Hip? Hip? Hooray?

When I wrote Going Gray Looking Great! in 2004, I said my mission was to show women “how to keep their gray, and their cool, too.” This quote was picked up by newspapers around the country because it was a novel idea. Gray? Cool? Those two words had never been uttered in the same sentence before.

But I know us. We’re not about to go quietly into that gray goodnight. We want to look just as young, just as vibrant, and, yes, just as cool as we’ve always felt.

At first, it wasn’t easy convincing people of this. I had a meeting with the then Marketing Director of Harper’s Bazaar who told me their magazine was for the “ultra chic, ultra fashionable, ultra hip,” and gray hair really didn’t fit into that world. Forgetting the fact, I guess, that their median-age reader is 38.3 years – well into graying territory, whether they’re ultra hip or not.

I met with haircolor giant L’Oréal, and while some very savvy vice presidents saw where this could go, the final verdict came down – “We are a color house, why would we be interested in gray hair?” I can only suppose, at that time, they were still smarting from the lack of sales performance of their Gray Chic home-coloring line, introduced in 2000. A collection of seven sheer, ammonia-free color tones that promised to add brightness, clarity and luminosity, while banishing yellow. A line some women tell me they’re still looking for today. They won’t find it. L’Oréal discontinued it.

And then suddenly – boom! – (or should I say Boomer?) gray hair was everywhere. In the magazines, the movies, advertising, and on the heads of celebrities. Take a look.


I’m not saying this is real-world gray. It still has an obvious edge of fantasy to it. But there’s no denying it’s fallen into the realm of the ultra chic, ultra hip, And I say HOORAY!


is meryl streep really gray?
she looks great

Posted by lainla3 on 08/07 at 07:04 PM

Oh, I’d say probably about as gray as the rest of us of a certain age.  wink But she went “white” for her role in The Devil Wears Prada. (And probably to make certain there was more distance between the character and the real-life Vogue editor-in-chief!) I think it was fabulous for the part, but now she’s on to other parts, and other hair colors.

Posted by Diana Jewell on 08/12 at 09:43 AM

I’m just leaving comments all over the place. tongue wink Isn’t Diane Keaton gray?  I wish Goldie Hawn would go natural and hey how about Babs?  Her hubby certainly looks fab with his hair. And Marlo Thomas, Phil is gray and I think has always been seen as a sexy, good looking guy. And does Richard Gere keep his hair gray all the time now?  I can’t tell from the billboards for his new movie if it’s gray or colored.  I wonder if the movie execs give the guys a bad time about gray hair and wanting them to color it. Curious minds would love to know. cool hmm

Posted by sallee on 10/08 at 10:58 AM

ha they only give the women a hard time…
my neighbor is a character actress and she has gone out a bought a great gray wig for some of those “old ladies” parts…
hollywood...don’t even get me going…
louann

Posted by lainla3 on 10/08 at 11:12 AM

Actors will “wear” whatever color hair the part calls for. It’s interesting, though, when I was writing my book, I interviewed movie producer Amy Robinson (Autumn in New York, White Palace, Chilly Scenes of Winter, among others). Her good friend, Richard Gere, actually convinced her to go gray. She says he’s comfortable in his gray, and in his own skin, but, hey, if a part demands it, he’ll be whatever color he has to be. That’s show-biz. He’s a true gray, he stays gray, and looks the sexier for it.

She also was pretty prophetic, saying gray hair will not really “happen” unless an established actress chooses to do an incredibly sexy role with gray hair. Not that the part would require it (read: old-lady part), but just that gray hair may bring something new and powerful to the part. Well guess what? Meryl Streep did just that. So the doors are opening, I think. Maybe just a crack. But that’s all we need to drive a wedge! wink

Posted by Diana Jewell on 10/08 at 12:21 PM

I forgot George Clooney, how in the heck could I forget him!! Yes, I didn’t think about they would do whatever the role calls for but at least Richard and I think George go back to natural. George sure looks secure with himself.

Yeah, and a convention of 100 (crossing my fingers) sexy, silver sirens decending on New York City might draw a wee bit of attention.  tongue laugh

Posted by sallee on 10/08 at 02:47 PM

Ya think???? wink

Oh, and yes, we must NEVER forget George Clooney!!! Personally, I would like to see him as Bond, James Bond. Oh, be still my heart.

Posted by Diana Jewell on 10/08 at 03:09 PM

i have always liked gere and clooney...my neighbor loves the whole idea of my going gray and actually even though she is lmost 70 she hardly has any gray at all in fact she reminds me of our own newbie helen…
and oh heck yea they will be whatever part they have to be!!
but honestly h’wood is tougher on the women than the men...when it comes to the whole age thing..unless you are a BIG star...barbara stanwyck was one that always looked great and then there was betty davis in baby jane as the crazy sister...i think she was gray in that...(natch) did see diane keaton at the mall last christmas time and she looks great but i think she is a blonde...although she loves to wear the color white!
louann

Posted by lainla3 on 10/08 at 05:29 PM

It’s always been so odd to me that men care not one whit about turning gray, and women spend millions to prevent it.  I like my gray hair and it’s who I really am.  No more pretense and no more worrying about roots.  I hope J. Lo lets hers grow out.  I bet it would be great with her super sexy bod.......

Posted by rocksister on 10/13 at 05:21 PM

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