other people say or think, I know I’m going to look great!
i think your hair color is whatever you make it,if it’s dyed rock it! if it’s natural rock it! it really is all about how it makes you feel and how you want yourself to be seen.
Hi
Just wanted to say thanks for alerting your fans to my new website DEVOTED to gray hair, http://www.goinggraylookinggreat.com. It didn’t go up at the end of October as expected, but it’s up and running NOW! Hope you’ll stop by to visit! Diana Jewell