Last night I introduced my friends to my natural-hair-color growth plan, affectionately nicknamed RootWatch '09. The overall reception was decidedly lukewarm. There was a fairly even distribution of blank stares and puzzled expressions. A few people asked why on earth would I be growing out all my grey. Aren't I afraid of looking old? Why? How long is it going to take? Why? And finally, the all important question... Why?
I came away from the evening feeling like I should be embarrassed by my natural hair color (which I am not), and mad at myself for feeling compelled to justify my decision. I leaned heavily on the "experiment" excuse, stating that it has been 27 years since I have seen my natural hair color and I want to take a peek... with the unspoken assumption that I would cover it back up promptly upon full exposure. And yes, that is part of it. But I am also finding the silvery-white strands on each side of my widow's peak kind of cool. And I am loving how healthy my hair is becoming now that I am not dying and bleaching it to death. So why not just say that?
On one hand, I don't care what people think enough to change my course of action. On the other hand, I care too much to be honest and upfront about it, I guess. Is that what's going on?
In unrelated news, I have been having really weird, vivid dreams. I used to have them when I was younger, but for the past 10 years, or so, I haven't been dreaming at all (or I've just been too zonked to remember that I have). Last night's involved a drug dealer, a house on the water and sea snakes.
And here I am... worried about my hair! Silly, silly me.
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37 comments:
Deb, I have been letting my gray out to play as well. I'm tired of covering it only for it to start a revolution and take over my head yet again. I decided it was best to let life just be and roll with it gracefully. My daughter (14) thinks I look cool, so I'm cool with the gray.
Hugs!!
I want you to know that as soon as I read the word "snakes", my feet went up on the table. I can't handle even the word. Sheesh. How am I gonna go pee now?
Your braver than me. I can't let my roots go more than 3 weeks. I am NOT going to grow old gracefully. NOT!
There are some people who can pull off being Grey. I think the key is that you are comfortable with it. I think you will look very distinguished. Good luck with your transformation.
I turned silver in my 30's, but only silver on the temples so it actually looked like highlights. Now, when I decide to "let it go", after a while I start disappearing. I'm extremely light complected, then when my silver shoes up, I disappear in the sunlight. Then I darken it back and look SO GOOD, for another 6 months when I decide "to hell with it". It's like being on a merry-go-round. Different views, but predictable.
Dream Analysis:
drug dealer = Jay
a house on the water = you need a new sump pump
sea snakes = penises
You're welcome. That will be $5.
And I saw a photo of myself with my "natural" hair and was horrified at the gray on the TOP of my head ... that I don't really see too much. I think I'll be going back to dyeing it. But honestly, I am way too lazy to keep it up!
I may join you in this pursuit. Now that I see Youngest's hair, it reminds me of how I used to be proud of my color. Dark brown with a touch of red.
Highlights - the crack of suburbia Dallas. Oh wait, that might be meth.
Stand up tall. You know I'd love you with whatever color hair.
Oh, do you think you are one of those rare people who can actually wear their silvery-whites gracefully?
Because I have been informed by a professional that I should never try it, and I have even seen it with my own non-professional eyes. My grays are tiny little corkscrews and rogues - each with a mind of it's own. A RootWatch for me would be more like a front seat to a war zone.
And I just noticed the Dream Come True there on the right...awesome!
I love the dream analysis Jenners gave you! The first question on my mind, though? Were they GOOD drugs? :)
I am so glad my sister found your blog. I let her do my blog screening for me (She really finds the best ones). Love this!
Oh Deb - Root Watch is just the perfect analogy for all kinds of things going on in your life right? You're growing it out all natural and YOU.
I love and adore your line..."I don't care what people think enough to change my course of action...."
Damn straight. Love it.
I did my own RootWatch a few years ago when my hair was short and then again recently as my hair grew out. The sun kept it blond enough for the summer that it looked like I had nice highlights. Now I am back to coloring, not necessarily to cover the greys but because I needed something fun in my life and a cool haircolor took me there!
I love that you are letting it go au naturale. Next up? Nudist colony. Now THAT is natural.
Well I say go for it! (The hair, not the drug dealers and snakes.)
I let my natural color grow in last year - its a dark ashy blonde color - and totally UGGO! I regretted my decision and decided I'll live a few more years with highlights, thankyouverymuch! But you never know - you could ♥ your hair!
