Wardrobe advice for when you embrace your grays
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: The coronavirus shutdown inspired me to grow out my gray hair, and I have a few inches of new growth at the roots and framing my face. As I make the transition, should I be considering a change in the clothing colors I wear?
— Mary R.
Dear Mary: You don’t tell me what colors you favor in your current wardrobe but if, like many of us, you stick with neutrals (black, beige, gray) then yes for sure you should add color, especially around your face. Going gray, white or salt and pepper can tend to wash you out. But you don’t need to spend a lot. A bright sweater, blouse or scarf can make a huge difference at a not-huge cost. Red, purple and royal blue are your friends. Pastels and dusty colors, not so much. My beautiful sister-in-law Kerry F. grew out her hair and is thrilled — as she should be — with the glorious natural white she uncovered after decades of beauty salon spending. She had new professional headshots taken for work and the royal blue sweater she wore made all the difference. She looks gorgeous. I bet you will be too.
And one more question about going natural …
Dear Answer Angel Ellen: I have recently grown out my hair to a beautiful silver platinum color. I went from a blonde to a senior! I would like to know about special shampoos for silver hair. I am reluctant to try them because I don’t want “blue” hair. How often to shampoo with these shampoos? Is it really necessary to wear gloves?
— Lori D.
Dear Lori: I know some women swear by those purple shampoos made to tone down the yellow in silver/white hair or colored blond hair. I’ve tried one brand my stylist recommended, Joico, to get rid of the orangey color of my dyed blond highlights and found that 1) it didn’t get rid of or even reduce the orange, and 2) it’s messy. In my case I didn’t need gloves, but readers who have tried some other brands tell me they stained their hands, so it’s either gloves or other methods of dealing with their purple skin. Oil (baby, coconut, olive) works to remove the purple. Or lemon juice or even nail polish remover.
My sister-in-law tried Redken’s purple shampoo 10 months ago and she says parts of her hair still have a purple tinge. Furthermore the stuff
stained the grout of her shower tile and she had to use bleach to get rid of the stain. Finding the shampoo that works for you is going to require some trial and error. There are abundant lists online of best shampoos for gray hair and there are scores to choose from.
Angelic Readers
So many readers had recommendations to keep mosquitoes away. Some seemed a little fanciful but here goes:
D.J.B. says she’s only had two mosquito bites in 30 years because she drinks two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar mixed in water every day during mosquito season.
“I eat grapes (any color works) every day before I go outside and I
haven’t been bitten once,” writes Rho.
Kelly S. says “Bug Soother” bought at simplysoothing.net is the “best stuff I’ve ever used.”
Mary S. recommends clothing from L.L. Bean’s “No Fly Zone” (llbean.com) for her walks in mosquito-heavy northern Wisconsin.
“My family swears by Lifestings from duggansisters.com. It does not smell bad or feel bad,” says Adair S.
Susan T. writes, “I swear by Johnson’s Baby Creamy Oil Aloe & Vitamin E (drugstores, under $4).”
Now it’s your turn
Send your questions, rants, tips, favorite finds — on style, shopping, makeup, fashion and beauty — to answerangelellen@gmail.com.