How come on me it just looks bad?
Posted by Isabel on November 30th, 2007. Filed under: I Rock, They're just my family.I do this weird thing where I read while I blow dry my hair in the morning. It’s really the only chance I have to just zone out the world and read. I finished my latest book last week and since then I’ve been forced to read countless catalogues. Until this morning, when I was able to read the entire People’s Sexiest Man Alive issue.
(Matt Damon, you are the sexiest man alive! Next to The King, of course.)
There was a whole section in the magazine about George Clooney, the outgoing Sexiest Man Alive. By the world’s standards (and my standards) George is a sexy man. He seems smart, talented and distinguished.
And yet, he’s got a head full of gray hairs.
In the elevator at work this morning I stood next to a nice looking guy. He was wearing a suit (on a Friday!) and fancy shoes. The collar of his coat was flipped up and he was, by all accounts, a dapper man.
He was also rocking the salt and pepper hair.
Which leads us to my own head of hair. Which, I’ve recently noticed, is also scattered with it’s fair share of rouge gray hairs.
I know better then to pluck the gray hairs that are now outlining my face. I’ve tried to cover them with a quick swipe of my mascara wand. I’ve tried tucking them under my normal hair. I figured nobody noticed them. I found I was kidding myself when a (male) coworker pointed them out to me.
(What is up with my clueless male coworkers?)
Why is it that my own gray hairs make me distinguished like Mr. Clooney’s do? Why is it that my gray hairs make me look older and tired?
Last week I informed The King that I thought it was time I start coloring my hair. I hate this and I don’t know why since I spent the better part of years sixteen through twenty three changing my hair color on a monthly basis. But now, it just seems so much more, since now I have to color my hair.
The King told me I should go for something totally crazy and bleach the underside my hair stark blonde. While that would look cool, I’m not interested in the upkeep of that style. Plus dude, I’m too old to do anything too crazy to my hair. I think for now I’ll just run to the drugstore across the street and buy the Nice and Easy brand, like all the other old ladies do.
And then I’ll call my dad and thank him for the gray hair gene he so lovingly passed on to me.
Yeah, thanks a lot Dad.
So tell me, I’m not the only one with gray hairs, right? And what do you recommend I do with my gray hairs?
My dad and my new nephew, born last week.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:10 pm
Some of my friends have gray early and they hated the hair dyes that were made for it. Just get regular hair dye and you’ll be fine.
P.S.
You can READ when you blow dry your hair??? Holy freak. I have to totally concentrate or I end up having to cut the hideously entangled brush out of my hair. And THAT is no good, no, not at ALL.
Isabel: I can only read when I’m diffusing my hair. If I’m wearing it straight, I must work very hard with a round brush. So um yeah, it’s usually curly. Dude, I’m all about “the easy”.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
I have noticed a huge increase in the number of gray hairs in the past 6 months. Last time I was in to see my stylist, she told me to color them with a sharpie if I didn’t want to go to the dye just yet.
Dude, there’s way too many to cover with a sharpie…I’d be working on it all day!
November 30th, 2007 at 6:14 pm
I don’t have any grays yet (knock on wood), but I’m with Loralee… just use regular dye. There are some pretty nice colors now, and what with the shimmery light reflecting type stuff, they turn out pretty good.
When my hair does go gray, I think I’ll go that route instead of salon coloring.. I can’t bear to spend that much money now for a newer look, but having to spend it because I “have to”? I don’t think so.
What about just wearing the grays?
November 30th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Well, I can’t really help with gray hairs. I don’t have any yet.
But I do get my hair colored every 3 months, and I love it. I look forward to it, even as little as a week after I’ve just colored it.
November 30th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
I have three big ole honkin’ gray hairs at last count. I know where they all are, and I am thinking of naming them. The one in the front sort of makes it look like I have highlights, so I’m cool with him. The one on the left is on the underside and I can only find him if I try. The one on the top right is an asshole. He’s all scraggly and noticeable and he makes me look disshevled (sp?) (more than usual).
I am not sure what to do. I am too lazy and cheap to color it on a regular basis. So for now, I’m rocking them.
November 30th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
With my new haircut my grays are very visible, as in, people are commenting on them now.
Stupid people. They are very lucky I haven’t kicked them.
Wearing the grays isn’t an option for me. I’m going to have to dye it. I do not want to. I’m afraid of indulging in that expense, but more so of beginning that upkeep. They’d probably be easily masked by highlights, which I wouldn’t need to be as diligent about, but which also cost twice as much. Grrr…
And also, I’m in the camp that very, very, very few people can color their hair at home and not have it be noticeable.
November 30th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Oh my gosh, I read too when I am using my diffuser! usually a magazine – this am it was Parents.
Oh also, your dad in that pic looks so much like my dad. I think Ihave ot email you a picture. (I am not being stupid b/c I know his eyes are blacked out, but the rest of him does – even his hands)
November 30th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
Okay first of all who on earth comments about someone else’s gray hairs? He should have been kneed in the groin.
I think people with dark hair can look really awesome with strands of gray. What does the King say?
I have a few silver stripes myself so I’ll be waiting to hear what you do.
November 30th, 2007 at 8:46 pm
I actually think I lucked out with the gray hair gene… my mom is 64 and still has very few, if any, grays. My grandma didn’t go gray until 10 or 15 years ago (she’s 96 now).
They both have lots of wrinkles, though. I would rather have the gray hair gene than the wrinkles gene.
At least gray hair you can cover!
November 30th, 2007 at 9:31 pm
hmmm… well, i’m blonde, so i’m hoping that i will skip the grey and go straight to white one day. so far, i haven’t noticed any grey or white hairs, but then again, i don’t look very closely. my husband has a few grey hairs and i LOVE them – i wish he would get more…
oh, and i spent many a day helping my mom cover her grey roots by doing a nice foil-job.. if i was there, i’d come help you.
