by Stacey Allen

Created on: August 29, 2008   Last Updated: September 22, 2010

For as long as I can remember, I have always believed that women should be comfortable enough in themselves to let their hair grow gray naturally. Granted, it is a personal decision, but one that I wish more women would be comfortable in making.

This doesn't mean I am anti-dye, however! In fact I am quite the avid follower and have been for several years. I picked up my first dye kit sometime around 8th grade. It was a semi-permanent variety as my mother wouldn't agree to permanent for fear of what it would do to my hair. I loved the different look it gave me, changing me into someone new! Ever since that day so, so many years ago, whenever I need a change in my life, the first thing to go was my hair color. Blue, auburn, blonde, black, magenta, fiery red and maroon, I've played with them all and loved the experiences they've given me.

In my youth, I always saw hair as just another palate of the body. Much like we change our clothing, shoes, makeup and nail colors, hair is just another non-permanent aspect of who we are. We can shape, paint and mold it to suit who we are at any given moment.

As I age though, I am planning an exit strategy for the dye. Not quite yet, but in the not-too-distant future. Despite all the fun my hair colors and I have had, I am a firm believer in the concept of growing old gracefully and not fighting natural progression with a bottle, Botox or needles and knives.

There is something beautiful in being able to accept the strands of silver as the signs of experience and knowledge they are. After all, if a gentleman gains salt and pepper coloring, he is considered distinguished. Why shouldn't it be the same for women? Why must we fight it? We should learn to embrace it as the sign of distinction it is.

I've always known that I wouldn't fight the grays, instead welcoming them when they begin to occur. With them adorning my crown, I will be a symbol of a life well lived and not be afraid to show it. I will be proud to share them with the world, not hiding them out of shame.

And, when it comes time to say goodbye to my regular dye dates, I too will say goodbye to my short hair. Long, long ago, I became fascinated with the few women I knew that had long gray hair. They were always such fascinating people, and kind, gentle souls and they didn't bow to the "the older you get, the shorter you hair should be" theory. I have been so enamored with that though, I only hope that when the time comes, I too can do justice to long silver locks.

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