I got my first gray hair at 19. For a couple of decades, I dealt with gray hair by weaving, which helped the gray blend in until there was too much of it, then dyeing.
When I was young, people always thought I was older than my real age. Once I stopped dyeing my hair, they've always thought I'm older than I am.
I let myself go gray 15 years before my mother gave up the battle for "young" looking hair.
Since I was 38, I've been patiently telling people who are concerned that I'm proud of my gray. That I don't consider it to be a fashion faux paus to embrace my real hair color. That there's nothing wrong with age or experience; that, in fact, it reflects poorly on our culture that we don't honor it. Even though gray is not necessarily a symbol of those things, considering that I was only 19 when I got my first. Not even old enough for a legal drink.
Sexism lives. Our culture objectifies youth for women, but honors experience and age for men. Frankly, if Hillary stopped dyeing her hair, I'd cheer her on. I still wouldn't vote for her, but I'd applaud her owning and honoring where she is in life.
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