To dye or not to die? I wish this blog had a survey attachment. In my quest to be as natural and organic as fiscally possible, I am now debating as to what to do with my hair. I know. There are much more important things to worry about. I worry about them all. I would simply like some opinions, as I have this horrible problem of not ever being able to make a decision when it comes to me.
I know several women my age who have chosen not to go down the artificial path, and they look beautiful. They are completely gray in some cases and it works for them. These women have children younger than mine, and they still appear youthful despite their gray heads. I know some women my age who remain natural and they look much older. A few of my friends have gone partially gray and seem not to give it a second thought. I have friends several years older who dye and look completely normal and natural with their hair coloring. I have friends who dye and look totally phony.
Walmart has non-ammonia hair coloring for $3.97 a box, which I could squeeze into my ultra-limited budget.
I have gray coming in on one side of my head, in the front. It sort of gives the appearance of my hair being lighter than usual. When it grows longer, it will most likely look odd, as the right side of my head, and the back of my head, don't show any signs of white.
See my predicament?
To color or not to color, that is today's question.
CVS nearby? They have many colors on clearance w/ cvs card. Plus, if you start collecting coupons and matching to deals you will not pay for or very little for health and beauty aids.
ReplyDeleteI have colored since I was 28, now 41. I am almost all gray. I would look freakish with my dead gray color. May women w/ beautiful gray hair actually use gloss/ color on their "white." I never thought I'd color, but gray at 28...changed my mind. Also, if you want to work outside home- you will look younger, and more put together. Gray hair can look good, but often I have seen it as part of sloppy look.
I would dye (have been since I was 30 and now am 45) but would not get the cheapo dye. It will destroy your hair- Preference by L'Oreal.
ReplyDeleteDoes Preference have ammonia? Ammonia freaks me out. I always buy the boys ammonia-free deoderant, too.
ReplyDeleteI'm 40 and just about to color for the first time- my coloring (sort of dark blonde) does not look good with grey. and yes, there is 'peer pressure' out there when it seems like the majority of truly olf women have no grey
ReplyDeleteI'm 42 and just colored for the first time, after being mistaken for my kids' grandmother. They are 9,8,5,3, and 1. I started noticing other women's hair, and was stunned at how many women actually do color their hair, including some people that I would not have thought would do it. (Really laid back, low maintenance types like myself.) I used a "temporary" dye and I'm still undecided about doing it again. I don't want to be stuck in this cycle forever, and I don't like the pressure to look like somebody other than the 42 year old mother that I am. But, yes, I gave into peer pressure.
DeleteOne time the grocery store PAID me to dye my hair with Natural Instincts -- combined a great sale with a great coupon and I got money back.
ReplyDeleteI also used to use Ardell Lights and Brights which is pretty much just a gloss - it doesn't cover grays, but it does make hair very shiny and brings out highlights depending on the color you choose. Only a couple of dollars a packet at Sally's Beauty Supply.
I agree that some people who have really pretty all gray or white hair actually use some kind of color or rinse to enhance it, keep it looking its best.
MulierisDignitatumFan said:
ReplyDeleteYour hair is beautiful! the way it is by the way. My mom had a very unusual sided growth of gray and colored for many years until it grew in more evenly gray. -I use a cap for highlights at home w/ help, and don't find the money I use to be an extravagance, I like looking like the "me" i'm used to seeing: life has enough other stresses. The avg. cost is around $14 for everything (Sally beauty supply) vs. ever so much more at a salon. Going to a salon would be exravagant for me, and I actually don't think it would come out so good.
I started coloring my hair last year - I'm 42, and was VERY gray on the top at the roots, but not anywhere else. I used Nice and Easy for gray, and it covered very well. It did have ammonia in it. Walmart sells it for $8.97 and I usually have a coupon. I look for sales at Walgreens and CVS, and then usually do the price match thing. I try to buy ahead on sale. I like how I look with my hair, and I dye it for me. I have no idea if it looks good or not to others. But, I don't do it for them! Try it once and see if you like it. If you don't, it'll wash out soon enough!
ReplyDelete--Bess
I am a 60 year old handicapped widow. (Note: because of an accident caused by someone else with no insurance over 20 years ago. I am also a practicing Catholic.) I can no longer work and live on disability which is not much. When I became a grandmother 7 years ago I gave myself permission to go gray. (I also gray like you.) People still do not think I am that old and I am very happy that I left nature take its path. It freed me from one stupid worry!
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel better about yourself, do it. Sometimes the scrimping and penny pinching all piles up and if looking in the mirror is depressing too, well, do that little thing for yourself. It helps.
ReplyDeleteI agree if it makes you feel better to do it. That said I wish more woman would stop coloring their hair. I hate that we are expected to not age. I got my first gray hair at 13 and was fine with it for years. It came in as two silver streaks coming down from the top of my head. But as it got grayer and I got fatter I didn't like it and ended up coloring it.
ReplyDeleteHowever I really don't like the idea of slathering my head with a lot of toxic chemicals that get absorbed fast in my scalp. It's just not in keeping with how I choose to eat and live. So I found I just repeatedly put it off and had roots that I needed to wear in a pony tail to hide all the time. I hate it. So I ended up doing some reading at some gray forums where women of all ages are growing their gray out and decided to take the plunge.
My hair is very gray! I'm still wearing that stupid ponytail waiting for my hair to be long enough to just cut it. I'm getting there! I'm looking forward to it but also nervous. It's going to be a real difference between how it is now. I still have some dark hair around my face so brushing it back makes it far less obvious though it's getting harder to disguise. I hope I'm comfortable with it. I really want to be. Will I look like a young looking old lady or a younger woman with gray hair? I guess we'll see soon!