by Andrea Prater

Created on: September 23, 2008

I am one of those individuals who are struggling with this decision, and for now have opted to dye it. Aging men and women dye their hair many for different reasons. Some like to be "color coordinated" by having their hair color compliment or offset their choice for clothing colors.

Others dye their hair simply because they do not like the color of their natural hair, and believe that they will look better with a hair coloring of their own choice. I dye my hair because:

1. Gray hair makes you look (and feel) older. I do not want to look or feel older just yet.
2. Gray hair does not have the luster and vibrancy of colored hair. I like my hair to look and feel luxurious and vibrant.

Some of the younger individuals prefer to make fashion statements by coloring their hair using outlandish greens, purples, oranges, etc. These young folks are definitely trying to say something that is profound, but I have yet to understand what it is. I think they're saying "Hey . LOOK at me", don't I look weird? I often wonder what their choices for hair coloring will be after they settle down and become parents. Seeing a person over the age of 40 with purple hair is really scary. It truly makes me think they have lost touch with reality.

I have been giving some thought to not coloring my hair, and have decided that somewhere between age 55 and 60 I will do just that. At that point, I plan to let nature take it's course and I will anxiously await the outcome. I will also be the first to tell you that if I do not like the results, I plan to go right back to coloring!

What everyone needs to understand is that the aging process affects every part of our bodies, our hair included. As we age, our hair starts to thin and to lose it's luster. Products have been developed to help revitalize, and put luster and shine back into aging hair. Typically, these results do not last. In order to maintain this outcome, the revitalization process must become part of an individual's routine on-going hair care regime.

Now some may get a little bummed out after reading this, especially if you are around my age, but I do believe there is an upside to this. If we have hair that is going gray, that means we still have hair! There are quite a few men and women who are going bald as we speak! I believe those individuals would be real happy to have some of that graying hair growing on their scalps!

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