Comments on: Going Gray and Looking for Support

By: Alice

Alice — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 12:00:40 +0000

I’m 61 and have decided to quit coloring. My hair dresser is going to put light highlights in my hair so it’s not so shocking when it grows out. I can’t wait to be liberated!!!!!

Ali

By: sandy

sandy — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:49:42 +0000

As I read these posts, I realize more and more the spiritual quest we are on. It’s called being yourself. Do You as Russel Simmons named his book about finding the “brand” in yourself.

Think about it; we’re over 40 and still concerned about what people think about our “choice”. Yet if we were to get sick with Cancer and loose all of our hair, there are people with less judgement about “balding”. What is that about? It’s about “choice”. People are questioning your right to decide that you no longer wish to be a “conformist” and when you meditate on this, it’s not a pretty picture.

Now I don’t want to leave everyone in a down mood; but in a mood of contemplation: when will we just do our own thing because it is what we want to do? who defines beauty for us? and why is it defined for us?

Just some things to think about.

By: Eve

Eve — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:23:55 +0000

I too am going gray. I am 63 and feel it’s time to just be me. I started out very enthused..got alot of negative advice from friends and hairdressers and things like how I should get streaks etc. I don’t want any help except good haircuts. Nearly three months on and I look “piebald” !! The dark brown has faded to a golden patchy look and the front is white and the back grey…….I’m not loving it but am holding on and hoping that the end result will be worth it. I keep the makeup fresh and dress well and try to look at the positives………..but yes,I am feeling the need for some support too.

By: Ruth L Grogan

Ruth L Grogan — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 22:46:50 +0000

Hi, I am so proud of you!!! After 27 years of coloring and wondering why i am losing so much hair when i shampoo i am ready to go natural got to say its fun with the money i will be saving on hair color i can buy a mason pearson hair brush which will be good for my hair!!! I really feel that useing med brown has aged me ,I am 53 years old you go girl!!!!!!

By: Claire

Claire — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:53:47 +0000

Congratulations! It really does get easier. I recommend hairbands in every colour, they need to get wider as your roots grow. Now I’ve had all the colour cut out I favour a small beret with a few curls showing, but that’s only because I’ve got a rubbish haircut.
I also recommend the use of lipstick as an antidote to that irrational but unrelenting internal voice that says we look like we’re neglecting ourselves. This is a good time to channel your inner stubborn mule and dig those hooves in. You are doing great x

By: Gaynor

Gaynor — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 11:21:56 +0000

Hi Annie,
You have my my support, you do it! You will look great, and feel so good about yourself. You can be proud of yourself that you are not afraid to be natural. After cancer everything else must seem so trivial. Being alive is what matters and being happy in ourselves. Well done for joining the natural look and being yourself. x x

By: sandy

sandy — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:17:10 +0000

You have my support. I’m not ready to cut off all my hair for various reasons. Also, I’m sportin two strand twists and underneath some of the dark hair are the grays coming in; I’m semi pass what they call the “skunk” stage. I have been tempted now and then to do a semi permanent wash on the front primarily until some of the gray can grow out a little longer. I to have self esteem problems with the grow out phase: thinking that people will think I’m not concerned about “grooming” and neglecting myself. As far as “looking older” ; well I am “older”(58 years old) In no way does my hair, being dark, make me look 10 years younger. So who am I foolin? I’ve decided that worrying about those new grays which grow in weekly is not worth dying hair for all the time. I’m tired. I want to be free of thinking about dyeing. Thank you for this blog.

By: Annie

Annie — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:18:38 +0000

Hi
I too am thinking of not colouring my hair again – I am 56 and have been colouring since my twenties or thirties. I was diagnosed with breast cancer last April and of course my chemotherapy treatment meant I lost all my hair. It has started growing back and of course it is grey/whitish. It seems like the ideal time to stop colouring and I am going to ask various friends who I know colour their hair for their opinions. I suspect they will be flabbergasted and not impressed! Any support would be gratefully received. Having gone through cancer and just recently finished my treatment I am just grateful to be here and hair colouring doesn’t seem so important any more.

Looking forward to comments….

Annie

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 19:35:40 +0000

Congratulations on letting your hair be real! You will be more aware of the increasing number of us who are no longer slave to expensive and time consuming color that we often didn’t like the result of anyway!! I am46 and began going gray at 24. I have been every color available and after my divorce (14 years ago) I decided be the natural me! I receive compliments from complete strangers almost everyday! I have never desired to go back to artificial color and I love the texture of my natural hair! Good luck on your journey and I did find that wearing my hair up in twists or ponytails helped me get through the process of growing out the color. Be brave! The color of hair is not what makes a woman beautiful- that’s on the inside!!

By: Mary

Mary — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 17:55:46 +0000

Hi!
You’ve got lots of support here. I don’t have much friend or family support either…but they will come around…i hope. I have the same problems with my photos…and I use a cell phone camera also. BIG SMILE.

You are going to look great (not that you don’t already)…but letting the gray/silver out is very freeeeeeing.