As I reach the wise age of 26, I’ve come to some undeniable realizations about life and self-acceptance. Here are a few:
- While the existence of a higher power may be debatable, the genius behind Netflix is a true deity (bless you, creator).
- Cheetos may leave your fingers stained, but their deliciousness is worth every orange crumb.
- If you go to sleep fuming, you’ll wake up even more irritable.
- And perhaps most importantly, I’ve decided to let my hair go gray.
Now, when I say “when I get older,” it’s a bit misleading. My hair has already begun its inevitable transition to silver (these days, I sport a classy streak). The time I spent as a dark-haired woman is fading, and soon my hair will evolve into a full salt-and-pepper masterpiece. And you know what? I’m looking forward to it.
Years ago, I encountered a man named Marco—who I’m convinced was a guardian angel for hair—who prepared me for this journey into gray. I met Marco when I was just 14, struggling with the desire to tame my ethnic curls. Back then, options for curly-haired girls were limited: you could either chemically straighten your hair or embrace the gel-laden, wet look that was all the rage.
I chose to iron my hair, and it fought back fiercely. Some days, my hair resembled a frizzy electric shock. In a bid to save me from my own hair-damaging antics, my mom booked me an appointment at a high-end salon specializing in curly hair.
Enter Marco
From the moment I walked into Marco’s salon, I felt like royalty. I was handed a fancy drink and draped in a silky robe, ready for a wash and a head massage—yes, a head massage! I was truly living my best life until the stylist washing my hair gasped in horror. She pulled out a strand of my hair, scrutinizing it as if it were a rare insect, and summoned the entire salon to witness my first gray hair.
However, Marco was having none of it. Upon returning from his break, he dismissed the concerned stylists and declared, “Promise me you won’t dye that hair. You’ve earned it.”
Marco was a true character—bald, flamboyant, and clad in leather, he was the coolest person I had ever met. Naturally, I agreed to his request, even though I doubted I would ever embrace my gray hair.
Fast forward to the present, and I’ve learned to embrace my authentic self, flaws and all. Sure, I’ve faced challenges, including gaining weight during a sugar detox and battling frizz that seems to defy the laws of physics. But with each passing year, I realize Marco had a valid point: I’ve earned the right to embrace my journey, including my graying hair.
I’ve faced my fair share of obstacles, and I’m proud of my early silver strands. I look up at my hair as it ages alongside me and smile. I’m determined to keep my promise to Marco. If I approach this transformation with confidence, the world will have no choice but to recognize my beauty. If not, well, they can take a hike.
It’s worth noting that not everyone is on the same path, and I respect every woman’s choice regarding her body. As a proud advocate of Third Wave feminism, I choose how to present myself, whether that means maintaining my legs and armpits or skipping thongs. I also applaud those who opt for plastic surgery or hair dye for any reason.
However, I’d like to make my case for embracing our natural selves: celebrating our true selves becomes increasingly challenging the more we stray from it. So, I’m committing to letting my hair go gray. I may have moments of frustration, and I might even experiment with colors like pink or green, but I’m all in, ladies!
Bring it on, gray hair. I’ve got this.
For more insights on embracing motherhood and self-acceptance, check out this engaging piece on Modern Family Blog. And if you’re considering at-home insemination, Make A Mom offers fantastic kits. Plus, MedlinePlus is an excellent resource for pregnancy and home insemination.
In summary, I’ve decided to embrace my gray hair journey, reflecting on my past experiences and the lessons learned along the way. It’s all about celebrating our authentic selves and finding beauty in the natural process of aging.
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