I noticed my first few grays when I was 21, and I started embracing them by the time I was 32 because I was tired of the chemicals in hair dye constantly damaging my scalp. I’ve had a friend tell me that growing my hair out would make me look “too old,” and some family members and friends have even said I’m “too young” to do this. However, many people have also given me compliments. (In fact, some think I dye it this color on purpose since it’s a trend.) I’ve also figured out how to use and invest in products that keep my gray hair healthy and not frizzy, because learning how to embrace it means learning how to care for it, too. —Alex Tran, 39
It got to a point where the dye wasn’t even effective anymore.
Blakely Jones
My roots would always show within a few days after touching them up. My hair was dry, damaged, and brassy. So, I decided it wasn’t worth it—for the sake of my hair health—to keep concealing my grays.
Now I have beautiful, silky hair that is unique to me, and I absolutely love it! Sometimes I get comments on social media that it ages me, but I feel exactly my age. My confidence has grown in so many areas, all from this one decision. —Blakely Jones, 35
I no longer cared about “aging” myself, and my grays added to my mystique.
Arielle Stewart
Growing up as the teen with cool, unique silver hair felt special, but about a month before turning 30, I panicked: Suddenly, I wondered if my grays were making me look older.
For the first time, I attempted to cover them with a product akin to mascara, but it ended up being a messy disaster. It felt so out of sync with who I am, and when I washed it out, I felt like I was washing away those initial doubts. Not long after, I transitioned from my loose curls to locs, and it was like falling in love with my natural hair all over again—grays and all.
Ultimately, it’s all about perspective. I often refer to my grays as “silver strands” or “glitter.” I remind myself that they’re a beautiful gift that I’ve inherited. I’ve also adopted a new approach to the unsolicited curiosity about my age: I simply don’t engage with it anymore. —Arielle Stewart, 34
My gray hair became a symbol of triumph over a tough medical procedure.
Amy Stretten
In 2021, I had brain surgery for severe normal pressure hydrocephalus (excess fluid buildup in the brain), which left an incision scar on the right side of my head. That happens to be the side where I have gray hair and, as a result of the surgery, I have even more there now. So, I wanted to embrace not only my scar but the silver strands in that area, too, since they’re symbols of my ascension from a really, really tough time in my life. —Amy Stretten, 39
Game of Thrones and fantasy characters with silver hair made it look cool.
Caitlin Gardner
I toyed with the idea of going gray for a long time, especially as I noticed more and more fantasy characters rocking ethereal presentations of silver hair. Ultimately, I thought it would be better to embrace my grays in my late twenties than to spend $250-plus at the salon every nine weeks.