In which I don’t grow old gracefully
Posted by Isabel on February 25th, 2009. Filed under: Back in the Day, They're just my family, Vacations.I’ve slowly been going gray over the last few years. When a new gray hair would pop up near my temple I would shrug it off and remind myself about how I want to grow old gracefully. When my male coworkers point out a new gray hair, I laugh and tell them to shove it. I accepted my graying locks as a sign of my wisdom and grace.
That is until it stopped being a few hairs and turned into a plethora of gray! I can’t take it. Out the window is my resolve to accept Mother Nature’s way. I’m reminded that my father started going gray at 17 and had a full head of white hair by the time he was my age. While I may be ready to accept a few stray gray hairs, I am not ready to rock the full on Mrs. Clause look.
The first time I colored my hair I was probably about 14 years old. My mom went to beauty school in her younger days (but never worked at a stylist in during my life time). This meant she not only allowed us to play around with our hair color, she encouraged it. I mostly stuck to red hair, only going blond the one time in my early 20’s. My older brother tried everything from red to blond to leopard print hair. (For reals. It was awesome.) The good thing about coloring my hair at my parent’s house was that they had a yard and a garden hose. And old bathroom towels. My brother and I would apply the hair color to each other’s hair outside in the back yard, wrap our head with one of my mom’s old towels and hang out in the back yard while the color worked its magic. (We may have even taken advantage of this down time by jumping on the trampoline.)
Once I got a little older, and not as brave with my hair coloring, I began paying to get my hair professional done at a salon. This was back when I lived in Utah, where things are much, much cheaper. I’m taking I could get my hair colored for about $30. (I realize this was almost 10 years ago. I’m thinking that now, due to inflation; it’s about $32 for a professional hair color where I’m from. Maybe $32.50.)
When I moved out here to Seattle, where things are exponentially more money then in Utah, I paid $80 to have one of my best friends (who is a very talented stylist) color my hair. And that was the “friends and family” discount. She usually charges almost $200.
I quickly figured out that I couldn’t even afford my close friend’s rates, let alone go to a different salon. (I keep wanting to type “saloon”, which I think would be hilarious.)
I decided I would just start to color my own hair, at home. This was back when I didn’t *need* to color my hair. I just did it for fun. The King and I were living in crappy apartment back then, so I didn’t fret over spilled dye on the tile floor. And we were still using the towels that he came with. So yeah, not to worried about them turning red. Plus, every time we went to Utah to visit my family, I’d schedule a hair appointment.
When we moved into our first house, the house where the bathroom was stark white tiles from floor to ceiling (with an antique white claw-foot tub), I knew there would be NO RED HAIR DYE inside the house. EVER. This is when I began coloring my hair anytime we stayed in a hotel room. I would still be careful to not mess anything up. But, you know, if a drop of dye were to fall on the faucet, I wouldn’t have to sacrifice my life to ensure it was removed quickly.
It’s been a while since I colored my hair. And I’ve never used hair color to cover any gray. But dude, I AM SO OVER this darned gray hair.
The new house doesn’t have white tile in the bathroom. It’s gray tile. And still, I’m not taking any chances. And that is why I’ll be coloring my hair this weekend in the hotel on our trip to Disneyland.
I bought the color last night. It’s temporary color and it promises to color any trace of gray hair.
I feel like I’m turning my back on my vow to grow old gracefully. My only consolation is that I’m not really “old” yet. I’m still in my child-bearing years, which technically means “not old”.
So tell me, how much does a color cost where you live? I’m very curious.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
I have a similar problem to yours. I am starting to gray and I’m only 27 (started getting them when I was about 23 and it’s just getting worse). I used to occasionally dye my hair for fun, now I dye it occasionally more to cover the grays. I too said I wanted to age gracefully and accept the gray but as I see it grow in it makes me sad. I don’t want to look like an old lady when I’m only in my 20s. Anyway, to answer your question, the last time I got my hair dyed professionally (if you consider Hair Cuttery professional) it was $45. Not too bad, but I do go back to the boxed dye in between professional colorings.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
I have never had my hair professionally done but I know that a girl I work with pays almost $200 for low and highlights. I think that be CRAZEE.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
I live in Orange County, California and it costs me about $180 to get my hair did.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
I pay $85 plus tips for a cut and color at a very nice, fancy salon in the Philadelphia suburbs (on the Main Line, for anyone familar with the area). I used to pay just $55 with my old stylist, but, while she was great with color, her cuts were only okay.
