Going grey... what's the fuss all about?
Why is it such a big deal?How come getting your hair coloured a 'trendy' grey is super-cool but rocking a 'natural' grey is somehow distasteful?
And before you say...
"Hang on a minute Sam, going grey is cool.I totally agree!
There are plenty of people doing it ... and rocking it!"
There are older bloggers, celebrities and models with grey hair.
There are also plenty of younger women going grey with sass.
BUT, for the most part (unless your hair has an all-over even icy tone) grey hair is frowned upon by society.
Grey hair is seen as somehow a little grubby.
Grey hair is associated with getting old and past it.
Letting your hair go grey means you've probably given up on looking nice.
You've just let yourself go.
Right?
Hmm... Why the hell should it!?
Why do we feel like we've got to apologise for (or justify) our greying hair?Why do we make excuses for it...
"I'm allergic to the dye / my scalp is irritated / I'm fed up with the hasstle, mess, expense..... blah blah blah."Who are we kidding on?
As if dying our hair is fooling anyone anyway.
Everyone knows that if you are over a certain age that head of glossy brown locks is anything but natural.
As for the 'natural' blondes out there... come on ladies we all know what's really going on.
So WHY do we do it??
Why do we put chemicals on our hair... and into our water?Why do we find it so hard to be who we really are?
Well, it's not our fault!!
We have been conditioned (since we were little girls) into thinking that 'young' is best.
Culture/Media/society puts enormous pressure on women to stay young forever... and makes a FORTUNE from it!
Old=Unattractive
And it's not fair!!
How come men get to be older, grey (and even balding) and end up looking distinguished, learned, dashing... and just as sexy (sometimes even more so) than their younger self!Whereas we women just get old?
Where's the justice in that?
I'm thinking of letting my grey come through and plan on going with it for now and seeing how it looks.
Or (more importantly) how I feel about it.
My hairdresser assures me that my grey will just blend and lighten my natural colour.
I'm not so sure.
I still feel the pressure to colour it.
I'm not sure why.
I'm *disappointed with myself for even thinking like that! (*shakes head)
Please let me know your thoughts on this subject.
I'd love to hear your opinion.
I'd love to hear your grey hair stories.
Are you a die-hard dyer?
Are you embracing your natrual beauty?
OR... do you want to give up the bottle but can't face the consequences?
No more faffing about... Let's get linking!
Last week the link up went all weird, so I'm hoping this week works a little better.Thank you for linking up last time, if you could manage it!
Apologies if you couldn't.
The lovely Jennie caught my eye last week, especially her fabulous 'do'.
Her grey colour looks like one of the on-trend toners (unless Jennie is super-lucky!) but it just goes to show how cool a trendy cut can look with a grey colour!
Check out her full post HERE.
you know that whole men look more distinguished and women look old thing has bothered me since I can remember. Women can look just as amazing.
ReplyDeleteI agree Stephanie.
DeleteUnfortunately, media have society conditioned to think men are distinguished as they get older and we just get old.
Look at every Hollywood film EVER... older men getting it on with young women. Everytime.
It makes my blood boil at times!
XXX
I actually had gray hairs as early as middle school, YES, middle school. By my 20's, my red hair was so peppered with gray that it looked like it was highlighted (well, maybe not, but that's what the nice people said). In my late 20's/early 30's I started coloring it. It was probably 100% gray before I hit 40. Being that I'm a natural red head, I have a very fair complexion. I don't think I would look good with gray hair, and I wouldn't be happy with it. That's the only reason I color my hair. My mother colored her hair platinum blonde for years. When her hair turned gray, she would say, "oh, I can see the roots." Really, you couldn't. Her hair was a lovely blondish gray. She finally stopped coloring it, and it honestly looked blonde. I'm not sure mine would look like that, and I'll probably never know. This is a great post though, and I sure do encourage anyone that feels comfortable with it to give it a try.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this Julie!
DeleteMy friend has hair like your mum.
She has the purest white hair that looks so chic!
Especially as she keeps her brows really dark.
XXX
I'm currently allowing my natural highlights to take over...my colourist has suggested that just a few blonde highlights will allow it to gradually be natural all over. Apart from anything else, think of the savings :)
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking of getting a few blonde highlights too Floss!
