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These 50 Women Who Ditched Dyeing Their Hair Look So Good It May Convince You To Do The Same
Back in the day, gray hair used to be associated with wisdom and knowledge. In many places, it still is, for men at least. But our society still seems to have a collective issue with the natural aging process of the female human being, so reaching for the dye as soon as the first silvery sprouts appear is de rigueur for the vast majority of women under the age of 60.
However, the times they are a-changin.' Think of the hours and money spent in the hairdressers' chair, unquestioningly accepting the 'taboo' surrounding something perfectly normal and natural. Why should it be this way? 26-year-old Martha Truslow Smith decided that enough was enough, and founded the Instagram account grombre as a place of support and positivity for those women who choose to embrace their roots.
“The underlying reason I started Grombre was to start a different dialogue around gray hair on women and find the answer to some earnest questions of my own: "Is it true that my gray hair is ugly, makes me look old, and means I'm no longer good enough?,” Martha told Bored Panda. “I’m only in my twenties. If that is true, how will I feel and what will I believe about myself when I’m in my 40s, 50s, 60s?" I want to challenge the way we think about what we consider “beautiful,” and why, and propose that we have more important things to spend our precious time, energy and resources on if we find our hearts aren’t aligning with the things we find to be someone else’s biases.”
Helped along by celebrities like Lady Gaga who promoted the silver/platinum 'trend,' having gray hair is becoming something to be celebrated, rather than hidden, although Martha is a little skeptical about this. “The thing about silver hair dye is that it’s just that; it’s dye,” she told us. “I respectfully don’t understand the comparison between natural silver hair and dyed silver hair: between these two, one challenges the perspective of yourself, your priorities, and your insecurities, all while being a public statement of vulnerability that takes patience to endure, while the other is a chosen color that can change on any given day and may or may not reflect your natural self; the comparison takes two different categories and wraps it up in several neglected conversations. This isn’t said to knock anyone who is dying their hair- if you enjoy it, go for it! If you don’t, then the question I ask is: should you have to?”
These women have all ditched the dye and look simply stunning, and their stories only inspire more to have the courage to do the same, if they so choose. We here at Bored Panda have collected a list of the inspiring ladies from grombre, you can scroll down to meet them yourself. We'll leave you with some wise words of advice from Martha for young women who find themselves going gray: “Don’t fret over others opinions, instead, follow your calling, and you’ll surprise yourself with how strong you are and where your path will lead you.”
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Natural Gray Hair
“My first gray hair memory was when I was 7 years old. I remember being at school, I had long hair, and it caught my attention. I yanked it out, but never really thought much of it because I thought it was normal; both my parents have ALWAYS had grey since my earliest childhood memories.
It wasn't until I got married and I had my second child at 22 that I started to go salt and pepper. One day, my female boss was leaning over from behind as I sat at my desk, and she made a comment, ‘oh my goodness, for such a young woman, you sure have LOTS of grey!’ I felt so embarrassed and ashamed; I did not want to be considered old! So from the age of approximately 24 I started to dye my hair dark brown, the closest I could get to my "natural" color. I did those until I was 41 years old.
By then, I was coloring every 2 weeks! I hated it. It grew out so fast, all I could see was a white skunk line. Sometimes when I traveled, I would pack a box of dye in my luggage, just in case. I would be mortified if anyone even suspected that I had grey hair.
Many times I tried growing it out, but I felt like I would look hagard and old, and then I'd give in, and re-dye; it was like alcohol addiction...always back to the bottle!
Anyhow, I was going to turn 42, and I made a bet with myself... I would go cold turkey for 12 months (no matter what) and see what was really growing underneath the dye. My heart was ready.
I got many (unwanted) opinions from friends and my kids, ‘don't do it, you're gonna look old...’ ‘Why are you letting yourself go?’
I did it, it took me 3 years to grow it out completely. I didn't do the big chop, instead, I kept cutting the ends.
I have been dye free for 6 years now; I love me and my hair. I get compliments ALL the time. As a matter of fact, people in general think I'm in my 30's; I'm 48.
...and because of my hair, I model for stock photos!
I feel more vibrant and beautiful today more than I ever did than when I dyed it. My husband has nicknamed me his ‘SILVER FOX.’”
Curly Gray Hair
“Deciding to let my white hair grow in was a moment of acceptance of who I am. My hair color does not define my youth! I feel young, healthy, & beautiful. Having white natural hair is empowering!! Love not being controlled by societal standards of beauty but my own. I have never colored my hair...I love not being a slave to dying it. Not to mention it is massively better for my natural curls”
Gray Hair
“Now that my transition is complete and with the winter light my hair seems more white than grey.... I love all the shades though! It looks different every day!”
Gray Hair Streaks
“I was 12 years old when the boy I had a crush on pointed out my first grey hair. He meant no harm, but I was mortified. Since then there were years of plucked hair and boxed dye. It has now been 4 years of growing out the roots and fully embracing the grey. 26 years old and I wouldn't have it any other way.”
Long Gray Hair
“My name is Lhin. I am 37 years old from Thailand. 🇹🇭 I have had gray hair since I was in high school. It keeps changing the color more through the years. I had to dye my hair almost every month.
Four years ago, I decided to let my gray hair grow out and embrace my natural color. Despite some mean comments from neighbors, I didn’t care and went on with my daily life. Nowadays, I am asked by people all the time, “where did I get my hair done!?”They love it and want to have this color too.
I love my hair and I feel blessed that I embrace it and let this color become me. I am happy to see this grombre ladies out there. Thank you for raising awareness of people around the world.
I want to shoutout for someone who is struggling with a similar story like me; keep being yourself and embrace it. Because you are absolutely beautiful in your own way!”
Long Natural Hair
“I’ve been greying since the age of 13 and I’ve never dyed my hair. Furthermore, I’ve been growing it since 12 and I have entirely forfeited cutting it five years ago. I’m profoundly happy with the way it looks. The colour and the length combined are one of my favourite attributes.
Never have I ever felt like it made me look older! Instead it gets me the sweetest and most magical compliments, some of which I’m sure you’re familiar with: looking avant-garde, otherworldly or like a fairy, an elf, or Frozen-Anna.
My current life on an organic farm somehow resonates with my natural hair, and for me it’s another way for my femininity to shine through. I hope to inspire as many as possible, to be brave enough to embrace and show who and what they truly are on the inside.”
i have like a fourth of her hair length and can barely take care of it. you go girl!
Can you imagine having to color that much hair every few weeks? Seems to me she made the right decision.
😍 Beautiful, she can really pull this off. Red lipped makes everything look great
It's nice now, but I would probably cut it a bit eventually, to avoid it dragging on the ground and all.
Absolutely 💯 % Gorgeous!!! My hair is a similar tone to yours. Mine is to my butt. Sometimes I don't love it but I'm proud that I grew it back from bald after cancer treatment. I was already gray with some dark but it was neat to see the different phases of gray come in as it grew. It looked blended when it was short and very wavy. It's getting straighter now. Happy days and thanks for your post 🦋❤🔆
Love,love your hair.Sadly mine is too thin to grow long and recent chemo hasn't helped.
Your long hair and natural hair color is an asset for you. It enhances your beauty .
wow it is so long and beautiful;; I want my hair to grow out that long
YOUR BEAUTIFUL AND YOUR HEALTHY LIFESTYLE ON A ORGANIC FARM MAKES YOU EVEN MORE BEAUTIFUL ! BLESS YOU !!!!!!!
All one can see is hair. You have more of an identity than hair. Cut it, it doesn’t have to be short. It’ll open up your face so we can see YOU! This is excessively long, what for?!
Why is it always older women with short hair telling women of any age, with looong hair, to "CUT IT"... I'm 62 and until a couple of years ago, my hair was to my waist, but with changed to my spine, causing my to have a forward bend (Kyphosis), making my hair lay on my back instead of hanging down. My hair started getting really tangled the worse my spine got... So, for that reason only, I have had to wear my hair to just below my shoulders, something I'm not thrilled about, and I would absolutely LOVE to have her hair, including length and color... I also REALLY wish people would STOP telling long haired women to cut it. *grr* :/
Load More Replies...White Hair
“Born with grey and black hair. First female in 7 generations! I was teased incessantly because kids are jerks so I started dying it when I was 14. When I had my first son at 29 I noticed the gray become white in the front so I began to just leave a streak out and dye from the streak back like rogue from X-Men. About year and a half ago my stylist told me that all my gray was now white so we went for it. I feel like I found hardwood under the carpet! I’ll never go back.”
