Among Friends

[Shanus]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

@Shanus 

Thank for this!  It's nice to know that I have this option.  I'll have to find a good colorist but I'm sure I can  do that.  I'm thinking I'll let my hair grow out over the winter and schedule a consult with the colorist in March.  

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@chrystaltree   I waited until I had no weddings or family events to go to...That 1" skunk stripe was tough!!! Keep in touch and let me know how it goes. Good luck. 

[Still Raining]

There a more clues to age than hair color.

Look at how the persons moves.  Flexible?  Strength?  Weight?

If a person is stiff, weak and overweight with dyed hair, they are not fooling anyone.

[VegasBusinessWoman]

@Shanus If someone wants to lift something heavy for me, I let them!  Smiling sweetly, I thank them and offer a tip for their help. Just because I can do something doesn't mean I should. No reason to strain my aging body any more than necessary.

My hair is (or was) naturally dark auburn.  When it got to the point that my hair had so much white that it wouldn't hold the color, my hairdresser suggested going a little lighter and adding highlights.  I kinda like the look, but I must still look like an old lady, because I get the deference an old lady gets wherever I go.  I don't mind it too much--after all I am  an old lady.  I want my perks.

Before she passed away, my mother observed that my hair was "striped."  Leave it to Mom to tell you the truth!

[sidsmom]

Noticing?

No....I'm not that self-conscious.

I would never, ever think if someone was nice to me...

it was because of my hair color. 😆  I mean....really?

[Carmie]

I stopped coloring when I was almost 50.  That was 15 years ago.  My hair is many shades of gray, salt and  pepper.

Two different doctors this year thought I was in my mid 50's and were surprised when I told them I had Medicare and was 65.

My financial planner told me that he would help me navigate SS and Medicare when I was eligible.  He too was shocked when I told him I already have both.

My DH will be 67 soon.  He too, is mistaken for being in his 50's.  Neither of us color our hair.

I have not noticed anyone treating me differently since my hair is gray.  There is more than just having gray hair to indicate your age or how old you look.

Alberti has gray hair and you can tell instantly that he is not a senior.

[Carmie]

@BlueFinch   I volunteer at an elementary school.  The kids ask me my age all of time.  I tell them.  Some of them have told me that their grandma's were younger than I, but looked older.

I ask if Gramdma has  gray hair and they tell me no, she colors it.

You're right in saying that young children do not think older people look younger because they color their hair.  They are brutally honest.

I have mentioned this before on the boards and got a lot of negative feedback from the posters.

[Shanus]

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@Carmie wrote:

@BlueFinch   I volunteer at an elementary school.  The kids ask me my age all of time.  I tell them.  Some of them have told me that their grandma's were younger than I, but looked older.

I ask if Gramdma has  gray hair and they tell me no, she colors it.

You're right in saying that young children do not think older people look younger because they color their hair.  They are brutally honest.

I have mentioned this before on the boards and got a lot of negative feedback from the posters.

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@Carmie   My granddaughters judge by wrinkles, what they consider "old lady clothes/shoes" and if they smell like moth balls (they said smell like the sweater chest...didn't know about moth balls). Laughed at the last one. They never mention hair color.

[Carmie]

@Shanus   When I was a little girl, I remember that the older ladies came to church in their dress clothes and you could smell the moth balls several pews away all winter long.

To this day, I can't stand the smell of moth balls or cedar.  I certainally understand what your grand daughters are talking about.

[Shanus]

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@Carmie wrote:

@Shanus   When I was a little girl, I remember that the older ladies came to church in their dress clothes and you could smell the moth balls several pews away all winter long.

To this day, I can't stand the smell of moth balls or cedar.  I certainally understand what your grand daughters are talking about.

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@Carmie   I laughed my butt off!!!

[vsm]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

The verdict is still out on whether I'll go gray or not.  My bff I 74 and she's been gray since her early 60's but no one has ever looked at her and thought "old lady".  I think it's because she's tall and model thin and elegant and always impeccably dressed.  Even now.  She has silver hair but she always had a cool, young, modern haircut and I think that helped a lot.  Actually, I have read that if we are going to go gray or silver; having a modern haircut avoids the "old lady" syndrome.  My hair is very dark, almost black and I'm at the point where I can't keep up with it.  I have great hair, I don't want to damage it so I don't want to color it too often.  I do it myself every 4 weeks so by week 3, there are silver threads at my temples.  I look at women with thick lush silver hair, like Diane Gilman and that is what I want.  However, getting from where I am probably the 50/50 stage is a process and I don't want to look like Cruella Deville.  I also don't want to let the gray come in and then have the black cut off.  

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Have you considered transitioning more gradually with your hair color, by beginning to go a shade or two lighter than your current very dark shade?  You'll avoid the Cruella Deville problem!