Linda Hoye's Blog, page 203

February 1, 2012

Hair, Naturally

My daughter, who is thirty-three, recently discovered her first grey hair.

Ack! She was horrified!

A few years ago after we moved to the Pacific Northwest I noticed that my once-blonde hair had gotten darker. I blamed it on the lack of sunshine in this area. Ultimately I decided to get foil highlights so I could return to a semi-blonde state.

I always felt good after getting new highlights. I thought I looked younger, happier, and fresher with more blonde in my hair.

Recently, I decided to stop getting highlights. I'm striving to live a more natural life and the idea that I could be allowing chemicals to get into my system just to have my hair colored wasn't sitting right. I'm also learning to embrace being fifty-three and all that comes along with it. I hadn't even considered the money I would save by this change. My trips to the hair salon now cost a fraction of what they did when I was getting foils.

As I've been watching as the highlights grow out I've been wondering how much grey hair I might have that was hidden by the blonde. Actually, I've been hoping for a significant crop of grey hair because it will lighten my dark tresses naturally. And I've been hoping it comes in silver or white.

Interesting, isn't it? That my daughter was horrified to find a grey hair and I'm hoping to find more of them.

Imagine a world where grey hair is looked upon as a good thing, a badge of honor, a symbol of wisdom attained, an indicator of someone who is comfortable in their own skin.

Imagine a world where we all stop coloring our hair and learn to love and accept ourselves the way we are–warts, grey hair, and all.

I think I'd like that world.

How about you?