Gray Hair-Wonder if People Would Treat You Different?
If you walked out of your house tomorrow wearing your normal clothes and your normal makeup but changed to gray hair color, would you be treated differently by others?
That’s a question one woman decided was best answered by suddenly going completely to gray hair as an experiment. MacKenzie Brown, of More.com wrote the article Try it On!
She describes in four short stories, her experiences when taking on some everyday scenarios, wearing gray hair color rather than her natural highlighted blonde locks. She made me laugh describing the reaction of construction workers, men at a bar, the sports club scene and a high end shopping experience, when she wore a gray hair wig. It’s fun reading. My only problem with it, is that she is only 29 years old. I would like to read a similar type experiment done by a 50 something woman. (I guess there are those, like a cousin of mine, who turn prematurely gray haired however.)
I would venture to say questions about gray hair come up in every class of Finding the Right Hairstyle for You! that I teach. What’s the best way to cover my gray hair? Is highlighting an easier, less costly way to continue covering my gray hair? How do I quit hair coloring and go to my natural gray hair? Will letting my gray hair grow out make me look older? For some of my thoughts on these questions see my blog, Going natural with your gray hair I also highly recommend the book Going Gray, Looking Great! by Diana Lewis Jewell
If you’ve lived long enough on this planet you will have similar questions one day. You can try on a wig and take it for a spin, or you could try on some virtual gray hair with a new hairstyle makeover.
Got a question, war story or comment about this topic? Click on the "Leave Your Comments" link at the very bottom of this article. Some of my best ideas for future articles come from reading reader comments. I'd love to hear from you!
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[…] Gray Hair–have you ever wondered if people would treat you diffierent? By: Barb on May 27, 2005 @ 12:30 am | Permalink […]
Pingback by Ending Hairstyle Struggles » Going natural with your gray hair | Hair styles, hairstyles, hairstyle advice — September 16, 2005 @ 4:34 pm
[…] Gray Hair–have you ever wondered if people would treat you different? […]
Pingback by Ending Hairstyle Struggles » Hair Coloring-Some Simple Tips | hair styles, hair styles, hair style advice — October 29, 2005 @ 2:07 pm
I’m 61 and was curious to see what I’d look like letting my hair go “natural” grey. I have lots of grey in front - almost white. Not much in back. I should mention my hair is normally very dark brown. Interestingly, people have treated me different, unfriendly, not willing to help, and sometimes don’t pay attention to my opinion. Must admit that because of that it’s not much fun being grey. That aside, I rather like my grey hair and I like being “me.” I was thinking of highlight it to make it more silver - what do you think?
Comment by Suzan Beeson — March 14, 2006 @ 11:25 am
I am 60 years old. I have earned every grey hair my head. Its a badge of honor. I refuse to dye itany more. I have embraced it.
To me, its not a lose of youth. its says, I am comfortable in my own skin. I get great haircuts and people always compliment me on my hair.
I never get a negative remark from the opposite sex. They seem to find it sexy, and that goes for men half my age.
Comment by Judith — October 22, 2007 @ 9:42 am
I’m 55 and started going gray at 27. My hair is practically white now. Since I’ve been gray for so long, I guess I can’t say people treat me differently than they’ve ever done, but when I taught high school, I think the students definitely treated me with more respect than they would have otherwise. I also find young folks I run into in public, such as the supermarket, defer to me and, again, show respect. Who can complain about that?
Comment by Sarah — March 27, 2008 @ 9:03 pm
Touche’!
Comment by Barb — March 28, 2008 @ 11:35 am