Now this is what I call aging gracefully. More beautiful with age in fact. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW_l-bhUm8k

I was very pleased to see your “Silver Tsunami” article, because I have been experiencing a similar tsunami after starting the website www.goinggraylookinggreat.com in January of this year. I have been literally flooded with responses from women writing in from all over the world (42 countries, last count), wanting to return to “natural.” They flock to the site for information, but also to get support and encouragement from others as they go through transitioning. Actually, it has become more of a metamorphosis, because many write in that their personalities, confidence level, and desire to improve themselves in many ways is part of the whole experience. The website is based on my book Going Gray, Looking Great!, originally published in 2004, and reprinted in 2007. Subtitled The Modern Woman’s Guide to Unfading Glory, it’s more of a “how-to,” and has become the bible for women who want to begin the process. I would love it if you would check out the website, and hear these women’s voices. It is a true phenomenon, and you were so right to report on it. Thank you, Diana Jewell

Deciding to live without hair dye was the precipitating event that pushed me up against my fears and limiting beliefs about what it means to be a woman “of a certain age” in a society that’s obsessed with youth and manufactured beauty. What I eventually realized was that my fears and concerns (will I become invisible, marginalized, unattractive? etc) were shared by many maturing women - regardless of their hair color! I ended up chronicling my experience and research in my book “Amazing Grays - A Woman’s Guide to Making the Next 50 the BEST 50 (Regardless of your hair color!)”. In addition to addressing HOW to go natural (if that calls to you) I also discuss how to quiet ones fears around aging and design a life that reflects the woman you’ve become. By addressing the social, physical, psychological AND spiritual aspects of growing older I was able to shift my focus from my packaging to my essence. Sure I care about the way I look, but it no longer defines “who I am.” I took on new challenges (walking without aid across 40 foot telephone poles 30 feet in the air) and at 60, without prior experience, risked trying out for my city’s Senior Follies. I was selected as a dancer and a showgirl - red feathers and all. Something inside me resisted becoming a showgirl (that’s another story) but I can tell you that by stepping into the opportunity I ended up healing some childhood abuse issues. (go figure) Life provides us with many opportunities to let go of the past and clear the way for living in the moment - we just have to say yes! I’ve learned that there really is no future - only a consecutive experience of now, now, now. I found that one way to live there is to clear out the limiting beliefs that keep us stuck in the past, get clear about where we want to put our time and energy, and take on a practice that supports us in being mindful. While becoming an Amazing Gray has nothing to do with hair color - I thought it might be interesting to meet some of the women who have stopped coloring their hair. On my website, www.maggiecrane.com and in “Amazing Grays”, you will find a Gallery of Silver Sages - stories and photos from women who have made the transition. Take a peek. If you would like to be featured in this gallery, please send your “after” digital headshot and a short 500 word story about what going gray meant to you to: maggie@maggiecrane.com. I love being part of the meaningful dialog about what it means to become an Amazing Gray (regardless of your hair color!) All these wrinkles, sagging bottoms (and arms in my case) and gray hairs are testimony to the fact that we have LIVED the lives we’ve been gifted with.

i stopped coloring my hair when i was 38 ( it had gotten so damaged, it scared me). now, nearly 20 yrs later, i’ve got a great, healthy-looking head of gray hair. it was the best decision i ever made. do i look older? - maybe but, i know i look genuine. i feel stronger, almost empowered. it’s the right thing for me, maybe not for others.

I’ve always had thin, fine hair. I colored for a few years (10 or so) to make it “thicker” and so on. Finally stopped about 4-5 years ago (I’m 46). The gray is coming in & I can’t wait! My mother & sister have beautiful gray/white hair and I only hope mine looks as nice. My hair stylist goes nuts when I tell her she can do anything to my hair-but color it! Everyone else is in the salon coloring like crazy & I tell her if she can color it gray-then she can color it! I think gray/white hair on women is definetly a look full of confidence. For crying out loud-I’m 46. If I had no gray hair and no wrinkles, I’d look like a freak! I’m proud of every line and gray hair as I’ve earned-and learned from-each of them. I’m hoping my hair will be more gray by the time my oldest son marries in the spring! Why should men be the only ones to look great as they age!

At 30 I was told by a sociology professor that I was too old to make it in the music business. I wrote a song about it called “Threads of Steel”. At 50, my hairdresser sometimes tries to convince me to color the threads but I say no. These are not gray hairs on my head - they are threads of steel.

For years I’ve been hoping the L’Oreals of the world would offer a ‘Silver Fox’ hair colouring kit. I even suggested it to a woman I met who is a major player for a large French cosmetic company. Nothin’. I’ve been colouring my hair, one way or another, since I turned 40 and am still trying to cover my gray but would happily go silver if it were on offer. Haaaallloooo all you marketing folks: I can not be the only one. Get out there and offer Boomers Platinum Plus hair colour. Cheers!

Maybe??…who knows…but all I know is Meryl Streep is one of the zbest Actors in our Time!…Love Her and Every thing she does!

Silver hair is powerful. It looks like you’ve got a frick’n lear jet for brains. I was golden blonde for years. I had a crown of bling. I glowed in the sunlight. Hair is important.

Meryl looked so awesome in the silver hair, but there is a disconnect in how she presents herself. We still see her with the long blond-tinted locks. Even Meryl believes the silver won’t go over in “real” life, but if anyone has the power and clout to revolutionize Hollywood, she can do it….along with Helen Mirren! It’s time for a grey revolution. I’m 56 and I grew the blond out this past year and I love my silvery hair!!

I love my silver hair…and when I worked in Web content among Austin 30-somethings, it made me stand out.  However, now that I’m single and unemployed i am thinking of dying it. Hate to do it, but at 53 I don’t have a wrinkle on my face and I resent being treated condescendingly…or worse, passed over for jobs. It’s a quandary!

I am 61 and have quit coloring my hair.  I want more real gray haired prominent women depicted.  I was so excited to finally see some media for women over 30 with real curves and real gray hair.  There is far too much fake whatevers. 

I too was confused by the number of people listed who seemed to have blonde hair and not gray.  I personally believe that a far larger number of women can go gray than who actually do, but I am coming to accept that I might be luckier than most.  For one thing, if you start graying at 15, it isn’t a sign of age!  And for another, the part of my hair that is gray is actually a sparkling silver color.  Beautiful in the sunlight.

 However, when I lived in Cairo, which has a HIGH degree of air pollution, my hair went GREEN.  I was never able to get it lighter than yellow, even after a year back in the states.  So I cut my waist-length gray hair super short, and get lots of compliments, especially on the color. 

 But I might grow it long again.  Forget those "short hair on older women" rules!

I caved. I am dyed and bleached, and everyone seems to think it took 10 years off me.. Not sure I like it. But will give it a try for a while.