I went grey - what do you think?

[indigoiis]

My decision to let my gray out was that my supervisor and my boss both (women) are gray - the big boss has white choppy hair, and the supervisor has long (to mid-back) thick platinum hair. Mine looks like highlights and I am letting my hair grow long at this point - I like not having to mess with color. Although I was thinking about getting lowlights put in - in a reverse to the white - in dark brown or black. That would be so cool!

[sundial]

I like the cut and style of your 'do and I think it makes you look more.....distinguished.

[Selkie]

I think you look great. It brings out your beautiful brown eyes and you have the face to be able to wear it that short. I bet it's so much easier for you, too.

Even though I don't have the face for it, I went short earlier this week because I am swimming again. It will stay healthier shorter--chlorine, sun, humidity, and hair color. Plus it's easy to "style." Wash, shake my head, and go!! I'm not yet grey enough to stop coloring my hair but when it's mostly silver, I'll let it go natural (luckily, I inherited my mother's shade of gorgeous, sparkly white).

[Miranda]

Awesome!

I think the peeps at work that say they wish they had the nerve to do it, are in the "hang-ups" situation. Meaning, society can be so judgemental on aging. That fact is so sad.

I've been a natural red head my whole life... with the exception of a few years ago. Started adding some highlighs, etc. Ended up a mess with my old hairdresser that I'm still trying to grow out with my long hair.

I will never color, or put any type of chemicals on my hair ever again!!!

I'm your age, and am getting some pure white silvers coming in. I say, just let 'em come.

Your short cut looks sexy, sassy, and confident. Great with your face and hair texture. Mine is super baby fine, and thinner. I've had it shorter. For me, I just really like it longer. I love having it grown out long enough to get most of it in a ponytail for the bike helmets.

Everything I've read from any style gu-ru on hair, is that older women need to get it cut. For me, I just feel like that's similiar to someone telling me I *should be* coloring my grays as well to "conform" to some notion of society.

To be blunt, scr*w that...

One thing that's great about being forty, is that I have reached a point in life I no longer feel the need that I have to be something I'm not... just to please other people. My hair being long with gray is not "physically hurting" someone else... so live, and let live.

I think the quality of self confidence outweighs any physical attibute.

For your comment about your FaceBook page... well, that's where they don't get to meet you personally, or see you regularly... and go by the surface with those society judgements maybe?

Plus, it's kinda closing one chapter of life to another. Which is an adjustment with anything. Not just hair. Can you add some type of text about it with the pic? Maybe that would help ease the transition.

[pinkbikes]

In my mind, I'm still a brunette. Short hair is one thing (i've had it before) but the grey is not something I can feel or see unless I look in a mirror, so my own self-image hasn't changed yet.

I think it looks terrific - neither younger nor older - but just a great look on your face.

But I SO relate to what you say above. I also am quite grey and just turned 45. I started going grey when I was about 21 and all my older female relatives were pretty much snowy by the time they were 50.

I recently decided to be a blonde to see if it would make it easier to hide the grey regrowth. I worked hard at being blonde and ended up quite a nice shade. I was blonde for long enough that some people only knew me as blonde (a bit over a year).

But I never felt blonde. I was always a brunette in my mind. I knew when I started having irrational moments of jealousy over some girl with brown hair that it was time to stop being blonde. I am now back to being a bottle brunette! And happier for it. My eyebrows and hair match again!

I will have to do what you are doing one day. I have a very young face (I think) for my age (all chubby chipmunk cheeks) and can't quite face the disparity of face and hair yet.

It is funny - I'm an engineer surrounded by men and only one of them ever said anything when I went blonde (OMG - WHAT were you THINKING!?!) but several noticed the day I went back to being brunette and quietly said that the world had now gone back to normal! Funny buggers!

[Crankin]

I thought of this thread yesterday. The instructor at the new yoga class I am taking has shockingly white hair and she is the same age as me. But, her facial features look unbelievably young. I mean, I look young, but in an "overall way." There was not one line on this woman's face and her skin was just silky smooth. I thought her hair looked awful, making her look really old! It was sort of a weird thing; her face looks about 35, but her hair looks like she is very old. But, I think it's mostly because of the style. It's sort of an un-styled length, at the neck level, a little above shoulder length. If it was cut short, it probably would be really flattering. So, maybe the key is to consider the style and your facial features if you are going to go all grey.

