Gray hair is totally and unequivocally “in.”  Are you ready?

Actually, it is now called Granny Hair, not Gray Hair. And I am pretty sure that this term is only used to describe gray hair on a person that is not actually, or nowhere close to actually being, a grandma. Like if you are 30 or 40, for example, it is quite cool to have granny hair.

For those of us really in the know, we refer to it now as #grannyhair. My Friday morning coffee was accompanied by a Today Show piece on the new popularity of #grannyhair; my twitter and instagram feeds inundated with fabulous shades of gray, silver, ash, and everything in between. From what I have read, this hot new trend started when Jean Paul Gaultier (hooray for him) featured silver haired older models during Paris Fashion Week.

Lady Gaga, Kelly Osbourne, Kendall Jenner, and Rihanna have embraced the trend.

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So have a whole lot of normal (non-celebrity) people. And since I know you will probably not be whipping out your smart phone and searching #grannyhair, I did it for you.  Here are a few more examples of what’s HOT, HOT, HOT from twitter and instagram:

 

angela

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Pretty awesome, right?

I know so many midlife women who totally rock their natural silver streaks. I’m not one of them, of course, but these pics are making me think twice. One look at these pictures and I started to imagine myself with a short, silver gray, straight, but a little edgy, haircut (never mind that my hair is totally curly with significant frizz.) I imagined a little statement to go along my Granny Hair- adding a streak of green in support of eco-awareness, or a streak of pink in support of breast cancer research, or purple, in support of….hmmmm….Barney?

I started to imagine how great it would be not to be married to Eric, my hairdresser (though surely, I would miss our talks.) I imagined how much money I would save, that I could give to cancer research, put away for retirement, or buy a coveted pair of Jimmy Choos? I imagined how much extra time I would have if I simply embraced the Granny in me? Now that it’s cool… shouldn’t I go for it?

On the other hand (there is always another hand), I think what makes this trend so… well… trendy, is the juxtoposition of a beautiful young face with the “old” hair. I am not sure I can pull off the young face without enduring a lot of extra pain, time and a whole lot of extra money.

I am too close to being an actual granny to pull off the granny look. At least I hope I am (this is what I have said to each of my unmarried adult children, “oh please, please, just promise me I’ll be a grandma someday…”) I’m afraid that ship has sailed for me.

On the other hand, I am partially there already. My roots happen to be quite #trendy right now due to an unfortunate set of circumstances which required me to reschedule a number of hair color appointments (I know, who cancels a hair appointment?)

I could go either way right now. And just as I was wondering what to do, I ran into a friend who commented on my recent blow out.

“Wow, your hair looks nice!” she told me.

Forgetting everything I learned in kindergarten, I replied, “OMG, are you kidding me? Look a little more closely!” And then I took my hands to the top of my head, shoved my part in her face, and said, “Check out these roots! They’re awful!”

My friend was a little shocked. After all, what’s she supposed to say? “Wow… that’s gross…get thee to the hairdresser!” There was simply an awkward silence.

And so to the hairdresser is where I am headed, tomorrow. I’m not quite ready for #Grannyhair (I’m not even comfortable that I have used the hashtags correctly.)

But I will not be surprised if someday soon one of my daughters comes home more gray than I.  And if that happens, I will go granny just so she gets rid of it.

 

Is NOW The Time To Go Gray? was last modified: May 5th, 2015 by Ronna Benjamin

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Ronna Benjamin
Ronna Benjamin

After 28 years of practicing real estate law, Ronna Benjamin realized how much she loved writing and how much she hated lawyering. She jumped into the world of writing at Better After 50 and never looked back! She is loving her “second act” as Partner and Managing Editor at Better After 50. Ronna writes humorously about the things BA50s are concerned about – personal experiences with adult children, the quirks of aging parents and in-laws, and her own emotional and physical health issues (i.e., insomnia, anxiety, and bulging waist lines). A native Bostonian who loves to spend time with her husband and three adult children, Ronna also enjoys sailing, cooking, running, and biking–and she tolerates skiing so she is not left home during family vacations. Check out her new book “We Are Better After 50 Because…” co-written by Ronna and her BA50 Partner Felice Shapiro, a perfect gift for the birthday girl in her 50’s!

5 Responses

  1. Patrice Reply

    This article was great!!
    The thing is, the ones that are sporting the ‘granny hair’ have young, beautiful faces which makes it look awesome.(as the author said)
    Us middle agers, plus 50’s don’t usually have that young looking face to pull it off.
    I have contemplated many times letting my hair go gray but keep chickening out. I don’t think it would look as pretty as the models shown, more salt and pepper.
    I dye my own hair and HATE doing it but every month I carry on. Oh how vain I am.

    Keep up with the great, real life articles!

  2. Haralee Reply

    Did my sister Toby put you up to writing this? I swear I got the same links from her. Yes I said when I turned 60 I would quit coloring my hair. Well I had that birthday and I am still coloring because my hairstylist says he doesn’t think I will have the pure beautiful sparkling white my sister and Mother have and my Father had. Mine looks murky brown in the back. Who wants murky? And then the grow out!!! OK, first grandchild, or maybe the second and then I will cut the cord to the colorist, maybe.

  3. IBikeNYC Reply

    I am getting more and more interested in this idea.

    My hair is naturally HO-HUM brown (NOT brunette!), and I’m maybe 25 or 30 percent gray now. It’s also naturally curly and quite long; almost to my waist.

    I’ve been a bottle blonde since I was about twenty-five (thirty years ago) and lately have begun to do my own double process colour because the single-shade blonde just gets too light and makes me look washed out.

    The thing about the contrast between a young face and “old” hair is part of what stops me.

    At the same time, I’m conscious (and maybe getting a little SELF-conscious) of how much younger I look from the back than the front (and than I really am!), and I think of the Judy Collinses of the world and go, “Gee. . . ”

    One of these days I’ll go find a wig or two or maybe some software!

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