Beauty

[monicakm]

@homedecor1 

I thought maybe that's what you were facing.  I'm sorry   My husband, at 58, had emergency open heart surgery.   That was in 2015.  His sister and bil came up for the surgery.  I sent them home after a week and said I could handle it on my own.  They probably didn't get unpacked before I was on the phone crying and said I needed them back.  I'm glad you're getting back to taking care of yourself.

[smoochy]

@Sooner  I'm with you. When I stopped coloring my hair 12 years ago at age 58, it was in response to how the women looked at my high school reunion. I didn't think I had mistakenly stepped into the wrong event, these women didn't look like thirty somethings. They looked like 58 year olds with dyed hair. 
I decided that my version of aging gracefully would include looking like the woman I am- a woman with grey hair, fifteen extra pounds and a few sags bags and wrinkles. I use minimal makeup. Enough to conceal/enhance and make myself look alive 😋 

Like you, I also feel like we've been through a lot in the past couple years. I have streamlined my life and my thinking. Things that once seemed terribly important aren't at the top of my list now. 
I'm reasonably happy with my life. Everyone has to do what they are comfortable with. I am old and I'm ok with being old. 

[Emma Bunting]

Well as they say, "You can dye your hair but you can't dye your face".  I think nature knows best.  Most older women who go natureal look so much softer and prettier in my opinion. 

[Shanus]

---

@homedecor1 wrote:

pictures don't lie.  Attended a family function and I take god awful pictures to start with but yikes seeing them was shocking ...🤦‍♀️
I looked "old"...I'm not vain but this really shocked me.

I called my stylist and said "that phase is over" I'm going back to coloring & highlighting.

Next, called my esthetician and made my appts.

I've put me on the back burner the last 18 months being a caregiver -- made the decision it's time again for ME!

---

I stopped coloring my hair after 4 decades..first I could do it at home and then when all grey, it was too difficult to get every hair colored. The hair color around my face, in particular, was gone after a week of face cleansing, skincare, and acids that removed the color.

I made the choice to never give up on "me" as far as taking care of myself, so I never felt "old" being grey. At 73, it was time to match my hair with my age and the  fading skin coloring that goes along with turning grey even if under the hair dye.

Of course, makeup changes to be brighter and more intentional. If not willing to do that, than yes, going grey may add years, but IMHO, not making the effort to wear makeup, tweeze brows and define them, use good skincare....what's coloring your hair going to do to substract years? 

Each person decides what's right for them. I've just seen too many women my age who have dyed hair, but don't look any younger. Sometimes, the artificial color makes them look older. 

[Shanus]

---

@Emma Bunting wrote:

Well as they say, "You can dye your hair but you can't dye your face".  I think nature knows best.  Most older women who go natureal look so much softer and prettier in my opinion. 

---

@emma bunting   I agree and will add that keeping grey hair, often a different texture, shiny and in a current, youthful style makes all the difference.

I've seen grey haired women who don't deep condition their hair, wear it long and stringy even though it has thinnned. Sometimes they don't use bue or purple shampoo and the hair's yellowed instead of bright and full of shine. They may have also stopped wearing makeup, especially blush and lipstick which is necessary with grey hair. That will definitely age a woman who is grey. 

I will add that I've also seen women w/ colored hair that go w/o any makeup (even a touch to add color to their faces) and have been wearing the same style for years that may or may not still be flattering as our faces change. They may also look older than their actual age.

[PamfromCT]

Everyone has the right to make their own decisions.  I don’t think there are “one size fits all” decisions about one’s appearance.

I am 77.  My hair is colored, has been for years.  My hairdresser does a good job.  Roots are covered, and rest of hair in tones of dark blonde.  I have very fair skin, hazel/green eyes.  I still use makeup, not too much, but enough to flatter.

I take very good care of my skin.  Never worshipped the sun.  I dress in classic style clothing. 

I don‘t feel it is any of my business to criticize anyone for going grey or for coloring their hair.  I have “bigger fish to fry.”

[Jacie]

@monicakm My hair place is less than 5 from my home! No trouble to get set for it. I have gone from the philosophy of just covering gray to bringing out the best of my grey. Before it was a one step color to now it being highlights and lowlights. It really does look more natural for me. I love my hair and am happy to put the time into it. Years ago I did the whole-head foils. Now that was a pain too, this is far more minimal and Ilike the results! 

[beckyb1012]

My mom only stopped coloring her hair three years before she passed away at 70.  I am so glad she did the look was amazing.  The softness to her face after decades of the dye job was such a breath of fresh air.  Mom was so sorry she had not started letting the gray take over sooner.  But with her twin sisters both hair stylists they did not want to see gray hair on their little sister.  At 85 my aunts are just now stopping the coloring of their own hair.  Yes they look so much prettier.  But we have to do what makes us feel pretty inside as well.  

[wagirl]

I stopped doing any coloring to my hair once it grew back from chemo in 2013---it grew back kind of a wacky color and then after a few cuts it settled down to a pretty  nice brown with grey highlights----but is still very thin as I am still on cancer meds---Probably won't do any color even now---too freaking expensive and I hate to HAVE to do the upkeep.

[bonnielu]

I died my hair for fun since the age of 14.  No kidding.  I wanted to be a beautician.  Became a teacher instead, got married and the kids in my class used to look through the  door windows to see what color Ms. Polly had THAT DAY. And then it happened my hair became color resistant... no idea why until I looked carefully.  My hair was turning gray-white.  I  then went to a hair dresser and they said Ithey would continue to dye my hair for me. Well, one fine day I got vertigo (positional) and could not tip my head backwards.  I JUST LET IT GO.  And best thing I ever did, well amost. LOL.  My hair is shiny silvery white.  All kinds of compliments. My hair is also naturally wavy and or curly.  I just wash  and put on foam and hairspray and go.  I don't even dry.  My best feature.  And yes I am  old by age numbers but as young as I want  to be.  Dancing is my hobby... square dancing in particular.