Going Gray
I acquired my first gray hair in 1993, courtesy of, or so I told them, a group of particularly mischievous boys in my AP class. I was 27. I started coloring my hair in my thirties, but on a more regular basis once my sons were born and I was occasionally pegged for the Grandma. (I tried to give those kindergartners a break since my boys had a step mother in her early twenties who occasionally arrived to pick them up or attended events, and the little ones logically thought she was the mom, so I must be the G-ma).
In whatever case, coloring my hair was my way of warding off a more aged look.
From my early forties, I realized the new growth was at least half gray, and by the time my last child was born, when I was 48, it was almost 90%. Then, I was even more often called, out loud, by adults, “Grandma.” So I kept coloring, to help just a bit. I don’t think it fooled anybody.
My hair is thin, but grows quickly, and that inevitable “skunk” line of incoming white would appear just three or four weeks after a professional coloring session. I would use semi-permanent color in between pro sessions to defray some costs. It was a lot of upkeep.
When I conceived of this blog, and considered ways I might Embrace 53, it seemed authentic to embrace my new natural hair color. Stylist Molly advised that it would be best accomplished in three stages, with a ⅓ weave each time, then covered with a silver-gray glaze.
The first ⅓ “went gray” the end of July, and when I went back to school, colleagues complimented me on my new blond! So it did not look particularly gray, just lighter. My oldest son said, verbatim, “You look a little older, but you look more like you.” Whatever that means.
Here I am, stage one gray.
The second stage happened in December.
The jury is still out. I don’t know how I feel about it, but I love that the new growth blends right in with the rest of my hair and I feel more authentic. Embracing my natural hair feels like a meaningful start to embracing some of the other aspects of this stage in my life.
It does look more like blonde, and a softer look. I like it. As you know, I went blonde when I developed a lot of gray/white. I don’t know if I’ll be ever comfortable enough in my own skin to not color, unless maybe I’m sure it’s pure white. I think I’d like that. But, I’m glad you feel comfortable enough to let it go, or have it be any way you want it.