It's way past time for a hair-coloring session with my stylist Gwen. I've been putting it off for weeks now. I don't like the process, it's expensive, and my hair grows so fast that it's no time till my roots are showing and I need to do it all over again.
So I'm thinking of letting my natural color finish growing out, which would be a little bit of ash blonde and a whole lot of grey. However, if I do follow through with this, I reserve the right to go back to the pretty dark blonde with lighter highlights that Gwen's magic gives me.
I know I won't be glamourous like Emmy Lou,
...or have a great body like Jamie Leigh,
...or a wonderful sense of style like Hellen,
...or be smarter like Kathleen,
...or become a great actress like Meryl,
...or be gorgeous like my friend Sherry's 92-year-old mom (can you believe this pretty lady is in her 90s???)
...or be brave enough to show my upper arms in public, like Joan,
...or be a hotty like Sam...(hey! how did he get in here?)
I'll probably look more like this lady, with a few pounds and a couple more chins added on. But I think I'm going to give it a try and see how i like it. I've been having my hair colored for years. It will be fun to see just what color it actually turns out to be.
Do you color your hair? Would you ever consider going grey?
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This post was migrated from the old blog. To see the comments on the original post, CLICK HERE. To add a new comment, click "Post a Comment", below.
On 03/08/2010, Nancy said ...
I prefer Silver...
I would go Silver if ALL my hair would be the same. As it is I only have Silver at my temples and forehead so the look isn't the great.
And really...SAM? He is just creepy..
On 03/08/2010, molly said ...
I love silvery hair!! I'm just not ready to let mine go yet. Most of mine is in my temples and the underside behind my ears with just a sprinkle though. I'm not even close to being 10% or 5% gray yet. Its enough that I feel the need to color though and I haven't done that in years until the recent past. I'm hoping that I can keep it natural over the summer and see what happens.
On 03/08/2010, Susan Burton said ...
I used to color but don't anymore. You should try it. Now and then I think about coloring then I think about the cost and how much trouble it is. If you don't like it then you can always color!
On 03/08/2010, Melinda said ...
From the front, my hair is about 1/2 black and white. From the back, the black is much more noticeable with just a little white here and there.
For years I had a white streak but it is all over now. I tried to color it once but the white turned orange instead of black. Not a good look at all.
I really like my hair now.
On 03/08/2010, sophie said ...
I used to go natural every few years, just to see what color my hair really is. Now, my "natural platinum highlights" have taken over and seem to be here to stay. I only occasionally think about coloring it. I do believe that mother nature almost always gets it right and that naturally "gray" hair can be beautiful. My friends assure me that it really looks blonde, but some days I see blonde and on others silver and gray . . . I think it has much more to do with my mood than the lighting.
On 03/08/2010, Teresa/MarieSews said ...
For years I resisted coloring my hair as it went gray but my husband really wanted me to get rid of the gray so for his birthday a few years ago I had it cut and colored. I did like it but it's expensive! With the current economy I couldn't justify the expense every 6 to 8 weeks so I'm in the process of letting the gray reassert itself. I like it better but DH still likes it dyed better. I think the gray reminds him how old we are. He colors his beard not at my request but because he thinks it makes him look younger.
On 03/08/2010, Thelma said ...
What a great topic!! I personally know some women who have gorgeous grey hair! I've been blonde my whole life and I skipped grey and went instead to white..ugh.....so I continue to color and stay blonde. Good Luck, I hope you like your hair color!
On 03/08/2010, Pat said ...
I color mine just because it's so much easier to manage. My gray hair is wiry and wild. Did my own this weekend, the "wash-out" kind, not bad and not as expensive as beauty shop, nor take as long to do!
On 03/08/2010, V said ...
I'm about to turn 40, and I let my hair go gray recently. everyone told me not to. But i want to be one of those women who are happy with they way they are... no pressure...
I am VERY gray already... but I admit sometimes i feel very old when I look in the mirror... and I know, hair color in a bottle is only minutes away if I want to.., but I really do feel liberated not having to run to the salon every 4 weeks to cover it up... good luck deciding what to do... It's purely your choice... and your comfort.
On 03/08/2010, Barbara Anne said ...
