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oceanfamily
Associate Member
127 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 1:22:45 PM
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| This thread stems from my other thread. My hope for this topic is that other gray haired women can stop by and give ones that are struggling with going gray some encouragement...we need all the encouragement we can get... |
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CathyA
Advanced Member
4157 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 1:57:24 PM
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Can white-haired women come too? :)
To be honest with you, I've tried to ignore my outer envelope and focus more on my inner self for some time now. Otherwise, I'd spend all my time trying to look different and being frustrated.
I don't know if I do that out of emotional healthiness or just giving up! haha
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Danny
Advanced Member
Canada
8754 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 3:12:05 PM
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Perhaps you can help by explaining how the issue is impacting you.
At age 65, I have been going gray for about 10 years but I was an ash brown hair colour to start with and have rosy fair skin colouring so gray actually does look good on me. I have been complimented fairly often on my gray hair and winkle-free skin.
A friend and I had our "colours done" together about 30 years ago and I (dusty summer) was told that I would go gray gracefully and she (spring) would have challenges. It turned out just as we were advised. She is colouring her hair and mine is very short and au naturel.
If these are the types of challenges that you are facing going gray, it may be a matter of genetics necessitating changing the colours that you wear around your face or a new hairstyle to complement your new grayer hair colouring.
Others will have more ideas, I am sure. |
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oceanfamily
Associate Member
127 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 4:36:00 PM
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CathyA~ How cute! Actually I should change the thread to white and gray considering I'm just now finding out there is a difference. I'm 36 and have been getting white hairs to be exact. It's been a struggle for me quite honestly. Trying to decide if I want to do stop processing my hair. My kids were having a hard time with it until my 18 year old son has been mistaken for my husband on numerous occasions. So he is now fine with me going gray/white haired. I also think that if I keep my hair in a cute style I think that would help me with this transition. I just wish I could have confidence 24/7 about this. I really like your thought on working on the inside instead of just the outside. I really feel that is important. Very good reminder.
Danny~ thank you for the comments:) |
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leslieann
Associate Member
Canada
123 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 4:56:12 PM
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I am so HAPPY to be gray! My story was that I was 28 when I started colouring so when I was 52 I had no real idea of the colour of my hair. I knew what colour I chose at the salon! When I discovered that I spent more on hair than on gasoline one quarter when gas was nearly four bucks a gallon, that was IT. The process took nine months and really took me three years to get mentally and emotionally ready. I got feedback from my adult kids ("Don't do it, Mom!") and my partner ("You'd look really sexy with gray hair!") and my hairdresser ("No! I won't let you!") but did it anyway. I was lucky that the lighter gray under the blondish colour just looked,well, light, for some time, and I mostly didn't look in mirrors, and I got my hair cut short as much as I could tolerate. But by cutting short, I discovered curls (who knew?) and now that my hair is growing longer, I get compliments on the colour.
I do look my age now, which I didn't before, but honestly, why would I not want to look my age? There are many benefits to being fifty something. I am very happy with having "gone gray" and I wish that I had known before...I think it would have been much more graceful to let it happen naturally.
Best to all you brave women, bucking the cultural expectations...
Leslie |
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Karen in Bisbee
Moderator
USA
6695 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 5:03:56 PM
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Once in a blue moon when I want to feel especially young and pretty, I'll wear my contact lenses. The rest of the time glasses suit me just fine. Would you consider a temporary at-home rinse for those special moments when you needed a little change from gray to brown - or gray to green, for that matter?  |
Our capacity to do less harm is limited, but our capacity to do good is not. |
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oceanfamily
Associate Member
127 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 5:41:10 PM
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| Karen~ thanks for posting. For me personally it goes a little deeper with the hair coloring thing. While doing research one day I just happened to come across some very interesting things with coloring hair in regards to the chemicals. Ladies are reacting to their hair color that they've done for years etc, etc. But also that the color seaps through the scalp runs into the bloodstream where it can harm our organs and/or cause crazy cancer to the organs. I don't particularly want to go gray or white and would consider doing a temporary thing if it wasn't harmful in any way shape or form. I've even considered just highlighting but there's going to come a time where it will look silly with the white really peeking through other areas so I feel why go through with it in the first place.It's such a struggle. |
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hapathy
Senior Member
USA
701 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 5:52:31 PM
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| Well I guess there is always henna. But I've heard it's very rarely done well, so gray is probably a better idea. |
Got community? |
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Kathy WI
Advanced Member
2907 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 6:13:06 PM
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I'm surprised to hear people say that they or their mother is over 60 or 70 and "going grey". My mom was completely grey by age 50, so I just assumed that was when it happened to everyone. I'm 47 and about 10-15% grey, so I wonder when it will be completely grey. I really don't care if I look my age, and I think my long hair kind of makes me look younger, or maybe like an old hippy, who knows.
