Dear Alisha,
I was wondering your take on "graying gracefully" or if there was even a way to do it? For the longest time I've had a few white hairs but have recently noticed a few more patches that have come in. The thought of coloring my hair immediately came to mind but, with the time, effort, and money that is involved, I don't want to do that forever. How's a classy brunette like yourself handle/going to handle this inevitable situation?
Sincerely,
Graying Gracefully
Dear Graying,
You had me at classy brunette. Little do you know, but I've had gray hairs sprouting up since I was in my 20's. When I say "gray", I mean gleaming bright white/silver. Each one is noticeable over my dark hair. It is the reason I color my hair now. (I like my natural, rich brown hair color.) Without a doubt, it is worth the time, effort and money.
In my opinion, nothing ages a woman more than going gray or losing so much weight that your face sags down into a pile at your neck. Since the latter is not a problem I think I'll ever have, I will continue to color my hair forever. With very few exceptions, I don't think a woman should consider "going gray" until she is over age 60. It makes a woman not only look older, but duller. Gray hair growing into dark hair is the worst- it looks like we're going bald!
Hair color doesn't have to be expensive or difficult. I color my own roots. I use a hair color a shade lighter than my natural color, and I only color the roots so I don't end up with build up in my ends. The results are passable. You could go to a stylist to see how they do it and what shade they pick, and then try and replicate the results at home. You will not be able to apply multiple colors at home, something I often wish I had, but just basic color matching isn't too tricky. My warning to you is to make sure to use a shade lighter than you think you need. A dark hair color only looks darker and more obvious once it's on the hair. If doing it yourself is out of the question or you don't like your home results, I think the expense of hair color is worth treating yourself too. "Because you're worth it". Or "because you don't want to prematurely age yourself".
Enjoy a few before and after gray haired photos:
Before: (really?)
After: 
Now she looks like the author of a self-help book!
From Oprah.com.,Before:
Everyone knows someone who looks like her.
Everyone knows someone who looks like her.
After:
Is this even the same person?
Slightly softer than this, but you get the idea. But not the glasses. That would be tacky.
Is this even the same person?
Bring it on home Susan:
"I dreamed a dream in time gone by...."
"...when hope was high and life worth living"
A note to my friends: When I am really, really old, I will let my hair go silver, hopefully it will be more white. And I will wear it in a big puff and I will tint it the faintest shade of pink or lavender. Just subtle enough so you wonder if it was an accident or if I'm okay in the head, or if I'm just that cool.
"I dreamed a dream in time gone by...."
"...when hope was high and life worth living"A note to my friends: When I am really, really old, I will let my hair go silver, hopefully it will be more white. And I will wear it in a big puff and I will tint it the faintest shade of pink or lavender. Just subtle enough so you wonder if it was an accident or if I'm okay in the head, or if I'm just that cool.
Slightly softer than this, but you get the idea. But not the glasses. That would be tacky.
How many of you color your hair?
23 comments:
I had no idea you colored your hair, well done.
And, that first one TOTALLY looks like a self-help author, that made me chuckle out loud!
so funny! especially the "bring it home Susan" and that last picture of your future self.
I haven't seen my natural hair color in over a decade. Yet, not even my hair colorist can tell I have a bunch of gray hair because I do highlights (and lowlights). As the gray grows in it just blends in with the blonde and the lowlights (color matches my natural brown) make it so the other grow out blends in better too. I get the 2 color weave done about every 3 months and I only do a partial (underneath is not colored) so I really don't spend an exorbitant amount. It is totally worth it and my husband agrees.
My mom is over 60 and she still hasn't let her hair go gray and neither has my grandma in her 80s. Of course my grandma wears a wig most of the time but even under her wig her hair is colored. Both of them have stayed brunettes.
Wait! So you think I look dull AND old? I had no idea!
(this is pam)
I let my gray grow out (about 75% there) when I was trying to get pregnant. I also have the very white/silver against dark brown, and I hated it. I thought I looked 10 years older. The funny part was that I got more compliments on my silver hair then I ever had before.
