I’m in My 20s and I Just Spotted My First Grey Hair!
Everyone said “Pluck it out” — but I didn’t.
It was quite a shock — an unpleasant one, particularly. It happened one lazy Sunday afternoon, while my mom was oiling my hair and running her fingers over my scalp. Suddenly, she got startled by something.
She instantly exclaimed, “Oh god! A white! No, a grey! Oh my! How? When?”
This soon spiraled into half-worded sentences from her, before I could put two and two together and comprehend what was actually going on.
So, she spotted a grey hair. Big deal. Or is it?
As women, we are supposed to be the harbingers of beauty! And grey/white hair is looked down upon, mainly due to societal conditioning. As an Indian woman, I am blessed with luscious long black hair. So, a white strand does tend to pop out, amidst the blanket of black ones.
TV advertisements don’t help either.
Have you seen the one with gorgeous Eva Longoria shrieking after seeing her greys? And wanting to cover them ASAP? The infamous “relatable” L’Oreal ad?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all in for self-care and pampering.
But I don’t want to scream in terror after looking at my own body/body parts. I want to embrace them, howsoever I can, no matter how slowly it happens.
But it becomes all the more difficult when all you see is social media and TV inundating you with such subliminal messages that greys are something that need to be “hidden”. Of course, this is a brand endorsement and beauty industry is based on exploiting people’s insecurities. That’s how the product would sell and they’d make money. But maybe it’s time to change the narrative? Maybe, they could show a woman wanting to experiment with hair color for fun, and not for insecurities? Wouldn’t that be refreshing to see?
Also, men — when they display signs of ageing (like grey/white hair) are considered “silver foxes.” Wise, attractive, swoon-worthy.
Then, why can’t I be a silver vixen when I grow up?
I refuse vehemently to color or pluck out my greys. They are a part of me, now. They’re signs that I’ve started ageing and that’s completely fine. I don’t want to be Benjamin Button and live my life in reverse gear.
So, if my body displays any sign of ageing, I want to take it head on and then, hug it gently. Rather than believing that it makes me unlovable or I need to hide it. My body is my vessel — a lifetime of experiences. It’s the only true home I’ve ever known.