How can you tell if the individual strands of hair are grey or white? Mine actually look white to me, but it's hard to tell.
It's odd how the grey hairs have a different texture than the brown ones. |
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Mrs.Hermit
Junior Member
70 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 6:37:26 PM
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I'm about 30% gray now, at age 49. I don't think about it much, unless I catch sight of myself in the mirror. When I bring up coloring my hair, my children are all advising me to not color my hair. They do have stories of their friends who unintentionally turned their hair vibrant pink, or hunter orange. I think they would have more trouble with a green-haired mom than a gray-haired mom!
I have found that I need a very good haircut to make my hair look nice. The texture of the gray hairs is so different from my brown and white hairs that if I don't get a good cut, I tend to look like a scared cat. |
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LionGail
Associate Member
Australia
210 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 8:35:11 PM
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My hair is silver and my colouring is cool summer. I tried colouring my hair once or twice but it just seemed like too much trouble and expense, and not so good for my health.
I like my gray hair, my sisters all have gray hair and my motherinlaw used to colour her hair but now is silver, she's 77 years old.
Sometimes I'll see young women with what appears to be gray streaks in their black hair, that just looks weird, but each to their own weirdness, I say.
All power to gray haired women. Gail |
Life is what you make it! |
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Iris Lily
Advanced Member
3266 Posts |
Posted - Nov 01 2009 : 8:48:12 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Kathy WI
It's odd how the grey hairs have a different texture than the brown ones.
I've always thought that, too. |
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Juhli
Advanced Member
1532 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 04:31:26 AM
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| I've been going gray since I was 20 (now 60)and decided long ago that coloring was too much trouble and expense. If you really hate it while it is turning or you have a pattern of some totally white and some dark hair consider "low lights" - the opposite of highlights. You add back in some strands of color to help with the transition. I really think anyone can look great with their hair its natural color. Find a good haircut for you and wear the right color clothes near you face and you will look vibrant! |
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CathyA
Advanced Member
4157 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 04:56:39 AM
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My eyebrows and eyelashes are starting to go white too. I always wondered why older women drew in their eyebrows, and now I know why. But.....I'm still not going to do it myself.
I started going white in my 30's. My daughter is 22 and she has a number of white hairs in her dark brown hair already. |
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walker
Member
347 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 05:37:11 AM
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| I am silver blond gray. It started at least 10 years ago (now 55). I get tons of compliments on the color and I never considered coloring my hair due to the hassle. That is probably why my hair is long. I cut it very short once, loved it but had to constantly go to the hairdresser to keep the cut. Now my SIL cuts it when ever I see her which is often enough. I just keep it in a ponytail for the summer and it is nice and cool. My father went gray in his 30's, my mother started to go gray in her early 80's. She used to have highlights put into her hair because she thought her color was too dark and harsh for someone her age. People just assumed she colored her hair because it was so dark. I did not inherit those genes and am happy with all the hair I have as my younger brother is balding and wears a ridiculous very long stringy thin combover. Fools everyone! |
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Mrs.Hermit
Junior Member
70 Posts |
Posted - Nov 02 2009 : 06:00:31 AM
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| CathyA: My brows are going white/gray too. Only the gray hairs corkscrew straight out of my brows, and the white hairs are so stiff that my brows have become bushy. The white hairs grow to ridiculous lengths, too. I have to trim my brows to keep them looking reasonable. |
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Gray hair women club:)