Natural Silver Hair
“Hope everyone had a Happy Mother’s Day!
I get it from my momma!
Gray Roots
"I have dyed my hair since I was 18, now at 42 I can not wait to see my gray curls. Gray is freedom"
Beautiful ! you do not look 42 ! I was thinking she is 19,20 years old
Gray Hair Ombre
Think of all that livin you get to do when you stop masking your true Self ✌🏼”
Beautiful Gray Hair
Celebrating TWO years of being grey! It's easy to get caught up in the everyday bumps and bruises, and losing sight of the scope of your progress is all too easy to do. Be encouraged! Hold onto the hope that today is easier than yesterday, and you're one step closer to your goals. How applicable to everything we put our minds to. If we can do this, imagine all that we can accomplish by taking it one day at a time. Thanks for inspiring and encouraging me with your own journeys.
Natural Hair
“I had been coloring my hair for fun and dramatic effect since I was 16. When I started to go gray, coloring my hair stopped being "fun". It felt like I was hiding something that I was supposed to be ashamed of. About 5 years ago, I decided to go gray. All on it's own, my hair became what I'd been trying to achieve for years through dyes -- dynamic, unique, and vibrant. It feels so good to just be myself.”
Short Gray Hair
“A woman turned to me when we were both warming up to be adjusted and said, ‘I’m so sick of dying my hair and I’ve been thinking about letting it go.’
⠀
We talked a bit about what the grow-out process has been like over the past year-and-a-half and made small talk but what’s been nagging at me is her words. ‘Letting it go.’
⠀
I am fully aware that there is a view out there that gray hair is less-than. That it’s unkempt or seen as not taking care of yourself. I know this because these used to be my thoughts too.
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These culturally institutionalized thoughts inform our words and ultimately our actions.
⠀
But little did I know - over the past year or so, my actions have informed my words which have impacted and reshaped my thoughts. I guess it works both ways.
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So hear this.
▫️I’m not letting my hair go. I’m letting myself be.
▫️I am not giving up on myself. I am getting to know myself.
▫️I am not evading old age. I am growing in grace.
▫️I’m not keeping up. I’m stepping out.
▫️Gray is beautiful.
▫️I am beautiful.
Stunning Hair Coloring
“Going grey was a huge game changer for me... It was like learning who I was all over again... same me in a different frame (of mind).”
Short And Curly Gray Hair
"One of my many motivations to stop dying my hair was the fact that my husband would be referred to as a ‘silver fox’ while women with grey hair are simply seen as ‘old’. I felt that by continuing to dye I was perpetuating that sexism. Well, stuff that - I am grey and beautiful and I love it! Would never, ever go back.”
Natural Hair
“This journey is not just about embracing the outward woman but also making peace with the inner woman. It's about knowing we are wonderfully and fearfully made. And since it's a privilege to grow older, we should wear our silver as a crown of honor. I believe confidence and self-acceptance are what truly make a woman beautiful...at any age! Rock your silver crown sisters and sparkle on!!”
Pretty Gray Hair
“Almost got upset today when someone asked me if I was my niece’s grandma 👵 but then I got home and my husband said that I look like the best version of me.”
Natural Hair Color
"I am almost 47. After coloring my hair for almost 25 years, I am embracing my transition to Wise Woman, part of which is allowing my hair to grow in with its natural color...silvery grey. My hair has always been my vanity, and being a redhead has been fun and liberating, but spiritually and emotionally, I am deepening and ready to share what I am learning with others. As a dear friend says, 'I am connecting to what feels true inside over what society has given as the rule book.' To everything, there is a season. "
Beautiful Hair
“End of Summer, 2018, 2 1/2 years into the gray hair adventure!”
Curly Natural Hair
“I didn’t always love my grey. If I’m honest, some days Sheba (my mane’s name) and I have a love/hate relationship. 😊 Greying early was kind of a shock. Old people are supposed to be grey, right? I couldn't take it so I started dyeing it. I soon grew tired of it, because the greys always came back. One day I decided that I’d had enough. It’s been about 4 years now, and I haven’t looked back. Allowing my silver tresses to show themselves has been liberating. There are times that I wake up, and I’m over it. I want to dye it away, but I know that I never could. It’s mine; kind of like my trademark.”
Love how she named her hair. I have curly/wavy hair that sometimes doesn't cooperate and feels like it has a mind of its own. I think giving it its own name would make it more of a separate entity and less my fault for the lack of cooperation. "She" just isn't working with me today... Lol!
Gray Hair Streaks
“Hi! I’m from Guatemala City, Guatemala. I started noticing grey at the age of 11. Now i am 30. Havent colored my hair in 4 years. My mom, sister and me have the same haircolor"
Shades Of Silver
“This page gives me so much life! 10 years ago is when I ditched the dye & began my transition journey! I know the transition is messy & uncomfortable. I know the stares & whispers can be abundant but... Silver Sisters, KEEP GOING!! They aren't bothered by your hair, they are intimidated by your fierce independence! There is an amazing thing that happens not only physically, but spiritually when you release yourself from the societal rules & constraints that are imposed on us about our age & appearance! You cannot dim or hinder the glow of a woman who has declared her own freedom! There is so much power right inside YOU! Stop waiting! Take your power back and RUN! A woman who loves herself is unstoppable! Stop dimming your light for the comfort of others! Why hide when you were created to stand out?!”
Beautiful Natural Hair
“I’ve had grays since age 23. I decided to let the grays grow at age 45. I receive positive compliments every day- most people ask who my colorist is. Their look of surprise when I tell them it is my own natural color is worth every penny I have saved by going natural!”
Patches Of Gray
“I have had patches of grey in my hair since I was 13. I have dyed my hair over 50 times since then (8 years ago!) and now I just embrace it, pretend I’m Rogue from X-Men and have a grand old time!”
that would be my first move. pretend i'm rogue from xmen. she was always my favorite
Natural Silver Hair
“When I got my hair back from cancer 5 years ago, it came back gray. I felt that my youth was taken from initially and dyed my hair every two weeks in an effort to forget. Now I embrace the grey as a sign of surviving and thriving. I love my hair. Looking forward to it being fully grey!”
It is beautiful!! You are beautiful!! I am a cancer survivor too and I think I will grow my hair out in it's natural color, too!!! Thank you for being awesome and beautiful and alive and inspiring, too
Pretty Natural Hair
“I stopped dyeing my hair at 33 and I have never entertained the thought of going back. My skin tone has changed; dyeing my hair just wouldn't look right now. It means that people rarely forget you and I'm quite comfortable with that.”
Long Silver Hair
“After 2,5 years I can say my transition is completed! I am now proud owner of a grey kinda wavy/wild mane! Loving it!”
Gorgeous Natural Hair
“I come from a family of people with white hair, so I wasn’t suprised when I started graying in my late teens. I dyed off and on in my twenties, but by the time I hit thirty, I was tired of the expense. I chopped my hair and most of the color with it which made going grey super easy. I kept a basic no frills pixie for almost a decade, but as I neared forty, I wanted something different. I have had the undercut pixie for over a year now, and I LOVE it!”
Going Grey
“I started going grey when I was about 20 years old, and I think because I was always little different (being born without my left hand) I didn't mind that my hair was doing it's own thing. Now that I am in my mid thirties, people are always asking me where I get my hair coloured - which is amazing, because I don't do anything to it! When I tell them it's all natural, many folks don't believe me - and that makes me feel kind of lucky. I have always LOVED seeing other women with beautiful greys in their hair, because I get to see a bit of myself in them. Sometimes I even feel like a bit of a rebel for not covering my greys, and that feels really fun. ps I have a one-handed cooking show on YouTube called Stump Kitchen!”
Silver Strands
“My mom, my aunt, cousins, myself...anyone with my grandmother’s lineage has had early grays and I finally stopped dying. It has been the best decision of my life. At first my grandmother criticized me but I said this was us. This was our hair. She finally stopped dying this year. And tonight, she complimented my hair. Hers is platinum white. She said I dyed it white. I said this was all mine. And she smiled. I’m 33 and she’s 78.”
Patch Of Silver
“My mom said I always had a small patch of silver from a child but not noticeable (I don't remember seeing grey hair as a child but my hair was thick and long so my mom would comb it and put it in really funky styles). As a young adult, I had dreadlocks but I would dye them black so they would look "healthy" and shiny. About 6 years ago, my hairdresser at the time said, "why are you dyeing these wonderful greys?!! People are paying to put grey in and covering yours up!". I stopped and embraced my silver patch. When I cut my locs off, my "mojo" (yes, that's what I call it) burst forth in all its glory... Did I say how thrilled I was to find this community?”
