Maureen had just dyed her hair dark, and does the glam dark-glasses look.
Now the grow-out begins in earnest. See those little grays?
Her bangs are in! But is she Newbie-hiding the rest?
At long last – pewter! And a great, straight blunt cut.
Maureen Dodd is a girl who knows her own mind. And she knew in her thirties she wanted to go gray. That was more than a decade ago, and she’s been gloriously gray ever since. Maureen saved a few pictures from her earlier dark days, but it’s clear the past was prologue to a shining silver future! I’ll let her tell you about it in her own words.
"Even though I colored my hair for a few years in my thirties, I never liked the feel of my hair with the heavy coating of hair dye. I wanted to scrub it off. Finally, I just let it grow out and never colored it again. It's been over ten years since I last colored my hair.
I was living in Southern California during that time and everyone (including preteens with highlights) had dyed hair. People would stop me everywhere and comment on how beautiful my gray hair was. There were times when I wanted to color it for a change or try living as a blonde but I couldn't bring myself to color my hair again. I'm not the most natural person and I should do a better job of recycling but the last straw for me was watching those chemicals go down the drain from the dye. I promised the earth that I would never do that again.
I am now 49 years old and plan to be gray for a few more years and then completely silver. I don't think I'll ever have to use any treatments on my hair because it will just naturally go silver. I can't wait.”
Ed. Note: We can’t wait, either, Maureen, to see how it could possibly be any better!
Suddenly, Maureen’s softer, curlier, prettier – and younger-looking!
Maureen gets a short new crop, and looks sportier, yet still chic!
And Wow! Can this gal do pink! Moral of the story -- let color brighten everything!
What do you think? Better on the dark side, or chic as silver?
Maureen - You look great - I too am 49 (will be 50 this December!!!) Do you get comments (or sometimes just a look) from others that think that you should dye your hair? It just seems that gray (or silver, pewter...) is just another color.
Posted by on 09/27 at 12:15 PM
love the color!! i am so enjoying all the different shades..
i sometimes wonder if mine will be in that “shade” family although.... my mother was that pure white… comming from a true dark auburn in her non gray days!...what about your moms hair or siblings color??
enjoy this site and welcome !! where in so cal were you???
louann
Posted by on 09/27 at 01:18 PM
Maureen, you look incredible! Oh my goodness, I am blown away by how terrific you look. That dark hair was ageing you but grey hair has given you youth. Thank you so much for letting us share your journey. What an amazing inspiration you are. I salute you!!
Posted by on 09/27 at 01:56 PM
I should just add as a ps. that I am in my 30’s and I have decided to let my grey hair grow out (still debating whether to have a few brown foils or not to help transition but have just read how bad dark hair dye is for health so I might not now afterall!) but reading that you decided to stop dying your hair in your 30’s has been personally very interesting for me. Your story will help others, so thank you!!
Posted by on 09/27 at 02:00 PM
Maureen - Thanks for sharing your story. Your hair looks very thick and is a very pretty color. I love another reassurance that going natural is really the best way to be!
Posted by on 09/27 at 02:13 PM
Maureen, I love your hair it looks so good. You have an exotic quality to you which the grey sets off beautifully.
Posted by on 09/27 at 03:51 PM
You look great Maureen! Thank you for sharing your experience.
Posted by on 09/27 at 06:41 PM
Maureen, I’m in southern California, am 20 and a premature gray myself. Your hair looks stunning and awesome!! Thanks for showing that not all southern cali chicks are bleached blonde. I bet there’s a lot more graybabes like us in southern cali than people think?
Kendall
Posted by on 09/27 at 07:03 PM
Hi Maureen, what a great transition, I definitely cast my vote for the after photo 
Posted by on 09/27 at 07:20 PM
Great story. Absolutely beautiful woman. It’s definitely encouraging to us that are just starting on this journey. Maureen, you look great! - Deb B
Posted by on 09/28 at 03:52 AM
Hello Maureen, you look softer and younger with silver....Its very beautiful.
Posted by on 09/28 at 08:09 AM
Simply beautiful! I am convinced that you younger gals that gray early, end up with the prettist shades of gray/silver. I am still in the very early stages, but am excited to join the club. I just love these stories, and pictures of the gorgeous transformations.
