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GREY’S ANALOGY

Nancy's Notes 🖊️🎶

Originally published in 2020
when times were very different.

Originally I was considering letting nature take its course and stop dying my hair. After all, being in isolation all this time because of the Coronavirus has kept me from going to the salon and now my grey roots are prevalent.

I asked my husband for his opinion. Regardless of the situation his answer is “You always look beautiful!” Liar! I adore him but he tells me what he thinks I want to hear. Give it to me straight! Contrary to what Jack Nicholson declared in “A Few Good Men”, I CAN handle the truth!

Time to weigh my options. First, I look young for a woman in her seventies; will going grey age me or will I look chic? My husband’s light brown hair is sprinkled with grey with look more like blonde highlights; I much prefer looking like his youthful wife as opposed to his older sister! Second, I’ll save beaucoup bucks at the salon if I go au naturel; just need to pop in for the occasional trim. And last but not least I’ll leave myself wide open for a good-natured lampoon offered up by my oh-so-witty friends.

Since my hair is professionally dyed brown with golden highlights, I was reluctant to pick up a box of Clairol and give it a go at home. I recalled the one and only time I tried to dye my hair. The color was called “Iced Mochaccino”’ which sounded like a delicious shade and the model on the box look dazzling. What could go wrong? My hair came out an unattractive shade of dull cocoa so ixnay the home dye job.

Let’s try this: I consulted Google and found a site where I could see what I’d look like with grey hair. I had no idea there were so many shades of grey – everything from silky white to smokey charcoal, even some with hints of purple or green. I was starting to get very confused. Then I downloaded a copy of “Forget the Spa and Salon: Custom Hair Color at Home” – a literary masterpiece guaranteed to “help you find the perfect hair color”. It did not.

Suddenly I had a brainstorm. Click on good old reliable Amazon for a hair product specifically designed to cover roots, something easy? You can get anything on Amazon from an air fryer to zinc ointment. I typed in “root” and abracadabra, there it was – L’Oréal Magic Grey Root Concealer – the answer to my prayers (unless in turns out to be like the infamous “Hair in a Can”)!

Just as I was about to place an order for the root cover up I got an email from my hair salon:

“In accordance with the guidelines of Phase 2, we are delighted to announce the reopening of “We’re Hair For You” on Monday, June 15.”

The email went on to welcome their clients back and describe changes in the salon. I immediately grabbed my cell phone to call my stylist (she’s on speed dial!) and make an appointment for the following week. Goodbye drab grey roots! Hello luscious brown hair with golden highlights! I was thrilled.

The next day I received a sobering email from the salon:

“Your appointment is confirmed. Please call the salon from the parking lot upon your arrival. You will either be told to come in or asked to wait until we call you back. Clients are required to wear a mask at all times and will have their temperature taken before entering the salon. Please come to your appointment alone as we have eliminated our waiting area. We apologize for any inconvenience. The safety of everyone concerned is of utmost importance. Thank you.”

Shades of future past.

NAR © 2020

FOWC with Fandango — Spa

38 thoughts on “GREY’S ANALOGY”

  1. I’m 67 and my hair is still mainly dark brown, but my grey streaks are getting much wider. My hair always lightens in the Summer, but I just let nature take its course. My sister is five years older than me and turned white overnight at 32 when she had her second child. She had always been envious that I didn’t start to go grey until my mid fifties. I like my hair, which I trim myself, is half way down my back and not in bad condition for an old trout like me!

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    1. I’m your sister’s age so I don’t consider you an old trout at all! I would have loved it if my hair turned white overnight! How easy is that?! The same thing happened to my grandmother and she had the most beautiful cotton-white hair down to her waist which she always wore pinned up only letting it down at night. I loved brushing her long hair when I was a child.

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  2. I resorted to chemical camouflage when I was in my early forties and had a new baby, because I didn’t want people thinking she was my granddaughter. But now that my baby is 28 and I’m a grandmother for real, I prefer my hair in its natural salt-and-pepper state. Most of my friends who are my age or older have also gone natural, and they look great. I’m thinking of trying to start a gray pride movement in hopes of converting the few holdouts. 😉

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    1. Gray pride! OMG! That’s brilliant!
      I don’t mind the idea of being gray or silver or S&P; it’s the growing-out process I dread. I suppose I can always resort to some spray coverup when the gray roots are growing in. Eventually my entire head will be covered with Hair In A Can! 🤣 🤣

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  3. My wife used to gobtobthecsalon every five weeks to get her hair done and colored. But once the pandemic hit, she stopped and let it go au naturel. So now her hair is a silvery gray almost white and she looks great.

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  4. The pandemic encouraged many of us to reconsider essentials, because the essentials were not readily available (ban box hair color!). I just let my salt and pepper curls go mostly untrimmed & rediscovered a more witchy self.
    That being said, my recent shearing of about 4 inches feels great. And I have a new stylist with lots of ideas who also listens!
    Long as I can grow with my hair! 🎵💜

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    1. I’m digging all you brave women diving into the S&P pool! My hair is long and straight. Reaches the middle of my back. I’ve seen plenty of “mature” women with long grey hair and the look very cool. We’ll see, we’ll see, yadda yadda yadda. I love my stylist, too.

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    1. I don’t even remember where my blowdryer is! I have a mini flat iron, about 4″ long, in the bathroom which I grab for an errant kink. Beyond that my hair just does it’s own thing. For now, though, I will maintain the color.
      Have you noticed only one brave representative from the male of the species has chimed in? That would be Nick and he’s bald! But he’s got one hell of a beard! 😂

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  8. I used to dye my hair myself when in Seattle. In Pakistan I have a go to salon but for last 5 months I have deliberately not gotten my roots dyed. I am trying to see how the salt and pepper look will look on me.

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  9. “Life is too short to have boring hair.”

    “For me, the working of hair is architecture with a human element.” ― Vidal Sassoon

    Depends on the man telling you ( and showing you😉) that you look beautiful regardless of the styling of your hair.

    And if the awesomeness of the crown of hair validates one”s words… well, based on my photo… you can delete my comment 😂

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    1. Many moons ago I had one of Vidal Sassoon’s famous haircuts – short and close-cropped on one side, long and angular on the other. It was the height of chic and I was 98 lbs and platinum blonde. Everything old is new again. My 10 & 12 yr old grandsons now sport the same cut! Today I am far from 98 lbs and my hair pretty much takes care of itself but I’m not quite ready to go grey yet.

      You, on the other hand, I cannot imagine being anything other than who you are. Your style suits you to a tee! ❤︎

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