To gray or not to gray?

O.K , so after years of trying to cover it up I am now considering just gracefully letting that gray hair show. I never thought I would struggle so much with this decision because I grew a patch in my 20's and loved it. However in my thirties, after prompting from close friends and 2 incidents of being asked was I 40 something I decided to dye.

I thought I would feel more confident to take the plunge after losing weight and getting fit,but as I approach my goal, This decision is not coming easy. I love Jamie lee Curtis' look As I will have to cut my hair off. And NO I don't look anything like her I just love how classy and vibrant she looks.

I keep imagining being asked if I'm grandma as I have 2 kids under age 3.

Is anyone working thru this or have you done it already? can you share some thoughts.

By the way this is not a low self esteem issue,I think I'm fabulous. I'm just surprised that I'm so hesitant to take this step.I know that it is a healthy thing to do for my hair( the less chemicals the better).THANX!

funwow,

I can relate to the growing the hair out tribulation. I'm doing that now. My hair wasn't REALLY short, but it was above my chin and now it's about shoulder length. Once it gets past my shoulders, I won't be feeling like I'm going to tear it out. I have a great cut but I haven't had a good hair day in months. I have curly hair, too, and some days it's a blessing, and some days it's a curse. ;-)

Good luck with yours!

I will turn 42 this year, and never thought I would still be battling my weight. Yet here I am. I too have been coloring my hair for years, and several times have said I would not color anymore, and yet, I continue to do so. So here is my 2 cents although I'm not sure it is worth that much. In a quiet place alone, I asked myself if I would be "happy" with being grey. And the answer is NO. I don't think it is a self esteem issue for me either. I am working hard to loose this weight once & for all. Once I do, I want to feel good about every asspect of me. And as vein as it may be, that includes my hair. Life is too short to get caught up in weight, hair etc. Make your choice, and make piece with it. The only thing that will make you really unhappy is the indecision.

Best of Luck!

I just turned 42 this past January.... I have had very short hair for the past 17 years...(Jamie Lee Curtis style) I have been growing for the past year and its finally to my chin. (an angled bob) I'm not sure if the longer hair is better or not ... I just had to grow it one more time... (its a 40's thing with me) I know when I am older I will have short hair again. When I turned 40 I went through this period where I wanted it my natural hair color... cow turd brown! And I kept it that way for a year... UGH!!! Looking back at pics... what was I thinking??? It did nothing but make my dark circles look darker and my scalp shined brightly through my dark brown Clairol thinning hair. Now... I keep it highlighted blond... makes my hair seem thicker and I look better. Pictures really are worth a thousand words!

I say do what makes you feel good about yourself. Life is too short to be self conscience about your hair.

Im turning 44 this December and have sparkles... I got into a heated conversation with some friend about pros and cons of dyeing.  I hope people accept the natural changes in life.   

borabod, bless your heart! Now there is a MAN!!!! I truly believe that boys can get away with not coloring,....us girls like that anyway.... not only that, but how fake is the colored look on Taxes Ranger Walker?????LOLOLOL I think he has a "rug" as well,....Let's hear it for the "naturals"!!!:)

I've  started to get not gray hairs, but white hairs. I've leaving them alone.... telling people that it is my "crown of wisdom."

I turn 40 next week and have been graying since i was 19.  always colored because i own my own salon and can do my own.   I've thought about letting it grow out.  but once i start seeing that graycoming in, it gives me a totally much older look to my face.  As long as i can raise my arms above my head, i'll keep coloring!  

I am one of those who didn't start graying until late. I am almost 50 and have very little gray. I thought at first I would do highlights so I could just kind of blend it in, but now I'm about to let it take it's natural look. 

This may be too late, and I couldn't read through so many posts - so I am wondering if anyone suggested a wig shop? Go in and try on some grey wigs. They should have all styles, thicknesses and more importantly, shades of different grey. That's what I'm going to do when it gets closer :)

I am 45 I found my 1st white hairs at 19.  In my 20's everyone assumed my hair was high lighted.  In my 30's ask why I did not dye.  In my 40's people tell me they wish there gray was as pretty as my white.  I have dyed it a few times because the white bothered somebody I was dating.  I never kept the dye job up because the white does not bother me.  I have always had white in my hair.  I do wear my hair short.  I like me with short hair.  Always have.  I like long hair on other women but if they are gray it looks better short.

I am a 42 year old natural blond and have never coloured my hair. I figure when I start going grey I will start to experiment with colours, not to cover up the grey but just for a change..For now, I like my hair, but I am looking forward to a change.