In 2005 when I made a simple New Year’s resolution to be more environmentally accountable little did I know that in 2012 it would result in lots of grey hair. I am sure many of them had been around long before 2012 but I couldn’t see them, or if I did, I quickly pulled them out or covered them up.
When I made the decision last year to stop colouring my hair I announced it on Facebook. Why is the fact that I decided to stop colouring my hair at 40 news worthy? Is it my ego driving me to explain to the world why my hair is grey? Was it my ego 8 years ago when I was sitting in a salon, just before I gave birth with my scalp burning, urging me to perservere so I looked good for my birth photos?
So why did I stop dying my hair? Was it because it wasn’t safe for me and my baby? Is it safe for you and your baby? Are the new organic dyes safe? I am sorry but I can’t tell you. There is so much conflicting information out there and so little research. In the end we only have our own wisdom.
My little voice had been gnawing at me for some time. Logically I knew it was my vanity driving me to dye my hair. I know that true beauty comes from within, that the people who truly love me don’t care what I look like. When I made my 2005 resolution I realised how tough being accountable is. I expect my government to be accountable for how it spends my taxes but being accountable myself is another matter. It is so easy to be seduced by the trappings of our society because ‘I'm worth it’. I knew that when I was choosing to spend $90 every eight weeks to have my hair cut and dyed that it was money I was choosing not to spend on feeding a starving child, or sponsoring an endangered animal, or working less so I could spend more time with my children.
So do I want you to join me in the grey hair club… yes I do.
Well done Julie. Sometimes the first steps are the hardest and now that you have begun the road will open up before you. Looking forward to reading lots of wonderful blogs.
ReplyDeletePS. As a redhead I have never coloured my hair but would I if I was going grey? My internal jury is still out on this one - perhaps time will tell!!
My grandmother was a red head and it wasn't until her late eighties that her colour started to fade. She is picture in the middle of my profile photo.
DeleteI'm in the club Julie!! To be honest, I had never thought of the issue of grey hair seriously as I have never ever dyed my hair. I just couldn't be bothered starting now. I only started thinking about how it seems to be a problem to people during a recent trip to an upmarket salon in James St. The hairdresser told me that my hair would be healthier if I dyed it (??WHAT??). I told him that I had never dyed my hair in my life and wasn't thinking about starting now, beside, I said, I like my hair colour. To this he replied, "Well, dye it the same colour" Again I thought ??WHAT??
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately my hair is not the luxurious grey that yours is, but I would still love to join the club.
That is so funny! I have been told by a few hairdressers that I am ‘too young' to go grey. I love that you have never coloured your hair. I was a late starter but wish I had never succumbed to the pressure in my thirties. I saw my 18 year old niece recently and the last time she had seen me I had long brunette locks, so she got a shock when she saw my short greying hair! She exclaimed “Aunty Julie you are going grey”. Rather than feeling upset by this I replied “yes I am and I feel really ok about it”. I think as older women we have such an important role to play in helping younger girls to see that confidence and happiness are about how you feel. There is so much pressure on girls from a young age to have a certain ‘look’. I recently discovered a beautiful magazine for teenage girls called “Indigo4Girls” that uses normal everyday girls for its shoot and doesn’t use ‘airbrushing’. Teenage girls also write a lot of the articles. http://www.indigo4girls.com/
DeleteHi Julie, wow I am truly inspired by you my love! I admire your description about yourself and your family - such a fabulous set of values and so in line with how we'd like to 'try' and live our lives. Thank you. This message has come just at the right time! I noticed a few grey hairs about 6 months ago and since then I have been desperately plucking and sweating about why I have started to grey so early in life. My gorgeous grandmother didn't start greying until she was at least in her 60's (and she had 6 kids - oh yes - I was even blaming the kids he he....) Now I think about it my other grand mother went bald in mid life - so I guess I can be grateful there! phew! So I have been grappling with the dying thing - resisting because I loathe the thought of continually having to do it, the cost and the regrowth but the the vanity issue has been strong... (can I get away with blaming our glamour obsessed society?) Be nice, but - you are right and you remind me that it is not the external that counts - we must shine our light from within and radiate that to the world. Before I completely surrender or resign to that fact I am going grey I have a few comments: I have starting a programme of re-mineralising myself in the hope that it may correct one possible reason for going grey early. I have a suspicion it may be genetic or related to a big shock I had about a year ago - I noticed the grey arriving not long after that big shock. I have heard of a fabulous herbal blend by Fusion that may help colour return. Some may be completely relaxed about their beautiful greys, but for those that are not - they may be interested to know of a product that MAY help. I pulled the info off the web (I don't sell it - but did go to one of their seminars which was very interesting)
ReplyDelete"Fusion Health Hair Tonic is a Chinese herbal medicine specifically formulated to promote healthy hair growth, colour and condition including hair strength, volume and lustre.
Hair Tonic contains special Chinese herbal extracts such as Polygonum multiflorum that nourish and invigorate the Blood, and replenish Kidney and Liver energy to help reactivate the hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth.
Hair Tonic contains Chinese herbs traditionally used to assist in the management of alopecia (hair loss) including spot baldness, male and female pattern baldness, sudden hair loss and excessive hair loss or thinning.
Helps inhibit premature greying. Promotes healthy hair growth, colour and condition. Works by nourishing the Blood, invigorating circulation, and replenishing Kidney energy (Jing) to revitalise the scalp and promote normal, healthy, hair follicle function.
So in saying all that I will finish with this: Julie - I really respect your motives and your encouragement and support for those of us that have started that grey power journey oh so early.... I will look forward to sharing the experience with you dear friend.
Hi Cherie Thank you for your beautiful encouraging words. I so appreciate you sharing your wisdom about natural remedies to strengthen our bodies. There is no beauty like 'glowing good health' and I see that in you and your family. Thank you also for the feedback about the blog. I have had it written for some time but have been nerous about publishing it. Anyway I am committed to taking action this year, however big or small and just seeing where it leads me, rather than worrying and not going anywhere. I also wanted to say that I am really comfortable with other people colouring their hair. We all have different things that we choose to focus on and for me the hair was no longer important but I still have plently of other indulgences and things that I do to satisfy my need to feel good about myself. Supporting each other in whatever we choose is what matters so a big thank you for your support and taking the time to share your own reflections.
ReplyDelete