I seen my first few grays after I was 21, and I began embracing them by the point I used to be 32 as a result of I used to be bored with the chemical compounds in hair dye consistently damaging my scalp. I’ve had a good friend inform me that rising my hair out would make me look “too outdated,” and a few members of the family and associates have even mentioned I’m “too younger” to do that. Nonetheless, many individuals have additionally given me compliments. (In reality, some suppose I dye it this coloration on function because it’s a pattern.) I’ve additionally found out learn how to use and put money into merchandise that preserve my grey hair wholesome and never frizzy, as a result of studying learn how to embrace it means studying learn how to look after it too. —Alex Tran, 39

It acquired to some extent the place the dye wasn’t even efficient anymore.

My roots would at all times present inside a number of days after touching them up. My hair was dry, broken, and brassy. So I made a decision it wasn’t value it—for the sake of my hair well being—to maintain concealing my grays.

Now I’ve stunning, silky hair that’s distinctive to me, and I completely find it irresistible! Typically I get feedback on social media that it ages me, however I really feel precisely my age. My confidence has grown in so many areas, all from this one determination. —Blakely Jones, 35

I now not cared about “getting old” myself, and my grays added to my mystique.

Rising up as the teenager with cool, distinctive silver hair felt particular, however a couple of month earlier than turning 30, I panicked: Instantly, I questioned if my grays had been making me look older.

For the primary time I tried to cowl them with a product akin to mascara, nevertheless it ended up being a messy catastrophe. It felt so out of sync with who I’m, and after I washed it out, I felt like I used to be washing away these preliminary doubts. Not lengthy after, I transitioned from my unfastened curls to locs, and it was like falling in love with my pure hair once more—grays and all.

In the end, it’s all about perspective. I usually consult with my grays as “silver strands” or “glitter.” I remind myself that they’re an exquisite present that I’ve inherited. I’ve additionally adopted a brand new method to the unsolicited curiosity about my age: I merely don’t have interaction with it anymore. —Arielle Stewart, 34

My grey hair grew to become an emblem of overcome a tricky medical process.

In 2021, I had mind surgical procedure for extreme regular stress hydrocephalus (extra fluid buildup within the mind), which left an incision scar on the fitting facet of my head. That occurs to be the facet the place I’ve grey hair, and, because of the surgical procedure, I’ve much more there now. So I wished to embrace not solely my scar however the silver strands in that space too, since they’re symbols of my ascension from a extremely, actually robust time in my life. —Amy Stretten, 39

Sport of Thrones and fantasy characters with silver hair made it look cool.

I toyed with the thought of going grey for a very long time, particularly as I seen an increasing number of fantasy characters rocking ethereal displays of silver hair. In the end I believed it will be higher to embrace my grays in my late 20s than to spend $250-plus on the salon each 9 weeks.