Are You Afraid of Going Gray?

The other night at work, a few of us girls got into a conversation about gray hair. Let’s be real—hitting our late 30s and 40s comes with a few unexpected surprises. And those little silver strands? They’re popping through, saying hello, and none of us feel quite ready for that introduction.

Some of us rush to the salon every six weeks to cover them up. Why? To hold on to that youthful glow? To feel more confident? To avoid the reminder that time is moving faster than we’d like? Or is it just society’s beauty standards whispering in our ears, telling us that gray means old?

I still remember the first time I spotted a gray hair. I was standing under bright bathroom lights, and there it was—shiny, rebellious, and impossible to ignore. I yanked it out so fast, but that little moment stuck with me. Why was I so quick to get rid of it? Was I scared of looking older? Or was it just what we’ve been conditioned to do?

I mean, when I started to look at pictures of people with beautiful gray hair on Pinterest it did start to normalize it for me. Even some of the most famous celebrities are embracing their gray hair.

Then the conversation took a turn—how do we see ourselves styling our gray hair as we get older? I think that question hit harder.

Would we keep it long, let it flow, or chop it all off? Would we still throw it up in a messy bun? Or—cringe—would we go full grandma mode with a weekly salon set and a tight perm like our grandmothers did? (No shade to them, of course. They rocked it in their own way!)

So, tell me—if you could picture yourself at 50, 60, or even 70, what’s your hair looking like? Long and natural? A chic bob? A bold pixie? 

Here’s a thought—what if gray hair wasn’t tied to age? What if we just let our roots show and embraced the grays? Would we still feel confident? Would we still feel beautiful? 

Here are 5 really good reasons to embrace your gray hair. 

I’ll be honest—I have a few grays coming through, and at first I was mortified but in the end I can’t be bothered to drop money on dyeing them. I’m cheap, I’m real, and I’m here for whatever makes me feel good without the extra effort.

To me, all this “preventative aging” feels like a lot of work. I didn’t grow up thinking beauty was just about what’s on the outside. My grandmothers let their grays shine, and if anyone had a problem with it, they’d be told exactly where to go.

Maybe I’m not traditional, but I’ve never really fit in—so why start now?

I absolutely love this short piece—Ty Alexander of Gorgeous in Grey shares her journey of embracing her natural gray hair, offering insights and inspiration while highlighting the healthy relationship she has with her silver strands.

How do you feel about going gray? Are you covering it up, embracing it, or somewhere in between? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

Related: 6 Easy Tips to Become ‘That Girl’ by Embracing Your Authenticity

cover photo by thesilverlining_1970.