Fashion + Beauty
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Going gray—empowering or a sign of giving up?
editor
Yesterday's Houston Chronicle featured a story about how more and more women are forgoing expensive, time-consuming dye jobs in favor of letting their hair go au naturel. While nearly all of the subjects interviewed for the piece found this move "liberating" and "empowering" and a "sign of distinction and wisdom," some expressed fears of looking old.
It's an interesting topic for sure, especially given the double standard: Men become distinguished silver foxes when they go gray; when women do the same they're often de-sexualized—thought of as dowdy, unstylish or just plain old. Because of this, according to the Chronicle story, nearly 65 percent of the female population uses hair color (often starting at age 18) and 71 percent of women who dye their hair do so in order to "look and feel more attractive." One source estimated spending $65,000 on color treatments over 25 years.
Yikes.
Will you dye your hair when you go gray?
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Related: hair, gray hair, beauty
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Posted by free spirit Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:39am PDT
Grey hair looks great with the right complexion. I have yellow skin tones, though, so grey hair makes me look ghastly. I'll be staying with my blonde highights forever, probably.
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Posted by PattyP Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:43am PDT
I started going grey when I was in my twenties. I have been coloring it ever since. I am naturally a dark auburn brown. I have used a lot of different colors in the past years. I don't like the grey because it makes me look blank and washed out with my skin tone. I don't see how letting it go grey would "empower" me.....I like the way I look with color and I don't like the way I look with grey hair. It's that simple.
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Posted by shaystar Tue Jul 29, 2008 8:57am PDT
I am about to be 48, and have been grey-ing since my early 20s. I have very dark hair. Thus far, I have not colored the grey, and hope that I don't start! I am proud of every hard-earned silver streak.
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Posted by Whew Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:18am PDT
I also am nearing my 48th birthday and have always highlighted my hair. I have a dishwater blonde natural color. I will continue to color and hope to always hide the gray. I don't have much of it yet thankfully. Since I cannot seem to get rid of the laugh lines at least I can wash away the gray!! I I don't think 48 is old and I am not giving in to any gray hair either.
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Posted by Sew Flake Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:25am PDT
My hair seems to be a LOT more gray since I got divorced. Imagine that hahahah ... I'm fine with it though. I've been dying it but I think I'll just go natural. I figure I'm me, God made me that way, why change what God made. :) We are all perfect and wonderful to him. We need to realize that. :)
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Posted by pixie Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:29am PDT
IN YOUR 50'S AND BEYOND IT'S FINE TO BE GRAY BUT BEFORE THAT NO WAY!!! SINCE I WAS ABOUT 16 I HAVE BEEN FIGHTING THE GRAY AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. IF I WERE A MAN IT WOULD BE OK BUT I WILL NOT BE COMPLETELY GRAY AS A 34YR OLD!!!!!!!
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Posted by Sweet T Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:31am PDT
I totally understand people going gray at a young age coloring their hair. Gray hair can age you if you start really going gray before your time. However, my mom didn't start going gray until her late 40s, and she doesn't touch it. It looks great, and it would look odd if she dyed it since she's now nearing her 60s. Even if your hair has gray in it, once you reach a certain age, there are other factors that give away your age. Props to shaystar27 for embracing her natural look! And to the other ladies who are more comfortable covering the gray, props for doing what makes you happy!
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Posted by Faye Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:52am PDT
I am 26 years old, and I have been going gray since I was 18. I have never colored or highlighted my hair. My hair in the front has a good amount of gray in it, and I don't mind a bit. I think it's a confidence issue. I don't mind people asking me my age because they see a few gray hairs. Luckily I have the confidence to wear the gray that I inherited from my mother and grandmother. Everyone gets older, unfortunatley we can't change that. I think age should be celebrated not hid.
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Posted by Noreen Tue Jul 29, 2008 9:57am PDT
I've seen many women who look absolutely fabulous with gray hair. It is especially attractive when they have silver highlights. However, there are some women who look 20 years older when they go "natural". I think it depends on how put together the women is in other respects. A great cut, subtle makeup, dressed well . . . makes all the difference in the world. A person can look old and frumpy, regardless of their haircolor, if they dress sloppily, have stringy, unkept hair, etc. Gray hair is a state of mind. You can be gray because you're confident and self-assured; proud of every gray hair and loving it. Or you can send out the message that you just don't care anymore and can't be bothered. It's a package deal.
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