White Strands
“I'm a Mexican girl, I'm 30 years old, but I have had grey hair since I was 5 years old and I actually love it. I'm very happy to discovered hundreds of women like me.”
Beautiful Silver Hair
“Well... let’s talk about funny stuff. Silver hair has its quirks too, right? The one I laugh about the most is this one: do you remember when you had a hair tickling somewhere in your back after a bath and you couldn’t find it? But then you would go to the mirror and bingo! there it was, you could see it.
Well, not the same anymore! 🙈😂 Now I pray that all the falling white ones find their way, because they just stay there tickling and I can’t find them immediately because I can’t see them!
The struggle is real #silversisters ! 😂 Tell me the quirks you found!! 👩🏼🦳💖”
I found the texture has changed as I went grey, it used to be silky and straight, now it's a bit more wiry. But no more dye!
Natural Curly Hair
“'I do wonder why people hate their grey hair so much! I think grey hair is a gift from the moon. When the moon laughs, her eyes produce tears of joy that fall to earth and land on the tops of people's heads!' -C. Joybell C.”
Streaks Of Silver
“It is the second time I do the « experience » of this transition. First time was 3 years ago in 2015. I let them grow but then decided to cut them very short, I didn’t find a real proper way to arrange them, neither a new style, then they grow again and I suddenly tied them with biological vegetal brown color, as I was feeling less sure about myself. And also because I like to follow my desires ;) even if I change my mind. But somehow I felt sad to have covered my « inner light » again and decided this year, after months working on myself (meditation, reading and applying lots of self-development books, drawing, taking time for me out of my last job), to let them grow naturally, not only the color but the natural movement of my hair. And it matches perfectly with my state of mind and mindfulness. I think it represents how every woman/human has beauty and light and freedom inside her. And I’m proud of being part of a movement that spread courage, healthy lifestyle and self-acceptance around the world. Others are helping me and I’d like to help others wearing that white (and grey) flag on their head and learn that patience really worths it. 😌☀️Time reveals treasure when you take it.”
Natural Gray Hair
No better way to wrap up a Monday than with the dreamiest curls and popping pink.
Silvery Hair
“It’s been 9 months since I last dyed my hair. A friend just saw me for the first time since my transition and told me that she could never do what I was doing because she was “too vain.” She meant it as a compliment but I didn’t say anything back. No longer dyeing my hair doesn’t mean I’ve given up on myself or that I don’t care about my appearance. It’s the exact opposite. It means I’ve embraced my authentic self - I love who I am and I don’t have any desire to pretend to be anyone else. I’m 43 years old. I’ve dyed my hair for over 20 years. when I look in the mirror now, I finally see me. I’ve never been happier.”
Embracing The Gray
“I've wrestled with grey hair my entire adult life. It was so much hassle keeping up with it, and I was also often embarrassed when I saw photos of myself with the grey roots peeking through! I finally decided to quit the dye summer 2017 and embrace my authentic self. It wasn't always easy at first, but the more it grows out the happier I am with it...one of the best decisions I could have made.”
This photo is beautiful. People would give much to have your unique looks. Beautiful
Short Gray Hair
“Most thought I was crazy for giving up the dye at 44...at times I thought I was...maybe I am! 🤷🏻♀️🤣 But if I could just let others “feel the freedom” that I have for just a few seconds...freedom to pull my hair back...freedom to have healthy, natural hair again....freedom from the time spent on having to dye it every 4 weeks...freedom in my own skin...freedom from what others think...then they’d know why!”
Going Silver
“I don’t care what you think about me, I don’t think about you at all🖤”
They are all young! Big difference when you are old and your face shows it! They look great!
Dark Gray Hair
“I decided to stop dying my hair as a celebration to the end of my cancer treatment at the age of 38. The grays started to show up as I have entered menopause. The slow changes at the beginning was annoying and I was self-conscious. A year in, the grays intensified and my confident grew stronger. I realized to accept the new me. I just turned 41 a week ago and I love my silver hair more than ever.”
You are so beautiful!! And a fighter!!! Thank you!!! Me too, now i will grow my hair out
Beautiful White Strands
“One year ago I embarked on this journey: the journey towards natural hair. I had no idea what to expect, both in terms of outcome and of the journey itself. Some of my friends almost begged me to go back to colour, as apparently I was about to commit the unforgiveable crime of looking older.
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I may look older now, but I have rarely been as happy with myself as a whole as during this transition so far. I have learnt to love me for who I am and just the way I am, and I owe it to my hair 😊 I often hear that it is only hair, but the truth is that there is more than just hair involved.
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To those of you on the fence, give it a try. If you do not like it you can always go back to colouring your hair!
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13 3/4 months into transition - 11 3/4 months post blending”
Salt And Pepper Hair
“I finally saw my hair in a certain light today where I actually see what people talk about it. It really is... dare I say.... kinda cool. It’s hard to see its real effect in the bathroom mirror and photos come out different in every lighting. Truth be told, I know it’s silver, and I know it’s “different” but not until today did I see what they see. Thank you strangers.... you’re right. It’s pretty cool. Sparkly, silver, and proud. 🖤✨”
Natural Hair Color
“Changes.
Changes are normal.
The most normal in the world, but why are changes so difficult for us? Is it the fear of not being seen by society, or the fear of losing oneself? ‘You've changed so much ...’ A big insult these days that you jump right out. But should not we be proud of ourselves when we change (positively)? It is good to change, to see the world with new eyes and to be seen by the world with new eyes. Discover more and get to know each other from another side.”
Pretty Gray Hair
“Crazy how much light can change the look of your hair. Whenever I step outside I see its true color. Embracing my transition!”
Beautiful White Strands
“I made it! I decided for my birthday and one year anniversary I would get a really major haircut to celebrate and get rid of some of my old colored ends. I love it! Ive had long hair for SO long...I didnt think I would look good with short hair. This hair journey of mine sure has pushed me to think and do things that I never would have before. I have a new sort of confidence. I’m so glad I decided to join you all last year!”
Dark Gray Hair
Waves, braids, side-ponytails galore! There are so many cute ways to style your silver and the wonderful @young_and_gray29 wears them all so well.
Natural Silver Hair
“Found my first silvery strands in my twenties, and have been dyeing for 20+ years. I opted to bleach out my ends and coax the gray in- and have dark roots instead of light, a dark background instead of a halo(also fabulous, btw). My stylist was such a brave chemist- but now slightly afraid of all the referrals she’s getting😂(This approach was not easy, of course, and I sacrificed many destroyed inches). But two years in, I find myself wishing for more gray! And now I wear red lipstick everyday! I’m truly never going back. Not letting myself go. Letting myself become❤️”
Shades Of Silver
“I started getting grey hair in college. From 2001-2015 I dyed my hair dark brown in an attempt to hide my natural hair. I’m not sure the exact moment I decided I was finished with covering up the real me, but it was the best physical decision I’ve ever made. I was so afraid that it would make me look older, especially since my husband has such a baby face. I would argue that at age 35 I look the best I ever have, and if that’s not true... then at least my confidence is the best it’s ever been! I often get strangers asking me about it, or complimenting it. Even without the compliments, I feel very natural, very true to myself, and my hair is the healthiest it’s ever been.“
Growing Out Your Natural Hair
I got my first grey hair at 14. Despite being raised by my two silver crowned parents I quickly learned how to dye and have done so for ten years. I found that with each dye I gained not identity and assurance but anxiety and a feeling of misrepresentation. I found an odd reassurance in the fact that I NEEDED chemicals and dye to feel beautiful. At 24 I've decided to go #grombre. Join me on my journey of empowerment and acceptance as I look to build a community based on the natural privilege of silver beauty (at any age!) DM me to feature your own journey to platinum beauty.
My grandmother is old and grey. She has a face full of wrinkles, she is not pretty. But she has a heart of gold, and words of encouragement for anyone who meets her. Never has she cursed anyone in her life. Any guest who vist her is always hand-fed, never goes back with an empty stomach. To me she is the most beautiful woman on earth. And she wears her age well.
Load More Replies...I think they all look great, but some of these look much too perfect and symmetrical to be completely natural. In fact, a couple look like straight-up gray dye or highlight jobs.