November 30th, 2007 at 10:33 pm
There are just so very many unfair double standards about what is considered attractive on a man as opposed to a woman. I could get on my soapbox about this one, but instead I’ll just remain quiet and support your decision to color or stay grey as you see fit
November 30th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
I’m probably totally not qualified to say this, given that I don’t have any gray hair yet (at least that I know of), but I love this verse from Proverbs 16: “Gray hair is a crown of splendor.”
I really like gray hair; I think it’s distinguished. My mom always dyes hers and I tell her not to…it looks so much better natural.
FWIW, I’ve never noticed you having any gray hairs. That clueless guy at your work? He sucks.
November 30th, 2007 at 11:19 pm
Yep, I have gray hair. I have been coloring my hair since the age of 25, when I got tired of my very “sensitive” co-workers pointing out how many I had. I now have more…as is evidenced by my roots each month. I have been dying my hair red for the last 10 years and recently ( as in 3 weeks ago) decided to go back to my natural brown color. I’m hoping this will minimize the upkeep (as the red seems to fade after about 4 weeks) and not make my roots quite so obvious. I’m going to attempt to embrace my gray and roll with it. (okay, I’m sure I’ll be back in the chair in 3 weeks getting my roots done because I can’t take it anymore…37 is too young to be gray! )
November 30th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
I was just admiring all of my gray hairs just yesterday. They don’t really bother me. But sometimes they do.
I typically get my hair colored or highlighted when I get my hair cut so they go away temporarily, but it’s satisfying just the same.
December 1st, 2007 at 2:30 am
I’m like you. I had one or two grey hairs until about 6 months ago when suddenly they started sprouting out all over the place. I had my stylist color it and add some highlights. It does look nice, but it is expensive and hard to justify with our one income budget.
I’ve warned the husband that after Christmas, I may choose a red color off the shelf at the store
December 1st, 2007 at 2:34 am
My hair is pink. It could be gray but we’ll never know.
December 1st, 2007 at 4:00 am
Dude. I just found a gray WISKER! In my chin! I am pretty sure it’s downhill from there.
December 1st, 2007 at 10:12 am
Screw your hair. Post more pictures of your scrumptious nephew, please.
I mean, I heart your old, wiry gray hairs. Tell your coworkers to go jump off the Space Needle.
December 1st, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Awww, your nephew has your dad’s eyes.
December 1st, 2007 at 5:19 pm
oh gosh, mine are coming out. And my mom’s side is to blame. My hubby siad lt it just be natural, I don’t know… I’m in the same dilemma as you…
December 1st, 2007 at 10:19 pm
My husband started getting a few two years ago…he has a few more now…he’s 30, and is thanking his lucky stars that it’s gray hairs and not BALDING. His dad is so bald, but his mom’s dad has a lovely head of silver hair. I don’t have any gray hairs yet and fully intend to start coloring when they inevitably appear. I agree with you though: 1) it sucks that then you have to color your hair and 2) why does it look good on guys???? Not fair!!
December 2nd, 2007 at 3:08 am
I started going grey in my early twenties.
I know colour my hair every four weeks, due to the overwhelming grey hairs.
Sigh.
December 2nd, 2007 at 5:19 am
There was a SUPER HOT mom who brought her kid to the playgroups who was totally gray (she was our age, it was the obviously-early-Steve-Martin-gray, but hot). Maybe you should go ALL GRAY like that. But then again, just buying a $7 box of OTC color might be easier… And yeah, I got the grays too, but they’re hidden in highlights right now. But since I don’t have co-workers to point them out, my baby sister & mom do the job for me. Thanks guys! Suck it!
December 2nd, 2007 at 5:31 am
I have ALMOST bought that issue at least five times in the last week. I don’t know why I keep resisting. I know I’m going to read it eventually.
December 2nd, 2007 at 5:40 am
I was thinking about writing a post on exactly this topic. I am twenty four years younger than my mother, and somehow I am hot on her trail when it comes to the grey factor. It’s killing me! I just keep dying over them, though times with the most roots? Bad times, I tell you.
December 3rd, 2007 at 2:54 am
I’ve got gray. I’m not happy about it but there are worse things, you know?
December 3rd, 2007 at 5:21 am
I discovered my first gray hair last month. I nearly fell over my vanity when I caught its shiny (evil) gleam in the mirror. I pulled it out and have yet to find seven more. (Crossing my fingers here.)
Matt Damon has always been the sexist man alive in my book. Oh yeah …
December 3rd, 2007 at 1:55 pm
I can’t imagine finding my first now. You are lucky. I’m genetically programmed to be white (at least it’s not gray… it’s pure, beautiful snow white) which will, you know, look great when I’m uh – 80!!!!
But I found my first white hair when I was 14 and in 8th grade. Yep. Eighth grade. I know hair color really really well by now. Go for the color.
December 3rd, 2007 at 3:40 pm
Dude, I started going grey when I was 15. I’m now 31 and probably 75% grey. I wish I had the option of not dyeing! My mom keeps trying to convince me that silver hair is beautiful. I tell her that if she’s still holds out hope of every having grandkids she better give that up.
December 3rd, 2007 at 6:38 pm
[...] You know how we talked about my oncoming gray hair in my last post? I mentioned my dad’s gray hair. What I didn’t mention is that my dad started going gray at seventeen. Dude, seventeen is way too early to be finding gray hairs. [...]
December 4th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
I’ve got a couple of them. Right now I am not too concerned, but I am keeping my eyes on things!