To Color Or Not?

Dr. Oz's program today is about the damage we do to our hair as we try to look better. Ironic, since I recolored my hair this afternoon to once again cover up my gray.

I do realize I'm now on a hair merry-go-round. I started five years ago coloring my hair, because I didn't want to look gray and washed out when we took family photos for my son's wedding. A year before the wedding, I had knee replacement surgery. That surgery was the one point in my life where I started to feel old. So for many reasons, I went to the beauty shop prior to the wedding and had the gray covered up.

I kept it that way, because I was working with a lot of people who were younger than me – and I didn't want them to see the gray hair and lump me into the “old fogey” category. Now I'm stuck in that cycle. When I see the gray roots, I want them gone. It would look really odd for me to grow out the gray, and I really wish there was some substance that would remove the color and put me back to “au naturale”!

We women do so many things to try to make ourselves look good. I'm sure we would all be amazed to see the money we spent in a year's time to look younger/better/whatever makes you feel better.

My grandmothers were a study in opposites. My maternal grandmother didn't do anything (that I'm aware of) to amp up her looks. She did her hair up in pincurls, no color.....and she didn't turn gray until very late in life. My paternal grandmother, on the other hand, was always afraid she might look old. Her hair color of choice was ash blond – and I remember that, even though she's been gone since 1973. We often did her shopping for her, if she was working on the weekend when we came to town. It was my job to do her shopping, and I still remember that “ash blond” command! She wore makeup, worried with her figure, and adjusted her age to match her mood. Dad often said that if Grandma lived long enough, she'd be younger than him!

But, looking further into their backgrounds, more differences are obvious. My maternal grandmother, though she worked hard, enjoyed life, family, and the people in her life. My paternal grandmother, on the other hand, didn't enjoy much of anything. The two of them were so completely different.

I'm really somewhere in the middle, as far as the “gussying up” goes. I enjoy wearing makeup, but I really don't wear much. I use moisturizer on my face, because I'm really not ready to see the wrinkles that keep appearing since I hit 60. I used to wear more makeup than I do now, but with age some unexpected allergies kicked in and I can no longer wear eye shadow. But, I rarely go places now where I worry about makeup. And hubby likes me just fine!

My maternal grandmother was really such a great person. She never understood why we grandkids loved spending time with her – but we all knew. I only hope that at the end of the day, I can feel like I was a good replica of her!