How To Still Feel Confident With Gray Hair

I had gray hair since I was 16 years old; I noticed one long, solitary gray hair in the top of my head, every so slightly hidden underneath fluffy dark brown curls and I was oddly amazed. Every month or so after the first pluck, two or three others, mysteriously, appeared to replace the first. My plucking strategy worked rather well for several decades. 12 Ways To Feel Irresistible (That Have Nothing To Do With Size)

However, upon approaching 40, instead of a few errant hairs scattered throughout my curls, I was confronted much more than a few strands. No longer content with popping up in the middle of my head, the gray demons gathered along the edges of my hair, prominent, as though they not only belonged in the same territory as their dark brown sisters, but were the new rulers. I decided I would not go quietly into that good night and welcomed dye like a drowning man welcomes a life-preserver, determined to fight and wage war against the unwelcome intruders until I could fight no more.

Every eight weeks or so, my stylist transformed my hair back to a lustrous mass of deepest, darkest brown curls, shiny and vibrant and youthful. But increasingly, no product kept them in tow. I reached a point where eight weeks had to be trimmed to six weeks and six weeks trimmed to four weeks. I was astounded at the new growth’s acceleration: coarse, rebellious gray hairs popped up a week and a half after a dye job.

My once soft, obedient brown hair was being overtaken by coarse, tough and rebellious grays. The gray hair was winning big time! My son, whom I love dearly, began calling me "the Silver Surfer."

More confidence advice from YourTango:

• 3 Simple Steps To Improve Your Self-Confidence
• How to Date With Confidence
• Are Breasts The Source Of Self-Confidence?

Unfortunately, we live in a media driven society where standards of beauty are selectively chosen by the Beauty Gods on Madison Avenue. Women are objectified and encouraged to stay in the pack. You have to make yourself over:use whatever products are available to enhance your natural look, because if you don't, no guy will find you attractive. And isn't that what it's all about, being found attractive? Why Summer Is The Best Season To Be Single

This year, I finally grew tired of cursing and coloring my hair. Plucking them out had long ceased to be an option; they predominated over 60 percent of my hair. After one hard look in the mirror, I sighed and gave up the fight. I decided to embrace the pesky little interlopers, welcome them home like long-lost cousins.

I cut off 75% of my hair off, because an inch of gray followed by twelve inches of deepest, darkest brown looks rather ghastly. I’ll keep cutting until the gray stands entirely on its own. And then I intend to rock my gray hair like a Rock Star! I'm owning my grays, every last gorgeous one of them.

I'd rather have a head of thick, bountiful gray hair, than no hair. And, anyway, if it's one lesson I've learned over the years, it’s not what you wear, but how you wear it; I'm wearing my gray like a crown of glory. Well,I intend to color it white, and let it shine like a beacon. Over 40 & Single? How To Exude Confidence