young woman with gray hairOriginally uploaded by ed’s point of view
Earlier this year, NBC’s Today Show had a wonderful segment that featured the makeovers of three women who chose to go gray. It also includes great quick tips for gray hair care. If you haven’t seen it already, enjoy!
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I hope that you keep this site going. I’m 67 years old and I’ve been coloring my hair forever. Underneath it all, my hair is gray in the front and sides and the old mouse-dull brown in the back with a few gray strands here and there. I’m looking for some inspiration to let me hair grow out. I haven’t been able to get to the Today Show link, but I’m going to keep trying. All gray hair is beautiful, but the real challenge is doing something with hair color like mine naturally is at this point.
Hi Elaine,
Thanks for your comment! This blog will continue! It must! I will check on the Today Show link. Stay tuned for posts on taking care of gray hair. Are there any gray hair care tips from our readers?
I do like using products especially for gray hair (American Crew has a good set of shampoos and conditioners for gray, even though it’s supposed to be for men). Even though I still have a lot of brown hair, it seems to make all my hair look good. I also don’t shampoo my hair more than 3 times a week so it doesn’t get over-dry.
I’ve been noticeably graying since high school (!), so I’ve had a long time to deal with this. It’s great to see more discussion about it, since along with the complements I also get….let’s say expressions of discomfort about my hair color.
I started going gray (actually, silver) in my mid twenties, and I’m 38 now. I wanted to leave my hair its natural color, and I did until I was 34. Then, I was dating a man 8 years younger than me (now my husband), and I finally caved in before flying to Scotland to meet his parents. Now I’m wondering how soon I can get away with letting it grow out. Wait until I’m 40? 50? Better established in my career?
Anyway, this is a very inspiring site. It’s great to see photos of women with their natural hair color.
Gray hair runs in my family.. an aunt at 16 who was 100% gray. I am now a 52 year young woman who has been coloring her hair for a very long time. Today I have dyed hair that is almost to the middle of my back, when it gets to 10″ off it comes for Locks For Love. Then I am going to create myself into a 52 year young woman with 2″ gray hair. I am very excited and a bit nervous. I look forward to posting a before and after…
Hi Holly! You are going to be a beautiful, sexy 52 year old woman! I can’t wait to see the pictures. Please send them to going.gray1@gmail.com so you can inspire the rest of us.
I am a 62 year old woman and have died my hair since I was in my 30s. I’ve done every color of the rainbow and am ready to go gray. I am half way there and I am shocked at the lack of support from my friends. The comments even from my husband are that they prefer me with my dyed dark hair.
I was in Florida last winter and was surprised to see so many older women with gorgeous well kept gray hair. Died hair truly does look fake in the sunlight and I am looking forward to being my natural self. Thanks for the support.
I started going gray in my late 20′s and have never colored my hair. Recently, I saw an article as I was waiting in the doc’s office about adding color highlights to improve your look–like violet undertones, etc. My hair is almost white now (I’m 55) and I’d like a little more s&p look. I can’t find the article; did anyone see it?
I am 54 and have been colouring since my late 30′s. For the past 12 years my hairdresser son has been looking after his mother’s grey roots, (recently every 3 weeks.)
I decided in mid-January to stop colouring my hair. My 3 week touch-up had come around again. My son laughed out loud when I told him I didn’t need him to come and do my roots, I had decided I was letting the grey grow out. He didn’t try to persuade me otherwise, he just said, ‘Ok, you’ve decided, let me know when you change your mind, it’s easy to go back.’
My hair was shoulder length in layers. Mid February my son cut it slightly shorter, 3 weeks later he cut it again, really short. I will ask him to cut it again in a few days, leaving I hope, just one final cut end May before I go on holiday to New York.
When I told friends my plans the most common reply was ‘Why?’, expecially with a fabulous hairdresser son! It didn’t cost me anything, I could have it done whenever I wanted, no waiting to be fitted in at the salon.
But of course my reasons to stop colouring had nothing to do any of that, I just wanted to be me, accept my hair as it is.
The other day I was with friends. I pulled my hair back so that they could only see the grey, they both said ‘Are you wearing foundation? You’re skin looks so much warmer against the grey.’ That was good!
