Saturday 19 January 2013

Spotting grey and spouting philosophy!


It is interesting to observe the various emotional dilly-dalliances after the first grey is spotted. Thanks to the increased rate of pollution, exposure to the harsh rays of the sun coupled with a lot of tampering of food products, the greys appear at mid-twenties and early thirties much to our chagrin while the generation of our parents and grandparents dodged them quite efficiently until their early fifties or so. I spotted mine couple of years ago, say two or three years ago one sunny morning when my sister was playing with my lose tresses when she exclaimed, “Oh! Vella mudi! (Oh! Grey hair!) Me being the philosophical and academic tried not to make much ado about the grey spoke in muted tones, “Maybe the sun is shining a little too brightly!” but my sister being the sharp-witted one she is, did not give up. Right there, she plucked out the strand and gave it in my hand. I had to believe it then.

It is interesting to observe the responses or rather reactions to the first grey – The thought of growing old first comes to the mind, followed by the aesthetic aspect – denial of growing older and then the pseudo-dismissal that age is after all a number. No matter how much one philosophies about age being just a number, the fact that that number is steadily increasing never leaves the mind.

No matter what King Solomon wrote in the Proverbs about grey hair being a crown of splendour, the fact remains that one can never completely come to terms with the first few greys. King Solomon made the grave mistake of not adding a number when he mentioned “grey.” He was a wise man after all and he would have foreseen that the average life-span would decrease by and by and hence they greys would appear at any given time. But while reading the Proverbs, grey always meant anything grand (read grandfather, grandmother, granduncle and so on) but when the same grey is spotted on my crown, it is anything but grand.

Speaking of grand and grey, I realize that in no matter of time the appearance of greys will become quite a familiar phenomenon. The greys appear; I pluck them out and smile smugly at the thought of having defeated age. I know that the victory will be short-lived but I am like King Bruce who tried and tried to defeat the defeat before the defeat defeats you!

Recollecting that I am the same person who vociferously stated in her passionate feminist College days that “I don’t know why people colour their hair. After all grey hair signifies wisdom” makes me cringe with a sense of having judged people at the prime of my dark hair days. Even now you cannot spot the greys until you hunt for them but I write this post as a remainder for the coming days of wisdom and age and of course plenty of greys.

So, wise readers of this blog, tell me what you think of these shades of grey ;)

Image 2: Internet

37 comments:

  1. Haha I used to always ask my mother why she didn't go au natural when her greys came in but now that I've found more than a few invading my scalp ( and promptly found myself plucking them) I have resorted to the same measure that my mother has always used and colored my hair. ;) I'm 31 so figure I don't want to show off my greys quite yet!

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    1. Same reasons as mine, Jessica. There is a time for everything, I reckon. I don't have many, just a stray one or two here and there.

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  2. i have embraced my grey...its mostly in my beard and has been for years... a family trait....as my wife says it makes me distinguished...haha

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    1. In the beard it looks elegant and charming ;) Sad that I don't have a beard to show off. Smiles

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  3. I got my first grey hair when I was in my early twenties. I was so glad, because that makes me appear older than I was. I always wanted to appear older, even now I do. I guess I will never use a hair-dye in my life. I don't have to. Grey hairs will not demote me or embarrass me. If anything, it is a sign of becoming wiser, as you say.

    Destination Infinity

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    1. After all you are Destination Infinity -- The great and sagacious one. Who dare question you!

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  4. I love my greys. In fact, when all around would fret and rush to the parlor to get them covered (colored), I had decided even before I got one, that I'd never color them. I have a few when you look hard enough but I am keenly waiting to have that salt and pepper look! I know it sounds crazy! :D

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  5. My hair is probably all grey or white. I won't know until I stop coloring it, if that day ever comes. But, I don't believe that grey and wisdom go hand in hand. If that were true, the world would be so much better.

    Nice topic as always Susan. May you grow wiser each day, but may your hair stay dark.

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    1. Myrna, smiles.

      Same here. Even I don't believe that grey and wisdom go hand-in-hand.

      Thanks for your wishes. I hope I can manage to grow wiser and saner.

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  6. I am wise! I too have embraced grey...only that I don't let it show. I color them. A family trait, got them in my mid twenties.

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  7. It's hard to say because at 51...I have no grey although my mother was salt and pepper in her 30s, so because I don't have them, I dare say it wouldn't bother me. Who knows how I would feel if my head was all white. Maybe I would feel smarter and wiser than I do now

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    1. No grey at 51! Lucky you. Can I trade genes with you? Perhaps I can even run then ;)

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  8. Yup, its tough to digest when someone spot the grey hair. As you listed there are many reasons to get grey at early age, I feel coloring is the only best option to hide-out.

