OMG Lisa I love that blogger - thank you for introducing her to me!

Lisa, I'm not on Instagram...do I have to have an acct. to see it?

Una, you are right -- it's a bit strange. With my previous hairdresser, she has known me for a long time and maybe just could not imagine me a new way...but with the new one, she doesn't really know me yet I come in saying I am ready and she still tries to say, hmm, I'm not sure....seems weird to me.

Shevia that is so true. Younger people know we are old anyway.

I don't know if it reads older. Not in all cases. In people who are very stylish to me it reads as "younger." Or maybe not younger, but "cooler."

I just googled the blogger.

I think so many are just programmed to equate grey with age that they don't realize just how good it can look. At some point coloring can be harsh and aging too. Let's face it, getting older is aging!

Here's a pic of me and my grey/blue/green right now with no makeup (other than what's left from
yesterday because I haven't even showered) or styling of hair, after a day of cleaning house and yard, just how I am and too tired to cook (see Exhibit A, pizza box). It's reality, and I'm okay with that.

Yes, me too! She is great!!! Thank you, Lisa. PERFECT inspiration. I am going for this.

And yeah, getting older is aging. But why can't age look amazing! It can. We are going to make it that way. So there.

Many sympathies...I don't feel at all like myself lately. But of course, I am exactly myself...my current new self. I'm just treating that self badly because I want the former self back. And she wanted an even former self back. Sigh.

My dentist threatens gum grafts every time I see him, but I don't know a single person who has been successful with them, so thus far I'm not biting. I may have to eventually. Did your first set "take"?

You can have a little fun with your bruise...that might cheer you up. When my mother fell and had bruises on her face I told her to tell people "that kick-boxing class wasn't as fun as I thought it would be". She did enjoy that quite a bit...got some fun reactions.

As for dying hair white...can't be done? Tell that to Sarah The White. Maybe she can tell you her experiences and give some suggestions. I think you'd be cute with a spiky pixie.

Lisa, my hair looks like that when it needs washing..

Peri, I am fortunate -- my first grafts "took" beautifully and are still in excellent condition. I am confident the second ones will as well. This guy is good! (He ought to be, for what I paid him for an hour's work.) And also, I tend to heal well in general. But I've actually never heard of a gum graft not taking, so what you say is interesting.

There are always outliers with these procedures...my husband was one of the teeny tiny percent whose first tooth implant failed. Luckily the second one "took" for him.

As for the hair, yes, Sarah's proof. But it seems it's not a great idea with growing out grey -- this is different than platinum for some reason. Don't ask me why because I don't understand.

Una, you look GORGEOUS in your grey. Stunning.

From me to you from the Chi....

Oh gosh. I'd never heard of gum grafts before...ugh. Sending huge hugs for a fast recovery Suz. Having a cold on top of that is no darn fun either.

As for your hair....As others have said, I think a short cut now is the way to go. As soon as you feel up to it, get that appointment booked. I bet you'll be glad you did.

Gah! I share your pain, Suz, since I've been battling a cold for a week. Good gums here, but other dental woes - a little nerve damage after a molar extraction, and a root canal last summer. Do the short pixie. Summer is coming (even though it doen't feel like it) and hair grows fast. Besides, a pixie cut is one of your signitures.

Haha - Aileen:) Unwashed hair is the look now But Una nailed it - coloured hair can be aging too - there is that magic point on the curve where continuing to do a solid colour adds years rather than fools anyone into thinking you're 10 years younger than you are. And I am not referring to Suz specifically. All of us. Sometimes it's just the brightness we crave, not the colour itself.

Sweet, Suz. I just read that you also have a cold. Grotty. You're going to feel soooo much better about everything in a few days. Glad you've made a hair app.

You might have fun adjusting your eye, brow and lip make-up too. The pic below is not a look I am suggesting to the tee - but the clean cut and crisp vibe of it is inspirational, and reminds me of you.

Angie, thank you! Yes, that's right. I was thinking along the same lines. I am cursed with sparse brows (genetic, not from plucking) and it makes a HUGE difference to mark them in; I am considering frequent dye jobs for those as I let my hair go au naturel! Sadly, it washes out in about a week but boy does it look better. I still add a bit of pencil even so...

I am not quite as grey as this woman (whose hair is dyed I think) so I fear I'll be a bit mousy for a while, but there are things they can do to enhance the grey once they know what they are really working with, and it won't be too long until I go silvery white, based on my mother's progress.