I found this wonderful website after I had made my decision. Such inspiration! Thank you so much
Marilyn
Hey all you gorgous gals with the moon hair or you gorgous gals who are thinking about going to moon hair. Just DO IT! You have to start thinking with a different mind set. I am 54 and have had gray hair for a long time. I love it and would NEVER color it. I’ve found that a good trick for me is to keep mine cut in a very flattering style for my face. No sprayed helmet heads – that will make you look old with any hair color, in my opinion – but there is a generalization that gray hair is always a rigid, molded sort of look worn in a non-moving style. Around in the mid-west anyway… I wear mine short and vary the style every so often. Gray is the new blonde baby!
Thanks, Joellen! We are waiting for your picture!
Going Gray
I love this site too, and the woman in the picture for this piece looks amazing! I am 36 and have quite a bit of grey, and have just this year decided to stop dying it. I got it cut really short to get all the dye out a few months ago, and now I’m going to grow it long again, its natural colour. This site is a real inspiration!
This site is great, I’m so glad I found it! I’ve been coloring my hair every color known to man (and hairdresser) for the past 12 years. I just celebrated my 44th birthday and took a long look in the mirror. And for the first time I really noticed the gorgeous shiny silver hair that up till now was ‘the enemy’. Today I’m getting a new 2″ cut and can’t wait to show off my true color!
I now have about 1.5 inches of beautiful white/silver roots. I am ready to go all the way with a very short sassy cut. My problem is that I have med. brown hair so these roots are really showing up!! About a week ago, my hairdresser did some low lights on some of my silver but it really didn’t do much. Still looks the same. I am going to the Virgin Islands the first week in Nov. and I just don’t know which way to go. Should I use a temp. color just on the roots or maybe one of those new touch up pens for roots? My hair is already pretty short so it really won’t help right now to cut it real short…..the roots will still be there! Any ideas?
I’ve been wanting to go white for a long time. But I wanted to get my hair cut shorter and my husband didn’t want my curls to go. My daughters didn’t want me to “look old”. What is it with the folks that love us? Especially when my husband has a full white beard and lots of white on his head. But 15 years of dying hair is enough. I’m going to be 52 in November. I got a much shorter cut and the white is showing off nicely. My stylist is very supportive and says my hair is going to be gorgeous. I so much agree with everyone talking about wanting to “be myself”. That’s exactly the way I feel. I’m proud of every year that I’ve lived and I want to have the look of a wise old sage.
I read Anne Kreamer’s book and wrote to her. I am so happy she has done this and paved the way for the rest of us baby boomer women who want to stop dying our hair. I went blond for a few years to ease the transition from being a dark haired woman and it WAS easier as the natural silvery color grew in at the roots. I could get about 3 months from my expensive time consuming hair appointments. My hair stylist in Santa Monica was actually very supportive of my going natural. She liked me blond but also liked the color of my natural hair. In my photo here, is the hair cut she gave me recently to sport my total natural head of hair. I love it and most people who know me do too (my man included. Now I can have fun doing all the other things I love to do.
I think the whole key to looking good grey/silver is to keep a shorter tousled layered hair cut…not long!!!! And NOT an all-one-length bob…(I tried both and hated how I looked)… but am now happy with a short tousled haircut that is totally wash and go after just adding a little shine booster. Never a perm…and never the hairsprayed helmet look. My mother who is 23 years older than me does the “sprayed permed helmet style in the salon once every few weeks” and has always gotten her hair dyed light auburn color…she is fair and I was born a brunette. She is very much overweight and has difficulty getting around and up out of chairs…I am not overweight and have the same energy I did as a young woman…but I don’t dye my hair…(I am 61). Interesting.
SilverySan,
I’ve seen beautiful gray hair in every length and every cut imaginable. I don’t believe because you have gray hair, you must have shorter layered hair, end of story. Some women look fabulous with an all-one-length bob. We are all different, and we won’t all look good in the same hairstyle.
GoingGray,
I’m new to this site. I saw above that you asked someone for pictures so you can post them. Where are they posted?
Just a bit of background, I’m 40 years old and I’ve been dye-free since May. My roots are about 3-4 inches long, and my hair is chin-length right now. I figure I still have about a year until I’m fully transitioned since I won’t go any shorter. I am absolutely LOVING the freedom of not dyeing, and I receive a surprising amount of compliments. It’s very exciting.
I own Diana Jewell’s book “Going Gray Looking Great” and I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone that’s thinking of going gray. It’s an extremely practical guide that walks you through everything from the psychology and science behind gray hair, to tips on fashion and makeup, which usually need to change once you have transitioned. It’s a wonderful book, and she’s a wonderful lady.
