Looking Foxy, Dare to go Gray!
We were just chatting about W ‘s latest article on gray hair which proclaims:
“Once the hallmark of sweet old grannies, gray hair is now being embraced by women with a daring streak”.
Suddenly gray hair is chic. We know that growing gray is not for everyone, but it was fun to see a major fashion magazine go to bat for those women who dare to bare the gray.
But just because you’ve decided to go au naturel, doesn’t mean you are off the hook maintaining a stylish appearance. Graying gracefully can actually mean more work.
Gray hair is naturally dull, dry and coarse so you really need to use clarifying shampoos and deep conditioners to keep it looking soft and shiny. And since your hair becomes such a major focal point , you need to keep it crisp and trimmed, and neat at all times.
You also need to devote extra time and attention to your make-up. Fashion journalist, Laurn Ezersky warns, ” Gray hair can look haggy if you don’t wear makeup and look put together”
Here are a few make-up tips for those of you who have decided to join the “Silver Foxes” Club.
Start with a sheer to medium foundation and a dab of powder. As your hair grays so does your skin. It becomes pale, spotty and uneven, so you need foundation to create a smooth base.
A good undereye concealer is a must for women with gray hair.
Make sure eyebrows are well defined with a light pencil. Don’t use black. It’s too harsh.
Keep blush very soft and subtle. Just a sweep of color, otherwise you’ll look old and hard.
Lipstick is key to adding life to your face. The best shades are soft pinks, roses, and peaches. Stay away from anything that screams bright, or anything that is too dark.
Also avoid brown/neutral shades which are too dull and muddy.
Eyeshadow -We love make-up artist Bobbi Brown’s advice on this. She says: “I recommend grays, slates, and white for the eyes, which offer a sleek and sexy look without too much drama.” We’ve found that very soft pink can also work well with gray eyeshadow.
If you are still on the fence about going gray, More Magazine had a wonderful diary of one woman’s six month journey to “get back to her roots”, so to speak.
We also found a great book you should check out called Going Gray Looking Great. It covers everything to do with style and beauty for gray haired women.
It isn’t easy going gray, but the results can be stunning!
I’ll be 40 in June 09 & I’m really considering letting my hair go to gray. I have naturally dark brown hair that I’ve been dying for the last couple of years (I’m trying to stay w/ my natural color) My biggest concern is the salt & pepper stage….I HATE it. How can I do this naturally w/out staying in that stage too long. I’m not apposed to the gray…it’s the middle stage I dread
YAA Adding this to my bookmarks. Thank You
I’m 43 (44 in April) and I’ve colored my hair for the last time. My colorist tells me that I’m 40 pecent gray. I know the transition is going to be difficult, especially with shoulder-length hair. But, it must be done. I’ll be 45 – 46 by the time it’s all in and that will be a good day!
Hi Demori, Good for you for daring to go gray. We are seeing more and more photos even in fashion magazines of women embracing their grey. One note however, is that even grey, you will want to make sure to keep it shiny. Your hairdresser will need to help you find a good plan in transitioning and keeping it looking vibrant!
Best of luck to you!! Enjoy!
After years of dying my hair I have been thinking of letting it go back to it’s natural gray. However it looks kind of strange with only the top being gray while the rest is still brunette. Is there a product that I can put on my hair to make the brown it in fade a little faster?
HI Julie,
Growing out your hair can be one of the most challenging things a woman can do! One idea is to cut your hair short and let it grow out that way.
There is really no magic, easy thing you can do to help this process at this time. We know many women who have gone through with this and most say it was really hard but well worth it! Good luck! You might want to put in “grey hair” into our SEARCH box at the top, right of the homepage and read a few articles we have written on the topic and other women’s comments! Good luck and let us know how you are coming along!