DeleteThank you for sharing your story.
XXX
With my hair appointment in a few days, I can't wait to get my hair 'back to normal' and can't envisage the day i'm ready to embrace grey. But I have seen plenty of ladies who look super cool with their greying hair so i'm sure I'll look good when I do change it. x Thanks for sharing and h=your hair looks great. Jacqui
ReplyDeletewww.mummabstylish.com
I know that "getting back to normal" feeling Jacqui!
DeleteI feel like that when I get my hair cut short again :o)
Thank you for leaving your comment.
XXX
Sam, the debate of going grey is really a hot topic these days amongst women of our generation. I support every woman's individual decision on what they decide to do with their hair. If the decision is based on self-love and what makes them feel great, then dye or don't dye! For me personally, I do not like the drab shade of grey that starts peeking through at the roots of my dyed black hair. Having a very pale complexion, I feel the drabness of my color grey is just going to wash me out and make me feel blah. And I don't want to feel blah. I am sure there will come a day when I will embrace my grey, but I will probably still enhance the color with dye just in grey tones rather than black when that day comes. I look forward to your hair color transition and seeing what you decide to go with! It's all really an adventure in experimenting with which hair color we feel best in anyway! Another great post!
ReplyDeleteShelbee
www.shelbeeontheedge.com
Thank you for this fab comment Shelbee.... not feeling "blah".... I love that!.
DeleteXXX
I’m super pale and have found my grey actually makes my skin tone just glow. There is a warmth that was lost when I dyed my hair.
DeleteThere's absolutely nothing wrong with a woman deciding to let her hair grow grey, but since we're asking for honesty here, I'm going to be honest and hopefully no one gets hurt or mad at me. Grey hair, even on the most stylish, beautiful man/woman makes you look older. It adds at least 10 years. So now the next question is, what's wrong with that? What's so wrong with looking older? I don't know. Nothing! All I know, is I don't like look older.
ReplyDeleteI agree Amy!
DeleteIt's a sad state of affairs that we are conditioned to think being grey (and being older) is also a bad thing.
Being older is a privilege and it's so wrong that we consider it a bad thing.
XXX
Unless you have seen every woman with grey hair you can’t possibly say it makes everyone look 10 years older. Personally I think nothing is more aging than badly done colour.
DeleteI could have radiant copper hair (my once natural colour) in the frumpiest style with dull clothes and look 20 years older than I do with my grey under cut crop, make up and best frock!
You're spot on there Rachel!
DeleteThere are plenty of frumpy coloured-haired ladies and plenty of super-cool natural-grey women too.
It's all about personal style.
XXX
I enjoyed this post very much, Sam, and it is one of those subjects I have been thinking a lot about lately. Obviously I have decided to go with the notion of giving grey a try. It is currently colored/toned grey and I am anxiously awaiting my roots to begin growing in to see how much of my hair is actually grey and how much is my natural dark shade. I am actually hoping a good bit of it is silver/grey because all of the processing to keep it this color is for the birds. As much as I was hell-bent on going grey, I have to admit I was also a little nervous it would age me. I love it and receive compliments on it almost daily. Thank you very much for the feature!
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome Jennie!
DeleteYour hair looks amazing and I think the modern (and very cool) cut makes the grey look edgy and chic.
I'm not surprised you're getting regular compliments!
XXX
I love it when bloggers write about going grey! I stopped dyeing my hair over five years ago and I loved it the second I made the decision. Initially it was because I didn't want to keep putting chemicals on my scalp but then I realised women are just as beautiful with their natural hair colour – if not more so! I'm lucky that I have an all over sprinkling of silvery greys. I know some women have clumps of grey which can be difficult in the early stages of re-growth. But perseverance is the key! As well as going for it and chopping it all off! There's nothing sexier than a woman who can rock a super short pixie look when she first starts growing out the grey. I hope you do stuck with it, Samantha. I bet you'll amazing!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Suzy xx
www.suzyturner.com
Awwww... thank you for the encouragement Suzy!
