THE DOWNSIDE/UPSIDE OF GREY HAIR - Page 5

Shanus · ‎05-17-2010

@vsm wrote:
@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.
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!

@vsm ....but still have to keep coloring roots. That's the big plus of letting your hair go to its natural color, just need a haircut.

vsm · ‎05-08-2010

@Shanus wrote:

@vsm wrote:
@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.
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!
@vsm ....but still have to keep coloring roots. That's the big plus of letting your hair go to its natural color, just need a haircut.

I guess I'm lucky, @Shanus . I had lustrous, rich auburn/gold hair until my 50s (even a lot of chemo didn't cause me to lose too much hair or natural color). Then my stylist suggested I do highlights and lowlights for grays, leaving what remains of my natural color as a third shade. Over the years, I've lightened some of the lowlights, to avoid harshness as my face ages. It makes for a good, natural-looking blend as gray comes in, and because I don't use a base, I have no root problems. (Now if I could only get rid of those bags under my eyes...)

Seannie · ‎05-19-2010

Just returned from vacation in London, UK and most times on the Tube (subway), others tapped me to offer me a seat. If they grabbed a seat at the stop before me, they apologized to me. I'm early 60's and always accepted since I had bunion surgery this summer and foot still remineralizing.

There is a book called Going Grey written by a journalist. Very enlightening. She got hit on more with grey hair than with dyed hair.

My hair is short and silver and younger and older men approach me. I'm plus-size, too.

GRACIE · ‎04-14-2010

No l have never got a negative response to my gray curly mohawk.While they may think ir,is has never been spoken. Mostly "I love your hair style"or "You are rocking that style".Going out something I put the hair up in the back with a sterling silver wide barrette. In other words no one treats me differently,always take out my own grocery,etc.

Perks, if you want to call it that,is the commitments I have received from both young and old. My ego and smile get wider and I say Thank you.While sometimes some one may look at me funny for my gray mohawk,it only makes me smile and boost my self esteem even higher.

chickenbutt · ‎03-09-2010

I stopped dying my hair several years ago because it was just getting too painful for me. I have very long hair and a whole lot of it. I'm only 65 so I only have some white on the sides and no wrinkles yet, but I feel look I no longer look younger than my age. For so long, I did. My last time I had to show ID to buy some beer I was 42.

But I really don't think too much about what people think of me beyond just being myself and not being somebody remembered for being entitled or demanding or any of that.

Heck, I was recently at a bank, opening a new account. It was one of those 'inside the grocery store' banks so there were three people working there. One of them helped me and it went well. Meanwhile, a few days later, my husband was in that bank. He was making a deposit and putting money into my account, also. He didn't have the account number except the last 4 digits and mentioned them.

Funny thing was, the lady who helped me said 'oh yes, I remember her', at which point I'm thinking 'uh oh - for what?'. (because I'm really not that memorable)

The other two chimed in and they all said that they remembered me because I was fun and nice, and funny. They had a blast while I was there. That made me happy. If I can make somebody laugh, or even just smile, it's been a very good day.

So, I just feel like if people see me for who I am, sans the physical exterior of being old, I'm happy. If they want to be creepy because I'm old, that's on them. Fortunately, I really haven't seen that - yet.

SeaMaiden · ‎03-10-2010

I get compliments just about everytime I am out and about....the bank teller...a stranger...men and women come up to me and say "I love your hair!"

...even very young ladies... 20 somethings....checking me out say "oh I wish I had your hair color!"

my hair is silver white And Long....I mostly wear it up.

I am 64....I do not consider myself young. I am what I am. I quit coloring 7 years ago after trying to cover my white hair for 40 years. I started going grey at age 17.

bonnielu · ‎03-11-2010

Got silver hair and proud. I had been dying my hair since the age of 12 for whatever reason I could think off. In any case it would not take color... so I left it alone and wow what a surprise. Actually one compliment after another. And if someone one wants to help me out because of it........ I AM ALL IN! Keep itt coming. LOL

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

@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.

@chrystaltree For some reason I vision you as a blonde. It's funny just by posters' nicks & style of writing how one imagines someone else.

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

I must take after my dad. He didn't go gray until he was in his mid 70s. I have very dark brown hair that I've been highlighting 2xs a year just to give me a lighter & brighter look. So I don't have that issue but I do have plenty of other issues!

Speaking of hair...one great thing is that I no longer have to shave my legs! I used to daily in the summer but now it's gone on my legs.

haddon9 · ‎03-09-2010

@Still Raining wrote:
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.

@Still Raining Well what if they aren't in the best of shape but dont have any gray hair? I'm not fooling anyone by having dark hair. I don't dye it, only highlight it 2x a year.