[GLC1968]

I thought of this thread yesterday. The instructor at the new yoga class I am taking has shockingly white hair and she is the same age as me. But, her facial features look unbelievably young. I mean, I look young, but in an "overall way." There was not one line on this woman's face and her skin was just silky smooth. I thought her hair looked awful, making her look really old! It was sort of a weird thing; her face looks about 35, but her hair looks like she is very old. But, I think it's mostly because of the style. It's sort of an un-styled length, at the neck level, a little above shoulder length. If it was cut short, it probably would be really flattering. So, maybe the key is to consider the style and your facial features if you are going to go all grey.

I agree that the style makes a big difference in how we perceive ourselves and how others see us.

My husband and I were just talking about this last night after we saw a woman walking her dog down the street. She had long dark hair with huge sections of gray around her face (kind of in big chunky streaks). It was pulled back in a loose ponytail (who gets done up to walk the dog, right?) and she looked to be quite young (late 20's, early 30's). It was obvious that she was prematurely grey, but my husband immediately said that it looked odd with that style. We see a lot of that around here...women with long, greying hair...it's pretty typical for a 'Portlander'. It works on some, not so much on others. The thing is, her hair was gorgeous - it just didn't fit HER. On an older woman, people would probably stopping and staring, it was that stunning looking. But of course, to each, her own.

I told him that if I stay grey, then I'm pretty much done with long hair. Of course, I know that I look better with short hair anyway (no matter what color it is), so it's a decision I should have made years ago. Long hair is just easier, I guess and I often get lazy in the 'upkeep' department!

Oh, and thanks for the continued kind words. My hair is starting to look less purple and more silver around my face as the old dye finally washes/fades out, so my look is progressing. Oh, and I got stopped and asked the other day 'who does your hair?'. That hasn't happened for me in YEARS, so I guess that's a good sign.

[Crankin]

GLC, your post made me laugh. I think New Englanders and Portlanders must be related, because we see a lot of that hair style, too.

[GLC1968]

GLC, your post made me laugh. I think New Englanders and Portlanders must be related, because we see a lot of that hair style, too.

I would bet that we are. I see an awful lot of Red Sox fans here and there are many, many transplants. I grew up in NE and I definitely see a lot of similiarities here.

If I could have gotten my southerner husband to move to the Boston area, that's where we'd be. Portland was our compromise.

[shootingstar]

GLC, your post made me laugh. I think New Englanders and Portlanders must be related, because we see a lot of that hair style, too.

Haven't really noticed alot of greying long hair (meaning at shoulders and longer) where we are further north along the west coast in Lotus Land.

After visiting Seattle and Portland several times, there are some similiarities in the nature/types of people that one also finds in Vancouver, BC.

Admittedly I'm finding as I age, I have a harder time guessing people's ages..especially when I suspect they are around my age and abit older. My brain is actually abit messed up because..none of my 5 siblings have gone grey (all are in their 40's) nor have they dyed their hair. My closest friends for past 25 years, have basically stayed the same weight (with some hard work like myself) and only 1 woman has coloured her hair abit....closest to her natural colour.

My brain is abit mixed up and warped on reality of what the majority of population looks like in my age bracket.

[GLC1968]

shootingstar - I have the same problem with people in my parent's age bracket. My parents are in their mid-late 60's and yet they are active and they look very good for their age. I often forget that they are the age they are.

For example, this is my immediate family:

Does my father look to be 66? My mom 67? My brother (lower right) 39?

This is my frame of reference and it throws my judgement off!

[Crankin]

Me, too. My family is similar to yours, GLC. My dad is 84, and while he looks "older," he has, on many occasions, had to take out his license because no one believes him when he tells his age, or that he has a 55 year old daughter. My mom got carded until she was 40 or so. She only looked older when she got sick, right before she died at a very young 67. Both of my grandmas lived until 91/92 and both were beautiful until the day they died (with silver hair...).

[shootingstar]

GLC, your parents looks great!

My parents this yr.,--father at 80. Mom at 75. Well, she did have 6 children with a hubby who was a restaurant cook all his life, life was hard.

Well, what did I inherit from my mother to make aging easier? Ah, I inherited her lack of leg hair. Yup, I seldom need to shave my legs ..as I grow old. Hmm..every 3 months seems to be all that's necessary. Freedom!!! Same for my armpits.

Father's hair colour is his natural colour.

[GLC1968]

Wow, shootingstar - they do look much younger than that...particularly your mom!

And I only wish I inherited light hair - unfortunately, I take after my Greek and hairy father in that regard!

[beccaB]

My hair is getting a lot of gray in it. I have never been into the kind of maintenance that would cause me to color it, but that's ok for people who do. I actually like the gray. I'm brunette, and it gives my hair some depth and makes me look respectable! A good thing to be when driving other people's children around!