Any Ideas for a Low-maintenance Yet Feminine Hairstyle for Gray Hair?

Updated on January 03, 2011
M.B. asks from Milwaukee, WI
7 answers

Hi y'all! I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas for a low-maintenance hairstyle for gray hair. When I was younger, thinner and brunette I had no reservations about cutting my hair super-short (layered all over with cute pointy sideburns) but now I'm mostly gray (I dye it blonde but it still has the wiry quality of gray hair)... I wear it now past my shoulders with heavy bangs, which is a nice low-maintenance style, except for all the broken pieces that stick out the sides (not pretty tendrils, but wiry frizz) so instead of a sleek, simple ponytail I always look frazzled.
I hesitate to go super-short now (a la Jamie Lee Curtis, who looks lovely and feminine in her short style) because I have a small head, a thick neck and a double chin. I don't want to have to wear makeup to look feminine, and I fear if I go super-short I'll look like a guy with my exposed neck as thick as my head. Have any of you out there with features similar to mine had any success with short hair? When I want to look fancy I wash and air-dry with a ton of serum, for a wavy look, and that helps disguise my thick neck and makes my head look larger (I want my head to look larger than it is and my neck to look thinner than it is.) I just want to be able to run a comb through it and go to work (I work in daycare, where I should look well-groomed but I don't have to wear makeup)... the last time I got my hair cut it was a chin-length bob and I either had to spend a half-hour ironing it straight or wet it every day and scrunch it curly. Any of you beautiful mature ladies with short hair have any ideas for me? Many Thanks! *peace*!

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So What Happened?

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you know what happened with my hair. After reading all your thoughtful replies I came to the conclusion that maybe a super-short style is not for me anymore, so I cut my hair layered and almost to my shoulders, with a side part. I have to wet it in the morning and put it in place with my fingers but that takes only a moment and now my hair dries more quickly. I am satisfied with my new hairstyle and feel it looks feminine even without makeup. Thanks very much all of you. *Peace*! :)

More Answers

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D.W.

answers from Gainesville on

You could also look into doing a formaldehyde-free keratin treatment. That would solve the fly away frazzled look. You can do a mid -level treatment that lasts about 2 months or go for the pricier one that last for 6-9 months but then you could keep the hairstyle you have now that you like and feel looks good on you.

4 moms found this helpful

M.H.

answers from Raleigh on

I don't have any good ideas other than to go to a good salon in your town and allow a hair dresser to spend some time deciding what she wants to do. I have an amazing hair dresser and all I have to do is say, "do what you want, this is how short I want it", and it looks amazing! It may cost a bit of money (since they usually charge between $35-55), but it should compliment your face and neck well! Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

this past summer i cut my hip-length-with-straight-bangs hair into a side-swept layered bob. i absolutely love it. if i had known short hair was this easy i'd have cut it years ago! (even though i loved my long hair.) i save a fortune in conditioner and easily half an hour of combing and fussing time every day. i do miss my pretty french braids.
but not that much.
:) khairete
S.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.F.

answers from St. Cloud on

If you find out a really good one, please let me know. My hair is long right now, but I think I would like it shorter. I understand a lot has to do with the shape of your face. Mine is rather square with age, and according to Life Style. com I need something on the top and no part. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful

K.W.

answers from Milwaukee on

Hi I also have gray hair and was brunette so I tried dying it blonde and had the same problem so I tried a darker color like ash brown and that worked and for the frized look I use oil sheen

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

My hair is long (bra strap length). I put it up in an African Butterfly clip in the morning and it looks elegant all day till bedtime. I have several clips, from plain to dress up, and they are great for any occasion.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.P.

answers from Sheboygan on

You are in luck, because you can loose that thick neck by giving up all high fructose corn syrup. The weight falls away magically when you weed this vile stuff out of your life! And you don't lose in 1 area, but all over, including the hard to lose stomach fat! Mine fell away magically, 2-3 pounds per week. No more horrid binging caused by HFCS, which doesn't allow my appetite to shut off. (Yes, you have to read EVERY label all the way to the end because this stuff is everywhere.)
Like you, I had long brunette hair & kept a long white bob when i lost my color. Then I found a great hair stylist who gave me a short curly look. Some days I don't even bother to comb because it looks so great just from running my fingers through it. If your hair curls slightly when it is long, chances are that it will curl even more when it is short - like mine did.
I would never go back to a longer style! Shampoo & cream rinse last for years, it takes minutes to dry & always looks great. Ralph Waldo Emerson says "Always do what you are afraid to do." I think you will be very happy that you did. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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