Posted by on 09/28 at 09:17 AM
After years of experience one begins to respect equally what we know and don’t know. And so, there was a time when an elder prepared to speak, the room would become silent because everyone knew they only spoke wisdom otherwise they would remain silent. Going gray all these years for me is not just about looking great but about growing into my authentic self. I want to thank all of you for your generous compliments and I support each and everyone of you on your own personal journey to evolve your authentic self as well - whatever color your hair may be.
Maureen
Posted by on 09/28 at 11:42 AM
You are increadably gorgeous!!!! Keep the silver chic!!! You truly look more beautiful with the silver. I am in the transitioning stage right now and there are days I want to give up. Seeing your photos keeps me going.
Posted by on 09/28 at 12:06 PM
Hey Girl! So very good to see you finally made it! I told you your hair looked great and I’m happy that you’re letting everyone ELSE see it! You looooook MAVALOUS!!!!!!
When I grow up and let mine go that way, I will be sure to let you know so we can be twins......I hope you sent this article to your “Photographer” who will also be famous!!!!!!!!
Posted by on 09/28 at 05:17 PM
Speaking of photographers......who is yours? You are very photogenic. Someone really knows how to capture your beauty.
Posted by on 09/29 at 06:27 AM
You are sooooooo stunning! Mother Nature knows best, doesn’t she?! Welcome to the site.
Posted by on 09/29 at 07:42 AM
Wow!!! Your photos are beautiful! I take it you decided to go cold turkey when you decided to go gray. That’s what I’m doing so far and I can only hope to look as stunning as you when my transformation is over! Thanks for sharing and welcome!
Posted by on 09/30 at 08:33 AM
Maureen - how do you get your hair so straight in the more recent photos? One of your pics your hair is longer & with bangs and is curlier. Just wondering if you use a hair straigtener product or a flat iron— 
Posted by on 09/30 at 08:52 AM
Thanks for sharing your photos, Maureen. You are certainly an example of going gray and looking great!
Posted by on 09/30 at 08:57 AM
Regarding the question of my currrent straight hair. I blow dry my hair so that it turns under a little for the bob cut that I have. I have also noticed just this last year that for many years I had darker eyes that were hazel. Most of the time they were a golden brown - on occaision they were dark green. Now I find that my eyes are always green and a very light green. I also have found that my hair is in general much straighter now that it is completely gray. I am so happy to have the many changes during our lifetimes because I have a difficult time with monotony so watching my hair become whiter and changing my eye color is very exciting for me. -Maureen
Posted by on 09/30 at 09:18 AM
This should be great news to “grayincali” who was worried that her golden eyes wouldn’t look right with silver hair! 
Posted by on 09/30 at 09:24 AM
Diana, you are so good at remembering everyone’s details! As I’ve mentioned before, my eyes are a hazel, golden brown and depending on what I wear they look really green sometimes. I was worried that the gold in my eyes would clash with the silver in my hair. Now I have hope that mine will look more green just like yours do, Maureen! Thanks!
Posted by on 09/30 at 09:34 AM
Grayincali, I also had to change my makeup over the last year. Now that my eyes are more green, I wear the following shades of eyemakeup: green, rust, mauve and dark grey. I discarded all my brown, beige and navy blue eye shadow. It just makes me look pale. I now use the following shadows: Temper Temper on the outside of my eyelid and Socialite in the inside of my eyelid. Both shades are from Two Faced. For green I use Woman of Means on the outside of my eyelid and Honesty in the inside. Both of those shadows are from MAC. If I want the dusty look, I use a soft shimmering white shadow on the brow and eyelid, not beige but not too bright white and then a little smoky grey on the outside of my eyelid. I hope this helps. -Maureen
Posted by on 09/30 at 10:06 AM
Yes, it does help! Thank you, Maureen! Today it seems that my questions are being answered before I can ask them! I was just looking at my makeup bag and opened up a shimmery brown and gold combo shadow that will have to go! I love Two Faced and Mac eyeshadows so I will most certainly be checking those shades out! First I have to be more rid of the faded orange/brown hair that I’m sporting!
Posted by on 09/30 at 11:34 AM
Maureen, thanks for coming on and sharing your story and pictures! You are very stunning and your hair is beautiful!
Posted by on 09/30 at 11:35 AM
Maureen, You would be fabulous no matter what color your hair was, but you make gray hair look good. You have got it going on!
But I do want to pose a question. I have always loved gold jewelry because I thought it looked pretty with my blond hair… but now… what do you guys think? I had a friend that has been gray all her life and everything she wears is gray and even the car she drives is gray… all of her jewelry is silver or white gold. Should I give my gold to my “still coloring” sister?
