Going Gray
Sep. 14th, 2007 08:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
voxwomanI read this book as a result of a discussion going on over at![[info]](https://stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
ozarque's journal a week or so ago, about hair color and discrimination. There were two excerpts from the book on More magazine's website (apparently, this project started as a series of articles for the magazine), and they were well-written enough, and relevant to my current stage in life to cause me to click over to the Amazon website and purchase the book (I have a tendency to count my chickens before they hatch, so I've been indulging myself a little bit once I knew we had a solid house contract).
It was a very fast and easy read. The book is really a fluff piece. You know: One woman's journey into middle age. (that blurb is mine). But, as I will be celebrating my 50th birthday in December (and I'm not sure celebrating is the appropriate word choice here - but neither is mourning) and I'm sporting a 2-inch wide "skunk stripe" at the top of my head at this very moment, I thought this book was particularly relevant to me at this particular time. You see, the author was 49 when she decided to go on this journey, and she was going through at least as much angst as I am right now. I figured a companion on the path to decrepitude would be welcome right now.
She did some interesting, if not terribly scientific, research that surprised her - one, that men aren't turned off by gray hair, and in fact, seem to find it more attractive - possibly because of the honesty factor (in a what-you-see-is-what-you-get vein). Two, image consultants liked the gray in her hair, even when looking for a corporate job -- this is the thing that concerns me - is the ability to continue to find work if I stop dyeing my hair.
I'm only slightly regretful that I didn't look for this book in the library, and perhaps I'll donate my copy to the local library (unless one of you wants it - I'll ship it to you for postage). It did help me make my decision to go au naturel, and really see how much salt is in my salt-and-pepper hair.
I am not sure if I am going to photoblog my transition, or if I'm going to cut off the rest of my hair and have it be too short for a while and let it grow out. When A was a toddler, I had a lot of gray in my hair, but I felt that I looked too old, in my late 30's for gray. I don't think it's worth running to the colorist every month (I've been going every 6-8 weeks, which is too long for me. It seems my hair grows about 1 inch per month right now) to look, maybe, 3 years younger than my calendar age. Better to spend the time exercizing. (Which is a similar conclusion to what Kreamer reached in her book: it's all good, no matter what we as individuals decide).
ozarque's journal a week or so ago, about hair color and discrimination. There were two excerpts from the book on More magazine's website (apparently, this project started as a series of articles for the magazine), and they were well-written enough, and relevant to my current stage in life to cause me to click over to the Amazon website and purchase the book (I have a tendency to count my chickens before they hatch, so I've been indulging myself a little bit once I knew we had a solid house contract).It was a very fast and easy read. The book is really a fluff piece. You know: One woman's journey into middle age. (that blurb is mine). But, as I will be celebrating my 50th birthday in December (and I'm not sure celebrating is the appropriate word choice here - but neither is mourning) and I'm sporting a 2-inch wide "skunk stripe" at the top of my head at this very moment, I thought this book was particularly relevant to me at this particular time. You see, the author was 49 when she decided to go on this journey, and she was going through at least as much angst as I am right now. I figured a companion on the path to decrepitude would be welcome right now.
She did some interesting, if not terribly scientific, research that surprised her - one, that men aren't turned off by gray hair, and in fact, seem to find it more attractive - possibly because of the honesty factor (in a what-you-see-is-what-you-get vein). Two, image consultants liked the gray in her hair, even when looking for a corporate job -- this is the thing that concerns me - is the ability to continue to find work if I stop dyeing my hair.
I'm only slightly regretful that I didn't look for this book in the library, and perhaps I'll donate my copy to the local library (unless one of you wants it - I'll ship it to you for postage). It did help me make my decision to go au naturel, and really see how much salt is in my salt-and-pepper hair.
I am not sure if I am going to photoblog my transition, or if I'm going to cut off the rest of my hair and have it be too short for a while and let it grow out. When A was a toddler, I had a lot of gray in my hair, but I felt that I looked too old, in my late 30's for gray. I don't think it's worth running to the colorist every month (I've been going every 6-8 weeks, which is too long for me. It seems my hair grows about 1 inch per month right now) to look, maybe, 3 years younger than my calendar age. Better to spend the time exercizing. (Which is a similar conclusion to what Kreamer reached in her book: it's all good, no matter what we as individuals decide).
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-09-14 02:07 pm (UTC)Why not celebrate turning 50? It's a firm proclamation that you ain't dead yet. };->
Congrats!
Date: 2007-09-14 10:59 pm (UTC)In my opinion, thinning is what makes the "old" impression, not graying. And you're definitely not in danger of that! Pics would be nice, of course ;-D.