Going gray..

I was at the hairdressers yesterday for a haircut.  Not coloured or highlighted -just cut.

You see, this month marks the two year anniversary of letting my hair go to its natural colour or "going gray".  I have put no colour of any kind on my hair since September 2011.

Being a blonde all my life, your hair colour does get attention.   From the time you are a small child  - people/ strangers comment on your hair - touch your hair  Why did my mother let strangers just come up and touch my hair????- Your hair colour  helps define you  (good and bad to that)

Even though there is some blonde left  - I feel that I can no longer describe myself as a blonde.  It is interesting there is no  label/noun for someone with gray hair -   One can be a blonde, a brunette, or a redhead but what about gray?

It has not been easy and many times I have been very tempted to highlight or colour.  But I have persevered and now I am happy with it.  My hair is healthier and I think the colour suits me.  Once again Shanna, my stylist and the owner of Eskape Salon, was right.  You see, she recommended I try my natural hair colour.  That is one of the reason she is such a great stylist - not concerned about the loss of business of no longer colouring my hair but always committed to what is best for her client.  Thanks Shanna.

For me going gray has been a very public acknowledgement of the "emerging senior" in me.  But as a generation/ as Boomers I think we approach aging and retirement with a different attitude. Covering gray is no longer a must for women.  Gray hair is no longer our grandmother's gray - dyed white (sometimes looks blue), cut short.  Now it is not unusual to see a women in her 50's, 60's or 70's  with long beautiful gray hair.  I think it is empowering.