Going Gray, Looking Great!: The Modern Woman's Guide to Unfading Glory

I am 45.5 years old and I am roughly 40% gray -- the rest of my hair is dark brown. I've dyed my hair a number of times -- but frankly, I don't really like the chemicals that much and I also hate spending the time and money to keep the color looking good. My husband has been trying to convince me to "embrace the gray" and after reading this book, I am convinced that I do want to stick with my gray hair and I am now feeling that no matter how gray it gets, I have ideas for how I can keep looking attractive, vibrant, and healthy. To be honest, I don't think hair color fools anybody that much -- everywhere I look, I just see middle aged people with dyed hair. I think being gray is actually more interesting -- but it does require confidence and self-esteem. There are two things the book completely omits: (1) the environmental impact of hair color and (2) hair color and cruelty -- I assume many hair dyes are tested on animals, at least I am quite certain this is true of Clairol products. As I look around me, I am noticing that a lot of women would just simply age better if they would keep their bodies in shape -- being slender and athletic, well-groomed, and with a chic hairstlyle -- I feel that this is the way to go. Embrace the gray and get healthy!

Tired of the time-consuming, messy necessity of coloring my hair, only to have roots to touch up 2 weeks later, I wondered how I could break that cycle without looking like I was letting myself go. Came across the suggestion to get this book when I "Googled" my question. I'm glad I did, because this book is full of information on how to let your natural color come in, how to look your best by choosing the colors that are most flattering, using accessories to highlight your particular shade of "gray", discussions with many woman who made the same decision to embrace their gray, and why, including men's reactions, and so much more. This book is an interesting read and an excellent guidebook."Going metallic" doesn't have to be perceived as "old". This book will show you how to present yourself in ways that can be stunning, and even sexy.

If you have gray hair and have "gone natural" or are considering it--or know someone who is--then this book is invaluable. (It's also unique; an out-of-print "Silver/Gray Beauty Book" is around that features 1980s hairstyles, makeup schemes, and pre-sunscreen skin damage, but otherwise, this book is it.) The approach of "Going Gray, Looking Great" is to treat gray as a color choice--an intentional choice among the many that available to us (but the only one that can't be faked convincingly)--and as a range of colors from icy to ivory to warm gray to charcoal, etc. The author, hair experts, and women who've gone gray at various ages discuss every facet of gray, from the physical process, to cultural attitudes, to how to decide if it's for you, to growing it out, to choosing clothing, makeup colors, hairstyles and products that pull together your best look. Makeovers show how subtle changes in hairstyle, makeup, or special coloring techniques (lowlighting, etc.) can make a dramatic difference in a woman's beauty. There is a chapter on gray with curly hair (Anglo, Latina, and African American) and tips for how to handle the transition from warm to cooler tones that a "frame" of gray around the face can give one's complexion. The tone of the book is upbeat but not pushy about whatever choices the reader wants to make. I especially like how a variety of opinions are given, unlike the typical beauty book. It's well produced, nicely photographed, and the makeup and hair artists make the models look like themselves, but more beautiful. It's a resource to turn again and again for encouragement and ideas--definitely the best money I've ever spent on haircare. In a perfect world, Diana Lewis Jewell would start a website to keep the conversation going. Until then, this book is highly recommended.

I wish this had been available three years ago when I was trying to decide to gray or cover. This book is filled with practical advice, tips, real-people experiences, and makeovers. Hard to do all that in one book, but it works. In many ways,it is a coming of age book for women, and it written in a friendly and personal style. I found the suggestions weren't just reprints of tired ideas - there were some original ideas and practical suggestions. A book to buy and recommend to friends.

A great read - thank you, Ms. Jewell! Coloring my hair had gone from being the occasional fun project to an absolute necessity (or so I thought) as I've gone more & more gray, & this book has pushed me over the edge to finally being able to embrace & enhance my hair's natural color. A must read if you're wondering if there's an alternative to wasting your precious free time trying to keep up with your haircolor.