Right around March 1, 2020 I colored my hair for the last time.  It wasn’t planned.  I have been coloring my own hair for so many years now I can’t even remember when I first started.  Fortunately because my hair was light brown to begin with, when gray started showing up back in my 40s it was easy to just go with lighter hair color—out of the box.  I liked the way it looked, was pretty easy to do, and didn’t cost much.  Why not?  Then COVID 19 hit.  About six weeks later when I would normally recolor it, I paused.  Was it necessary to bother at all, at least until the pandemic was over?  Now, 12 months later I am completely gray.  With one vaccine shot in my arm and things looking better, the question is coming up again: Do I want to stay gray or go back to blond?  Perhaps more importantly are the questions behind that question: Does gray hair automatically mean I look old?  If yes, then what is wrong with looking older anyway—especially when I sort of am?

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