I hear you – I am 51 with an 11-year old child so already I am older than many of my son’s friends’ moms. But although I’ve had to make some adjustments in colors/makeup, I think gray can look chic, especially when I add the occasional toner (I’ve gone gray/eggplant and gray/silver and steel gray…) and a good haircut. The toner, btw, does not leave me with a solid growth-line at the roots after two weeks, it simply fades into my natural gray. What decided ME a few years ago was standing in line behind a twenty-something who had dyed her (very long) hair entirely (silver) gray. Here I was spending time and money covering what she had clearly spent loads of time and money copying, lol!

I let my hair go grey during lockdown. It did not come through in the more modern looking grey but an awful dirty grey. My husband said it really aged me and he was right, it did. I have gone back to highlights and lowlights and feel so much better. So I’ve tried it but for now I shall keep on colouring my hair.

Thanks for that information, Judi! I had not heard of that before.

I’ll have to let go of my auburn dye-addiction before too many more years, but my husband says “not yet”, especially as we can’t afford to retire and I’ll need to land a job when I finish my master’s program.

This blog and blogpost are for women, I know, but I’d like to add that my older husband, nearing 70, went grey as a young man, did the brown hair dye for decades, but now blends in a “natural gray coverage” coloring product for men, spending just a few minutes every few days, to give his hair and beard that variegated “George Clooney” look. It is amazing how much less of an “old man” vibe this gives him, over the pure white-could-play-Santa Claus look he has without it. It’s not mere vanity; he needs to stay employed in the tech sector for a few more years, and “ageism” is a real factor to consider. (He uses American Crew, recommended by a hairstylist, FWIW.)

Like you, I decided to use the pandemic lockdown to go gray. I am 62 and have colored and highlighted my brunette hair for 20 years. I’m about 25% gray in small streaks. To prevent an obvious line from previous coloring, my stylist extended individual gray hairs through my shoulder length hair overall. I love it. My daughter-in-law calls it “cinnamon and sugar” vs salt and pepper.

I do think everyone should make the choice for themselves, but I love that it’s becoming more mainstream for women to embrace who they are.

Jeannie
Conditioner is the key. Put it on dry hair 20-30 minutes before you get in the shower to wash it. Dry hair soaks up more conditioner than when applied to wet hair (it goes not have to fight with the water). After washing wrap in a towel to pull out water spray in some leave in conditioner and add some oil heat protector. Comb all thru and style as normal. You will find your hair not as course and very manageable. I do this at least every other week.

Sylvia, your hair looks great! I, too, am going Grey and having colored my hair since March, 2020. Low lights add depth to graying hair; I’m definitely trying it with my stylist.