Luckily, my wardrobe is already cool toned but I think there may be some new colours to add once I go truly grey and that will be fun.

Thanks, everyone, for your sympathies. I am feeling a little bit better today.

Suz, purple shampoo.

Yup, I have the purple shampoo. I am on it. But they told me not to use the purple conditioner yet...I guess because there is still too much blonde in there. However, I am considering finding a new salon...

Aw, you poor thing I've not had a gum graft, but it sounds awful!

You need to come to Michigan and let my niece, who's in her mid-20's and works at a very nice salon, do your hair. In a couple moments of self doubt, I've told her I'm thinking about starting to color my (very grey) hair again, and she always says, "but you look so good with grey hair; why would you change it?"

Funny, though, she also does her mother's hair and won't "allow" her mom, who is several years older than I am, to let her hair go grey!

Suz and JAileen, what is purple shampoo?

Suz, you can dye your brows weekly yourself at home. And a good pencil is magical. You are going to look great with grey hair.

I'd use the purple conditioner if you think it's still too brassy. I use purple for my blonde (I don't have much grey - yet). Which brand do you have?Not all purple shampoos are created equal.

My ECE is 31 and she had a gum graft done last year - seems to be holding up quite well. I know I have inherited bad gums too but no dentist has ever suggested a graft.

Angie, purple shampoo is just that - purple. It's used to tone highlighted hair so that it doesn't turn too warm (or brassy). You might not need to worry about it because I think you colour your hair fairly often. I only have highlights done every 3 months. As I get older the warmer colours don't look as good on me so I use a purple shampoo (once every 3 shampoos) to keep the brass out.

I am using Aveda's Blue Malva right now. I just started using it.

And yes, Angie, that's right -- it's a blue or purple that helps to tone down brassy tones. Usually they recommend that you only use it once or twice a week at most. Here's a short article: https://bellatory.com/hair/Cho.....le-shampoo

I use the purple shampoo too, although I've switched to a shampoo for color treated hair to make the color last longer. I so wish you lived closer and could to to my stylist who is amazing and supportive! She wasn't sure it was a good decision but was game to try, and now she uses my hair to convince others they can do it.

And yes, you'll have to change some colors and makeup a bit. Grey is no longer a fantastic color on me, and I can wear lighter, brighter colors now.

I am looking forward to seeing the transition!

Angie, purple shampoo brightens grey/silver/white hair, counteracting yellowing. I didn't know it was for highlighted hair, too. You're not supposed to use it too often.

Is this something doable for you, Suz? Just a little more height/volume and brushed forward?

I'm sorry to hear about the gum grafts but also happy that you're taking care of your teeth and gums--so important.
I don't know a single thing about dying my hair! I hope you can find a good cut and dye job/not-dye job that will complement your colouring and style.

Late to the thread - and reading all the wisdom above is heartening. Good luck with it all - the gum graft, the cold recovery and the hair. I hope that some warm spring weather can boost you too. Sending my best wishes.

Sometimes you gotta just let it out, so your can move forward. I have a friend who composes a 12-bar blues for her kvetching (and considers it rather cheap and melodious therapy).

I woke up this morning...... a bruise on my face
My hair blond and mousy hanging down in my face......

Well, it sounds better with a good bass player.

Hope you're feeling better today. Perhaps there is one salon in your area that has a few great looking grey ladies? I think you'll look smashing in a silver pixie!

LOL, Beth Ann. Now I want to hear the rest of it...

Beth Ann, that is FABULOUS!!

ba do ba do BA bump bump ba do ba do BA...

...with the money I spent on this here bruise
I could have done it up fine on a luxury cruise
oh yeah...oh yeah....
I got the periodontal BLUUUUUUUES.

But you know what? There is good news...

'Cause my brassy bright hair can take on that blue hue...

Ugh, Suz, sorry to hear about everything that's been going on with you. I hope the bruising disappears soon...it's tough to feel fab when you have such a visible bruise!

I hope that you can move forward with something on the hair. It sounds like you're ready for a change. I look forward to seeing a new 'do on you soon, which you will rock with your gorgeous smile!

Suz, a colleague of mine, our age, had her colorist die. True story. So she got a super short pixie. "I picked a barber shop near the base where I saw the women Marines going in." Lol. And by the second haircut, which was much less severe, all her color was gone and all that remained was an adorable salt and pepper pixie highlighting an adorable face! The transition time was practically nil! I can't wait to see how cute you'll look. And I hope your recovery is proceeding apace.