To Dye or Embrace the Grey?

Everyone should do (1) whatever the fuck they want, and (2) what makes them feel best. But for me, I say, fuck it, and go grey. Maybe greying in the 30s and 40s will be more normalized, embraced and even flaunted with Gen X and Millennials. With the previous generation, I think it's much more of an expectation to dye, in order to look "presentable" or "young". (Mom, step-dad, and all of their friends still dye, and they are in their 70s.) Maybe the expectation to automatically dye grey hair in middle age will become as outdated as expecting women to always wear lipstick when leaving the house, or expecting men to wear hats over a head full of Brylcreem. I think it's already happening with our generations. I am going to let nature take its full course. And that goes for my face as well. I'm not piously trying to say I have no vanity. I have mirrors, and I look in them. My medicine cabinet has lotions and creams that say stuff like "anti-aging" and "exfoliating" on them. If I'm being honest, I wear sunscreen mostly because I am worried about wrinkles, and not so much about cancer. But, like, that's about as much money, effort and time as I'm willing to put in. A tub of Eucerin and a bottle of sunscreen from the grocery store. I am not making extra trips to a salon or a dermatologist or a separate beauty supply store. I am def not spending $2000 a year to dye my hair at a salon, when I have a constant ulcer about saving enough for retirement. I'm not spending $20 for DIY box color at the grocery store either, when I am standing in the aisle having a deep, serious debate in my head about whether I "deserve" to buy the $8 jar of harissa. The pressure to look like you're in your 20s or 30s, when you're in your 40s and 50s, I hope, ends with our generation. I think everyone's perception of what looks "normal" or "acceptable" at a certain age, has been warped by a variety of societal factors, with social media being one of those factors. Why do I need to match Gen Z in hair and face when I am Gen X? It's an exercise in futility anyway. How do you do, fellow kids? I had my time in the sun. It was a fucking blast filled with house music, dance floors, mosh pits, belly shirts, glow sticks, body glitter, sparkle lip gloss, short skirts, tall shoes, mini backpack purses, and strutting around everywhere thinking I was immortal, and generally, just the shit. I am in the crone phase of life now. It's time to let these new girls have a turn, and have *their* time to shine, rave and raise hell in the sun. It is my time to sit back, reflect, and be serene, cool and peaceful in the moonlight. And maybe dance around a bonfire with a tambourine like Steve Nicks. I am very, very slowly going grey for about a year and a half now (47). I think it's starting to speed up this year, but it's still mostly dark brown. My only sadness is that I am not able to grow a big grey streak in the front, like Cruella de Vil. Or at least Stacy London.