Are you going gray gracefully?

[APCDmama]

Another post on this board got me thinking. Why don't I have the confidence and courage to let my hair go gray naturally? Would I be more comfortable with the colour change if I were 45 rather than 34? How do the rest of you deal with graying hair? Colouring my hair is pretty much the last thing I want to do on a regular basis. The chemicals used in most hair dyes are harsh and dangerous, not to mention stinky, inconvenient, and highly drying.

Anyone out there just letting the gray have its way? Please share how you reached your decision NOT to colour your hair.

[annethcz]

I hope I have the courage to do so. I've noticed A LOT more gray hair on my head in the last year, and I just turned 30. At the rate I'm going, it will be pretty noticable in the next couple of years. Thus far I haven't dyed my hair, and I don't have any plans to do so.

[ItyBty]

I've been coloring my hair since I was 16, and I started noticing gray at 26 - so no, I'm not gonna go gracefully. I'm WAY too young to be grey. If I wasn't coloring my hair, I'd have nearly silver hair. : Granted, now that I'm learning about chemicals and nasties, I use henna instead of anything else to color, and the bonus is that the grey makes for highlights.

[wytchywoman]

I'm going gray with gusto baby!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE the way gray hair looks, I think it's beautiful, so I was really excited when my first grays started showing up, lol!!!
I think of it this way, I have earned every gray hair on my head, no way am I going to hide that and cover it up.

Namaste.

Michelle

[corwinegall]

I don't know. I have red hair and its always been a part of who I am. But I don't think I would ever be happy with dyed red hair.

[nonconformnmom]

I'm 42 and I have no gray hair. Not a one. My younger sister has lots of it; and I'm envious. I can't wait to get gray hair!

That said, I think it could be damaging to my career prospects if I let it continue to gray naturally. I had a long discussion about that with my sisters and they both recommended that I color if it starts getting very much gray. Otherwise, I may be passed over for promotions at work because (subconsiously) they probably don't want to promote someone who gives them the appearance that retirement is on the horizon.

[mgilleran@earth-co]

I am 35 and about 40-50% gray. I have never dyed my hair before, but it is really starting to bother me. I bought Henna last Friday & I plan to dye mine today! I am nervous, but I figure what the heck. I have had gray since early 20's but in the last 3 years it is really multiplying. Mom was completely gray at 40. I just want to look my age. Mom has always looked much, much older. I'll let you all know how the henna goes.

[Blue Dragonfly]

Probably not. I look at my mom who hennas her hair and my aunt, who are only 5 years apart, and my mom looks so much younger than my aunt.

[PumpkinSeeds]

yes I will. I'm just not that invested in hair color honestly.

[panamama]

i am 99.9% sure i will [go gracefully/naturally]. i actually like the way grey looks, and have a friend who has one of those elvira type streaks going from her temple...she's had it since she was in her 20's and it looks so cool. i think she's 37 now, and that's the only place she has grey. of all the women in my family, only 2 dye their hair. most of the women in the family don't even start to grey until their mid to late 40's, so that's a bonus too. i'm 30. we'll see in about 15 years i guess. ha ha.

[pixie-n-hertwoboys]

yep my hair is going gray has been since I was in my teens and I won't color it to cover the gray but because I need a change of scenery. I have more gray than my mom. I used to color it - not particularly to cover the gray but because I wanted to be a redhead LOL now I just don't have the funds to keep it up.

A funny. I had a little longer hair a while back and had it partially pulled up - was over a friends house. Had it down next time I saw him and he asked if I colored my hair. LOL underneath its super gray. My grandma, dad, aunts all went silver at a young age (teens). My grandma colored it for a very long time then she figured silver is just as beautiful. She is a striking woman in her beautiful silver hair... I can only hope to carry it like she does.

[marybethorama]

So Far I am

My hair has been going gray since I was in my late teens.

When I was younger I had a different hair color every week (or so it seemed )

I tried dying my hair a few years ago but it looked so fake, I didn't like it.