My greying hair also looks like unnatural - just one thick line at the centre which completely disappears if I part my hair on a side. Many people grey like that especially at the early stage of greying
Load More Replies...Grey hair here. I'm 45. I cant count the times I heard "you have to dye your hair, the grey is showing!" or random people telling me i had to cut if off instead of growing it out. So yeah, it does take some balls to let it grow out. You have to endure a never ending stream of "advice" from strangers. On the other hand, once the dye is gone, there was a never ending stream of compliments. Worth it!
These ladies are beautiful but I was hoping the article was about actual aging women embracing the process. Premature graying on someone with skin in their 20s and 30s is very different than someone in their 50s and 60s. And when you aren't truly aging yet, it's easier to "rock" the look with confidence when you dont have the psychological nuances of someone who is actually aging. I do love being around ladies who own where they're at in life.
I def agree! Add to that most of them have fine textured hair. Not a wirey tumbleweed in the bunch!
Load More Replies...Yawn. These are all relatively young women with PRETTY grey hair, not the nappy and wirey hair most older women end up with.
They are not all so young. Hi, I'm 48, almost 49. I embrace the gray, wiry and all. Hair is a state of mind and heart and WORK. It doesn't really matter the color or texture, what matters is what you're willing and ACTUALLY doing to take the time and effort to make it look better, GRAY or not. BTW, I'm #1 on this list, and it takes work. Just because we go gray, it doesn't we stop grooming.
Load More Replies...My hair grew white from the roots when I was caring for my 91 y/o mom-I think it was an emo-grow! I went with it and won't go back. Can I submit a photo?
I am tired of dying my hair don't care anymore I'm going to let my hair turn white I think it looks pretty good so it shows my age who cares you don't like it don't look at it but it's me
Maybe I'm in a very small minority, but even since my teens, I've always thought that a full head of grey hair looks great on both men and women! I was happy to hear about the new trend of girls dying their hair grey, and I hope that this letting all of the natural grey out becomes a more common trend, too! Besides being a silver fox, what is most attractive is the confident smile of a woman who feels free and happy in her true colours.
For the last 20 yrs or so, I've learned to love me for me. no makeup, no hair dye. i prefer the natural look (good or bad, lol) and it's made my life so much simpler! of course, i had to learn to be comfortable in my own skin. simple jeans & t-shirt kind of gal, but i've been told i 'clean up well.' i have had a few gray hairs but not sure how long--they're all in the back where i can't see! my sister, on the other hand, confident & fun-loving as she is, HATES her gray. got her first ones at 16 & though younger than me, would be totally gray if she didn't dye it. i think she looks great either way, but wish she was ok with growing old gracefully.
With my greying hair (since I was in my late teens) I colored up until 7 years ago. I’ve always barely wore any makeup, not like these “girls” do nowadays... with 50 layers and 3 hrs in putting on makeup to go out and take selfies every 10 min. I now just take 5-10 minutes to put on light eyeliner, mascara and a little eyeshadow on my lower eyeline to bring a little color and “BAM” I’m done. I’ve stopped coloring my hair to cover the grey (I’ve saved over $5000) and feel way better with my salt & pepper hair color NOW. 👩🏻🦳💋
Load More Replies...Wow, so brave! lol :p Grey hair looks good. I've got a few of my own, I don't mind them. LOSING my hair though, that sucks.
Losing your hair is sort of the social equivalent for men.
Load More Replies...I actually can't wait until my grey hair shows up.. is it grey or gray??
Grey for most of us anyway ;) Gray is the American way
Load More Replies...I'm sharing this not just as a woman who is growing gray naturally, but as a woman who is naturally concerned about hair dye. I don't care how "natural" they say a dye is, the fact of the matter is that there hasn't been enough studies done to convince me that any hair dye is healthy, and isn't going to cause health concerns in the long term. Stop for a moment and think about it...You're putting a chemical on your scalp, which in turn, protects your brain. Call me unattractive, stupid, or paranoid for not dying my hair, but the fact of the matter is that we still don't know exactly how our brains function, let alone what, if any, damage dye that leeches in through the scalp, and then into the brain might cause. My mother dyed her hair for years until she started chemotherapy. When that happened, she was told to stop with the dye by her doctors because it interfered with her treatment...Kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it? https://www.facebook.com/attn/videos/1814469038861347/
best thing I ever did for myself(other than joining eHarmony and meeting my hubs) was stopping the hair dye. It's so freeing. I thought I was going to be about 40% gray...turns out it's not even 25%. I have a long wait to actually be silver...but loving it, none the less! IMG_8286-5...dda185.jpg
Wow!! I am totally blown away! I've had grey hair since my teens, but I have also dyed my hair since I was 13, before I actually had any grey at all! I'm now 38 and it's pretty bad now lol, but weirdly it all seems to congregate at the front, except for a black streak which I've had all my life! And there's not a great deal at the back of my hair! But recently I've been toying with the idea of letting it grow in, time between colouring definitely getting longer! Just dyed it there before Christmas, my normal colour that I use and I really don't like it, I don't know why I'm feeling like this but there we have it! I did ask at the hairdresser (I colour my hair at home all the time but thought I'd ask their opinion) about colouring it a silver shade and just let the grey come in, but they said I'd need to bleach it gradually, etc, etc and I thought no chance lol! But now I am totally inspired to just embrace it and let it grow naturally! I think I'm just gonna go for it!
These women have one thing is common - they are all beautiful to begin with. Some are stunning, actually. I'm not; I look bad with my hair grey. And I'll have to dye my hair, nothing is wrong with it. However, I must confess, that it is freedom - not to depend on your outgrown roots.
They all look great! But I am middle-aged and I think it would not suit me so much. I guess I wait until I am sixty-seventy-ish.
I’m middle-aged and I’m super find with it. Other people don’t pay your bills so why would you care what they think about how you look, if it means you don’t have to spend tons of money coloring your hair to make other people happy. I've saved over $5000 in the last 7 years not coloring my hair... since my hair grows fast I had to color it every 3 months. 😖
Load More Replies...Grey, silver, and white looks great on most of these women. However, most of them stopped dyeing when the transition was complete. A lot of these women are still young and beautiful; their silver hair is all the trend right now! They don’t even have to use the salon to get that great color. However, the silver did age some of these ladies. My mother never went full grey, it was always salt & pepper, and it did age her. At 54, I think I will dye until the day I die.
All of these women are beautiful and it works for them. Unfortunately I am not attractive but nor is my dyed hair :(
I mean, good on them, but the few calling it "empowering"...? Feels like a strong word for that.
For some women it's very brave to not dye your hair, even some men. Hell, the toupee industry hasn't dried up.
Load More Replies...I'm also a member of the club. I embrace it! Now if I dye my hair it's to add a splash of pink.
I've always thought that natural is the best way to be. That being said I also think that really long hair on an aging person makes them look like more a hag than beautiful. Some of these pictures changed my mind. Now I believe that natural AND well groomed is the most beautiful.
Thank you so much for this. I recently decided to embrace my graying hair because I think it will look pretty. I did color my hair in the past until I realized how foolish it is to keep spending my money on such a ridiculous thing and what I should be doing is embracing my natural looks. I am 54 years old but look younger. Grey hair is beautiful and I can’t wait for it to come in fully. Thank you ladies for posting your pics, very encouraging
I'm Asian and I look like a vampire. my black hair parts in the front, so it drapes all over my face. I have constant dark circles and some have said my eyes are creepy, and two of my front side teeth grew at a weird angle so they look pointed. But I'm proud of myself. A goofy, rainbow, positivity-spreading, sarcastic, rbf vampire
Letting my hair go gray after years of highlighting my natural dark brown was no problem -- it's been a pretty nice gray color since my mid-40s. Totally happy with the gray, and I've gotten compliments from stylists and "civilians" alike. But now it's thinning so badly, it's scary. Texture also has gone from pretty resilient and curl-positive to wispy and stubbornly straight. All of the lucky ladies in these photos still have lots of strong, sturdy hair. I'm really struggling to keep thinking positively about my appearance when I see wide lines of my pink scalp in the mirror.
Photographic evidence all you need to look good is to be thin, wear make up , and have a professional photographer take you pic.
Just beautiful! I love the depth in 'salt and pepper' hair. My mum has it (although she still has heaps of black at nearly 70!) and I totally want to do that too when I start greying <3
When my hair turns gray i would like to try to leave it. I used to dye my hair when i was younger but havnt in the past few years. Im 28 now and hopefully gray wouldn't look bad.