DeleteI am a clumper so I hope I can handle it....eeek...
XXX
Last year I decided to stop getting my "mousey blonde/brown" hair hilightef as it was just getting blonder and blonder. Since then, I've discovered a few white hairs but I am not bothered about them. I'm more concerned about my eyebrows which seem to have more than a few white hairs. Up to now I've been plucking them but it's getting to the point that if I continue I won't have any brows at all. So I be decided to just let it go and see what nature intends for me.
ReplyDeleteHahahaha... don't pluck them all out Alison! :oP
DeleteJust colour them over with some brown gel.
Done! :o)
XXX
I think we can all enjoy many options with hair color. I stopped coloring my hair altogether about 4 years ago, and it's been so surprising how much red I see in it now. And the grey? Well, to me it almost looks like highlights...ha ha!!
ReplyDeleteXOXO
Jodie
www.jtouchofstyle.com
Redheads can look so chic going grey!
DeleteThe colours are beautiful together.
You rock your natural hair Jodie!!
XXX
Hi Sam, I wrote about going grey somewhere down the line, and you do get a variety of answers. i myself feel with my fairer skin tone that my complexion would look washed away and lifeless.. ( harsh I know) and I do have a fair amount of grey! As being almost 50, of course there is salon help, right? I think whatever makes one feel good/confident is what a person should go for, grey or not.
ReplyDeleteHope you are well!
jess xx
www.elegantlydressedandstylish.com
I agree completely dearest Jess!!!
DeleteXXX
Jennie and many others are super gorgeous with grey hair, but it's not good on me. I think it may be my weirdly light olive skin. Just found your blog, and will be checking in!!
ReplyDeleteThank you for popping by and saying hello Rosie!
DeleteXXX
Some wonwo look damn good with grey hair....not me! Thank you for hosting!
ReplyDeleteHahahaha... fair enough Nancy! XXX
DeleteMy hair is gray, I love it, but often I am invisible because of it. To some people gray = old. Sometimes I take the time to make myself known to someone who has judged my appearance, I like the surprise they get when they discover I've "got it goin' on!"
ReplyDeleteHahahaha... I love that Christie!
DeleteI'm sure the tide will turn (eventually) and more mature women will be valued more and more.
We have so much wisdom to offer the world... as well as plenty of sass!!!
XXX
We've been told that going grey could be trendy, but only when done by young girls who look aethereal and cool, or by glamourous old ladies who look like goddesses. My mom looks really elegant rocking her silver hair!. But what's the matter with us, not-so-glamourous ladies with a 'salt and pepper' haircolor, which is supposed to look untidy and sloppy. It looks like dying our hair was some kind of obligation (you know, You Have To Look Nice and Young!)
ReplyDeleteI have not any advice to share, as I'm still thinking on dying my fringe in red color, as I miss it!, I miss a punch of color!. On the other hand, it has been so damn liberating to let my 'salty' natural hair grow. No more expensive (and probably toxic) products!
besos
You can be salty AND have your red flash Monica!
DeleteNo wonder you miss it, it looked so cool... and a signature of you.
However, I think your bold and colourful style more than compensates for your lack of a flaming fringe.
No one could accuse you of disappearing into the background or sinking into a sea of boring beige!!
XXX
This is one of the inevitable BIG questions isn't it??
ReplyDeleteI truly enjoy makeup and fashion enough to put up with the inconvenient realities of "keeping up appearances".
Somehow hair is in its own realm. I really think that with women of all age groups embracing a huge range of hair realities over the last decade we have even more freedom to do what feels right"for us"
I too am weary of so many of my grooming routines evolving around improving, modifying, enhancing and changing what's not "right" about the real me. Of course it's sexist, demoralizing, expensive, and maddening.
I'll know when I'm fed up or just too weary to maintain the illusion I've created. At least 50% of what I do is for myself.
It is isn't it Judy?
DeleteA massive deal to many.
The point being that it shouldn't be... it should just be what happens and no one bats an eyelid or feels the need to comment/judge.
I just wish we could feel less pressure to be "younger" on more pride in being older.
If only signs of aging were worn as a badge of honor instead of camouflaged or hidden away.