Thank you for great inspiration while i’m waiting for my silvery hair to grow out. I want it long.
At 16 ! I found my first grey hair, and then it made me feel special. I started to dye it in my mid-thirties. recently I could no longer deny that my hair really is all white. And I want to make a point of it, rather than trying to hide it.
Mette from Norway
I am 56 and have been dyeing my hair since I was in my 20′s. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last April and lost all my hair following my chemotherapy. It is now starting to grow back though I still need to wear a wig as it is still very short. It is silvery gray and I am trying to adjust to it. I am so strongly tempted not to go back down the dyeing route again and would welcome some enouragement from others who have taken the same decision possibly for the same reason as myself.
After coloring my hair for 15 years, I started the process of allowing my natural strands to come through. My anniversary to be free of dyes started the first week of July 2007; after I noticed the connection between migraines and the chemicals, I knew it was time to be chemical free. I would never go back to artifical color, my quality of life is more important. Women approach me and tell me they wish they had the confidence to go natural, they are afraid. There is nothing to be afraid of; going gray is more natural than using unnatural products. I am looking for a style that compliments me and a shampoo that doesn’t stink!
Hello, I am 54 years old. i am a salt and pepper mummy. my children call me. But every time I go out with my sisters or friends, they say I look old with gray hair, so my hair is medium to dark brown and I hat it. I have short hair. I want to go back to what God gave me, a gray hair mom. How?
May God Bless, Effie:(
I’m 56 and after undergoing chemo at 29, my hair grew back in with a lot of silver. I’ve kept it dyed my natural med/dark auburn all these years but I’m so sick of the chemicals and the time consuming chore. I want to go natural but my hair is very long and I cannot/will not cut it all off. Help!!!! Any suggestions?
don’t piss me me off any more I spomsor a female child and i have an insight and i am appauled and dismayed.realy not sure about what i could piossibly say at this point that wouldn’t be extremely rude. My god, gray hair, bring it on, can my sponsord child dink good water, can she get an education, can she reach her goal f wating to b a nurse bring it on and don’t piss me off with pathetic excuses!!!
Yeah, since I last posted, I have found a wonderful shampoo (that doesn’t stink) along with purple shampoo I use once a week! I found a new stylist and her co-workers say I wear my gray well. With that being said, my shampoo softens the hair shafts and no more wild dry frizzy unmanageable hair. Love my new style, got the ends cleaned up and style shaped. Best of change to those taking steps toward gray freedom, the journey is worth the trip! : )
I’m like Carrie … I have been dying my hair since I was 15…so, about 45 years now! I use a dark ash blonde permanent hair dye, which turns my gray hair blonde, and doesn’t change the part of my hair that’s still my natural color, medium brown. It looks really great, I get compliments on it all the time (maybe because it’s also quite long, halfway to my waist, and also naturally wavy). But now I would like to get away (finally) from hair dye…because I have become aware of the chemical hazards with haircolor and I just can’t find any company who makes a blonde haircoloring product that is rated as safe for chemical hazard on the Skin Deep website. I am maybe 60% gray on top and on the sides, much less so everywhere else. Anyone have any suggestions on how I can let it go gray without cutting my hair? It has to look good while it’s growing out, as I’m a professional woman who plans on remaining in the workforce for at least another 5 years! Thanks!
I turned 40 this year and decided to free myself of the coloring. Graying young runs in the family. I’ve had short hair all of my life (honestly, b/c it was easier to dye that way). It now looks amazing and I’m soooo happy not to be thinking about the roots, when I need to color next, how much damage I’m doing, etc. Naturally I’m medium brown and for 15 years I have been using light brown or dark ash blond. When I decided to go gray, I went to a good colorist to find out the best way to do it. She took me very light with blond and white highlights and oh, the compliments I got! It really did the trick! When my hair grew in, my natural silver just looked amazing and blended so well! Total time for this process was less than 6 mos and it was not nearly as hard as I thought it was going to be. I thought for sure I would need two professional colorings but since I have short hair I didn’t. I’m white on the sides and the top, with more salt than pepper throughout the crown. The back is pretty brown with more pepper than salt. I’m now very tempted to grow it long now that I don’t have to dye. If you’re on the fence about doing it, seriously try it. You can always go back to coloring if you don’t like the results. Oh, and I get more compliments than ever since going gray.
