To be or not to be - gray

[lph]

Go for it. Embrace it. Enjoy it. And think about the savings .

SheFly

Oh, that is indeed part of it all. I can afford it, but I wasn't happy about my haircut until I started cutting it cut and coloured at a pretty swank salon. It's close to work so I'll probably still go there, but it really isn't me to want to pay a whole lot of money to look smashing. I'm probably their only customer who on purpose lets her hair grow out in between seldom visits, to see "what it really looks like" And I'm coming in to some serious dental bills for both me and my son soon, so I could do with saving some money.

I don't feel quite up to a buzz cut... and I have thin hair. I wouldn't mind looking like Jamie Lee Curtis (who would? ) but I have no idea how my curls would behave at that length... And the last thing I want is a head full of top-heavy loopy curls that take an age to grow out. But I do like the way I look with my hair up, so maybe I should just go for the buzz...

[GLC1968]

Yeah, my hair is curly too - you should see it now that it's almost to my shoulders! The only way I can look good with short hair is if it's short enough to basically cut off the curls. Otherwise, it just gets BIG and unflattering.

Honestly though, now that I color it myself and only cut it about every 6 months or so, my costs are WAY down. I use L'Oreal's 10 minute color so it barely takes any time at all, too.

Editing to add: Just to clarify, I do NOT think you should color it. In fact, you are inspiring me to think about trying the grey again myself!

[Biciclista]

I have been grey for 2 years now. I survived the Italian relatives last year, only 1 asked me "what's wrong with you?" As I will be 60 at the end of this year... I knew I didn't want the hassle but most of all I like the way my hair FEELS.

[Crankin]

My answer hasn't changed from the beginning of the thread...
Never.

[redrhodie]

I had to look back to the beginning of this thread, because I couldn't remember if I was going gray last year. Well, I am now! My red hair is now more buff, which I heard would happen. I'm just going with it. It looks fine. I like it. My hair is light, so I don't really notice all the white ones unless I specifically look for them. However, they seem to show up in pictures, so maybe I'm just in denial.

I plan on being one of those gorgeous old women with long gray hair (well, I can achieve part of that, anyway ). I can't imagine ever coloring my hair, mostly because I'm one of those earthy crunchy no make up types who can't be bothered with grooming. I like the idea of accepting the inevitable. I'm a slacker to the core.

I don't know about coloring, but I wonder, is it possible to stop dyeing in sections, like the way they put in highlights, so you can do it gradually? Or do you have to cut all the dyed stuff off at the color line? That sounds so drastic. I can't help but think of "Twin Peaks", going gray over night.

[Dogmama]

Since I started this thread, I've been doing highlights/low lights. Found out that my gray is very resistant to color. My hairdresser, who I do like, sometimes really blows it & my highlights are too yellow, but it does hide any gray hairs. Unfortunately, blonde hair totally washes me out (I'm naturally dark brunette.) So, I can go blonde & be washed out, or go darker but have the gray roots show more (I'm about 25% gray.)

Honestly, I'm getting tired of messing with it. I have to be careful in a pool - putting special conditioners on, I have to wear a hat in the sun, use special shampoos & condition like crazy. It's just shoulder length and I'm thinking about just letting it be gray. If I do it now, I won't have to suffer the skunk gray stripe while I'm growing it out - or do a Jamie Curtis cut. I like being able to pull it back in the gym, when I'm lazy or when I'm hot flashing.

I do resent, as was stated, that men get to be gray and distinguished. They also get to be a little chunkier as they age. The good news is that we don't have to worry about E.D.!

[GLC1968]

I don't know about coloring, but I wonder, is it possible to stop dyeing in sections, like the way they put in highlights, so you can do it gradually? Or do you have to cut all the dyed stuff off at the color line? That sounds so drastic. I can't help but think of "Twin Peaks", going gray over night.

I asked this myself of two different hairdressers from two different salons and they literally both looked at me like I had two heads. The little caption over their identical expressions would have read simply: 'Huh?". I don't think either of the 20-something hairdressers I'd had could comprehend why a woman would want to let her hair color go natural. It actually struck me as funny because you'd think in such a 'crunchy' place as Portland, it would be common. (my last haircut was done by Lonnie (hairfixr) and I know that he wouldn't get confused if I asked to go grey again! )

You would think there would be a 'grey' hair product that would allow an easier transition. I literally did the overnight grey thing and I got a LOT of strange looks and whispers behind my back. Oddly enough, people only commented on my hair cut to my face and not the color which was funny since I'd been that short before and the color was clearly the striking change...

[limewave]

I'm a little obsessive about getting my hair styled. I love my hair. I do. I'm not going to apologize for it. Loving my hair is purely about allowing myself to be pampered--has nothing to do with image.

I recently started having my hair colored when I get it cut. My stylist is amazing! She competed in the Hair Olympics for the US a few years back. Anyways, for a cut, color, style, and tweeze/wax of the brows it is only $35.

She used to work at a swanky, expensive salon--which is how I found her. When we were really struggling financially I would save my pennies and collect pop cans so I could go. I only went about once every 4-5 months. There is something so relaxing and luxurious about a good hair styling.

[shootingstar]

http://cyclewriteblog.wordpress.com/about/

I have straight but headful of fine, no-coloured hair. My cut has become shorter over the past 4 yrs. (Scroll down on pg. after going to link..)

Photo taken last year. In the photo, I did not use a curling iron nor blow-dry any fullness into it. I was in Europe for that photo...and there I realized I could wean myself off from curling iron and blow dryer for first few months.

The fullness at the back is achieved by the right cut. A short cut makes me look younger...and not so tired looking by lifting the weight of hair upward over my ears.

I turned 52 this yr. This photo hides my fine aging lines when I laugh..

So a precision-cut, well-chosen is where I spend my "fashion" money on myself.....approx. every 3-4 months. (Should be abit more often, but I can't afford it.) I'm not into sauna weekends, pedicures, facials, manicures... I totally agree, limewave a wonderful hair cut and styling job is beauty pampering that lasts ..for months. I really do assess a hairstylist skill ..cutting straight hair, especially black...can really show a mistake in unevenness, etc.

Unlike some folks here, I wash my hair daily. With black hair I gotta seriously monitor if the dry prairie air will shrivel up my scalp..into dandruff..

[malkin]

My hair can be maniacally unruly.

The relatives' question "What's wrong with you?" reminds me of my kalabash granny who in her 90s, listened patiently as her doctor informed her of her blood pressure, cholesterol, lung deterioration, osteoporosis, etc., etc., etc., and then she calmly asked him,

"Well, Doctor, have you checked my age lately?"

[PamNY]

The relatives' question "What's wrong with you?" reminds me of my kalabash granny who in her 90s, listened patiently as her doctor informed her of her blood pressure, cholesterol, lung deterioration, osteoporosis, etc., etc., etc., and then she calmly asked him,

"Well, Doctor, have you checked my age lately?"

Your granny sounds cool.

[Miranda]

Sorry, being lazy reviewing this thread cos it's late & I'm tired from work, can't recall if I responded... but I'm going to turn gray naturally.

I have just a few white hairs coming in. I'm a natural redhead. I colored my hair once with highlights and end of relationship with the hair stylists was a disaster. No more color for me, ever.

The older I get, the less make-up and bling I've got going on too. Idk, I just feel better natural... still groomed though.

I read this book recently and enjoyed it, fwiw.
"Going Gray..." -Anne Kreamer
http://www.amazon.com/Going-Gray-Mot.../dp/0316166618