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| Go gray | 42% | 2043 votes | Total: 4915 votes | |
| Dye it | 58% | 2872 votes |
Go gray
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Add to FavoritesAs has been so aptly observed, "The color of truth is gray". Rinsing away those stray strands that dull the natural luster of one's hair can be considered enhancing one's appearance. However, by the time you notice that the roots of your hair are gray, or you're contemplating something as drastic as a permanent dye, it's time to concede the race to Time. There's just no sense in risking your hair's texture and health by dousing it with chemicals, or spending time better used on more constructive and lasting endeavors than personal vanity.
While your hair is changing color, your skin and body are also adapting to the aging process as well. Keeping your hair a youthful shade while your complexion fades and your body responds to gravity provides a false image as well as mixed one. With your hair reflecting your rightful years of survival on this planet, the effort you've put into the rest of yourself has a better chance of being noticed and appreciated. In effect, what you're telling the world is, "This is who I am, and I'm quite busy with too many other things in my life to worry about the shade of my hair."
As the market glut of baby boomers age, opportunist manufacturers have adapted, concocting lotions that highlight, enhance and bring out the gray in hair. They are as unnecessary as coloring that hide it, in my opinion, for there is an irresistible charm to be found in someone who is willing to show the world exactly who she (he) is. Acceptance of oneself contributes to the wealth of the spirit and shines through the windows of the soul.
How many young women spend lots of good money streaking their hair? Isn't it wonderful that God finally does it for you for free? I know I've received far more compliments on my hair as it has changed color than I ever did when it was uniformly a shade of brown that never matched any box of hair coloring I could find.
The same laws that governed your appearance when you were a child still apply no matter how long you remain on this planet. Be clean, neat and well groomed and you're ready to face whatever life presents.
Learn more about this author, Lynn Edwards.
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Dye it
It is a growing question amongst many women (and men, of course) of the Twenty First Century; "Should you go gray naturally or dye your hair as you age"? This is something that, if you had asked me about ten years ago, I would definitely have said let your hair go gray naturally; it is the way Mother Nature intended for us after all. But having gone gray myself (at a young age of only 25), I'm forced to change my standing on the question.
Whilst I do not honestly believe that there is any right or wrong answer to this question (well, dependent on the choice of colour of course! I've seen many an old lady with the awful, and yet beloved, blue rinse-look!) I do think that this is a personal choice that can only be made by that particular individual. And, I think that it is all down to personal confidence. If someone is completely comfortable with their hair gradually greying, then great, they should carry on loving their new-found grayness with immense pride, and good for them, but if it is really denting their confidence, then I think that person should dye it, because life is too short to be fretting over something that can be dealt with so easily.
I've noticed that a lot of people who are deadly against dying your hair are stating that it "ruins" your hair, but this is no longer entirely accurate. Since I've been dying my hair (which is quite limp and fine), I have found my hair to be in a much better condition. It is much softer, and has much more life in it. These days, Hair Dye is full of what I guess could be called "Modern Technology", meaning that it nourishes and protects your hair.
I think it is fair to say that the most damage caused to hair these days is from Hair Driers, Hair Straighteners and Curling Irons, but even these kinds of "heat damage" can be prevented using the correct Hair Treatments, that are so widely available.
To conclude, if it gives a person more confidence in themselves, and they choose a colour that works subtly for them, then I do not see the problem. But, I do think that it is very important that they do it for themselves, not just because someone they love (of which should perhaps be questioned) telling them to.
So all in all, it's your choice, and don't feel like your wrong whichever you choose.
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Learn more about this author, Kat Musselwhite.
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