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| elle.co.za |
Doing a little internet research, I found an article in the Daily Mail on going grey gracefully which referred to a new survey from L'Oréal UK & Ireland putting grey hair at the top of a list of things that make people feel less confident about their appearance when they are over 50. Mmmmmm. Well it might be a matter of opinion but I don't think Jackie Burger, editor of Elle, looks anything but confident. Simple understated style something to aspire to.
I found my first grey hair at 24 and over the years I have been various shades of brunette, red and blond. Blond with Irish colouring, now that is something to behold.
Two years ago at the height of my eczema challenge, I found that even the mildest of colourant used by my hairdresser, was itself too powerful. I had been grateful for this particular brand because it had produced very shiny healthy hair for quite a while, something that would not have been possible with any other colourant.
We changed the battle plan (my hairdresser & I) and started on the low-light and high-light pathway. It was still a shock to see all that grey and it wasn't a good look to pull back into a ponytail but I persisted. At least up until last Christmas, when a flare up of eczema made me give up the bottle for good, the colour bottle that is. Six plus months on and I am of the view that I should have done it sooner. Although don't tell my husband who was on at me to embrace the grey years earlier.
I am not yet fully grey but I take great pleasure in my grey streaks as I do my wrinkles which according to L'Oreal is next on the list of confidence sappers. Fortunately these days there are many role models who do not hold store by their looks staying the same throughout life and I for one want to enjoy the present whatever the change, rather than waste my time looking backwards. I certainly didn't fully appreciate my teens and early twenties so why would I think I could replicate them now?
Friends and colleagues say I am brave but I just feel liberated and happy in my skin. What more could I ask for?
I couldn't agree more. I will be 50 in February and have daughters aged 26 and almost 19; how can I be expected to look 25? I have greying hair, and wrinkles, as did generations of women in my family when they were my age.
ReplyDeleteSo pleased for you. I would love to try this. Jackie Burger certainly oozes confidence both in her hair and her clothes. It's not easy, this getting older lark, is it?
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I do think a lot depends on the shade of 'grey' nature bestows upon you though. A proper grey can look great on a 50 year old but white hair is very ageing, and the latter would be my lot. I've gone from very fair to white enough that the remaining fair bits look white. I think I'm going to hang on to the colour bottle a bit longer, luckily I have the choice.
ReplyDeleteLiberated and happy in your skin. I like the sound of that. It's not so much the greying and the wrinkling as all the sagging that gets to me. So much bliddy sag.
ReplyDeleteHurrah for you! People used to stop and ask my sister in law where she had her wonderful white hair dyed; theirs is a family that go grey youngish and carry it of with style. I fear I may have to wait a while myself - it's too salt and pepper just yet, but I'm looking forward to the day.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. There's nothing more ageing and depressing than grey roots which is what I have if I leave any more than 5 weeks between pricey visits to the hairdresser. It's a constant battle and wish I was brave enough to give in.
ReplyDeleteI think Jackie in the photo looks fab - oozes confidence! Some ladies are fortunate in their shade of grey, hers is a lovely white and I have a glamorous Auntie (60+) who looks gorgeous too with her beautiful silver bob. However my greys are wiry little critters so I will resort to the blonde camouflage a bit longer :)
ReplyDeleteHI, 2 reasons why I am embracing my grey.I am being investigated for dizzy feelings and wondered if chemicals in hair colour could contribute to the feelings and also have a big tummy(due to my liking of cake!!) and on more than one occasion had been asked when my baby was due!!!!! Since going grey I have NOT been asked that question! Dizziness still being investigated.It is a relief not to have to worry about grey hair showing through the artificial colour and I have also been complimented on my grey hair! So it's not that bad really!Also I am lucky with inheriting good skin and am a regular user of the Clarins skincare range and Liz Earle cleanse and polish.Ttfn Pam.
ReplyDeleteI dye my hair. It's naturally very dark, so any pesky greys are obvious. I've been colouring it for a long time and am still in my thirties; it used to be very expensive as I had my roots done at a salon but these days I do it myself.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a drag: messy, time-consuming and a bit too frequent for my liking.
I've seen photos of women with really beautiful grey hair and would love to be brave enough to give it a go. Sadly I'm not courageous enough yet to discover exactly what shade of grey my hair would naturally be.
Sarah.
P.S. I always seem to end up with paler roots and darker ends and it all looks very amateurish and a bit rubbish. The joys of beautifying ourselves...
The wrinkles don't bother me, but the grey hair is more of a challenge to live with. I do dye it from time to time, I use the dyes in Holland and Barratt.
ReplyDeleteFeeling good in your own skin is something we should all strive for I reckon.
Lisa x
I think I'm completely grey under the dye, I don't know if I'm brave enough to embrace it, or when the right time will be. It's such a pain to keep dying it though.
ReplyDeleteI have naturally very dark hair and my grey ones look very wiry. I a bit like a wirehaired dachshund maybe. I have dyed my hair for ages, so much so that I don't actually know how grey I am beneath the colour..... I am not ready for giving up the bottle yet but I think once my youngest is at High School, I'll consider it. My mum thinks she is a natural blonde after years and years of highlighting her hair and ignoring all photographic evidence that prove the contrary. This always makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteP.S. First time visitor btw, clicked through to you from tales of a happy house.
My hair went white very early ... it runs in the family , my cousin was snow white at 28 ... and couldn't be bothered to start colouring it .
ReplyDeleteOne bonus though , what with the white hair , wrinkles and bags under my eyes , I'm always offered a seat on the bus
When I was a child, my mum told me that when she was 20, she thought 30 was The End. But she realised it wasn't when she got to 30; instead she thought 40 was The End. And so on. Now she's 86. So I decided that whatever age I was, I would remember and learn from her. I'm now approaching 49 and thinking about 50 and deciding that it will be Interesting!
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