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To dye or not to dye?

Posted on April 28, 2010 by Amy Spitzley

By Amy SpitzleyThis is a question that's been bothering me a lot lately. Everywhere I look, there are smiling women my age, carefully covering every little silver strand they see. What's up with that? I know this is not a new obsession. There's no way Lucy's hair was really that red, and Marilyn Monroe… well, she was a case all her own. What we've got right now is a strange epidemic.

Women want, more than anything, to look natural. To get that way, they add so many body goops and facial powders that even Cleopatra would shake her head. But above all else, they mess with their hair. Root touch-ups, highlights, lowlights, plant-based or not, females are waging the war against time strand by strand.

Why all the hassle? I mean, really — what's wrong with having gray hair?

My mom has never dyed her hair. My grandmother never did, either. So why do I have all this pressure to carefully doctor my own changing locks?

On the one hand, I'd like to look young as long as I can. I mean, I'm not stupid. Of course I want to look good!

But why deny the truth of the matter? My hair — naturally curly, thank you very much — is already insane. Might as well embrace the incoming gray streaks and get it over with. Besides, I'm only 38, and not planning to leave this earth any time soon. I could end up spending a LOT on hair dye in my remaining years!

I don't know what's going on in the head of other women. I've never really been typical, and I like it that way. To me, though, this is all a bit strange. I don't like that I'm tempted by this crazy dye culture.

Sure, I've done a little experimenting. Purplish-red covering up the tell-tale silver in front once, dark-blonde highlights all over in a moment of weakness… but ultimately, I just wanna be me, gray hairs included.

After all, isn't that as natural as I can get?

  • Michigal

    I’m with you on this one. I want to look the best I can look for my age, whatever that age is at the moment–not older, and not younger either. I’m me, and I like that just fine.

    Women who obsess about “staying young” usually are kidding themselves and only themselves. They can dye and primp and patch all they want, but one glance at their necks or their hands or their attitudes generally reveals the truth–and makes them look phony into the bargain. An attractive style and friendly demeanor paired with reasonable intelligence and a confident attitude add up to the best tonic there is, in my opinion–all natural, and a lot cheaper and less hassle than constant tweaks and touch-ups. Stand up straight, ladies. Smile and hold your heads high–you’re great the way you are! :)

  • Gloria

    Right on Amy! Having had grey hair since I was 30-something & white for many years now, I come down on the side of real natural. Some of the most beautiful women I have seen in recent years have pure white hair with young faces. Perfect combination of beauty and distinguished. Go for it!

    Always,

    Gloria

    • Anonymous

      My best friend was grey by her 30 somethings also. She chose to remain natuarl, also. Her husband convinced her she really didn’t need to keep using the hair colorings she hated so much. So she decided to try it out for just a little while. She found out that she loved not being tied to a 6-8 week appointment with the hairdresser and a bottle of dye! Truley, Anita is one of the most beautiful women you will ever meet!

  • Gloria

    Right on Amy! Having had grey hair since I was 30-something & white for many years now, I come down on the side of real natural. Some of the most beautiful women I have seen in recent years have pure white hair with young faces. Perfect combination of beauty and distinguished. Go for it!

    Always,

    Gloria

  • Anonymous

    I was downtown running errands when I saw a man with grey hair, middle aged, maybe 50′s walking into the Post Office. I thought to myself, what a handsome guy. I later saw another distinguished looking man with salt & pepper grey over at Potter’s on Front. The double standard for women is alarming. The majority of people think that grey or silver hair on a woman “ages” her. I say STOP COLORING!!! Let the world see that women of every age are naturally greying and look great. Don’t define women by their hair color, but rather by the content of their character. Not only will your hair, the environment and your pocket book thank you, but we can start changing people’s attitudes.

  • 1heather1

    I was downtown running errands when I saw a man with grey hair, middle aged, maybe 50's walking into the Post Office. I thought to myself, what a handsome guy. I later saw another distinguished looking man with salt & pepper grey over at Potter's on Front. The double standard for women is alarming. The majority of people think that grey or silver hair on a woman “ages” her. I say STOP COLORING!!! Let the world see that women of every age are naturally greying and look great. Don't define women by their hair color, but rather by the content of their character. Not only will your hair, the environment and your pocket book thank you, but we can start changing people's attitudes.

  • Anonymous

    Oh dear….wait until you are in your 60′s and looking it!
    You have the advantage of looking young now with gray hair .
    BUT…. gray hair over 60 is definitely a senior look!

  • marlee1

    Oh dear….wait until you are in your 60's and looking it!
    You have the advantage of looking young now with gray hair .
    BUT…. gray hair over 60 is definitely a senior look!

  • Anonymous

    You can choose to color your hair or not. The point is that we have the right to choose. We shouldn’t make this subject deeper than it is. I personally love to pamper myself every 8 weeks or so. I love my stylist and I am supporting a local business run by women. You have to love inside and out.

  • richdo

    You can choose to color your hair or not. The point is that we have the right to choose. We shouldn't make this subject deeper than it is. I personally love to pamper myself every 8 weeks or so. I love my stylist and I am supporting a local business run by women. You have to love inside and out.

  • Anonymous

    Looking good = looking young? Not! Feeling good = beautiful. It is all in attitude and escaping societal agendas.

    • Anonymous

      Looking great can make us feel greater and more beautiful.

  • ejoyB

    Looking good = looking young? Not! Feeling good = beautiful. It is all in attitude and escaping societal agendas.

  • Anonymous

    When you look at a maple tree in the mjddle of the winter can you tell me if it is dead or alive? Coloring your hair, it’s kinda like that…
    Granted I am a hairdresser, however if your argument is cost, use herbs from your garden, Cleopatra did. Woman have been doing this for thousand of years. Now, thank goodness men are doing it. Finally they get to be pressured to look younger!
    Do an article on the waxing craze . Brazilians/Manlizians, ouch!

    • Anonymous

      I agree!!!

  • kimberlydante

    When you look at a maple tree in the mjddle of the winter can you tell me if it is dead or alive? Coloring your hair, it's kinda like that…
    Granted I am a hairdresser, however if your argument is cost, use herbs from your garden, Cleopatra did. Woman have been doing this for thousand of years. Now, thank goodness men are doing it. Finally they get to be pressured to look younger!
    Do an article on the waxing craze . Brazilians/Manlizians, ouch!

  • johnnamilks

    My best friend was grey by her 30 somethings also. She chose to remain natuarl, also. Her husband convinced her she really didn't need to keep using the hair colorings she hated so much. So she decided to try it out for just a little while. She found out that she loved not being tied to a 6-8 week appointment with the hairdresser and a bottle of dye! Truley, Anita is one of the most beautiful women you will ever meet!

  • Anonymous

    I am one the many that does choose to use the dye job. I didn’t get the genetics that my Grandmother was graced with. She passed away at 93 and had almost the exact same shade of hair she started life with, and had never used a bottle of hair color in her life.

    I admit, however, that I do love the the fact that I can change from blonde to brunette on a whim!

  • johnnamilks

    I am one the many that does choose to use the dye job. I didn't get the genetics that my Grandmother was graced with. She passed away at 93 and had almost the exact same shade of hair she started life with, and had never used a bottle of hair color in her life.

    I admit, however, that I do love the the fact that I can change from blonde to brunette on a whim!

  • richdo

    I agree!!!

  • richdo

    Looking great can make us feel greater and more beautiful.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 at 8:19 am and is filed under The Casual Nonconformist. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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