I turn 60 this January. I am seriously considering letting my hair grey-out. I've had my hair reddush brown for 20+ years. My biggest concern is having it make me look older, and kids saying mean things during the process of letting my greys grow out (i do not have it in my budget to have it done professionally) Anyone have suffestions how to make this process less humiliating?

OWN it. You are not your hair; it is one piece of the miracle that is YOU. I chopped my hair AND stopped coloring it in 2000. (I got the opportunity to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland, and I didn’t want to waste my spare time messing with HAIR when I could enjoy touring.). Upon my return I prepared a first day of school speech: “I am fat, Black, old, bald-headed (weave was popular), and talented, intelligent, and not caring one bit about what you think of me. The only interest I have in you is your intellectual capabilities.” I only had to give this “ speech” for two years because word spread about “the teacher who ‘read’ the class.”
My methodology is not for everyone (Some colleagues thought it hilarious; others thought it mean-spirited. (Did I mention I teach the kings and queens of “mean-spirited”, MIDDLE SCHOOLERS?!). But YOU cannot allow fear of what ANYone else will say about YOUR hair cramp YOUR style (unless your district offers you a $10,000 per year “hair do” stipend;-). Be TRUE to YOU!

Couldn’t agree more that middle schoolers especially have that mean streak! Getting ahead of it in some way will probably be good to set the tone and make you feel better about it too. When my hair started going grey I was personally really self-conscious about it, but I earned every one of those greys and am kind of proud of them now!

You ladies are FORTUNATE the grey held off until your later years. Mine were not so considerate and started showing up when I was in my mid thirties! Some of my paternal cousins were dying their hair when they were in HIGH SCHOOL so the grey inheritance is STRONG with us!

Do you really care what adolescents think?

I am 47 and letting my gray grow in. I have heard a few comments- mostly from older male family members about it, but my students are little kids- they don’t care. (One of the many reasons I love the littles!) I have recently felt a shift in how I feel about aging and my own confidence. I have lived through a lot. I am
47 not 27. Getting older means I have life experiences and maturity. Why should I fight so hard to look younger than I am? I also have a bit of rebellion, I guess because the people who care and share opinions in my life seem to be older men (uncles and father-in-law) who have the attitude that women are supposed to look a certain way because they like it that way. Well, I don’t exist for them to “admire” and my worth is not based on how attractive they think I am. So- let the gray grow! You are beautiful and worthy and smart and educated and mature and experienced and what others think of gray hair is not as important as the way you view yourself. Be confident!

Have you considered going to a cosmetology school. Their services are quite reasonable. I'm 61 and not ready to embrace the gray. I go to the schools and let the students get me right. They do a fabulous job!

I quit coloring my hair after spring break when I was about 60, ( wasn’t covering g all the gray for long anyway) rolled into summer and no comments were made when students returned in the fall. My hairdresser did suggest a shampoo for gray hair so it didn’t turn brassy. It’s been 3-4 years since I colored my hair and it still isn’t totally gray yet.

You can begin to dye your hair with a lighter and lighter color each time and ease gently into the gray over time. Amazon sells a great brand: Schwarzkopf Professional Igora Royal Hair Color.

I went highlight platinum and got a fohawk… the kids think I’m a rockstar at 62…

I’ve thought about doing this too. I’m 57 and want to try it sometime. Do you have hairstylist friends or relatives who can give advice on the growing out process?

I recently did this. I decided to just go short. It worked for me.

I love hearing so much encouragement and positivity from everyone!! I agree highlights may be a way to ease in to the change. I am 47 and planning to do just that. My son noticed my “sparkles” and gave me a hard time in jest. I told him all of my grays have his name on them! He told me I look beautiful and he really thinks the gray is elegant. I’m not ready to buy in all the way yet though, so I am absolutely getting highlights to buy myself a bit of time.

I have actually had students ask me why I DON’T get an all over gray color! Lol

Do it! I stopped coloring ten years ago, on my 50th birthday, and have never looked back. My birthday is in April, and by the time school rolled around in August, I already had several inches of growth so it was obvious that I was doing this intentionally. I kept my hair as short as possible during the entire grow-out time (in a short bob), and I would say that it took roughly one year. It went faster than I thought. While it is such an individual decision and is not right for everyone, I think that if you're curious about it, you should give it a try. The freedom that comes with no longer being a slave to the hair color bottle or the salon is priceless. As to the kids? They'll find out about gray hair soon enough - far sooner than they think!