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Should you go gray naturally or dye your hair as you age?
Results so far:
| Go gray | 42% | 3949 votes | Total: 9389 votes | |
| Dye it | 58% | 5440 votes |
Go gray
by Bridget Webber
Created on: May 24, 2007 Last Updated: July 23, 2010
Sultry and sophisticated. You may not realize it but I am talking about how gray hair will soon be viewed. Gray hair used to be seen as a problem because it reminded people that were aging. Nowadays we all live much longer and the likelihood of most of us turning gray is greater because of it.
As the world veers more towards an environmentally green future, new designs and innovations are being made to accommodate the ecological views of the people. Architecture and the ways we produce energy to fuel our homes are all changing, and so will fashion. This is because fashion dictates where money flows by picking up on trends and having the vision to see above the crowd to where we will all be headed next. The money and trends of the future will be green and not gray.
Dying hair uses nasty chemicals. They are unpleasant and cannot be good for the environment, and possibly could be detrimental to health over time.
Chemicals can also leave your hair brittle and dry. This means that it is prone to breakage, as well as loosing it's shine at the same time.
Many advert campaigns now feature the more mature model, usually with flowing locks of gray hair. These models, far from looking decrepit, look fresh, confident and even sexy. As more and more of these adverts flood the market gray will be the color to sport along with more natural, easy going hairstyles that evoke a feeling of freedom.
Whether you personally choose to dye your hair or to leave nature to have it's way will depend on your own personal style, and whether you are turning gray in a subtle way or not. Some of us will see our hair turn into a mass of silvery white, while for others their journey into grey hair will be marred by a dramatic clashing of black and white patches.
While this look can suit some folks, others just don't feel right this way. The most important point about whether you dye your hair or not is that what you do is your choice alone and that you are happy with the result. An empowered woman is one who feels free to make up her own mind and who will not be bamboozled into doing as she is told! However, it is important to know that it is just as fashionable and beautiful to have gray hair as it is to have hair with color.
Now we no longer think of gray as the hair color of people close to the end of life and more as the hair color of those who are mature and sophisticated gray has gained a good reputation. I myself look forward to seeing what nature has in store for my hair as I march through time, and intend to remain stylish no matter what my hair color turns out to be.
Learn more about this author, Bridget Webber.
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Dye it
by Emily Pertee
Created on: February 12, 2010
Just the mere thought of waking up one morning, and out of the blue saying, "I can't wait till my hair turns gray!" Have you ever heard anybody make a comment like that? This is a choice everyone has to make for themselves, but striving to maintain a youthful and healthy appearance as we grow older is of great importance to us all, men and women both. Beautiful colors fill our world with decoration, from blossoming trees, to flowers that warm our land scape. Why not keep your hair full of color and vibrancy? It will warm up the tones of gray hair in a soft inviting way. You have the opportunity and choice to change nature's course.
Our lifestyle reflects on the way we see ourselves. Our appearance greatly affects the way the world sees us. Dyeing our hair tells the world we haven't given up on the fight against aging. We are only as old as we feel! Gray hair, depending on the shade, can be quite beautiful on some people, then there are some shades that can appear dull and lifeless. Ask for advice from your friends and family. You personally may not be a dull and lifeless person at all, but that's what your image could be portraying. Growing old gracefully means adapting to it at a slow and gentle pace.
Coloring your hair only enhances your individuality, just like going shopping for clothes. What feels flattering to you is going to create more self-confidence in yourself. Coloring and high-lighting techniques have come along way in creating muti-levels of different colors to use in the hair. Gray hair tends to be very resistant and hard to manage, feels wiry and course, and grows out in unbalanced patches throughout the hair. A strand or two here and there is a sure sign that more gray hair is on the way.
If you want to gracefully grow into a more even and balanced gray , start with high-lighting (lighter shades of blonde or caramel) or low-lighting (darker colors) with a high-lighting cap or foil method of alternating thin strands of color throughout the entire head. This creates a camouflage effect until all the gray has grown in evenly. This is for someone who is afraid of drastic changes all at once. Subtle changes can add shine, bounce and life back to your hair and personality.
If you prefer to get rid of all the gray or change your hair color completely, then pick a shade closest (within 5 levels) to your actual natural hair color. This will ensure a more natural looking you in the end result. Distribute the color all over your hair in one step. After drying your hair with the new color, you can even add a few high-lights throughout your hair to give it a more multi-level natural look. It comes down to what kind of look you are trying to obtain.
It's discouraging to your spirit to see a gray hair, so why not use corrective measures, or in this case, corrective coloring to paint a more beautiful you. Looking and feeling ten years younger is worth saying goodbye to the gray hair.
Learn more about this author, Emily Pertee.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
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