Is Grey the New Black?

A few years ago, after having my colours analysed, I decided that my highlighted golden blonde hair had got to go.  As someone with cool skin, the warm tones, though youthful, were not doing me any favours, especially as I cannot wear yellow on my body without looking decidedly ill.  I tried various shades of ash blonde but it was a bit wishy-washy, and my true colour of mousy brown was a definite ‘no no’.  Desperate measures were called for.

Enter the platinum silver me.  As soon as it was done, the compliments came thick and fast.  Don’t get me wrong, the upkeep is tremendous work and lots of money but it is definitely worth the trouble.  I also feel that, when the time comes, my transition to grey hair will be less obvious than if I had stayed golden or gone brunette.

Long before TV, movies and magazines, portraits show that women were dying their hair blonde.  Women’s desire to look like the proverbial Barbie, young, small waist, large breasts, long blonde hair and blue eyes, is a direct response to attract the male.  Throughout the generations, men have been genetically disposed to prefer younger women because they tend to be healthier and so more fertile.  Blonde hair changes with age.  Young girls with light blonde hair become women with brown hair, which eventually will turn grey.  Thus, men who prefer to date blonde women are unconsciously attempting to mate with ‘younger’ (therefore, healthier and more fecund) women.

Another indicator of health is physical attractiveness, which includes lustrous, shiny hair.  Grey hair becomes duller, thicker and more wiry and is unlikely to look glossy.  The feeling can be that, as women, we are less attractive at this stage of our lives so we use colour as camouflage.   Grey haired men, of course, are seen as distinguished but even some of them are reaching for the bottle.

Bearing this in mind, I was quite surprised by the findings of a new book ‘Going Gray’ by first time author Anne Kreamer.  Having had a reality check by means of a photograph taken at the age of 49, she realised that her dyed brunette long hair no longer suited her.  The book catalogues her journey to ditch the colour and become friends with her natural grey.  It’s quite an emotional roller coaster. 

We forget that only a few years ago, it was considered ‘cheap’ to dye your hair - remember the L’Oreal advert  “Does she or doesn’t she?”  Only famous sirens of the movie screen would dare to wear obvious colour in their hair.  Nowadays, nearly everyone I know, including some men, wouldn’t dream of going ‘au naturel’.  Think also, how much revenue hairdressers would lose if we all decided to stick with our real colour. 

The book intimates there are 2 camps – for and against dying your hair.  So what’s your line – will you or won’t you go grey when the time comes?  According to the book, the author finds she is more attractive to the other sex when grey, so perhaps we need to adjust our thinking.  Grey, not blonde, is the new young.  Sounds good to me.