This actually almost made me cry. I have such pretty gray hair it's smokey with a huge of gold with white strands. I became disable in Sept of 2021. Since then I put back the weight and more. So I figure well if I can't loose the weight right. Maybe I could dye my hair ( never mind the reason I stopped dying it in (2016) the first place was because I got behind on touch ups and notice how beautiful it was). I found this awesome smokey gray . So I bleached my hair and let it almost dry and went in with the dye. Guess it didn't take and sadly I have been sitting around with bleach blonde hair for 5 months now. Monday I am going to cut as much of the blond of so I can start of and regrown my beautiful salt and pepper hair.
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Since the lockdown I have not colored my hair. I have colored my hair since I was thirty never looking my age but feeling grey would age me. Now I am embracing my grey and I love it. I saved pictures of different women with grey to keep me inspired. Thanks you are all beautiful.
Most of these women in the photos are younger. Sure a woman in her 40's can look good with gray hair. it is when you get above 50 when gray hair really makes a woman look old. I don't think young women should dye their hair, especially all the blondes that dye it from the time they atre teenagers. Only older women should dye. their hair.
You ladies are all incredibly inspiring... I’m still trying to hide the fact that I’m 95% grey at 46 but reading your stories is inspiring me... maybe it’s time to just ditch the colouring kits!
All I can see is pretty or cute women. Easy to be grey when you have the looks Sorry if that seems b****y.
I'm 65 and decided to stop coloring my hair over a year ago. Initially I didn't like the transition but now that it's gotten longer I really like it. I get compliments all the time. I wanted to keep my long hair and I wear it up in a bun often and like how that looks as well. I think women who are older who color their hair and wear lots of makeup end up looking older than they really are. My motto it: Aging is mandatory, growing up is optional. I hope I never grow up!! IMG_2272-5...c4cae7.jpg
I've had grey strands of hair since I was in high school....I always called them silver. When I stopped relaxing my hair and went natural a few years ago, then I could REALLY see the silver hairs! I was a little self conscious at first, and my mother keeps telling me I need to dye my hair, but I kind of like it. Besides, so many young girls are dying their hair grey on purpose. Once person told me my silver hair looked intentional, so that works for me! I plan on getting dreads soon, and I do want color, but something funky, like purple highlights!
I’m 54 , my natural colour is light auburn, like is it red? No blonde? No light brown? No, all of the above. I had a near fatal illness 20 years ago, among other things All my skin peeled off & most of my hair fell out. When it grew back I had started going grey, the hairs are a metallic silver white, no salt & pepper, kids call it “wisdom tinsel”. I am looking forward to my hair being all white, it’s taking so long, my hair is 80 cm long & im only about 20% white so far, I hop I live long enough for it to go 100% white.
I've been going grey, well silver really, since I was 18...thanks dad...and now at 36, I embrace it. It's funny that with shades of platinum being fashionable that we have finally decided to stay grey. I've left my hair alone for 10 months, have 2 boxes of dye in my bathroom, where they will probably stay and I made an appointment to make my the rest of my hair match....I want more grey!
LOVE IT!!! I started growing mine out in October of this year and I have stark white at the temples. Young girls think I'm bleaching the temples and ask me what I recommend. Smart asses ask if I want to look like the bride of Frankenstein and I ask, "Why....are you Frankenstein?"
These women all look so young and gorgeous. I find when I let my hair go grey I look tired. I want to do it, but unsure how to start. I see that a good haircut or style would probably be a starting point and possibly good streaks to guide into it gently?
Frankly its incredible how beautiful all these women are...all smiling...its the smile not the hair. The hair is also gorgeous but the smiles...the smiles.
This almost makes me want to go grey... My parents both have black-ish hair with no grey hairs visible until they were over 50 years old. Soooo, I don't think I'll be seeing any grey hairs anytime soon. :P
Every one of these women look at least early 30's and to a 19 turning 20 and are all stunningly beautiful
Love all these amazing manes and that you've dedicated an entire article to the giving us women the freedom to leave our hair it's natural color!
I don't dye my hair. All these women have beautiful faces. I do not.
I stopped dyeing my hair when I hit 24, just too much hassle! I have light brownish/blonde so if there was gray it hasn't been noticeable for many, many years. it's going very gray the last couple of years, but the plus side is I have a white streak in front that has always been there. I just thought it was a blonde streak and never paid attention to it.
I’m the only woman in my office with white hair.m, even the women older than me dye their hair. Have a 64 year old in jet black long hair. I’ve been natural for a few years now and hoped others would get on the bandwagon. Well a couple have cut their hair short in a similar style as mine small moves as they say. Be free and be strong.
Yep, dye it or don't dye it. It's all a matter of personal choice. But there are some people that simply think women should hide their age no matter what. At some point, no amount of dye in the world will make a person "look younger". And still, it's a matter of choice and what YOU feel comfortable in doing or not doing. :)
Load More Replies...I stopped coloring 3 years ago, I just wish there was a product that makes the white/gray hair not so out of control. It does it's own thing, and the short ones just stick straight up or out and won't lay down. Anyone have a product they just love?
Lovely women, lovely hair... However, almost without exception each of these women are young... or at least younger than me. Let's see the same number of women in their 60's and 70's with grey hair!
Come on now! All of these women are prematurely grey/greying & some are dye jobs...which expains why they all look fabulous...add to that, every single one of the white ones have fine textured hair. You take a woman in her 40's & above with coarse hair that's grey, & the pix would be alot less attractive!
not true there is a facebook group "the silver circle" women of all ages transitioning and yeah those are real ladies the women in the group look amazing in their natural colors and we get to see each other's natural patterns come in month by month as we share our journey in photos along the way. I am 55 and almost to my two year mark. I buzzed off all the dye to 1/4 inch of hair on May 1st of 2017. Love my natural color best choice ever no more toxic c**p and mess and this color looks much better with my skin and no roots to mess with.
Load More Replies...Now let's see the conversation on women who are losing their hair/thinning/balding. Can we find a way to get over the stigma of that so these women don't have to shave their heads and/or wear wigs or hair fibre powders?
what kind of society is stigmatizing thin hair? most women are losing part of hair with age and its just biology, l don't think normal adult would look differently at them. In same condition young women just want to look attractive, thick hair is associated with youth and health, it's subconscious thing, nothing to do with stigmas and taboos. same about grey hair.
Load More Replies...I had been dying my hair for about 15 years and decided to let it go grey. My hair stylist said I just had to grow it out, there was no way to strip the dyes and recolor to work with my hair as it grew out. I suffered with that growing out line of demarcation for about two years, and it was painful. I don't understand how all the young women who died their hair grey could just do that, and few stylists apparently are willing to make an effort for mature women.
Amazing ladies. To be honest, back when I was part-timing as a teacher in a small language school, some girls pointed out how I started going gray (meaning no harm, just a juvenile observation and reaction). I just took it as a joke and said (equally jokingly) "it's because of you, you make me worry too much!" Later at home, I took a close look in the mirror and it turns out they mistook my blond-ish parts as gray hair.
Would you believe that I don't actually know if I have grey hairs yet? My (younger) sister-in-law is struggling with some of hers going grey and she asked me - I've never checked. Of course if I had dark hair I would probably know (whether I wanted to or not), but I have light, light blond hair and I'm sure it will slowly turn to white but I have every intention not to worry about it as it does!
Had a regular customer tell us she went to a baby shower for her niece and all the young girls kept asking her what brand of hair dye she uses, she replied with '76 & aging' they then asked where to get it from!! **edit, she doesn't dye her hair, she is 76 so her hair is silver grey**
Wow! I always thought my mom and I were weird for going grey at a young age. My mom was 19 when she started greying and I was 23 when it became really noticeable in my hair. I naturally have dark brown hair that is made up of lots of differently colored strands, from blondes to reds and many shades of brown. I think that is why my grey hairs are so unusual in their color variations. They are also pretty evenly mixed throughout my hair and so it makes it look like I have this tinge to my hair that coupled with my skin tone makes me look ill. I don't think I can embrace they grey yet for that reason but I long for the day when I can ditch dying it.
Meanwhile Daphne Guiness is so jealous of these cute Ladies in this post....
the headline "refuse" indicates sexism, as if women feel obligated to color their hair.
That's the point, some women feel that society says that women should hide their grey hair, these women are refusing to do so, not every woman is going to care of course but it does not mean that BoredPanda is being sexist.
