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To dye or not to dye

My 'aha' moment came at the salon. An older woman came in using a walker, and her hair was brown. It just didn't look right. I thought, when are you going to stop? That was the last time I colored my roots.
—Becky Luigart-Stayner, 51 Homewood, Ala.

"I come from a long line of fabulous African-American women who cover the gray, including my awesome 96-year-old grandmother. I am fully aware that many wonderful women embrace what they refer to as the 'earned gray' hair, but I don't plan to be one of them."
—Sherylon Carroll, 49College Station, Texas

"I only do color on six to eight foils in my bangs, in various shades of purple and red. It was actually my hairdresser's suggestion. We thought I shouldn't look like every other gray-haired lady—I am a bit quirky."
—Carol Jordan, 63 Richmond, Vt.

"I've been dyeing my gray for about five years and can't imagine stopping anytime soon. I have some friends who have lovely, evenly-distributed silvery white locks. Me? Looks a little more like Cruella DeVil, or like a skunk climbed up on my head and decided to stay."
—Vikki Smith, 56 Austin, Texas

first appeared: 11/1/2009

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Here are the first 10 of 18 comments about this article. To read more or post your own comments, visit our message boards.

On 11/9/09 9:56 AM shicks4 wrote:

Here are my thoughts on the topic if you have a few minutes to spare! http://coehp.uark.edu/6830.htm

On 11/9/09 10:53 AM delanel wrote:

I love it! thanks for sharing!

Lisa D

On 11/9/09 2:40 PM njrosendaul wrote:

Why does everyone assume going gray only has to do with vanity? I would love to stop coloring my hair, but my gray hair is so hard to manage there isn't enough conditioner on the planet to control it! I have pictures of my Grandmother and older sister to prove it. Even a great hair cut doesn't help, we still look like we stuck our fingers in a light socket.

On 11/9/09 5:04 PM Kristen wrote:

I've gone gray, and feel it is a softer look that I am happy with. PLUS, I like saving money and keeping it simple.
In the "Life is a Mystery" category:
My grandmother NEVER went gray! Her hair stayed brown until she was 92 years old! I had my hair cut by the woman who used to cut her hair and she confirmed it.
My mother was completely gray by 30. She used to think it looked exotic to be young and gray.

On 11/9/09 7:29 PM Berneice wrote:

i found my first grey hair at 16. I had a good streak at 25 and never wanted to dye my hair. You have to be very comfortable with yourself to have no desire to color your hair.I have always felt it would be a waste of money to dye it. I am 54 and rarely people guess my age and my hair is now over 50% grey.They usually guess me to be younger.

On 11/10/09 9:24 AM JBurney wrote:

Never! I began having gray show up in my bangs in my early 40's; 20 years and lots of added gray later, I couldn't be happier with my hair color. It has dried out my formerly oily scalp and I don't mind at all being considered "mature". Hair color is such a big hassle to maintain (I tried going blonde when I was young) not to mention the expense.

On 11/10/09 9:35 AM hippiechick111 wrote:

My 'aha' moment came five years ago, when I was 50. I had colored my hair for 20 years to cover the gray. On day, I looked, really looked, at myself in the mirror. My hair had no shine, was dry and brittle, and had thinned horribly. What were those chemicals doing to the rest of me? I decided to stop.

It took a few months to grow out, but to my surprise, I have beautiful blonde streaks framing my face (my hair used to be all dark brown), and the gray was nicely spaced through the rest. And it's healthy looking! I now have perfect strangers approaching me, complimenting me on my hair. One women said I was brave, and wished she could do the same. Even a male trainer at the gym said he just loves my hair. A guy!

For those of you that have dry hair, I discovered SECRET WEAPON, a cream from John Frieda. It works beautifully.

On 11/10/09 11:29 AM Maribat6023@batliner.us wrote:

Gray is no choice, however, for several years I have been using a medium golden brown washable coloring agent. After washing my hair (only twice a week) I put a few drops in the palm of my hand, rub my hands together and gently apply it to my wet hair, then brush it through. I do this every other wash. It took a bit of time to disperse the coloring correctly, however, it looks good enough that a hairdresser once suggested that I should patent it and I laughed - the Brand I use wouldn't like that. I don't look like a Q-tip any more and a bottle lasts more than a year. Hiding the pink undercoat is not vanity, it's a challenge - and fun. Having read some of the "Gray is Great" messages, I will say, I am 78 years on this earth and enjoy every second. What color I have on my head is a hoot for me. Y'all have your gray. I'll go blonde any time......

On 11/10/09 12:25 PM SurprisingWoman wrote:

I let my color grow out starting in 2004. My hair is now past my waist and about 90% gray. It's healthy and I am sooo glad I quit. Do you really want to be one of those old ladies with the improbably colored hair that looks like a bird's nest?

I love it, there should be more of us.

On 11/10/09 12:29 PM SurprisingWoman wrote:

you can check out this website. They will help you keep your hair healthy while giving you support.

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/

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