My mother told me she was too young to have a daughter with grey hair. We laughed and I colored it a few times in a salon, but that was about 15 years ago. Since then, I've let my hair stay natural and I'm grey and silver, with a bit of my natural dark brunette color in the back and underneath.
Sadly, since being diagnosed with lupus 11 years ago, my hair has thinned most dismayingly. I never thought I was vain until this happened and it bothers me so much that I care nothing about the color. I just wish it was there again. Sigh.
Enjoy your hair whatever color you choose to have it!
Hugs!
On 03/08/2010, Chris@Cats on my Quilts said ...
Well, I'm almost 57 and I stopped coloring a few years ago and I would never go back. I got sick of the expense and the time involved and I love how it looks now. I had ash blond hair too and it's about half dark blond and half gray now and according to my grown daughter it sparkles. My Mom had gorgeous gray hair so I am hoping when it is 100% gray it will be just like hers.
On 03/08/2010, Deb said ...
Susan ~ I think you would look great with silvery/grey hair! I've never colored mine...husband has said no. But ya know what? If he actually told me to "go ahead and do it," I probably wouldn't after all. I'm content with whatever color it turns, and it's quite grey now.
On 03/08/2010, Jan said ...
What a great topic Susan! I've been doing something to my hair since my late 20's, which is when it started turning gray! The first few years, highlights did the trick; but now I'm afraid they wouldn't come close to touching it cuz I am so close to being all gray. Unfor, it's not a pretty gray, so I still color ... not at the beauty salon tho ... in my own bathroom cuz with this wicked economy, I can no longer afford that luxury!
On another note, I'm sooooo glad you got those beuuuutiful pink chairs!
On 03/08/2010, Nicole said ...
I have the same problem. I have to color my roots every four weeks, and at $80 a pop, I just can't afford it any more. But I am too vain to go grey. I think with my coloring it might be aging on me. If I thought I had a chance of looking fabulous, I might try it. Also, my hair is shoulder length and if I were to go grey, I would have to cut it really short for the growing out stage. My sister has been coloring my hair for me for the past four or five months and it is working out great.
On 03/08/2010, Laurie said ...
I really thought about going natural when I was in my early 40's; I have had substantial gray hair since I was in my late 20's and the women in my family go a gorgeous bright white (when they finally let it go.) My friends told me I was crazy to do it. I started listening...and I'm glad I did. I'm too young. But by the time I hit 60 I know I'll be re-considering!
On 03/08/2010, Sandy said ...
I've colored my hair since Jr High School, early 60's, and I'm doing the same thing you are. I thought it was time to look my age and not be "one of those 60 yo ladies trying to look 35!!..but ... I sure didn't realize I was SOOOOOOO gray, especially around my face ......I've also worn a wig for the past two years, that's not changing yet, I'll just buy one with gray in it LOL..I like the fact that I don't have to "fix" my hair every morning for work...
On 03/08/2010, CarlaH said ...
Hi Susan, every couple of months I ask myself the same question - should I let the gray take over and eventually I decide that its not time yet. I have extremely fine hair and the colouring does seem to give some added body for at least the first few weeks.
On 03/08/2010, Ruth said ...
Hi Susan, I'm all for grey or silver. I did colour my hair a few times but don't have the patience to sit and have it done, and as you say its expensive. I've been my natural streaked grey/ silver since my late 40s and at 68 I think I'll stay that way. I read the other day that grey hair is becoming quite fashionable.
Ruth
On 03/08/2010, Lisa D. said ...
I think with your coloring, you would look beautiful with grey hair. At least try it and see. A woman's perogative to change her mind, you know. I'm not ready to admit that I'm grey. If I could be assured mine would be as pretty as my mom's grey or even better, snow white like my grandma, I'd do it in a heartbeat!
On 03/08/2010, Beatriz said ...
Do not get your hair coloured any more. Today is Women´s Int´l Day. Pls think about it. Time for us all to get independent from whatever enslaves us.
On 03/08/2010, Linda said ...
What connects us with people? The eyes have it. Have you ever tried having a meaningful conversation with a person who would not make eye contact? Eyes are the windows of the soul.
I looked at all of the photos and noticed that the common denominator amongst them was the sparkle in the eyes and the smile on the lips.
