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posted by Teresa Morisco on
February 2, 2009
going gray: growing pains
It was five months ago that I chopped the colored hair off my head, which left me with an Annie Lennox type hairstyle that wasn’t half as cool. Although I knew my hair grew fast and it wouldn’t be short for long, there were days that I wanted to stick my head in the sand. I’m not going to lie or glamorize the process but I realized that it wasn’t the color of my hair that was causing me grief; it was the length. So, instead of reaching for my colorists phone number, I kept plugging on knowing that each month it was getting longer….and surprisingly more white and beautiful!
And although I tend to always focus on the positive and am a very optimistic sort of gal, the first four months was NOT pretty. My husband finally admitted recently that it was even tough for him. Here is what I experienced (everyone is going to experience something different when they finally do it):
- Friends didn’t recognize me at first (even my husband!) — and for the first month, I scared myself countless times when I accidentally caught my reflection in the mirror.
- People ignored me. This I was not used to. Not in a ‘look-at-me!’ kind of way but just in a general recognition of human presence. All of a sudden I was invisible to everyone. Which is why I started running again. Seriously though, it really hit me how much our society is focused on youth and that we do ignore our maturing population quite literally.
- At first, my hair looked like I had a black and white tabby cat toupee stuck on the top of my head. The color was salt and pepper in the back and sides and white up front. As it’s grown out, the white hair has covered the dark parts and it looks more uniform and WAY better. So glad I didn’t call my colorist.
One thing I did do, that I recommend to anyone growing out their short hair no matter the color, was to get a haircut each month in order to guide the hair into the right style. Having a great haircut when you are gray or platinum is crucial. A bad haircut can age you by 20 years. You have to focus on staying hip in your hairstyle and clothes. And hip does not mean looking young; it means taking greater effort to look put together and stylish.
My hair is still growing out but now that it’s getting into the ‘cute’ hairstyle phase (the temporary photo is from a few weeks ago), I am noticing some good changes. Friends now covet my hair. LOL. People take a second look at me or sometimes just stare — which is weird. Some women who have gone pre-maturely gray like I have experience people giving up their seats on the bus and receive senior discounts at the store. Although I silently hope, I still have not been offered the senior discount at the supermarket. And, in my dreams I still have auburn hair. Apparently I haven’t ‘let go’….yet.
You look so pretty. Seriously. How inspiring.
Teresa, you look SO good!! I would totally be jealous of your hair. I was very interested to hear of your experiences of being ignored. What a comment on our society
The bullet points of the post really made me laugh.
And I think I definitely would have noticed you. I guess it just depends on the person doing the admiring; do they color their hair and therefore value the look of that, or do they respect the pewter/ash/silver color?
I really liked my mom’s salt & pepper hair, so now I still really like that look on other people. Its a positive association thing for me.
Women have collectively colored their hair for so many decades (since the 50’s maybe?) that the real deal is an anomaly to our society.
what a great shade of gray! the shorter do in the picture really flatters your face, too.
Fresh, modern, vivid, glamorous. In a word: stunning!
You look stunning in the picture! Your natural hair color really suits you. Bravo!
your hair looks great. my hair is also short & silver & i love it but need something to cover it when it’s cold or a bad hair day. hats don’t work for me. what are you wearing in the photo,it’s cute.
thank you.
your hair is really cute. mine is similar but i need something to cover it when it’s cold or a bad hair day, what are you wearing in the photo? thank you.
You look great!
I just have a few strands of gray hair so far (I’m 31), and am not excited about them, but I AM excited to see lovely women who proudly keep their gray hair. It makes me aware of (and able to look forward to) the different stages of style/beauty in life.
you all are so sweet. jay: I found a $3 stretch fabric headband at the beauty supply store and that is what you see in my hair. I have been wearing it a lot. they come in tons of colors if you are into mixing it up a bit.
Absolutely stunning! Please visit our blog and share your story and picture!
The gray is really striking on you though I would like to see how you look with longer hair. And I think its stunning to see a young woman with your dark Auburn color go gray gracefully. I am 35, so I ‘notice’ a natural woman who looks nice at this age. I hope to see more pics of you soon.
teresa
love your hair…welcome to the lighter side!! i find that going natural has changed my whole attitude …some of us feel that if we color we don’t have to do anything else…WRONG… the fun i am now having as a “gray haired lady”… is new style/makeup/=new attitude and i now feel “polished” never used to feel like that..
so anyone out there thinking of trying to grow out the dye..do not be afraid…you may just surprise yourself!!