I dont' really want to spend the $ to get it done professionally and I'm too lazy to do it myself so I'm letting it go for now.

I have heard that Natural Instincts makes a nice dye for gray hair though and I may try sometime.

I really hate dealing with dye though. I'd rather just leave it. Of course I may end up looking like Barbara Bush

[Conteuse]

I'm obsessed with long hair and hair health and all that (www.longhaircommunity.com is a great resource, if anyone else here is a longhair as well). My hair is straight, waist-length and still growing strong, and it's a dark, coffee brown.

My greys are coming in bright silvery, sparkling, and CURLY.

You better believe I'm letting them grow. They look so nice and sparkling against my dark hair -- it gives me an intrigueing, contrasting look. I'm thinking about using henna on my hair to get it darker (it fades out reddish towards the ends, and I'd rather have it a darker brown), but if I do, I'll leave the greys untouched.

I love 'em!

And I think that long grey/white/silver hair on a woman is absolutely beautiful!

[Guava~Lush]

Heck no, I am kicking and screaming.

I have always always colored my hair. All kinds of colors, but the grey? no, not happy. I am so so envious of the mamas here who love their grey hair. The closest I came to graceful was going henna for almost a year and letting all the grey just go and be highlighted.

Obviously I am back to nasty chemicals. Got sick of red and am back to dark brown. I blame my mother, as I will continue to do for all my hangups, who was and is obsessed with her appearance. I have managed to be the opposite of her in almost every way, except hair. I might need therapy so that I can go grey gracefully.

[Oh the Irony]

I was. I'm 37 and had significant gray.

I felt kind of bored though and just used body art quality henna on it. I love it! The first three days were scary as the gray was very orange, but it oxided to be a nice auburn.

[APCDmama]

Oh, wow! I applaud those of you who look forward to the silver years and feel proud of your changing hair. You are an inspiration! I hope to eventually come to peace with my natural aging process. Someone mentioned that her mother may be responsible for her "age/hair obsession". I can completely relate! My mom is ALWAYS going on about her appearance, especially the effects of aging. I want to set a better example for my own daughter.

Thanks to those of you who shared stories of premature graying. I think it's a very different choice to allow gray when you are in your 20's/30's than when you are a bit older. (Interesting comment about career prospects and graying hair.) Seriously, I think I will be more comfortable with my natural hair as I enter my 40's/50's than I am now. I already look older than DH, and I don't relish the thought of looking like his mother or much older sister. You people who are 40ish without gray...I'm terribly envious.

Well, as it stands, I think I'm going to let a bit more gray grow in. I have long hair right now, which I love, but I know there's a huge stigma attached to long gray hair (great to hear some of you think it's beautiful!!) Thanks for the link, Conteuse. I'll definitely check it out.

I would like to try some natural dyes, but I am terrified that my very dark brown hair will turn orange/red with something like Henna. I just wish I could find something natural and relatively foolproof.

[griffin2004]

Nope, I've been coloring since my early 30s. Hair color makes no difference to me, but I got SO tired of people saying "gosh, you're young to have so much gray hair." I guess you could say I caved in to peer pressure.

[momma,mia]

NOOOOO! I am the post that "inspired" this one!! I am the one who wants a natural way to color my grey!!

I feel young and want to look it!! If it is vanity, oh well!! I love my brown hair and will work to keep it!!

[nonconformnmom]

APCDmama wrote: I have long hair right now, which I love, but I know there's a huge stigma attached to long gray hair (great to hear some of you think it's beautiful!!)

Really? A stigma? Can you elaborate? I'm curious!

[Lynski]

Most likely. I haven't colored it in quite a while and I have a bit of grey now at 32. At the moment the decision to not color is mainly financial. I've stopped coloring in the past and after a while it really bothered me to be so grey, now for some reason it doesn't. If I do, it will probably be henna next time. My hair doesn't take color well anyway so I have a lot of grey even when I do color.