I've been letting my grey grow out for a little while now. I'm still deciding how I feel about it.
But at least I am seeing what I look like with grey hair. I am not making a decision based on the speculation of hair stylists or the experiences of my family of the imaginatiom of my friends. If I decide I can't deal with grey hair it will be based on the fact of what I actually look like & not just vague ideas.
And that is important to me. I want to know, not just assume.
I think that gray hair can look awesome. GOod luck!
Grey is the new cool Deb. One side of my go-tee is all grey the other my natural. Either way you are always going to be the wonderful woman you are. dreams- mine last night, rubix cube guiding my ship and some high school friends I have not seen in over 22yrs. Don't know?
I admire you...I have to admit I have thought about it. I can't decide which horrifies me more - the root growth or the grays. I would like the healthy hair...but my grays are strangely curly too, what is it with that?
Oooh, good luck! Since dying my -what has always been-blonde hair dark this year, it has become quite apparent that my roots were not indeed blonde, but are silver. Completely silver...as in no color, nada, nothing, slap me on the bum and call me granny. Went gray young...A lot of people tell me I should grow it out...but I don't have the courage yet! I'll bet it'll look great on you, and you seem really excited about it...so do it!!
who cares what your friends think?? really - it is you looking in the mirror every day!!
I think way too much emphasis is put on trying to be "perfect". good for you for embracing who you are and rolling with it!
Happy Tuesday!
I so wish I could go all comandoe like you and not color my hair...i have some awful roots
Just to state the obvious, Grey is a color too.
I'm just saying.
Gray is the new black. Go for it.
Awwww...sorry about the opinions on your hair. That stinks. I color mine but I think what you are doing is cool. At some point I'll do the same thing; just not now.
I've been having weird dreams too! I'm not just saying that. But I had one that I wanted another baby. BAHAHAHAHAHAHA I think I'd rather dream of snakes:)
My gray hair just gets all curly...the rest of my hair is Marcia Brady straight...ugh!
I haven't colored my hair in almost a year...lots of gray going on over here!
(I totally relate to the whole weird dream phenomenon!)
And here I was just considering dying mine for the first time since college. Hmmmm...rethinking...
I admire you, I totally wish I had the Chutzpah to let mine grow out! Maybe we should have a root contest, like growing a beard? Although I can't imagine what the prize would be.
As it is I'm considering telling everyone I'm 50 instead of 40, just to hear a compliment now and then.
Soo immature, I know!
Root Watch '09 is such an awesome title! I think those are great reasons to grow out your roots. Seriously. If you dont like the inbetween stages just invest in a hat for awhile. :)
I haven't seen my natural color in years either. But in between dye jobs I can't take the gray roots on me. Some people look so good with gray hair, then there's me.
What did you eat before you went to bed to dream that weird dream? I usually dream weird dreams when I am starting to come down with something...maybe the fever affects my brain.
Ginger
I do that too. Why do we let women we don't even particularly care about make us second guess ourselves?
I hate dying my hair! I do it every 6 weeks but honestly, it needs it every 3. My grandma had that beautiful white hair. If I had that, I would totally let it go.
Being 35 and 50% grey.. I will wait a bit longer to stop dying mine!! And Snakes.... EWWWWWW
what have you been eating before bed??
Your hair should be as YOU want it to be, it is an expression of yourself and if you are feelin' the natural, DO IT!!
Ugh! I hate when friends cane make you feel that way!!! I'm proud of you Deb! For being a 23 year old with gray hairs peeking out on each side, I think I can relate A LITTLE! I hope you're able to get even more proud of your grays!
I think it's great. I'm too chicken to do it. Part of me wants to, but part of me clings to the vanity of youth.
RootWatch '09...love it! :) Way to go being true to yourself - and your 'natural' hair color - it's too bad your friends made you feel like you should be 'embarrassed' by your natural hair color. Silvery-white sounds really cool! :) I'm not sure how I'll be when gray starts cropping up...maybe I'll get lucky and have silvery-white, too! :)
I have seen several gray hair posts on many different blogs recently. You should be in good company. It's cool to show your natural hair color. Nothing is scarier than an old lady with jet black hair. (I'm not calling you an old lady)
So you were on a yacht huh?? JK...you go for that ala natur-al..you will always be sexy..I'm jealous!!
Where are you??
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