Our dress codes are more relaxed than ever before and we are able, through our clothes, to express ourselves in the most wonderful way…and yet, I am shocked, no saddened that still in 2022 , women who positively embrace their grey hair, are being marginalised.
That’s what happened just last week to renowned Canadian journalist, Lisa LaFlamme. Dismissed because she allowed her hair to turn grey. Really! Unbelievable that her hair colour has become more important than the accolades her well-respected career has afforded her!
Silver hair seems to provide men with an air of authority and maturity yet for women it appears to be attributed to our advancing years. Nothing is further from the truth.
It is true that whilst we are seeing a greater diversity of women represented, we do need to see higher levels of representation in a more consistent fashion.
Why we should embrace grey hair
We don’t think anything of choosing the latest fashion trends or selecting a brighter jumper to lift our mood. I see the choices we make for our hair in the same way - as part of our individual identity. It's about feeling comfortable in our own skin. Like a perfectly styled outfit, whatever our colour choice, a beautiful head of hair makes us unique.
Although let’s consider that post-lockdown we are actually enjoying the freedom and liberation of trying something different? Choosing our natural hair colour is like dressing to our own beat, surely.
It is high time to address the negative stereotype associated with the colour of our hair and kick sexism and ageism back into the past.
Grey hair does not define our age
The arrival of grey hair may not purely be a reflection of our age. I have friends who turned grey or indeed chose to dye their hair grey, before reaching their 30’s. However not all women reach for a bottle of hair dye to cover up their grey. For many it is an affirming and conscious decision.
We should not feel limited by the outdated stereotypes that suggests having grey hair means we are old.
According to Vogue in March of 2022, Grey Hair was a hit with the Street-Style set in the fashion capitals of the World.
Grey hair can look incredibly stylish
You only have to look toward Dame Helen Mirren or fashion icon Iris Apfel to see how incredibly fabulous grey hair can look. Shown here, Rachel Peru also looking amazing with her sleek cut.
Perhaps it is women like these who encourage us to feel more comfortable to let go of our traditional stereotypes so we can enjoy the process of allowing our hair to grey.
Silver and Sassy
Feeling strongly that grey-haired women were under-represented within the fashion and media industry, two Yorkshire Models, Annie Stirk and Rachel Peru co-founded and created Silver and Sassy, an uplifting fashion event in Yorkshire that celebrates grey, silver and white haired models.
Initially forming part of York Fashion Week, their 2019 ticketed event was quickly sold-out and it's audience praised the empowering show as transformational in building self-esteem and confidence.
Of the event, Annie states that "the effects on our models has been transformational". How I love this and how we need regular reminders that grey hair and those who wear it, are relevant.
Whatever our hair colour, all hair requires care and maintenance
With a shorter crop, I am a regular monthly visitor to the hair salon and on a quarterly basis do still enjoy my highlights. I know very well the time we spend at the hair salon and indeed the financial outlay to maintain a coloured head of hair. Regardless of our hair colour, we still require a regime to keep it well cut and conditioned.
Given that more of us will be choosing to work into our 70’s, those that continue to demonstrate outdated age and gender stereotyping, need to get used to it. Only by ‘calling-out’ these prejudices will things change in this arena.
As an advocate of positive ageing I believe that we are beautiful at every life-stage. We should be able to express ourselves without fear of prejudice and have the courage to embrace who we are!
For those of us wishing to embrace grey hair, we should not let others influence our personal choices. Grey hair is not a passing trend, it is here to stay in all of its natural crowning glory!
Jackie Crawford
29th August 2022
*Main image credit Annie Stirk by Olivia Brabbs