Baby Boomer Women Beginning to Embrace Gray Hair as Sexy

Beginning in my late 20's, I started to have a gray-white streak across the front of my hair line. The rest of my hair was dark brown - almost black. According to my hairdresser at the time, this was something special - like a calling card. She never suggested I dye that streak, and, in fact, my husband and many men actually told me they liked it. It was "different".

Now, 30 years hence, my hair is decidedly salt and pepper. In fact, it's becoming more salt than pepper as time goes on. I have been to several hairdressers since that hairdresser of my 20's who told me not to dye my hair. Every single hairdresser since then also told me not to dye my hair. They said that the color and distribution of the gray were very attractive, and that as long as my hair was styled well, it would look good.

Recently, I have come across several articles that talked about the new "gray wars." In the August 31, 2007 issue of TIME Magazine, an article written by Anne Kreamer addresses what she calls the "Gray Wars." Ms. Kreamer talks about the baby boomer generation beginning to look at whether they should begin to dye, or continue to dye their hair. Women are beginning to think about this as they mull over what is really "natural" or "real". Ms. Kreamer looks at the question of dyeing or not dyeing hair from a very objective viewpoint. She starts her article with a real-life situation of twins - one of whom dyed her hair and the other who didn't. When they met each other after not seeing each other for awhile, the one who dyed her hair was shocked at how the other one looked. She felt her twin look "haggard". Needless to say, the twin who decided to go back to her natural gray, immediately went back to dyeing her hair after this encounter.

On the other hand, Ms. Kreamer conducted her own experiment on gray hair. She decided to go gray for awhile, and placed two pictures of herself on Match.com. - one with her in gray hair, and the other with her dyed color. Interestingly, there was more interest in her as a gray-haired lady, than in the picture with her hair dyed. It has been theorized that the attraction to a woman with gray hair has to do with the perception that the gray haired person is more real or authentic.

It's true what Ms. Kreamer says in her articles - that there are few gray ladies who are celebrities. However, there are some and it appears the trend is growing. I have noticed there are more shampoos for gray hair on the market advertised in magazines and on TV that feature beautiful ladies with gray hair. I never remember seeing such commercials a few years ago.

The bottom line for me is that if you look good in graying hair - whether it be all gray, salt & pepper, or white, then maybe it's best to leave it alone. However, if you have a "mousy" gray, perhaps it's better to dye it. One hairdresser who remarked positively about my hair mentioned that she recently advised someone with gray hair to dye their hair because the color of the gray was so dull.

If you do keep your gray hair, most people look better with it when it is cut short, regardless of style. If you want to keep your hair gray and keep it long, then you might need to style it a certain way to keep looking fresh. If you are attractive and your skin is clear as you age, I think graying or gray hair can add interest to your looks. It's really up to how you feel about it. If you will not feel confident with gray hair, then it's probably better to dye it. If you are undecided, then it's a good idea to discuss it with your hairdresser.

Sometimes I feel strange when I'm with a group of friends and they suddenly begin talking about their "dye jobs". I wonder what they think of me. However, since I've been complimented on my hair, I shrug it off and say to myself - I have to do what's best for me.