Load More Replies...Beautiful! Everyone who has had chemo, please ask your doctor to check your vitamin B12 level at least once a year because it can damage the intrinsic factor in the stomach which absorbs B12 from food. The reason I mention this is that low B12 can cause gray hair, & too low B12 for too long can be fatal. Also, people with low B12 should never be given laughing gas, aka nitrous oxide, because it can cause paralysis, stroke, & heart attack. B12 shots are the typical treatment for low B12; sublingual lozenges of methylcobalamin can work, too. (Ask your doctor to test you to make sure it's not too high if you self treat because too high B12 & B6 have been linked to cancer. I like my level to be within acceptable limits.) Low B12 can also be caused by vegan diet, gastric surgery, Accutane, & a rare autoimmune disease called pernicious anemia. My sister and I have pernicious anemia, so when my mom started showing the symptoms, we asked her oncologist to test her B12 & it was low.
Unfortunately you have to have the right face to get away with it.! I tried tis a few years ago and people thought I was at least 10 years older than I was! Now I have no desire to look younger but I really don’t want to look older!! Plus my husbands genetics mean he’ll never go grey, bald yes but grey never😂!
you know that had nothing to do with what you looked like it was about the brainwashing they grew up with that came from the marketing department of Clairol who made ads telling women they would look 10 years younger with dye. That became part of our collective brainwashing and those people who thought you looked older did not truly even look or say compare before and after they just saw grey and though oh 10 years with no conscious input. I wish these photos had the before pics.
Load More Replies...Unfortunately, my gray hair is dingy, incomplete and not cool looking. Also, single hair color makes me bored quickly ... which is why I rotate through differing colors through the year. all these ladies have glorious hair. Mine sucks. But I've never colored it to remain my "natural" color ... in fact, I have no idea what that would be at this point.
I think these women look stunning...because they are stunning younger women! Grey and white hair is spectacular on gorgeous young /youthful skin. However, a woman at 70 with grey or white hair usually looks much older. Not sure I would do it :)
If you really look especially dark dye makes a 70 year old woman look older than anything! The colors do not look natural and the roots show almost immediately. My mother stopped dying in her 50s then went back in her 70 is was horrible. She looked much older with the dye.
Load More Replies...Wow! That's a LOT of photos of YOUNG beautiful women with silver/ grey hair. And yes, they ALL look beautiful. So would I if I were in my twenties or thirties like most of these women are. Most including myself look great at that age no matter what hair they have. There might be one or two in there in their forties. I see no one in there who has grey hair at the age it is most damning to a woman's appearance. Fifties and up. Once the face sags, bags and is covered in wrinkles grey hair is the last nail in the aging "appearance" coffin of women. Colour it at middle age, with a few grey streaks left for a natural look and it takes 20 years off the faces of those over fifty. ME included. I let mine grow out to grey for the first time this year at 63,( 20 years older than the majority of women in the photos here. I'm trying to like it. Trying very hard because I can't afford a hairdresser and never could ,so I always dyed it myself. At 63 with grey hair I look like my 83 year old mother.
Premature grey on a woman is sexy. All grey on a woman is premature regardless of age.
omg so brave,whats next...?women refuse to ware makeup?jesus,everyone needs an award to feel special and unique.
this is c**p. in what dimension this sis taboo? and half of these are not Graying - it's a condition - some people have white patches form birth.
exactly! i also couldn't understand what is brave in this. l have grey hair, sometimes l'm letting it be visible, mostly want to look younger and dying. feel absolutely normal in any condition. how can everything be brave, important, special, it's so strange world.
Load More Replies...Sorry, but how is the body's natural aging process "gross?" Your posting history is an indicator that you think women are obligated to measure up to your unattainable, unrealistic, wet-dream standards of what a woman should look like. I bet you're one of those "involuntary celibates" on Reddit who complain that women aren't interested in you, but you can't see that your standards are impossibly high, and that no woman wants to date a jerk like you ;)
Load More Replies...Go back and look at the pictures. They didn’t all have dark hair.
Load More Replies...Good for you Lyn. Just keep telling yourself that as you get your 102nd tacky fake-red dye job in an effort to hide your grays.
Load More Replies...My grandmother is old and grey. She has a face full of wrinkles, she is not pretty. But she has a heart of gold, and words of encouragement for anyone who meets her. Never has she cursed anyone in her life. Any guest who vist her is always hand-fed, never goes back with an empty stomach. To me she is the most beautiful woman on earth. And she wears her age well.
Load More Replies...I think they all look great, but some of these look much too perfect and symmetrical to be completely natural. In fact, a couple look like straight-up gray dye or highlight jobs.
My greying hair also looks like unnatural - just one thick line at the centre which completely disappears if I part my hair on a side. Many people grey like that especially at the early stage of greying
Load More Replies...Grey hair here. I'm 45. I cant count the times I heard "you have to dye your hair, the grey is showing!" or random people telling me i had to cut if off instead of growing it out. So yeah, it does take some balls to let it grow out. You have to endure a never ending stream of "advice" from strangers. On the other hand, once the dye is gone, there was a never ending stream of compliments. Worth it!
These ladies are beautiful but I was hoping the article was about actual aging women embracing the process. Premature graying on someone with skin in their 20s and 30s is very different than someone in their 50s and 60s. And when you aren't truly aging yet, it's easier to "rock" the look with confidence when you dont have the psychological nuances of someone who is actually aging. I do love being around ladies who own where they're at in life.
I def agree! Add to that most of them have fine textured hair. Not a wirey tumbleweed in the bunch!
Load More Replies...Yawn. These are all relatively young women with PRETTY grey hair, not the nappy and wirey hair most older women end up with.
They are not all so young. Hi, I'm 48, almost 49. I embrace the gray, wiry and all. Hair is a state of mind and heart and WORK. It doesn't really matter the color or texture, what matters is what you're willing and ACTUALLY doing to take the time and effort to make it look better, GRAY or not. BTW, I'm #1 on this list, and it takes work. Just because we go gray, it doesn't we stop grooming.
Load More Replies...My hair grew white from the roots when I was caring for my 91 y/o mom-I think it was an emo-grow! I went with it and won't go back. Can I submit a photo?
I am tired of dying my hair don't care anymore I'm going to let my hair turn white I think it looks pretty good so it shows my age who cares you don't like it don't look at it but it's me
Maybe I'm in a very small minority, but even since my teens, I've always thought that a full head of grey hair looks great on both men and women! I was happy to hear about the new trend of girls dying their hair grey, and I hope that this letting all of the natural grey out becomes a more common trend, too! Besides being a silver fox, what is most attractive is the confident smile of a woman who feels free and happy in her true colours.
For the last 20 yrs or so, I've learned to love me for me. no makeup, no hair dye. i prefer the natural look (good or bad, lol) and it's made my life so much simpler! of course, i had to learn to be comfortable in my own skin. simple jeans & t-shirt kind of gal, but i've been told i 'clean up well.' i have had a few gray hairs but not sure how long--they're all in the back where i can't see! my sister, on the other hand, confident & fun-loving as she is, HATES her gray. got her first ones at 16 & though younger than me, would be totally gray if she didn't dye it. i think she looks great either way, but wish she was ok with growing old gracefully.
With my greying hair (since I was in my late teens) I colored up until 7 years ago. I’ve always barely wore any makeup, not like these “girls” do nowadays... with 50 layers and 3 hrs in putting on makeup to go out and take selfies every 10 min. I now just take 5-10 minutes to put on light eyeliner, mascara and a little eyeshadow on my lower eyeline to bring a little color and “BAM” I’m done. I’ve stopped coloring my hair to cover the grey (I’ve saved over $5000) and feel way better with my salt & pepper hair color NOW. 👩🏻🦳💋
Load More Replies...Wow, so brave! lol :p Grey hair looks good. I've got a few of my own, I don't mind them. LOSING my hair though, that sucks.
Losing your hair is sort of the social equivalent for men.
Load More Replies...I actually can't wait until my grey hair shows up.. is it grey or gray??