Posted by on 09/30 at 01:01 PM
Lynn, Do not give away the gold jewelry. Take a good look at the photo above of me wearing the hot red and pink dress with hat. I am wearing a very wide gold necklace. While it is true that I wear silver and chrystals more often now, I still take out the gold for bright reds and hot pinks. The only gray I have in my closet is a very dark gray for slacks. I celebrate all colors but find that not only do I not look good in beige, brown or bright yellow but that I don’t feel good wearing them either so I avoid those colors for the most part. -Maureen
Posted by on 09/30 at 01:32 PM
Grayincali, I also had to stop using rich blushes and bronzers on my face. They made me look too much like a renaissance character with painted on blush. Just because I am gray does not mean I have to color my face to look like I still have some life in me. I like to think of myself more as a dynamic individual with striking hair. Ulta sells a very soft rose blush loose powder called Mineral Blush Lotus. I use it lightly on my cheek bones, chin, and forhead and then blend a Bare Minerals foundation powder over the entire face. This makes me look healthy, not made up. -Maureen
Posted by on 09/30 at 01:54 PM
Maureen~
Love the cut and the color! It frames your face beautifully!
Welcome to the Greatest Gray Site on the WWW!
Posted by on 09/30 at 02:53 PM
Lovely, inspiring pictures, Maureen. Your hair looks great. Especially love the picture of you on the bicycle as it is nice to see an active, rather than formally posed, shot of grey hair in action. Thank you for sharing them.
I always like to pop in and be encouraged and your pictures did just that.
Posted by on 09/30 at 06:55 PM
Maureen - you have me inspired. Your photos are striking. I too have noticed that my hair has straightened considerably as I have gotten older - for me I think it was with each pregnancy. I also have hazel/green eyes. As a child - my hair was blond & my eyes were green - as an adult I have had dark brown hair & greenish-brown eyes. I have noticed more green/gold coming out lately, so may be I have even more to look forward to as my transformation continues.
I love the look of the non-layered bob on you - really fabulous.
mika
Posted by on 10/01 at 01:01 PM
This is totally unrelated to any of the topics above, but I can’t send anymore pm’s for the day, I’m over limit 
and I didn’t want you to think I’m ignoring you. I’ll respond tomorrow. Hi everyone.
Posted by on 10/01 at 02:55 PM
duh, that post was for Suzanne. 
Posted by on 10/01 at 02:56 PM
Got it!
Posted by on 10/01 at 03:22 PM
Wow! Maureen...I remember the colored hair back in the day...and I must say, dahling...you look so fab silver. Much better than the dyed hair. Thank you for submitting your photos and story. You are so hot. Love, Jade
Posted by on 10/10 at 08:37 AM
Maureen,
You look incredibly awesome! I wanted to add my thanks for sharing your story and pictures. They are so inspiring.
Mary
Posted by on 10/16 at 04:55 PM
Just a question for you Maureen. What brand/kind of shampoo/conditioner to you use?
Mary
Posted by on 10/16 at 05:00 PM
Mary, Because my gray hair is so thick and wiry I have found that I need to buy a heavy conditioner like Paul Mitchel’s “The Mask” or something similar to leave on my hair for about 10-15 minutes each week. This smooths out the hair and conditions it. Otherwise, I just buy whatever daily shampoo and conditioner I find and use that. -Maureen
Posted by on 10/17 at 08:33 AM
Two Words: ABSOLUTELY GEORGOUS!!!
Posted by on 11/01 at 11:38 PM
Maureen - you look stunning with your silver hair! I just made the decision this weekend to stop coloring. I’m an athletic 52, and just had my very long hair cut VERY short on Saturday. My last coloring was 4 weeks ago, and that was the last one! Lots of silver glistening in the short brown layers I have. I can only hope my color comes in as beautifully as yours. I’ll post pics as soon as you can see something viable!
Thanks for sharing your story and pics!
RuffDiamond
Posted by on 11/17 at 12:05 PM
I want to be you when I grow up!
Posted by on 12/16 at 12:39 PM
You could be a model! You look sooo cool in your natural hair. I also felt a need to take care of our earth and not pollute it more with hair dye. Also, I’ve noticed my hair does not fall out as much as when I had the dark hair dye.
thanks for being an inspiration to many!
Posted by on 12/20 at 09:15 AM