I was always the "I'll never go gray" gal. But, I did not reckon with the fact that my hair is dye resistant. Add to that my natural dark brown color and rapid growth rate. I soon discovered that the number of hours and $$$$$ required to stay brown all the way to my scalp were not worth it. That was 30+ years ago. Eating/exercising properly and keeping a positive outlook are far more important to one's appearance than covering the gray. Just MHO
On 03/08/2010, Joyce said ...
I went gray many years ago and have not regretted it. I get complements all the time ..... even when I'm in another state by total strangers!
On 03/08/2010, Debra Spincic said ...
I think you and I have the same color hair. I've colored mine in the past 10 years but just lately I have also been thinking of going natural. I have quite a bit of white hair showing through. My hair grows very fast so I have the same problem with upkeep (and total lack of interest). I asked the last time I got it cut if I could have it highlighted white and that may be the solution to "break me into the grey/white stage". I'm not entirely sure I am ready to go all grey. . . it's a tricky call since my hair looks pretty mousy and lackluster without some haircolor help.
On 03/08/2010, Lainee said ...
I was born a blonde and grayed like a drab field mouse(at least that's the way the roots look. After I retired, I started coloring my hair myself and it looks pretty good, IMOHO. Some women look great with grey hair and especially white hair. I'll continue to color as long as I can raise my arms high enough and twist the cap off the bottle.
On 03/08/2010, Carol said ...
I had colored my hair for probably 25 years...I went grey around 30 and I hated it. My hair was always very short so it was really easy to stop coloring it. About 3 haircuts and the color was gone...I've never been sorry.
On 03/08/2010, Phyl said ...
Oh, Susan! What a great birthday present you're giving yourself to let your beautiful silver/grey/or white hair go back to its healthy natural color!!!!!! I've always had "mousy brown" hair and kept it "frosted"/ "highlighted" and the last few yrs. lots of gray hairs are growing in, but it's so scattered about that it doesn't show up as much as I'd like. I've always loved gray/silver hair and admire the women who are confident enough to wear it! You go, girl !!! You'll be gorgeous! Keep us posted with updated "glamour photos"......you'll inspire others to do the same. And you're exactly right: if you happen NOT to like it, you can always go back to the beauty shop, dahlin'........!!!
(And maybe my mousy grey/brown will finish turning ALL grey in another 10 yrs. or so!)
duh.
On 03/08/2010, Lisa A said ...
Going grey as we speak and not going to do anything about it. I'd rather put my money toward quilting!
On 03/08/2010, Lynne in Hawaii said ...
I use to color my ash brown hair for years because I had developed 'racing stripes' on the sides. Did the coloring myself. It finally became such a chore and had to work myself up to coloring. Finally I had it professionally frosted (streaked) to allow it to grow out easier. Never regretted that. I'm not out to impress and my sweetie loves me grey. I think you will enjoy the freedom of not worrying about roots showing. You go girl!
On 03/09/2010, Chris said ...
Hi Susan
I am Chris from New Zealand and I decided to embrace the grey about 2 years ago...my hair is more of a salt and pepper colour and much to my teenagers dismay I have been getting it cut in a fairly radical style...short and sharp but it suits me and I feel good in my skin about it...as I said to them it's my hair and I am not asking them to like it because I am the one who is wearing it....LOL
so embrace the grey
Ta & kind regards
Chris Wellington NZ
On 03/09/2010, Pam Schroeder said ...
I never have colored my hair and my hair is going from grey to white. I'm always surprised my the number of compliments I get on my hair. I started greying in my 40s and it always looked frosted and still does. I have to say, I'm the only one in my group of close friends that has chosen not to color my hair - most of them are "menopausal blonde". I'm glad I don't have to go through all the trouble of coloring my hair. PAM
On 03/09/2010, KAI said ...
The first week of October, 2009, I cut all my hair off because - as you know - I was going to lose it anyhow. Decided it was a GREAT time to stop coloring my hair. I started coloring at 14 and kept it up till age 58! I LOVE my soft, natural hair. It's in WAY better shape (still curly and crazy, but so healthy) and lots of pretty silvery strands mixed in with my medium brown! I'm not at ALL sorry! And YOU will be a beauty whether you are silver or blonde!
