The Gallery: Me, Right Now.
Thanks to The Gallery theme this week, it’s time to bite the bullet and get in front of the camera for a change.
This is me, camera at arms length, first thing in the morning. Glasses on as I’m on the computer, no make up because I don’t wear it and OMG, look at my roots. Can you see how much grey is coming through?
Actually, that particular state of affairs is only going to get worse. Because I’ve given up dyeing my hair.
I can hear jaws dropping all over the Internet. What? Why would you do that, I hear you ask! Don’t I know grey hair makes people look….old?
Yes. Yes, I am aware of that.
But I’m 42. I’m sorry to point this out, but this is middle age. I know some people will disagree vehemently but most definitions of that time of life include the years from 40 to 60. I, too, have been in denial for the last couple of years but this year I’m acknowledging it and I do feel much better for just embracing the fact. As humans, we are lucky that we have a state of middle age to enjoy. Other species are either young, reproductively useful or dead.
Along with advancing years come a few grey hairs. But most women deny these exist, and disguise them with dye, especially if we are are naturally dark haired. At first it’s not too bad but eventually there are reinforcements and soon we *need* to visit the hairdresser every 6 weeks or so.
I was forever looking in the mirror, checking for roots. And I’m not generally that worried about my appearance; I can only imagine what level of anxiety grey hairs induce in someone who is.
I don’t like the thought of *having* to have something done. I’m a bit of a rebel like that. So I’ve been playing with the idea of not dyeing for a while. There seems to be a increasing movement against it, so there is a lot of information about ‘going grey’ out there. But when I’ve spoken to my friends about it, the general reaction seems to be one of horror. It’s really interesting about how against the idea most people are.
There are more reasons against dye, than for. Both health and environmental reasons not to dye exist. There is a small cancer risk and a greater chance of allergic reactions. Respiratory disorders can also be caused and worsened by hair dyes. Dyes are full of toxic chemicals and I didn’t feel great about washing these into the water system and dyes are test them on animals, something else I’m against.
A visit to the GP was the final straw for me. I have psoriasis, and it’s been getting worse on my scalp. His response was ‘stop dyeing your hair’. I was initially incensed and thought it was typical advice from a man, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt the time was right to stop.
So this is me right now, with two inch long grey roots. Next month they will be 3 inches long, the month after they will be 4 inches. I’m going to keep my hair short for now, so will have the dyed bits trimmed off as it grows. I think in 6 months time I’ll have a fair idea what my *real* hair colour is going to be like.
I also like the idea of showing my girls that they don’t have to be afraid of going grey. My eldest was horrified at first but is now fascinated by it. She had no idea that this is what hair is supposed to look like when you are 40+.
Will it make me look older? I don’t know, so will have to wait and see. Maybe it will but so what? I’m 42, I’m no longer young.
And I’m willing to blog about it if everyone isn’t too traumatised by the idea, and is interested in seeing how it all turns out.
This blog post is part of this weeks Gallery theme of Me Right Now. If you want to see what other bloggers are up to, click here.
Good for you! I am right there with you! I am nearly 34 and found my first grey hair last week. For a second I was horrified and then I thought, ‘ah well’! I couldn’t really care less and would rather have grey hair in good condition than dry and chemical filled hair.
That’s great to hear! It’s definitely better to just never start dyeing. I can already see that the grey hair coming through is in much better condition than the stuff thats dyed to buggery.
My roots are now so White, that I end up looking like Medusa from 101 Dalmations every 6 weeks… Actually probably every 4weeks as it grows fast. I am not sure I am ready to let the White free yet, and have probably left it too late to do it gradually. So well done you for stopping now. It’ll happen gradually then, and most people won’t even notice!
My roots are quite noticeable, that photo doesn’t really do it justice. Some people have high lights to blend it all in while they are growing it out but I think most people have a pretty awful transition time.
Did you read in the news fairly recently about a woman up north, in her 30s, mother of 2 (I think) who experienced anaphylactic shock on dyeing her hair and was left in a coma? She was not expected to pull through, although I haven’t heard anything further about her.
That was enough to put me off.
BTW I had what I thought was psoriasis too, (it was diagnosed as a perfume allergy but using non-perfumed products made no difference whatsoever; I tried dandruff shampoos and that made it worse) and it was effectively controlled by psoriasis shampoo HOWEVER I recently changed to head and shoulder soothing balm and it’s a fraction of the cost and has controlled the problem much better.
I have known a few women who have had quite severe reactions to hair dye, mainly swollen face,lips and nose but one was hospitalised. And the scary thing is that you can dye you hair for years with no problems, then just react badly, with no warning.
Thanks for the tip, head and shoulders is a big no no when you dye you hair as it strip[s the colour out, but I don’t have too worry about that any more
Good on you for not dyeing your hair. Hoping to be as brave when my time comes – why should it have to be brave anyway? It’s a natural process.
Exactly. That’s what intrigues me tbh, the fact that going grey is seen as some sort of deviation from the norm, when it’s actually the opposite.
Great post. I want to go grey gracefully too. The environmental benefits are clear, and the honesty of embracing natural aging also hugely appeals. But at 34, I’m still highlighting my naturally fair hair (admittedly, I only get my roots done twice a year despite having a fair few greys!). I’m pregnant with my second child and I’m not yet ready to fully embrace natural grey hair – it seems to go against my time of life of having babies! It’s definitely a topic that provokes debate amongst my friends…
I think it is different if you are blond. If you are only having to do roots twice a year, they can’t be very noticeable.When you are dark haired, those greys stand out like a beacon!
What!?! I’m 32 and I have more greys than you! Fantastic portrait!
Come back and take a look at my photo in a couple of months. I’m sure you won’t be saying that then!
Good for you! I’d love to see/hear how you get on. I think with the right cut and care, grey hair can look absolutely stunning – why should it be any different to any other colour!
I think there has been enough interest that I’ll do an update or two. I probably will have to get it cut more often though!!!
I’ve never known my own mum to have anything but white hair. Her hair started going grey at 16 and by the age of 33 she’d fully embraced her grey hair. By the age of 40 it was bright white. And she’s beautiful. Embrace the grey – and use the savings you’ll make on useful things like, erm, chocolate.
You know, everything leads to chocolate doesn’t it? My grandmother had bright red hair and it just faded, it’s now just a very pale orange.
I love this – it’s a great honest photo. Go you! you look fab!
Aww thanks. How kind