Have you seen that Friends episode where they all turn 30 and at each party Joey moans about how old they’re getting? “Why god, why are you doing this to us?” he wails. That’s pretty much how I feel about getting old(er).
I’m experiencing an interesting little phenomenon right now. Basically, I’ve reached an age where grey hair is emerging and a few wrinkles are forming, but I still have the breakouts of a teenager. Right now I have a pimple so big it has formed a little civilization of its own on my face and there’s nothing I can do about it but ride it out.
I thought the days when I would have to run to the mirror in the morning to check to see what had erupted overnight would be over once I finished school. Unfortunately it’s been 10 years since I finished university and I’m still getting regular breakouts. There has been one added bonus to this – people have always thought I look young. When I was in my early 20s I found this frustrating. I was 24 and people I met would think I was still at university, or more than once, still in high school. This was especially not cool when you’re trying to establish a “career” and the people you’re working with think you’re the work experience kid. I sound young too. I actually had a telemarketer call my house one day and ask if my mum was home…I was about 27 at the time.
But now I’m starting to look my age, not only do I have the pimples to resent, I also have the wrinkles and the grey hair. All. At. The. Same. Time. This to me, seems extremely unfair.
It’s the grey hair that enrages me the most. Grey hair in very dark brown hair is hard to hide. I can see it, glinting there in the light when I look in the mirror. It sends me to the hairdresser every six weeks because I can’t stand to look at it. The grey hair is the ultimate betrayal of how old I am. I can no longer fool people into thinking I’m in high school…those days (if not the pimples. Really. It’s unnatural) are over.
I’ve been hearing this term ‘silver vixen’ lately – about women choosing to go grey and not dye their hair.
Stacy London from What Not To Wear has a streak of grey that she doesn't bother to hide. Image from http://carriebradshawmademedoit.blogspot.com.au
Yumi Stynes from The Circle (on left, with Nicole Livingstone centre and Nicola Roxon right) plans to go grey naturally. Image from http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au
I am intrigued by it and I admire these ladies who are forging a path that’s been trodden by men for years. After all, no one has suggested George Clooney should be visiting his colourist to maintain his youthful looks. The older and greyer he gets, the better he gets, right?
George Clooney. Looks just as good these days, if not better! Image from http://www.tressugar.com
For a man, ageing (and grey hair) is about being distinguished, experienced. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily the case for women. We dye, pluck, wax, exfoliate, polish and primp our way through life – not that there’s anything wrong with that. I’m vain enough to say that I will be doing everything possible to gracefully maintain a youthful appearance for as long as I can (drawing the line at botox – please, I almost faint every time I get a needle, no way I’m signing up for that voluntarily).
But I wonder what will happen when I get to a point where my greys aren’t just a few strands at my temples, but have taken over my whole head? Could I be brave enough to rock the sliver vixen look? The fantastic Helen Mirren does:
Helen Mirren rocking the silver vixen. Image from http://collider.com
But she’s no mere mortal, she’s Helen Mirren, the hottest lady in her 60s on the planet. Can us ordinary ladies get away with embracing our inner silver vixen?
I honestly don’t know if I could do it. But, by that stage of my life I’d like to think that silver vixens would be just as acceptable in our society as that delightful species the silver fox.
After all, ageing is not something we can escape. It happens to the best of us; it even caught up with Joey.
Matt Le Blanc at the 2012 Golden Globes, now a fully fledged silver fox. Image from http://www.hollywoodreporter.com
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love this post. I can so relate. The pimple, the wrinkles – as if they are raging an all out war on the landscape that is my face. So far though, I have been able to pull off the grey hair. being a strawberry blonde, it seems I can still sort of pass off my grey as highlights. One hair dresser even commented on how natural my highlights looked! “it is natural” I told her. I too wonder how my hair will look over time as the grey starts to take over. Uggggg, seems like it’s always something. I’m convinced as soon as I make peace with my skin and hair I will start to develop a hunch back as well.
Thank you! I am glad I’m not the only one with this problem. Like you say, there is always something. But I’m pretty sure I’m going to have pimples until I’m 80…
I too suffer with the teenage face/old lady hair problem! Being a brunette sucks when it comes to going grey as it really stands out. I only have a few but they are so damn visible! I thought I would grow out of my bad skin but that doesn’t seem to have happened. Oh yes I am growing up and out of things, in my wardrobe mostly, but sadly still get massive beacons that stay for weeks on end, always in embarrassing places too, the last one was between my eyebrows and lasted for 3 weeks. My boyfriend found it hilarious. On the plus side I do still get asked for ID when buying alcohol (but only when wearing a hat)!
Oh I am definitely growing up and out of my wardrobe too! I think back to when I was a teenager and I was so skinny and so convinced I was fat. I wish I could go back in time and tell myself to enjoy that body while I had it!
I’m right there with you, although for some reason I only break out on my chin. I have noticed silver in my hair, but I have been dying it since I was 13, so I don’t imagine I will suddenly choose to go gray. I do honestly think that a head of long gray hair on a woman is gorgeous, though. I actually just had that conversation with a friend the other day.
And, as for the wrinkles, technically I can still get away with referring to them as “laugh lines.” Because that makes it all better.
Yes…laugh lines…all the way across my forehead! What is it with the pimples? I also get them on my chin all the time – have the oily t-zone thing going on.
Ever seen the average asian aging process? Yep, that’s what I’ve got in store. At least you get to grow old gracefully
http://www.bigwowo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/asian_timeline.jpg
Oh my god that’s hilarious!