Maybe one day??
I hope so!
XXX
Hello! It's been a long time since I follow you, but I think it's the first time I write.
ReplyDeleteThis subject is really interesting.
It's true that society tends to consider gray-haired men interesting, handsome, attractive… every thing, but gray-haired women, simply old. That's something that annoys me a lot, though sometimes I tend to have this thought, too.
On the other hand, when I see an old lady with brown or dark hair, it looks unnatural to me. That's why I've always thought that when a rich certain age I would stop dyeing my hair, but now I'm forty-six, I still see this day very far away;)
Awwww... how lovely Ester!
DeleteHello.
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
I agree about old ladies and dyed dark hair. It does look odd... how do we know it's the right time to step away from the bottle?? :oP
XXX
I have a few friends who've stopped colouring their hair recently, and honest to god, the steel grey looks amazing on them (especially with a bright lipstick). My hair is so naturally light that I'm not sure grey will be visible when it does start to happen. I'm looking forward to going that icy Nordic grey blonde one day, even if I have to tweak it with a bottle colour to get the right shade of grey for my skin! xx
ReplyDeleteMy grandpa had light blonde hair Lisa... in a huge teddy-boy style quiff... that just got lighter and lighter until it was platinum. It looked amazing (even with his oil covered overalls!!) I remember thinking his hair was the most beautiful colour I'd ever seen.
DeleteMaybe you will be lucky like my grandpa and just slip silently into platinum??? Lucky lady! XXX
Oh how this bugs me, too! I get asked all the time if my kids are my grandkids-- gray hair! Ridiculous. Society is nuts, and so is anyone who does this just to please others. I spend so much energy and effort on healthy food, chemicla free skin care, shampoo -- why on EARTH would I chemically dye my hair! Brilliant! #blogcrush xoxo
ReplyDeleteThat's so Rude Lisa! People are thoughtless at times.
DeleteYou are right about all of that effort being as natural as possible then using the worse chemicals on our hair.
Stupid really.
Thank you for this fab comment!
XXX
I may be on the fence about going grey but - you do have a lovely profile. Excellent photograph!
ReplyDeleteHahaha... me too!
DeleteThank you so much. XXX
I don't have any grey hair yet, and I really don't know how I'll deal with it when my turn comes. My grandma (whom I only remember with grey hair) looked BEAUTIFUL with her grey hair - it was still really thick and glossy. Fingers crossed that's how mine turns out too...!
ReplyDeleteAnd congratulations because someone loved this post so much, they added it to the BlogCrush linky! Feel free to collect your "I've been featured" blog badge :) #blogcrush
I'll cross my fingers for you Lucy!
DeleteThat's so nice!!!
I'll check it out now.
XXX
Hi Sam: so it is now June -what did you decide to do about the gray? I have been growing my hair long because I thought that when I decided to go gray, I would still look funky -I love women with long gray hair. But my hairdresser told me that to go gray I would have to chop it all off as the stripping of the dyed color is really hard on your hair. Maybe I should try on a wig?!?
ReplyDeleteI have decided to try and tone it in with some highlights and it is less annoying that way.
DeleteHowever, I miss my dark red :o(
The grey is getting to the point that I can't fight it anymore though. :oP
Stripping your hair is not all that bad... I've done it a few times, even when my hair was waist length.
You just need to condition it and treat it with care.
However... the stripping removes the colour but can't remove the lifting effect of the developer used in the original colour. So hair tends to go a bit yellow or brassy and there's very little you can do (apart from use toners).
In my opinion grey hair looks much cooler shorter and edgy... plus it's all in the way you wear it and the clothes you put on/makeup you chose etc.
You could always chop then grow it again??
The long grey hair look can go either way... cool and eclectic... or.... well, the witch look is not one we strive for is it!!?? :oP
Experiment and try different things.
If you hate it you can always colour again!
That's the great thing about hair... it's not set in stone.
XXX
Just reading through your blog posts... I went grey over the last year (at 40) let it all grow out. Dying since mid 20s. It's a bit uneven for me but I liked the bright whites on my temples. Now I'm a henna convert for a few years at least..
ReplyDelete