I found my first gray hair about six years ago, and that’s when everything I ever said about growing old gracefully went right out the window. I may not be able to totally stop crows feet or that super sexy “11″ popping up between my eyes, but I can control this. PLUS, when you have super fine hair like I do, color gives it some volume!
February 25th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
I pay about $65 for cut and color.
February 25th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I pay $80 just for highlights in Colorado. On the high side for me town but I really love the woman I go to and the results. Good luck with your Disneyland dye job!
February 25th, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I pay about $135 every time I get my hair cut and highlighted here in Indianapolis. The cut is usually like $45, so I guess that makes color like $90.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
I pay $55 for a cut, color and highlights (plus a $10 tip). I did my own hair for a long time, and realized that it’s just too long and thick for me to get all the pieces underneath colored too. My hair grows fast and I was having to do my roots every 3-4 weeks. And it was fading and turning brassy, because it was box color.
So just last week I had my first professional color and highlights. I love it, and I can manage $65 a month for now.
PS – as to removing hair color spots? Wipe them right away but if you miss one, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser works wonders. I also used to stand on an old shower curtain to make sure I kept it off the floor.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
I pay about $100 for a cut and two-tone highlights, which isn’t bad since my haircut is $40. Plus, I only get the highlights twice a year, so I figure that works out to only $10/month, totally reasonable.
February 25th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
I recently discovered two silver hairs at my temples, one on each side. Although I’ve been tempted to pluck them out, I keep delaying it. I look at them every morning, trying to get used to them, wondering how many more will appear and how quickly they’ll come. My hairdresser said I should just pluck them out. But I don’t know. So far I’m trying to go with the “aging gracefully” thing, like you were. I guess I’ll see about that as time goes on and more grey comes.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:14 pm
A cut and all-over color for me is usually about $90.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Dude, I have fastest growing and reproducing gray hair in the world. I’m in a constant battle. I’ve made an attempt since we moved to Austin to color my own hair, but every now and then (say every 2-3 months) I need to go get it done professionally. Why? Because apparently you are supposed to color the back of your head also! Who knew? Anyway, I use the Clairol Root Touch Up and go to an Aveda salon that charges $50-60 for a haircut and about $60 for a single process color. BUT, they recently sent me an email for a training salon that they have and the prices are 50% less. When I lived in NYC? I paid over $150 just for a haircut and coloring…eesh – I think it was over $200.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:43 pm
I have my Mom’s genes… I started getting grey hair at 24. I’m only 28 and I’m almost all grey now! And not ready to assume my real color.
The good thing is that one of my aunts is a hair stylist… so I don’t have to pay for now. But I don’t know what I’ll do when she retires.
Otherwise, here in Belgium, color costs between 80 and 120€.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
I live in Seattle, so my hair color cost testimonial will not help you out much. I don’t think you’re turning your back on your vow to grow old gracefully. You’re just making yourself look nice. If, upon turning 60, you’re blogging about hanging out with college guys playing beer pong and waking up wearing other people’s clothes, THEN we might have a discussion about aging gracefully.
February 25th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
I live in Rural Eastern, NC – it cost me $66 for cut, color (full thru cap) and wax (eyebrows please). If I did foil on my color it would run around $85ish.
February 25th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I have more gray than any 38 year old should have and I have been coloring my hair since I was 25. When I lived in Ohio I paid $65 for a cut and color, so when I moved to Chicago, I was scared of how much it was going to cost me. I now get my hair done in the cutest little salon in the city and it costs me $110 for a cut and a single process color. I’ve been going here for about 2.5 years. I’m growing my hair out, so my stylist now only charges me for the cut every other time. It’s been quite a deal. I’m happy with that, I was afraid it was going to cost me $200 each time. For that price, I would be coloring my own hair.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
I remember when I was in 10th grade and a friend was braiding my hair…she found a gray hair. I was so embarrassed. I have a scar on my head, and all the hair around it has now gone gray, plus I am find others (ah, to be in your 30s!). I live in Nebraska and for a cut and color (highlight & allover color) I pay $65, which is cheap. I’ve paid as much as $120 at an uppity salon. I am currently looking for a new hair person…so I imagine I’ll have to start paying more… Enjoy your trip!!
February 25th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
I colored my hair for fun all the time when I was younger…ahh the days when it was fun and not a necessity.
