My New Year’s resolution was not to have a resolution.

I literally exclaimed, “2020, surprise me!”

11 days later, it did.

That’s when my journey began and I decided to challenge society’s expectations about aging and ditch the dye. No more hair dye, no more chemicals!

Why have I made this decision? I’d been thinking about it for months, but continued the root touchup ritual every three weeks anyway, until a lingering flu and car accident kept me away. After a seven week regrowth, I knew it was time, and quite honestly my regrowth is pretty!

I am going to embrace nature’s highlights and join the silver sisters club. (Yes, it’s a thing all over Instagram.) They are all inspiring, exciting, supportive, and stunning! Their ages range from early 30s and beyond. I am in the beyond range, also extremely lucky to have inherited my parents’ youthful genes. Right now I love my bright blonde highlights (I’ve always been a brunette - with many, many years of blonde highlights.), but gray is the new blonde and I am going to go for it!

Some of my friends are extremely supportive, saying that I am brave, a trailblazer, that I will ROCK this look. Others do not believe I will follow through and ask why. Whether I truly let it grow out (which is called Grombre and refers to having natural color or gray on top with dyed ends) or if I help it along the way (which would mean coloring the rest of my hair gray to match what’s already there), it will be a journey. I am also NOT cutting my hair and plan on continuing to keep it long.

As for what is perceived as beautiful in society, as someone who’s been in the beauty industry for 40 years, I will say that youth and beauty go hand-in-hand. As a make up artist, I see both young and mature women striving to achieve their best look and have had many requests to recreate “The Look” that’s so popular on Instagram right now (lots of foundation/concealer/highlighter, overlined and pouty lips, contoured face planes, double lashes…all flawless on Instagram, but unrealistic for everyday life).

What really matters, however, is what’s beautiful to me. My beauty must have’s are a great skin care routine that works for your specific skin type, healthy lifestyle options, hair vitamins, confidence, a genuine smile, and (YES) killer hair! 🤘🏻

For more from Karen, be sure to follow her on IG @SilverGypsyChick.

About Karen

I have 40 years of makeup and skincare experience. From humble beginnings in Rhode Island to the glitz of LA, I’m currently freelancing in various retail locations in southern New England, in addition to booking for weddings. My focus is on guiding women towards achieving healthy, glowing, polished, sophisticated, and effortless skincare and natural make up routines.