Thursday, August 12, 2010

Hair Like An Old Woman

Another new “Follower” has joined the group.  Welcome aboard and THANK YOU to JH.  I appreciate the time you give to read this blog about our RV lifestyle!  I hope it will entertain you.

I haven’t hidden myself from the camera lens since starting this blog, although I do take 95% of the pics I put on here, so I am usually behind the camera.  My old-woman-looking white hair is obvious to all who read these posts when I am in a photo.

Donna from over at Cave Dwellings was kind enough to make a comment regarding my hair color that was very nicely worded.  She said she loved the color.  Thank you, Donna, I appreciate those kind words.  I have to say I get a lot of comments out there in the real world (not the blog world) regarding my hair color.  Most people I come across at the store or at a hair salon say things like, “Oh, your hair is so beautiful!”  or “I’d love to have hair like yours” or “It doesn’t make you look old at all”. 

                                                              For better or worse, this is what it is.DSCF5973

I do notice, however, that most of the people I meet face-to-face that say how “beautiful” my hair is do NOT have white hair.  They are still coloring or bleaching their hair to keep it a younger looking color.  In fact, a while back the subject of hair dying was on a couple of the web forums.  The question was posed something like, “when you fulltime RV how do you get your hair dyed?”  The posts that followed gave a wide variety of ways that ladies out there are getting the hair color they desire.

I was in my early 20’s when I started dying my hair a medium brown color to hide that gray hair.  Soon, the gray was winning and overpowering the natural brown that was left and I had to resort to going to a salon for a professional color job.  My hair grows fast so I was off to the salon every 4 weeks in order to keep the hair roots from showing too much.

                                                   Side view of my hair….not a police mug shot.DSCF5974

I remember quite clearly when and where we were when I decided to stop the insanity of constant hair coloring.  It was 1992 and we were in our Pace Arrow motorhome in Estes Park, Colorado.  We were reading the paper and I saw an article about the possible dangers of hair dyes being absorbed into the skin and causing illness.  I began to think about that, but wasn’t really scared at all.  It did get me thinking about the cost and hassle of getting this done frequently. 

We were planning to head out in the fall of 1993 on our first stint as fulltime RVer’s.  Did I want a different person, at a different salon, applying strong chemicals to my hair every 4 weeks?  What if they weren’t really qualified to do the job correctly and my hair fell out in spots, or the color wasn’t right?  How much would this cost in the different cities we’d be traveling to and living in?  The lady I had doing my hair on a regular basis was very good at her job.  Back in those days it cost me $50.00 every time I went.  Those costs would only increase as the years went on.

So, I made the decision to let my hair grow out to it’s natural color…..whatever that was.  Who knew, since I’d been dying it for about 15 years?  I asked Bruce what he thought of that idea.  I knew it would most likely make me look older than my years.  Did he want a wife that looked so much older than him?  (Think Barbara Bush and our former President)  Bruce didn’t give a care one way or the other he said.  Whatever made me happy.  Although, I think he was secretly happy to be able to save that $50 a month.

                                                      White all over!DSCF5975I
It took about 11 months for the old hair dye to be cut off my hair as it grew.  It didn’t look very good during that time as I looked sort of half-and-half.  The process had to take it’s own time.  Since 1993 it has actually gotten whiter in color. 

The big question is probably, “are you happy with the decision now?”  The answer is a definite yes.  In spite of the fact that I do think it makes me look a little older than my 59 years, and older than Bruce, I would never go back to dying my hair again.  Ever.  Even if I don’t love it, I’m content with it and I like the fact that I don’t have to do anything with it.   And I LOVE saving that money every month.  I’m very low maintenance and this makes it easy….and cheap!

Bruce and I both go to those Cheap Charlie places for haircuts….Great Clips, Super Cuts, etc.  Since we find ourselves in a few different places during the year, we just pop into one of those salons and get a cut when we need one.   Works for us.

Until next time…..so long for now!

20 comments:

Jessica Riker said...

Funny that you have an entry about your hair color this week! :) I just have made the exact same decision yesterday (although I did have the hair stylist do highlights of the color on my roots so it's not quite so obvious as it begins to grow out). I agree that I think I look older with graying hair than my 43 years!! But I asked Harry, and he said the exact same thing - whatever I want to do is fine with him. Since my hair is long we will probably be starting our fulltiming life around the same time that I am finally getting rid of the color!

Cindy said...

You know my vote...always natural!!!! Love it..and you for being brave enough to discuss it..it such a taboo subject..

I wear my peppered grey proudly!! 5 kids..one husband..34 yrs of marriage..limited finances..lots of stress..yep I earned everyone of them!!

Hugs Cindy and Walker

Happytrails said...

I think your hair looks great! I love the color and the cut.

I also agree that it is alot less hassle than trying to find someone to "color" it on the road. I have never colored my hair but I have done highlights for several years. The cost involved has risen to between $60.00 and $80.00 (depending on where) every three months. I have not had any highlights put in for 5 months now and my hair looks lots darker but it doesn't bother me or Mike so I might just stop highlighting.

Thanks for posting about this topic its one many future full-timers wonder about.

Mike & Gerri (happytrails)

Karyn-Lee said...

I was blonde for many years, and then went back to dark hair (natural color) when I was pregnant with SD.
I had read somewhere that you should not dye your hair when pregnant. So I stopped and I actually liked the color coming back on the darker side, so left it.
Now the grey is peeking out, but it's peppering in quite nicely.

