Gray hair. It's one of those signs of getting older, yet many of us get grays at a very young age. Anne Kreamer had her first battle with grey at age 27…and for 24 years, she dyed her hair — spending an estimated $65,000 on hair maintenance during that time. Wow!
One day, Kreamer decided to stop covering up the gray and she embarked on a social experiment to see people's perceptions of a woman who embraced her salt and pepper shade.
In her book, Going Gray: How to Embrace Your Authentic Self with Grace and Style, Kreamer explores how her hair was truly an extension of herself. She did the following:
- Posted identical profiles of herself on Match.com, one with gray hair, the other with her locks Photoshopped brown.
- Went out in social settings to see if she could attract men when her hair was gray.
- Interviewed for work.
- Met with professional image consultants telling them she wanted to re-enter the workforce and wanted guidance.
She learned that gray hair wasn't necessarily a setback. And like she says in one chapter…maybe gray is the new black?
It's a really great read, kind of like Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck and Other Thoughts on Being a Woman with a mission to change perceptions of beauty.
What are your thoughts about going gray?