On 03/09/2010, WendyC said ...
I found my first grey hair when I was 14, then I developed the dreaded white stripe, been having it professionally coloured since I was in my early 20's. I started dark and have slowly gone blonde. Now I am almost ready to let it grow out, or not, I will have to be very very brave. I have no idea what my real colour is under the artificial. Good luck, I may join you in going grey gracefully :)
On 03/09/2010, Diane said ...
I used to have lovely golden straight locks and now it is terribly thin and mousey brown. My mother who has curley hair which used to be dark brown is just about all grey now. Mom wondered why I was coloring my blonde hair darker! As if....
I am too cheap and cannot stand to be a "beauty" parlor more than once a year for a haircut, I will not be changing the color of what is left of my hair. Nor will I will be using botox or putting silicon anywhere in my body.
You should try the gray on for size. Give it a whirl. One of my friends went from always a cheap redhead (self-administered) to naturally white. She is stunning now and looks younger and more elegant than she ever looked with a dye job.
On 03/09/2010, Lavender Dreamer said ...
It's very tempting! I would like the gray if it was a silvery color. I am not ready to go gray but my hair is dark blond so my roots aren't very noticeable and I can go for 2 months or more. I think you'll like it! What freedom! ♥
On 03/10/2010, Beverly said ...
Go for it. I did it a few years ago, and I love it. It is so liberating, and I've never looked back.
On 03/10/2010, ashleigh said ...
My Mom's hair is natural. We have a lot of ash under tones too and her gray just blends in to the blond tones. I don't thinks she has colored since I was in high school. But the sad fact is we go gray early and I now have a nice little Bride of Frankenstein streak right up front in my part so everyone can see :D Yippee!!! But i also have a darker brown hair due to dad's wonderful genes :P So i will look like a skunk with the more gray that comes in.
On 03/10/2010, Nancy said ...
Susan, I truly wish you luck with growing your hair out natural and hope you will love it and want to keep it that way. I have tried it about 5 times over the years...but here's the problem. I started coloring my hair when I was 15 (ummm 45 years ago). I was a natural very blonde, blonde and wanted it darker so I went to dark brown for 4 years. Then upon my hubby's return from Viet Nam and our move to California I decided to let it grow out blonde again. Imagine my surprise when I realized that my 1 inch long roots were not blonde, but pure white!!! I called my mom and asked her at what age she went gray, she told me she was just 20. Her mother was pure white at 21, so I guess it is a genetic thing. Well, I continued to keep it a medium brown until I was in my early 40's and like you I'd had enough. Every 4 weeks I looked like a skunk so I did let it grow out and down just above my shoulders for a couple of years but I am so pale complected that everyone kept asking me if I had been ill or if I wasn't feeling well because I looked so washed out. Hmmm...didn't like that much either so I went back to a light brown with highlights but still have to have it colored about every 4 weeks. Now at 60 I really want to stop but being even paler due to Scleroderma I think I still wait a bit. But I'm telling you, that if I didn't look so washed out with it white (and I mean as white as snow) I would let it grow because it is a true pain in the backside not to mention the pocket book. One question, do we get to see before and after pictures? I'm betting you will look lovely with natures highlights!
On 03/10/2010, Karen S. said ...
What a fun idea. You will look beautiful!!! Remember to give us a photo :)
On 03/14/2010, Violette Severin said ...
I can see you as Helen Mirren. It's all a matter of attitude and expensive gowns. As for me, I will continue to cover the grey until I start getting lines. I look half my 50 something age.
On 03/14/2010, Clare Smith said ...
I have been away from blogging for so long - and have been trying to get back to it. I just wanted to say hi again after all this time. I love this blog.
On 03/24/2010, Dee Brownfield said ...
Oh Susan, I love/enjoy your site!! I'm new at this!!!
The hair thing! I know my hair is completely white underneath my coloring, but haven't made the decision (yet) to "let 'er go". I applaud you and know it will be beautiful going "natural" ... God doesn't make mistakes, you know!! this just might the "nudge" I need to go that way also! and as you say, we can change!! Thanks for the fun I have been having during my "visit"!!
Pink Hugs,
Dee
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