I used to pay upwards of $100 bucks to get color professionally done. Now, given the economy and no job, I color myself using the old towels and hair clips to clip up the section upon section of hair. I’ve actually gotten pretty good at it and found a hair color that I absolutely love. Youf frugal side will love that it only costs me 4 bucks a box. I could be embarrassed, but I need my gray covered.
February 26th, 2009 at 12:06 am
I think I pay somewhere around $150 for highlights and a cut, probably more if it’s “full” highlights. I actually just had to cancel my highlight appointment (hooray, paycuts) so I think I’m going to do my own all over color this time. A coworker has the greatest red hair (from a bottle) and she swears it’s from the Dollar Tree. I don’t think I’m that brave.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:06 am
Well, it’s probably totally irrelevant, being that I live in Australia, but it costs me AUD $140 or around US $91 to get a hair cut and semi-permanent.
Over the past 15 years I would say I have paid to have this done about 10 times. I have been lucky enough to make friends with hairdressers and then volunteer to be a hair model for them or guinea pig when they need to try new colours.
Here we also have TAFEs (like a technical school) where you can get a cheap cut and colour as it’s done by students.. might be worth looking into?
February 26th, 2009 at 1:35 am
A haircut, color or highlight and a style for me at my hair salon is $50. And that’s including tip….a $10 tip.
I love my hair stylist. I completely trust her 100% and have always loved what she’s done to my hair. I have an issue with gray hair too, they are starting to show themslelves more and more each day. I used to just color my hair for something different, but from here on out it’s sadly going to be because I’m tired of the gray.
February 26th, 2009 at 2:39 am
I’ve been going to the same lady for almost 7 years now and she is the only person I trust with my hair. Seriously, she rocks. I pay $65 for a cut and multiple colors, and I do this routine one every 3 months.
February 26th, 2009 at 3:48 am
At almost 36, I’ve been coloring my hair since I was 16. That’s 20 years! I don’t even know what my natural hair color is, honestly. I have so many white hairs that I honestly think I would look 10-15 years older if I did not color my hair even though I am not really wrinkled. I figure come 50, I’ll let it be natural.
February 26th, 2009 at 8:02 am
I have no idea. But I was just thinking that hey – in a pinch, you could do the color in the garage…or better yet, outside! Maybe? Call me crazy and have a great time at Disneyland! You mess up that hotel room as much as you want!
February 26th, 2009 at 4:42 pm
Granted, I do live in Wisconsin. And my BFF Tina cuts and colors my hair in her salon. And my hair is really short. But I still only pay about $40 for a cut and color. And Tina rocks. I usually tip her a good $15-$20 because her prices are so cheap, but still, it’s peanuts.
Can’t wait to see the new color. And if it’s any consolation, both Rit and I are totally rockin’ the gray as well…her above her ears and me right in front. You’re not alone.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
for me, a cut and highlights (all over) is $90 plus tip. My grey hairs are suddenly very noticeable. My hair dresser says its better for me to just do the highlights b/c all over color would grow out too quick (my hair is blonde/brownish)
ALSO,my question is why do men look good w/grey? My husband has really dark hair and he has alot of grey now. I think he looks hott but me, lots of grey, like an old hag.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
I’ve only had my hair professionally colored once and it was about $130 (including tip). I always color my hair myself… sooo much cheaper!
February 27th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I have no idea how to answer your question but you did remind me that I need to reschedule my haircut tomorrow. So thanks
February 27th, 2009 at 6:11 pm
Are you worried about dying your hair while pregnant?
February 28th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I have your dad’s problem–I started going gray at 15 and, at 32, am probably 80% gray. Since I am single, still in my child-bearing years, and hope to meet a nice boy my own age
, I color. I used to do it myself, or have a friend do it for me, but I did tire of the mess it would make of my bathroom. (Have gotten dye spots on expensive Pottery Barn shower curtains, etc.) So, I started having it done only in a salon. LUCKILY, I found an Aveda salon that’s a training school, so you can pick your stylist according to their level of experience, and their prices go up accordingly. I have a “level 2″ stylist, and I’m charged $32 for my “single color process” (one, all-over color), which is an AWESOME deal. However, last summer I wanted to try out highlights, too, which got super expensive. (It was $40 per color for the foils…) I liked the way they looked for a while, but my budget has made me return to a solid color.
March 2nd, 2009 at 9:30 pm
I have been on a blog break for way to long and just getting caught up ad saw the news about the pg!!! Congrats! So damn excited for you! I started reading when you were pg with Babboo!