Gray Hair - No longer something to hide?
The vast majority of women let out an audible scream and then rush to find the nearest utensil, be it 
a fork or an eyebrow plucker, or a pair of scissors to cut out first signs of a gray hair.
Who could forget the catchy hair color commercial jingle, "I'm gonna wash that gray right outta my hair?"
I think I even sang that in the shower as a child while lathering up my shampoo.
When did gray hair become the enemy?
On some women, this natural sign of age looks downright fabulous. Take Meryl Streep in the movie, "The Devil Wears Prada..." Her 'do was chic and fantastic, and was no doubt meant to be trendsetting as she was in the role of the most highly esteemed fashion magazine editor in the business.
In real life, Roseanne Barr has decided to live in the gray. After undergoing multiple plastic surgery procedures, including a facelift and eyelid lifts to keep the signs of age at bay, the comedienne is letting her hair go gray.
Barr, 54, was a guest on gab fest, The View, where she told the hosts, “I’m gonna stop dying my hair, and go all the way gray, ‘cause I want to look old, because I am old, and I think it’s damn good to be old too.” Fifty-four is hardly what I would consider “old.” 100 is the new “old” to me, but I like where Barr is going with her sentiment.
What do you think of going gray?
Is it the worst imaginable beauty faux pas, or an attribute to flaunt? Share your thoughts!
Return to RealSelf blog
unregistered guest
14 Mar 2007
Nothing is more sophisticated than a lady in gray.
unregistered guest
15 Mar 2007
Re: Going Gray - It all depends on the person but I love my gray highlights and have no intention of coloring my hair -ever! In addition to going gray with grace, most women need to update their 'do' and makeup. Gray hair can wash out your skin tone and long, straggly hair is not flattering to anyone over the age of 20! Another very important ingredient in the ageing process is how you feel inside and how you project those feelings. Some of us are 'old' at 25 and others seem young at 90. Attitude and thinking of others can be a big plus in the 'battle' to maintain our youth. ongoing battle of ageing. I love your blog!!!
unregistered guest
29 Mar 2007
I have seen the beautiful older models in the Eileen Fisher clothing ads. The message is to stay strong and keep healthy. It seems strange that what passes in men as "distinguished" is considered "sloppy" in women. I am very happy that some personalities like Rosanne have quit coloring.
unregistered guest
21 Sep 2007
Thank you for this article! I would like to see more photos,of everyday ladies and how they wear their beautiful gray hair I,m 56 and have decided no more dye for me. thanks Lee
unregistered guest
23 Sep 2007
Thank goodness for sensible and intelligent woman embracing growing old gracefully. I am having a hard time understanding why in a world where increasing numbers of us were flower children and believe in the environment and eating locally, organically, etc., we are buying into coloring our hair. When we were girls there were many more role models for older women--and whatever happened to Adolfo, Shrader sports and Castleberry Knits? How come my grandmothers were such elegant old lladies and we are all running like scaredy-cats for Garnier & Clairol?
unregistered guest
24 Sep 2007
Anyone out there letting the grey come in under 50? I'm only 42 but am tired of the maintenance of coloring the grey I started getting at 19. It's amazing how many people have said "Don't do it! Keep coloring it!" I would love to hear the experiences of anyone else who has let it grow in and still looks/feels fabulous.
unregistered guest
26 Sep 2007
I have been coloring my dark brown hair to cover grey since I turned 40; I'm now 50, and from the looks of the roots it seems that I'm pretty much all grey now. I'd like to stop the coloring, but I don't know how. Am I doomed to waiting while a solid wall of grey marches down the sides of my head, chasing a solid block of brown?
2 posts
23 Oct 2007
4 yrs ago I walked into a salon and requested a hair cut. My gray roots were about 3 inches long at the time. The hairdresser about had a heart attack when I asked for every inch of dyed hair to be cut off. My hair was long and 42 inches of dyed hair hit the floor that day. I always had long hair, love it being long, but dying it was a nightmare and what dying did to the texture of my hair was no longer enjoyed. Now my hair is about half way back in growth. The color is varying shades of white, silver, gray, and black. Black was my natural color to begin with. I love it, I love it, I love it. I will never go back to dying my hair ever again. The funny part is I have been asked who dyed my hair this color. My answer...God. I love the color and the wonderful soft texture I always enjoyed with long hair is back. I have notice a definite difference in gender remarks to my hair color and length. Women mainly say, color it and keep it short as you get older. Men say, love it natural and long. Go figure. Personally I say, do whatever makes you feel wonderful no matter what anyone else says, be it friend, foe, or media. Love your locks, your way. After all it's only you that must live with your hair 24/7.
2 posts
23 Oct 2007
I forgot to say, I was 41 when I quit dying my hair. *Smiles*
1 post
10 Nov 2007
I'm 57 and sick of coloring too!! I actually stopped a couple of years ago with the low-light method from my hairdresser and I liked the results but for some reason I started coloring again!! Stupid-stupid!!! I could do that again but it was costly so here's what I'm thinking of trying: you know that Clairol root touch-up? If I just choose random strands of root to touch up will that give a more natural look instead of that straight line of grey? If I was retired or could just wear a hat until it's grown in I wouldn't care but I have a job where not one woman in the whole building has natural hair and although I WISH I didn't care what people were thinking - I do.....