One Gray Closer to 40

Maybe it's the new Loreal Restoratives conditioner I bought a few weeks ago. Instead of providing vitamins and minerals to thicken my hair, it's provided nourishment for GRAY hair to branch out like weeds! Oy!

In my late 20's and early 30's, I colored my hair for fun. Weird, unnatural wine colors or just a touch lighter than my natural color. Once I dyed it jet black. It looked... unnatural. My friend, Susan, introduced me to her hair stylist about 10 years ago or so and he put honey blonde highlights in my hair. I've been hooked on highlights ever since, but they cost so much -- even the partials. So, maybe every other year, I splurge for the works... haircut and highlights with Michael Jr. I love how they look in the sunlight. When I have highlights, I often check them out in my side mirrow while I'm driving. Yes, I'm a dork.

My mom has never colored her salt & pepper hair. OK, mostly salt now. She never wanted to be bothered by the constant touching up, and I imagine she didn't want to spend the money either. She's always been very thrifty like that. It wasn't important for her to hide her grays. My MIL has also let her natural grays flow freely. Women confident in themselves, letting nature do its thing.

I don't want to be held hostage by hair dye when my head gets grayer and grayer. I'm mostly hoping it's evenly gray and not splotchy like that girl in the Nightmare on Elm Street or the Talk Soup guy with the one clump. I guess I'll continue to play with color until my roots tell me it's time to give it up. Or until I actually need a wig 'cuz my hair is so thin. Snakes on a plane.