The hair coloring industry is big business and seniors are some of their best customers. Choice of hair color assumes some rather complex issues for men and women alike, and articles about whether to “go gray or not” are always eye catching. Magazines like to feature articles about Super Stars who have decided that luxurious grey hair is the look we should all be going for. Of course these stars all have marvelous manes of thick glossy hair and have the time and the money to burnish it with great care. Still, I notice that their hair is decidedly blond when they appear in films, and we won’t even mention that they are playing roles where they are ten to fifteen younger than they actually are. Reading articles about graying starlets prompted me to look at some interviews with older people who are not famous stars. How do regular people feel about having grey hair?
I don’t care for grey hair, at least not for myself, but I certainly don’t harbor any negative thoughts about friends who have decided to “go natural.” I do think that they look older than they really are though, but it is more to do with the whole grey persona. Unfortunately it isn’t just hair that fades to grey. In case you haven’t noticed, the dark circles under the eyes and the loss of that natural blush that we used to call rosy cheeks, is a part of the picture too. Grey hair, unless you are lucky enough to have a certain skin tone, doesn’t do much for you. It just makes you look tired.
Some men/women look very nice with grey hair, and I am happy for them. But, given the negatives feelings about grey hair, it is not surprising that a large number of women (and some men) change the color of their hair. The motivation for changing hair color is often wrapped up in the guise of appearing younger and more fashionable. I am not sure why we did it when we were younger, but the word “mousy” figured into the decision at some point. The prevlanent attitude in our generation is that if we let our hair grow out, we will automatically feel old. People feel that if they do their hair, put on make-up and dress “not like an old frump,” that they wouldn’t be perceived as being old.
Those who advocate for grey hair have good arguments too. They feel that grey hair is simply a part of life and not worth worrying about. They don’t want to go to the bother and constant up-keep, they feel it is unhealthy, and they feel that grey hair looks dreadful when growing out. People who fight to age gracefully feel that it is important to accept the physical realities of growing older. On the other hand, people who in all other respects feel youthful and energetic do not want to buy into the looking older persona. I would say that for the most part it is in individual choice and whatever makes you feel good about yourself should be your guideline.
Comments