Anyway, it is totally worth coloring if it makes you feel better about yourself. I use to do it myself, but my gray is difficult, and I started having issues. It is worth the cost ever 4-6 weeks to go in an have it done professionally. If you are worried about cost, but don't want to do it yourself, check out the beauty schools around you. They have qualified instructors that check the student all along the way, and are less expensive. I had mine done at the Avada Institute for over a year, and had great results.
Someday when I'm older (I like the idea of 60+) I'm letting mine go gray, but I want it cut short and sassy when I do it. If you don't color I think you have to give your cut more attention.
http://www.newhairstyles2010.com/gray-hair-styles.html
I don't care so much for the center photo but the top and bottom are rocking the gray with style.
Graceful? I don't know, depends on the rest of your style/life. Fun and lively? I think so.
Pam, you qualify as one of the "rare exceptions to the rule". Your streak is unique and chic.
I'm in my early 20's and don't currently color my hair but I will absolutely be coloring my hair the second I get a gray one. It ages woman so much.
Yeah, that lady sure does look like a self-help author hahaha.
**women
I started maintaining my "natural" hair color when I was about 18 years old. Natural blonds don't stay blond unless they maintain it. At 27 I found my first gray hairs, white grey so they blended pretty good, so I was able to ignore them for about 5 years till one day my sister a year older than me razzed me for having grey hair. So I learned how to use color in my hair instead of just highlight treatments. I have always done it myself with products bought at a beauty supply store. But I've been frustrated with getting the color right and I was over processing it so I recently started having my stylist do it ever 8-9 weeks. It's definetly worth it!!
One day someone asked Alisha's Mom (my sister) when she will stop coloring her hair, She said "she will keep dying it as long as her Mother does"! My Mom kept dying it till it fell out from cancer treatments at 81 yrs old. So I think I will do the same!
I'm in my mid 40's and the mother of 2, 4 year old I refuse to look older than my age!!!
I vow never to be accused of Gray Grace.
In a somewhat related topic, I simply LOVE youngish gray MEN with gobs of luscious hair.
Ooooo charmed, I'm sure, kind sir. *giggles like a school girl*
I go on binges looking for "grey" which is really bright silver white hairs. When I found my first few (at 24), I went on a binge and dyed my hair. It faded out 6 weeks later.
Now I go on the hunt with tweezers to get them out. I know its just a matter of time before the bottle comes out. But, why would I want to look older than I am? Or like I am ill. No thanks.
Great. You just gave me another thing to worry about. I've never colored my hair, I don't know how my red hair would react, and I'm not brave enough to try anything. And when I go gray, I don't think I'd want to try coloring it red cuz that never seems to come out very well. But who knows, maybe I'll be a dashing 65 y.o. blonde! But my real concern about my hair when I'm old is the curl. Older women very rarely look good with long hair, but I shudder to think about how ghastly my curly mop would look in an old lady short do. I may be worrying about this for weeks now.
Hey Red (someday YO blonde ;) ), your aunt Jodi has touched up her thick auburn red hair for many years very beautifully. I know because not only she goes, but your mother and I go to the same hairdresser. And get this - after about 7 years ago (post men.)I all of a sudden became very allergic to hair dye! I have to take Benedryl for 24 hrs, and cover my ears with PressNSeal during the procedure so they won't blister. I still itch horribly, but I use some cortisone creme and have just gotten use to it. After about 2-3 washings (one every day afterwards) it disappears.
It is still preferable to greying in my not so humble opinion. At least on my body's color scheme. Some winter coloring looks pretty good.
My hair used to be light light blond, but as I have grown, it has turned into a muddy blondish brown that looks very dull and flat. So, I color mine and it brightens my face up so much.
It's funny how you want what you don't have. I have always wanted to have luscious dark brown hair. I've never understood why everyone wants to be a blond!
I think gray works sometimes with some people, depending on their hair style. But just letting it grow in isn't flattering. No matter what.
I do not color my hair, NOW. I colored it for years, adding low lights or going darker. I decided to let my natural color show and I was surprised, I actually loved it. By far the most flattering color on me is my natural medium dark, auburnish brown. So it has been 3 years and I've saved so much money. But I know it wont last forever, as soon as the gray begins I'll be coloring again.
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