To be or not to be - gray

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

I'm 56. Love my sparkling silver! Got fed up with dyeing about 5 years ago. Good riddance to all that work and mess. I look better now!

[Bike Chick]

I'm 56. Love my sparkling silver! Got fed up with dyeing about 5 years ago. Good riddance to all that work and mess. I look better now!

I'm with you, BleeckerSt_Girl, it's liberating, isn't it? I actually had a complete stranger standing behind me in line at the grocery store tell me she wished she was as brave as me to let it grow out. I don't think it has anything to do with bravery. It was a lot of work and mess!

[Aggie_Ama]

I don't consider myself an overly vain woman but ever since I could remember my hair was the source of compliments. I have naturally straight, thick but fine texture hair. If I think it looks good I feel great. At some point I will embrace my gray but not anytime soon. My simple hair takes 20 minutes from wet to out the door and still gets tons of compliments. So I admit it, I dye because I am too in love with my hair to try gray. I use the Loreal 10 minute dye and it really doesn't feel like too much work.

[Crankin]

I am 56 and I really don't have much gray. Only a few errant hairs at my part, which I vigorously pull out. I was a natural blonde, whose hair was always many different colors. In fact, my mom was often accused of highlighting my hair when I was young! All of a sudden,when I was around 40, I realized I was no longer a blonde, but a light brown haired person, with some golden highlights. Did not like that at all. I had experimented with highlights in my early thirties, but didn't continue for a few years. So, I've been highlighting my hair for around 15 years. My hairdresser uses foils and it does not smell at all. I just cut my hair very short again (a pixie), which is flattering to me. So, I've had highlights with all lengths and styles. Frankly, I do not want to show any gray right now. I don't look good in silver, especially next to my face. It just washes me out. I have some deep laugh lines and I don't need anything making me look older while I am changing careers and looking for a job in 2011! Right now, most people I am working with think I am in my mid forties and I prefer to keep it that way, until I am no longer concerned about age discrimination. I think that just continuing to highlight as I have been will take care of most of the gray initially, especially, since my hair is short. Then, I will probably try the low lights.
Since my parents didn't really get gray until 65 or so, I have a while to worry.
Yes, I am vain, but, hey, I accept it.

[KnottedYet]

Yes, I am vain, but, hey, I accept it.

Doesn't sound vain to me. Sounds pragmatic. Good on ya!

[malkin]

I don't mind it.
When the subject comes up, I call it "going platinum."

[Catrin]

I change my mind on this one - right now I dye my hair - the gray streaks washes out my complexion and makes me look about 15 years older than I am. My profession is very male-dominated, and I've noted that I get treated with more respect - and they seem to listen to me more - when my hair is dyed. I don't think it should matter, but for now I will continue to color my hair. I reserve the right to change my mind again in the future

I don't think it would be quite the same if I had a full head of silver - it is the in-between stuff...

[kmehrzad]

I don't mind it.
When the subject comes up, I call it "going platinum."

Speaking of platinum, have you seen Emmylou Harris' hair? That's one gorgeous head of 'platinum' hair. It used to be gray, if I recall correctly.