Grey for most of us anyway ;) Gray is the American way
Load More Replies...I'm sharing this not just as a woman who is growing gray naturally, but as a woman who is naturally concerned about hair dye. I don't care how "natural" they say a dye is, the fact of the matter is that there hasn't been enough studies done to convince me that any hair dye is healthy, and isn't going to cause health concerns in the long term. Stop for a moment and think about it...You're putting a chemical on your scalp, which in turn, protects your brain. Call me unattractive, stupid, or paranoid for not dying my hair, but the fact of the matter is that we still don't know exactly how our brains function, let alone what, if any, damage dye that leeches in through the scalp, and then into the brain might cause. My mother dyed her hair for years until she started chemotherapy. When that happened, she was told to stop with the dye by her doctors because it interfered with her treatment...Kinda makes you wonder, doesn't it? https://www.facebook.com/attn/videos/1814469038861347/
best thing I ever did for myself(other than joining eHarmony and meeting my hubs) was stopping the hair dye. It's so freeing. I thought I was going to be about 40% gray...turns out it's not even 25%. I have a long wait to actually be silver...but loving it, none the less! IMG_8286-5...dda185.jpg
Wow!! I am totally blown away! I've had grey hair since my teens, but I have also dyed my hair since I was 13, before I actually had any grey at all! I'm now 38 and it's pretty bad now lol, but weirdly it all seems to congregate at the front, except for a black streak which I've had all my life! And there's not a great deal at the back of my hair! But recently I've been toying with the idea of letting it grow in, time between colouring definitely getting longer! Just dyed it there before Christmas, my normal colour that I use and I really don't like it, I don't know why I'm feeling like this but there we have it! I did ask at the hairdresser (I colour my hair at home all the time but thought I'd ask their opinion) about colouring it a silver shade and just let the grey come in, but they said I'd need to bleach it gradually, etc, etc and I thought no chance lol! But now I am totally inspired to just embrace it and let it grow naturally! I think I'm just gonna go for it!
These women have one thing is common - they are all beautiful to begin with. Some are stunning, actually. I'm not; I look bad with my hair grey. And I'll have to dye my hair, nothing is wrong with it. However, I must confess, that it is freedom - not to depend on your outgrown roots.
They all look great! But I am middle-aged and I think it would not suit me so much. I guess I wait until I am sixty-seventy-ish.
I’m middle-aged and I’m super find with it. Other people don’t pay your bills so why would you care what they think about how you look, if it means you don’t have to spend tons of money coloring your hair to make other people happy. I've saved over $5000 in the last 7 years not coloring my hair... since my hair grows fast I had to color it every 3 months. 😖
Load More Replies...Grey, silver, and white looks great on most of these women. However, most of them stopped dyeing when the transition was complete. A lot of these women are still young and beautiful; their silver hair is all the trend right now! They don’t even have to use the salon to get that great color. However, the silver did age some of these ladies. My mother never went full grey, it was always salt & pepper, and it did age her. At 54, I think I will dye until the day I die.
All of these women are beautiful and it works for them. Unfortunately I am not attractive but nor is my dyed hair :(
I mean, good on them, but the few calling it "empowering"...? Feels like a strong word for that.
For some women it's very brave to not dye your hair, even some men. Hell, the toupee industry hasn't dried up.
Load More Replies...I'm also a member of the club. I embrace it! Now if I dye my hair it's to add a splash of pink.
I've always thought that natural is the best way to be. That being said I also think that really long hair on an aging person makes them look like more a hag than beautiful. Some of these pictures changed my mind. Now I believe that natural AND well groomed is the most beautiful.
Thank you so much for this. I recently decided to embrace my graying hair because I think it will look pretty. I did color my hair in the past until I realized how foolish it is to keep spending my money on such a ridiculous thing and what I should be doing is embracing my natural looks. I am 54 years old but look younger. Grey hair is beautiful and I can’t wait for it to come in fully. Thank you ladies for posting your pics, very encouraging
I'm Asian and I look like a vampire. my black hair parts in the front, so it drapes all over my face. I have constant dark circles and some have said my eyes are creepy, and two of my front side teeth grew at a weird angle so they look pointed. But I'm proud of myself. A goofy, rainbow, positivity-spreading, sarcastic, rbf vampire
Letting my hair go gray after years of highlighting my natural dark brown was no problem -- it's been a pretty nice gray color since my mid-40s. Totally happy with the gray, and I've gotten compliments from stylists and "civilians" alike. But now it's thinning so badly, it's scary. Texture also has gone from pretty resilient and curl-positive to wispy and stubbornly straight. All of the lucky ladies in these photos still have lots of strong, sturdy hair. I'm really struggling to keep thinking positively about my appearance when I see wide lines of my pink scalp in the mirror.
Photographic evidence all you need to look good is to be thin, wear make up , and have a professional photographer take you pic.
Just beautiful! I love the depth in 'salt and pepper' hair. My mum has it (although she still has heaps of black at nearly 70!) and I totally want to do that too when I start greying <3
When my hair turns gray i would like to try to leave it. I used to dye my hair when i was younger but havnt in the past few years. Im 28 now and hopefully gray wouldn't look bad.
This actually almost made me cry. I have such pretty gray hair it's smokey with a huge of gold with white strands. I became disable in Sept of 2021. Since then I put back the weight and more. So I figure well if I can't loose the weight right. Maybe I could dye my hair ( never mind the reason I stopped dying it in (2016) the first place was because I got behind on touch ups and notice how beautiful it was). I found this awesome smokey gray . So I bleached my hair and let it almost dry and went in with the dye. Guess it didn't take and sadly I have been sitting around with bleach blonde hair for 5 months now. Monday I am going to cut as much of the blond of so I can start of and regrown my beautiful salt and pepper hair.
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Since the lockdown I have not colored my hair. I have colored my hair since I was thirty never looking my age but feeling grey would age me. Now I am embracing my grey and I love it. I saved pictures of different women with grey to keep me inspired. Thanks you are all beautiful.
Most of these women in the photos are younger. Sure a woman in her 40's can look good with gray hair. it is when you get above 50 when gray hair really makes a woman look old. I don't think young women should dye their hair, especially all the blondes that dye it from the time they atre teenagers. Only older women should dye. their hair.
You ladies are all incredibly inspiring... I’m still trying to hide the fact that I’m 95% grey at 46 but reading your stories is inspiring me... maybe it’s time to just ditch the colouring kits!
All I can see is pretty or cute women. Easy to be grey when you have the looks Sorry if that seems b****y.
I'm 65 and decided to stop coloring my hair over a year ago. Initially I didn't like the transition but now that it's gotten longer I really like it. I get compliments all the time. I wanted to keep my long hair and I wear it up in a bun often and like how that looks as well. I think women who are older who color their hair and wear lots of makeup end up looking older than they really are. My motto it: Aging is mandatory, growing up is optional. I hope I never grow up!! IMG_2272-5...c4cae7.jpg
I've had grey strands of hair since I was in high school....I always called them silver. When I stopped relaxing my hair and went natural a few years ago, then I could REALLY see the silver hairs! I was a little self conscious at first, and my mother keeps telling me I need to dye my hair, but I kind of like it. Besides, so many young girls are dying their hair grey on purpose. Once person told me my silver hair looked intentional, so that works for me! I plan on getting dreads soon, and I do want color, but something funky, like purple highlights!
I’m 54 , my natural colour is light auburn, like is it red? No blonde? No light brown? No, all of the above. I had a near fatal illness 20 years ago, among other things All my skin peeled off & most of my hair fell out. When it grew back I had started going grey, the hairs are a metallic silver white, no salt & pepper, kids call it “wisdom tinsel”. I am looking forward to my hair being all white, it’s taking so long, my hair is 80 cm long & im only about 20% white so far, I hop I live long enough for it to go 100% white.
I've been going grey, well silver really, since I was 18...thanks dad...and now at 36, I embrace it. It's funny that with shades of platinum being fashionable that we have finally decided to stay grey. I've left my hair alone for 10 months, have 2 boxes of dye in my bathroom, where they will probably stay and I made an appointment to make my the rest of my hair match....I want more grey!
LOVE IT!!! I started growing mine out in October of this year and I have stark white at the temples. Young girls think I'm bleaching the temples and ask me what I recommend. Smart asses ask if I want to look like the bride of Frankenstein and I ask, "Why....are you Frankenstein?"
These women all look so young and gorgeous. I find when I let my hair go grey I look tired. I want to do it, but unsure how to start. I see that a good haircut or style would probably be a starting point and possibly good streaks to guide into it gently?
Frankly its incredible how beautiful all these women are...all smiling...its the smile not the hair. The hair is also gorgeous but the smiles...the smiles.
This almost makes me want to go grey... My parents both have black-ish hair with no grey hairs visible until they were over 50 years old. Soooo, I don't think I'll be seeing any grey hairs anytime soon. :P
Every one of these women look at least early 30's and to a 19 turning 20 and are all stunningly beautiful
Love all these amazing manes and that you've dedicated an entire article to the giving us women the freedom to leave our hair it's natural color!
I don't dye my hair. All these women have beautiful faces. I do not.