    As its appearing early age, its not a sign of wisdom anymore

    For guys, one more embarrassing moment if grey appears on beard :)

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    1. Greys in beards look fine unlike the in the head.


      Rightly said - these days it appears early and is not a sign of wisdom only pollution caused crown!

      Welcome here, Weekend-Windup. Glad to have you here.

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  9. Would you believe me if I told you that I had looked forward to my first grey hair since the time I was in my 30s and when I got them, I was over the moon? Today when I look at my salt and pepper hair, I feel proud and happy. Weird, did you say? :D

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    1. Over the moon? I think wisdom runs in your blood and hence you, the wise one is not confounded by the grey (matter).

      Super pov, dear wise one!

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  10. im just 21..i already found a grey hair!!but i dint give so much thought into itthough!!i think grey hair for thirty plus men is now a fashion thing!!i dunno abt women!!

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    1. Not for women, Muthiah. Wait. I don't really know keeping in mind some of the above comments.

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  11. I hate my grey hair with passion.;) Unfortunately i inherited my fathers genes and turned grey already in my 30. Since I was 20 I have not had my own haircolour and have been having any kind you can imagine, even green and orange after a few mishaps.;)
    With this said though, I have seen women with stunning grey hair. And men with salt and pepper hair are very sexy, so is my husband.;))
    xoxo

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    1. Passionate hating is quite a nice thing. Zuzana in green and orange would have looked sassy!

      Salt and pepper is definitely charming (Read George Clooney ;)).

      xoxoxo

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  12. I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Greys in my family show up in our late 40s early 50s. I'm 53 and they're just starting to show - I embrace them for a few months and then I colour them. But someday I know I'll just let them come through and stay.

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    1. Lucky Lucky Suzy. Embracing them for sometime is great. Like that they won't hate you ;)

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  13. Hi Susan:
    My beard has plenty of grey. People have asked why I don't shave it off. They say I'd look so much younger without it. They may as well ask me to stop writing or stop breathing for that matter.

    My beard is who I am just as my faith is who I am, just as writing is who I am.

    And regardless of what others say or think, age is JUST a number. I wouldn't dream of wanting to be younger than I am now. I'd lose all the experience I've gathered. I wouldn't be surrounded with all of my slippers (A little inside joke, right. Susan?)

    I love who I am at this moment and I will love who I am in the next moment too.
    --
    Chris

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    1. For some, it looks absolutely stunning and charming, Chris. And, yes, slippers is something invaluable.

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  14. Grey hair definitely adds years to age, so women will keep on coloring their hair , except perhaps in some cases when the head becomes completely grey/white and that gives one a certain flattery distinction.

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    1. Duta, why don't you write on your blog anymore? Glad to see you here.

      Like greys show wisdom, they also add age.

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  15. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. Ronnie, you wrote an excellent comment. Why have you deleted it? I still have your comment on email. Hope you've been well.

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  16. Susan,
    Grey hair are really scary, wen it makes u realiize dat ur age has become so much dat d greys u used to recognize smnbdy else's age is now on you too. And worst part s dat u can't stop the growing greys however much u try.I mite use Loreal trying to stop the greying but I, in m heart always know the truth:)

    Yes, intelligence, maturity,experience are gud words to satisfy and balance d impact. But shhort-living!!!

    M granny s nw probably around 90 n until a few yrs ago, c didn't hav a single white hair! Today v get d privilege at 20 and smtimes even before!!!M I more experienced??? :D

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    1. Well, age, hair and wisdom are completely unrelated and unconnected.

      We may try to hide the grey or the age but our deeds, thoughts and words always betray our wisdom quotient.

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  17. It IS a shock to the system at first. I've been quick with a set of tweezers for the last year or so, too. :)

    And I said the same thing regarding dye jobs when I was younger. Now, I'm not so sure...

    Great to visit with you again, Susan. I hope you've been well.

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    1. Shock - yes. We tend to think that we are growing old. Greys have become the symbol for old!

      Great to see you here dear Sarah. It's always a pleasure to have you here.

      Hope all is well with you :)

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  18. I've got loads of grey hair, Susan and I kind of like it that way! Don't pluck them out - let them speak of your wisdom and maturity!

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    1. Advice taken Corinne. But wait . . . I am getting older, what did you say?

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  19. Now a question from the other side of the fence- started grey late 20's and dyed hair in 30's and wanted to stop dyeing at 40'sand go 'white' ..Now entered my 50's and still looking for an excuse / a good time to stop dyeing..;) After both my kids are married, i said..Now they both are.;After i become a Grand mom, i said- and now i am that too..I dont care much to what others may think of me. Sad part is that i myself dont like the look of me in the mirror..!!Do i have company?

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