Sarah Schachterle - HERLIFE Magazine

sons as a single mother and have quite a few years left before
my nest is empty. I don’t date and it’s a welcome relief after
decades of long-term relationships. I have full- and part-time
work that I enjoy, which is a blessing in this economy. And my
social life is as full as I want it to be. So why haven’t I gone gray
already? Who’s left to impress?
Maybe it’s that I don’t want to be perceived as old or
“letting myself go.” My sons give me a hard time when my
roots start to show, and I wonder what others might think but
wouldn’t say. And let’s face it—society is not kind to women
who are perceived as past their prime. Men with gray hair
are dignified. Women with gray hair are crones. But I think
I’m ready. It’s something I’ve thought about for awhile, and as
I begin a new decade, change is gonna come. So besides the
emotional transition of going gray, what will I need to do to
make the physical transformation?
According to Anne Kreamer in her book, Going Gray: What
I Learned About Beauty, Sex, Work, Motherhood, Authenticity,
and Everything Else That Matters, I need to be prepared to
tough it out for about 18 months. Here are her top ten tips for
getting gray and staying there:
1
Consider yourself a work in progress. While your hair is
first growing out and the roots are most prominent, you’ll
be tempted to change your mind. Hang in there! Once your true
color is uncovered, it’s like “discovering a fabulous wallpaper
beneath grungy old paint.”
2
Find a professional colorist to help manage the transition
by blending new gray hair and formerly dyed hair. Or, go cold
turkey and get it cut short as it grows out.
3
Get a new haircut that renews how you view your hair not
only in its color, but also in its style.
4
As the color of your hair changes, you’ll also need to
update your wardrobe and makeup, especially if you’re fairskinned.
Trade in those browns and beiges for jewel tones and
cosmetics in cooler colors.
5
Once your hair has gone gray, its texture might become
coarse or wiry. Increase deep conditioning treatments to restore
gloss and shine.
6
Be sure to use an extra moisturizing shampoo and conditioner
daily that’s formulated for gray hair.
7
Help your hair appear shiny and glossy by adding finishing
products after you style.
8
Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. A sluggish
digestive system makes your hair appear lifeless and dull.
Additionally, have a diet full of vitamins and anti-aging antioxidants
to boost your hair follicles 9from within.
Take a hair restoration supplement to help your hair grow
out faster.
10
Create a winning combination by enhancing your new hair
color with younger-looking skin. If you haven’t taken good care
of skin before, start now!
Be proud of the woman you’ve become, and don’t spend
a lifetime trying to defy the forces of nature. An anonymous
writer said, “You can’t hide your true colors as you approach the
autumn of your life.” Going gray is a privilege denied to many
who leave us in their youth. Let’s embrace it with the grace and
dignity it deserves.
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