I stopped dyeing my hair when I hit 24, just too much hassle! I have light brownish/blonde so if there was gray it hasn't been noticeable for many, many years. it's going very gray the last couple of years, but the plus side is I have a white streak in front that has always been there. I just thought it was a blonde streak and never paid attention to it.
I’m the only woman in my office with white hair.m, even the women older than me dye their hair. Have a 64 year old in jet black long hair. I’ve been natural for a few years now and hoped others would get on the bandwagon. Well a couple have cut their hair short in a similar style as mine small moves as they say. Be free and be strong.
Yep, dye it or don't dye it. It's all a matter of personal choice. But there are some people that simply think women should hide their age no matter what. At some point, no amount of dye in the world will make a person "look younger". And still, it's a matter of choice and what YOU feel comfortable in doing or not doing. :)
Load More Replies...I stopped coloring 3 years ago, I just wish there was a product that makes the white/gray hair not so out of control. It does it's own thing, and the short ones just stick straight up or out and won't lay down. Anyone have a product they just love?
Lovely women, lovely hair... However, almost without exception each of these women are young... or at least younger than me. Let's see the same number of women in their 60's and 70's with grey hair!
Come on now! All of these women are prematurely grey/greying & some are dye jobs...which expains why they all look fabulous...add to that, every single one of the white ones have fine textured hair. You take a woman in her 40's & above with coarse hair that's grey, & the pix would be alot less attractive!
not true there is a facebook group "the silver circle" women of all ages transitioning and yeah those are real ladies the women in the group look amazing in their natural colors and we get to see each other's natural patterns come in month by month as we share our journey in photos along the way. I am 55 and almost to my two year mark. I buzzed off all the dye to 1/4 inch of hair on May 1st of 2017. Love my natural color best choice ever no more toxic c**p and mess and this color looks much better with my skin and no roots to mess with.
Load More Replies...Now let's see the conversation on women who are losing their hair/thinning/balding. Can we find a way to get over the stigma of that so these women don't have to shave their heads and/or wear wigs or hair fibre powders?
what kind of society is stigmatizing thin hair? most women are losing part of hair with age and its just biology, l don't think normal adult would look differently at them. In same condition young women just want to look attractive, thick hair is associated with youth and health, it's subconscious thing, nothing to do with stigmas and taboos. same about grey hair.
Load More Replies...I had been dying my hair for about 15 years and decided to let it go grey. My hair stylist said I just had to grow it out, there was no way to strip the dyes and recolor to work with my hair as it grew out. I suffered with that growing out line of demarcation for about two years, and it was painful. I don't understand how all the young women who died their hair grey could just do that, and few stylists apparently are willing to make an effort for mature women.
Amazing ladies. To be honest, back when I was part-timing as a teacher in a small language school, some girls pointed out how I started going gray (meaning no harm, just a juvenile observation and reaction). I just took it as a joke and said (equally jokingly) "it's because of you, you make me worry too much!" Later at home, I took a close look in the mirror and it turns out they mistook my blond-ish parts as gray hair.
Would you believe that I don't actually know if I have grey hairs yet? My (younger) sister-in-law is struggling with some of hers going grey and she asked me - I've never checked. Of course if I had dark hair I would probably know (whether I wanted to or not), but I have light, light blond hair and I'm sure it will slowly turn to white but I have every intention not to worry about it as it does!
Had a regular customer tell us she went to a baby shower for her niece and all the young girls kept asking her what brand of hair dye she uses, she replied with '76 & aging' they then asked where to get it from!! **edit, she doesn't dye her hair, she is 76 so her hair is silver grey**
Wow! I always thought my mom and I were weird for going grey at a young age. My mom was 19 when she started greying and I was 23 when it became really noticeable in my hair. I naturally have dark brown hair that is made up of lots of differently colored strands, from blondes to reds and many shades of brown. I think that is why my grey hairs are so unusual in their color variations. They are also pretty evenly mixed throughout my hair and so it makes it look like I have this tinge to my hair that coupled with my skin tone makes me look ill. I don't think I can embrace they grey yet for that reason but I long for the day when I can ditch dying it.
Meanwhile Daphne Guiness is so jealous of these cute Ladies in this post....
the headline "refuse" indicates sexism, as if women feel obligated to color their hair.
That's the point, some women feel that society says that women should hide their grey hair, these women are refusing to do so, not every woman is going to care of course but it does not mean that BoredPanda is being sexist.
Load More Replies...Beautiful! Everyone who has had chemo, please ask your doctor to check your vitamin B12 level at least once a year because it can damage the intrinsic factor in the stomach which absorbs B12 from food. The reason I mention this is that low B12 can cause gray hair, & too low B12 for too long can be fatal. Also, people with low B12 should never be given laughing gas, aka nitrous oxide, because it can cause paralysis, stroke, & heart attack. B12 shots are the typical treatment for low B12; sublingual lozenges of methylcobalamin can work, too. (Ask your doctor to test you to make sure it's not too high if you self treat because too high B12 & B6 have been linked to cancer. I like my level to be within acceptable limits.) Low B12 can also be caused by vegan diet, gastric surgery, Accutane, & a rare autoimmune disease called pernicious anemia. My sister and I have pernicious anemia, so when my mom started showing the symptoms, we asked her oncologist to test her B12 & it was low.
Unfortunately you have to have the right face to get away with it.! I tried tis a few years ago and people thought I was at least 10 years older than I was! Now I have no desire to look younger but I really don’t want to look older!! Plus my husbands genetics mean he’ll never go grey, bald yes but grey never😂!
you know that had nothing to do with what you looked like it was about the brainwashing they grew up with that came from the marketing department of Clairol who made ads telling women they would look 10 years younger with dye. That became part of our collective brainwashing and those people who thought you looked older did not truly even look or say compare before and after they just saw grey and though oh 10 years with no conscious input. I wish these photos had the before pics.
Load More Replies...Unfortunately, my gray hair is dingy, incomplete and not cool looking. Also, single hair color makes me bored quickly ... which is why I rotate through differing colors through the year. all these ladies have glorious hair. Mine sucks. But I've never colored it to remain my "natural" color ... in fact, I have no idea what that would be at this point.
I think these women look stunning...because they are stunning younger women! Grey and white hair is spectacular on gorgeous young /youthful skin. However, a woman at 70 with grey or white hair usually looks much older. Not sure I would do it :)
If you really look especially dark dye makes a 70 year old woman look older than anything! The colors do not look natural and the roots show almost immediately. My mother stopped dying in her 50s then went back in her 70 is was horrible. She looked much older with the dye.
Load More Replies...Wow! That's a LOT of photos of YOUNG beautiful women with silver/ grey hair. And yes, they ALL look beautiful. So would I if I were in my twenties or thirties like most of these women are. Most including myself look great at that age no matter what hair they have. There might be one or two in there in their forties. I see no one in there who has grey hair at the age it is most damning to a woman's appearance. Fifties and up. Once the face sags, bags and is covered in wrinkles grey hair is the last nail in the aging "appearance" coffin of women. Colour it at middle age, with a few grey streaks left for a natural look and it takes 20 years off the faces of those over fifty. ME included. I let mine grow out to grey for the first time this year at 63,( 20 years older than the majority of women in the photos here. I'm trying to like it. Trying very hard because I can't afford a hairdresser and never could ,so I always dyed it myself. At 63 with grey hair I look like my 83 year old mother.
Premature grey on a woman is sexy. All grey on a woman is premature regardless of age.
omg so brave,whats next...?women refuse to ware makeup?jesus,everyone needs an award to feel special and unique.
this is c**p. in what dimension this sis taboo? and half of these are not Graying - it's a condition - some people have white patches form birth.
exactly! i also couldn't understand what is brave in this. l have grey hair, sometimes l'm letting it be visible, mostly want to look younger and dying. feel absolutely normal in any condition. how can everything be brave, important, special, it's so strange world.
Load More Replies...Sorry, but how is the body's natural aging process "gross?" Your posting history is an indicator that you think women are obligated to measure up to your unattainable, unrealistic, wet-dream standards of what a woman should look like. I bet you're one of those "involuntary celibates" on Reddit who complain that women aren't interested in you, but you can't see that your standards are impossibly high, and that no woman wants to date a jerk like you ;)
Load More Replies...Go back and look at the pictures. They didn’t all have dark hair.
Load More Replies...Good for you Lyn. Just keep telling yourself that as you get your 102nd tacky fake-red dye job in an effort to hide your grays.
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