I was born a brunette with brown eyes and colored my hair chestnut brown until about five years ago when I moved to Southern California. Then I went blond which is something I always wanted to try. It WAS more fun being blond than being a brunette and I kept it up for about four years. Finally as my silver was growing in at the roots, I decided to see what it would be like to go natural. I got all my blond cut off and had short silvery salt and pepper hair for the last four and half months. I never liked how I looked in the photos that were taken of me and when I became single I posted my photo with the salt and pepper hair on match.com. I got a few responses but not many. Finally just for the heck of it, I posted photos of me when I was blond (and tanned). Immediately I got lots of responses. Two days ago I went back to my hair stylist and had her make me blond again. I feel so much more lively now. I am 62 and learned that I am too young in spirit to go gray. (I had a lot of dark brownish grey in my natural color and it was depressing looking)…if I had been mostly silver I would have liked my natural color a lot more…I had too much pepper in my salt and pepper and that’s what didn’t look good! Until I am in my late 70s, I will probably stay a blond and try to save money somewhere other than by not coloring my hair. As for using chemicals, I am not that worried as I am healthy otherwise.
I started transitioning to gray in January – my hairdresser tried to talk me out of it since I look about 10 years younger than I am. (I’m 46). I travel a lot so I spent my time at the airport looking at gray haired women to see what makes them look old, if they do look old. It is not their hair. My hairdresser has been using semi-permanent color. Now that the permanent color has grown out, we have stopped coloring. I have a chin length layered bob, stacked in the back, so the back is 100% grown out. My hair is wavy, so I can wear it curly or straight. I am excited, but anxious to see it 100% gray. So…I have been spending time at the gym, making sure my body doesn’t look 46, and I am anxiously awaiting 100% gray – so far so good!
How did it cost to start up this blog…I want to start my own.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog.
Cheers! Sandra. R.
I love your site.
Love design!!! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that I?ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. Sign: ndsam
I love your site.
Love design!!! I just came across your blog and wanted to say that I?ve really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. Sign: ndsam
My first grey hair appeared in the 4th grade. By 7th grade, I had a streak. I colored my hair until I just couldn't take the pain any more. I had seriously burned my scalp and it took years with prescription shampoos to have it not burn with just water. My hair is gorgeous, dammit.It's healthy, it shines, and it doesn't feel like straw. haven't colored my hair in 14 years. I've had a few obnoxious comments, but 100s of sincere complements. I wish finding excellent products was easier, but I'm here now and hoping for more information. And it's not gray, its platinum; and only God can do it right!
Wish I could go silver / platinum, but at 56 and still needing to work for many years to come, I must look more youthful. Sorry, ladies, to remind us all that there is age discrimination — and especially against women — and silver / gray hair simply does age someone.
Hate the double-standard, but working is more important than "going natural" for me at this stage in life.
I admire those of you who can go silver.
I've had mouse brown hair since I was in my 20s… all the red left and I hated it, so because of my Irish coloring, I went red and stayed that way until just under a year ago. I liked the shock of gray that was coming in around my face and thought, hey why not… The red is almost gone… I think it will be gone with the next hair cut. Now I'm looking for something to brighten the mouse, er, "ash" brown to go with the gorgeous silver gray that is making a lovely halo around my face. Thanks for the encouragement of this site!
Welcome, Jean!
I'm a 53 year old migraine sufferer of more than 14 years… After trying so many forms of treatment, I'm almost medication free, eating healthy, taking care of me first (and very fortunate to be able to do so) and doing lots of exercise…
Now, in order to go all the way I'm taking the chemicals off my head… I'm hoping to be a silver fox… I sure feel like one
Hi Laura, I am a 20 plus year migraine sufferer. I am glad you are getting some relief. Hope you enjoy your silver hair! Thanks for reading going gray!
You may be shocked, but here is a comment from a man . . . and I don't mean a boy! I stumbled upon this site while searching for a resource to tease a business associate. She is a topnotch professional who is approaching fifty, and she is a damned fine looking female of the species. I am trying to convince her to stop dying her hair because she will surely cause traffic accidents if she "goes silver" and walks down the street. Well, I have not won that argument . . . yet. I do not understand why humans cannot accept the nature given them, but there it is. Keep up the good work, ladies. There are men out here who appreciate your natural state.