I dye my hair. What an annoying process and expense to have to do every five weeks. See the problem is if I don’t do it that often, then my very prominent gray hairs take control. I have seriously toyed with the idea of going gray. I have even pinned beautiful gray hair on Pinterest. I have read numerous blogs of people making the leap. I even told my girlfriends I was thinking of making the change. They all said absolutely not to. I just can’t seem to bring myself to do it. It doesn’t help that my husband doesn’t want me to. Trust me, I do what I want regardless of what my husband says. Yet on some level, I guess I do want him to be attracted to me. I want the world to see me as young and youthful.
This has even been a big discussion with my relatively young MIL when she was deciding to go fully gray or not. She, like many, felt that if she went gray she would look old and frumpy. My mother, on the other hand, embraced it and went naturally gray as she aged. She never colored her hair except in the 1970s when frosting her hair with that cap was all the rage. My MIL, by the way, did end up letting her hair grow out and is now fully gray. She and my mother both look absolutely beautiful with their shimmery gray locks.
Why does society continue to make gray hair a symbol of old age? Yes I know there were flocks of young people dying their hair gray. The look was considered cool and fashion forward. When I asked my hair stylist about trying something like that, I was talked out of it. Apparently at my age it wouldn’t look cool. It would just look like I am aging fast. I quickly dropped her as my stylist.
When a woman does let her true gray shine, it is typically met with judgement by most with a few considering it very brave for doing such a thing. Men, when it comes to graying hair, are considered to be virile and handsome. Yet a woman, under seventy, with gray hair is viewed as old and frumpy, not sexually attractive.
All you women who have made the leap to go gray. I praise you. Keep showing the world how beautiful, sexy and vivacious you are. I will keep following your journeys. Pinning pictures of gray hair on my Pinterest, all while I sit in the hair salon waiting for my hair dye to process.
Thoughts, comments or concerns?
Great job.
Great post. I support every woman’s choice when it comes to her body and appearance. Most of my friends and I are struggling with the same decision. My best advice is – Do what makes you feel the most powerful. If crayon red hairy makes you feel powerful and fiery – go at it! If white hair makes you feel powerful, then rock it.