I think there's nothing wrong with grey/white hair. It's a statement of being mature (as far as Im concerned).

I like your hair, it is a nice color and suits you very well. But then again there are no pictures to show those of us that didn't know you back in 1992 what your hair looked like dark?

Any chance you can share?

Just curious.

cheers!!

what'supwithsusanandcompany said...

Margie, I just have to comment on your hair. It is beautiful. I too no longer color mine since 35. I just let it grow and donate it every 3 or 4 years. A win/win for me. Mostly, I wear it up when it gets long or a braid or pony tail. So much easier and cheaper. And I love the color.

JODI said...

Marg-
It is the whiteness of your hair that draws the comments of how beautiful your hair is. Most people have mousey, ashy colored grey. Can I suggest something? Change your introduction picture on your side bar to the first one in this blog. The darker background takes 20 years off you and brightens your skin tone.

Jodi Nice and Easy 106G

Carol K said...

Your hair looks great, Margie. I, also, am a low maintenance person when it comes to hair. I go to Great Clips and they do a good-enough job cutting my hair. I am blessed with a mousy brown hair gene--my mother never did go gray! But I will be happy to live with whatever color it turns into in the future!

Gypsy said...

I love your hair. I made the decision to quit coloring about 5 or 6 years ago and just love the freedom. I always did my own but got to where I couldn't see up that close without glasses, and of course I couldn't see the back, and I thought how hair with no gray just didn't match the lines on my face. I couldn't be happier with my decision.

I remember the day I made the decision not to suck in my gut every time my picture was taken or when I wanted to impress someone. I came by this belly in the process of having my 4 beautiful children, so I don't worry and I don't care what anyone thinks.

As women (and men) get older, we accumulate wisdom and appreciation for life, and we should celebrate it, not try to look like we are young again. We are beautiful as we are.

Again, I love your hair and you look great!

Rick said...

Well, if you say you've got "hair like an old woman", then I've definitely got "hair like an old man" because my hair is now more white than gray!

I can't complain though as my younger brother has been bald for 30 years now so I don't care what color my hair is as long as it's there!

I think you're hair color looks great the way it is rather than some phony looking dye-job anyway!

Kathy said...

Do you hear it? It's that song...oh you know..."Isn't she lovely, isn't she wonderful..." I hope someday I have the guts to this...but for now, beauty still comes at a high price. K

Lynn said...

Your hair is absolutely beautiful, both in color, style and cut too!

I am a couple years older than you, and I do get my hair colored.. but I have been thinking more and more on possibly letting it grow out, in which the color would be white like yours.. It really does add up getting one's hair colored each time it needs to be done.. I had colored my own hair for many years, but just started a few months ago having my beautician color it for me.. I think I could find lots of neat things to buy with the money I'd be saving from not having my hair colored! Hmmm.. We shall see.. I'll have to really give this some thought! ;)

Blessings,
~Lynn

Chuck and Anneke's RV travels said...

Those of us without hair, would be glad to have a full head of hair regardless of color!

I am sure there must be an ancient Proverb covering this.

Sue and Doug said...

great hair Margie!!!...even better in person!!..hope all is well with you and Bruce..your babysitting is almost done!!!

Travels with Emma said...

The thing I notice about women that color their hair is just that! It's almost always noticable. It always makes me wonder what color their hair really is. :)

The Frugal Travelers said...

Hi, Gypsy gave me the address to your site, and I must say she was "spot on". I will try to read as much as I can to get to know you and yours better. I have added you to my blog list also, if you would rather I didn't please let me know. Love your hair, mine is a drab gray, but I no longer dye mine. Too much mess. Pidge

Dennis and Donna said...

I meant what I said about your hair color..and I'm a hairdresser..I also know that the rule of thumb is...the older you get, the lighter you go..Darker hair on older women only emphasizes every crease and wrinkle ..This is my problem. My hair is very dark, so I try to lighten it up with highlights, especially around my wrinkly old face!! I would KILL for your hair!

Sam&Donna Weibel said...

Margie,You are a very attractive Lady with that hair of yours, And it is what God intended for whatever reason. Not many bloggers know I have an identical twin brother, about ten years ago after I had turned to more white than anything else, I met him and his soon to be wife number 4 for lunch, I immediately noticed his hair was very dark brown like it just had been colored, being the guy I am I said "Bill what did you do to your hair." His girlfriend quick answered I colored it.Do you like it. With a straight face I answered "no I don't like it, if God wanted it that color we both would have brown hair." It took him months to convince her, that that was my sense of humor and I was just pulling her leg.You look just great and don't change a thing. Be safe out there, Sam & Donna.

Jerry and Suzy said...

Suzy has let her hair go be natural for many years. She frequently gets comments like "I love your hair color! How do you get such a beautiful color?" She has more of a silver grey, no dark showing anywhere. And it's all natural! And yours is absolutely fine. Wear it with pride! It doesn't make you look older. When we were quite a bit younger, Suzy admired the all-white hair on a lady in her 50's - Suzy thought it was gorgeous.

KarenInTheWoods said...

Love your hair and the color! At almost 50, mine is just starting at the temples. Gonna let it go streaky and soon hope to be all silver like my great grandma. Long and shiney, she would wind it up in braid and pin into a bun each morning. Granny Hair! LOL

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Karen and Steve
(Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

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