Nikol Johnson Archives - NIKOL JOHNSON

Hello Blog, It’s Me Nikol

November 14, 2019 ·

I realized on a recent flight this month that I have not been writing on this blog as much as I would like for 2019. This post will be a little catch-up and news on upcoming events. Most of the content I upload is here and here, but I view this blog as an outlet to interview other women that are breaking the beauty rules to encouraging you through your transitioning beauty.

To catch you up to speed on where I have been for the past six months, I have been in the studio filming and producing videos that feature makeup tutorials on women from fifties to eighty-four on my YouTube channel, which hit 80K subscribers. These videos have been such a rewarding series called #FierceAging. The series started as a four-part series but now has turned into a monthly feature. I have an inspiring project coming up that I will be announcing on my YouTube channel and Newsletter, so make sure you tune in and are signed up (find my sign up here).

If you have not joined my private Beauty Reinvented Facebook group, this is the perfect time to get inspiration and support from women all over the world. We are almost at seven thousand women sharing and helping each other through aging and gray hair. I am so proud of this little group, and I have been posting LIVE Q&A’s randomly to answer your questions in real-time.

If you love Fresh Beauty Studio Cosmetics/Nikol Cosmetics or are curious, get ready for Black Friday and Cyber Monday! New beauty products added every week. You don’t want to miss out on the specials that are coming up for the holiday season. Early access will be announced here, so make sure you are signed up.

I hope you ladies are doing well and are enjoying all the content that I am creating for you on all my platforms.

Silver Sister Spotlight with Caroline Labouchere

April 6, 2019 ·

Ladies, I am back to inspire you with a fierce Silver Sister Spotlight with Caroline Labouchere. I became friends with Caroline through Instagram and my desire to visit Dubai where Caroline lives. I DMed her on social media and told her I wanted to come and run with her and see the country her response “Come, I will take care of you,” She has such a sweet and calming spirit something that reads true on her Instagram Stories. Let’s introduce you to Caroline.

It’s not every day you see a striking model sporting natural grey hair, owning the runway, gracing magazine covers and standing out from the crowd with a message that simply says aging can be beautiful. Caroline is fifty-four years young and the Region’s (United Arab Emirates) first ‘grey’ model. She grew up in Bedfordshire, UK. Her father was Lord Luke of Pavenham; a hereditary Peer of the Realm. Caroline grew up as a Sloane Ranger and came out as a debutante with a strict mother who dressed her in typical upper-class style. She is a competitive marathon runner, alongside her husband who is a world-class elite endurance triathlete. She has run the Dubai and Paris Marathons and she is currently training to run her first Ultra marathon. She clearly lives an active and healthy lifestyle.

Q: When did you start to go grey?

A: I was turning quite grey around the year 2000. It was hard covering it up and I went through phases of letting it go (feeling old) and coloring it. Peer pressure definitely has an impact.

Q: Did you feel empowered by your grey hair or defeated?

A: Initially through the perception of everyone around me I felt the need to fit in. I now feel completely content with it and cannot wait to be more grey.

Q: Tell us about the recent award you received.

A: Oh my, from the first random email invitation to the event I had a week to pull it all together. I didn’t believe the request when the email first appeared in my inbox. The pageant was called Golden Ambassador for Beijing Tourism. I was found through social media. Contacted by a French man, I thought it was a hoax, I got my husband to speak to him on Skype. I finally spoke to another contestant from Paris via Instagram. After our chat, I decided to go for it. I found the perfect dress, eight inches too long but fabulous, my visa and was on a flight to China. Other than our outing to the Great Wall we cat walked and walked practicing for the big day, the pageant. It was nerve-wracking although the lights were so bright we couldn’t see the judges. It was an incredible experience, it is unlikely that I will enter a beauty pageant again. I am happy I did and honored to have won.

Q: How do you view aging?

A: I dislike some bits, the lack of skin elasticity being the main one. I stay very fit and find it frustrating that I cannot naturally do anything about it the inevitable march of time. I will age gracefully with some help I think. Jane Fonda is doing it right in my book.

Q: Do you feel the fashion and beauty industry supports women with grey hair?

A: No, especially makeup. The shops are daunting the lighting is bad and it is too easy to be mis-sold products. I would rather follow someone my age on Instagram and buy with their advice.

Want to be featured in my Silver Sister Spotlight or know someone that would? Email me [email protected] Can’t wait to feature more women that are aging and embracing it with a bold, fierce attitude.

Why I Almost Deleted This Video

January 14, 2019 ·

It’s one thing to film a video it’s another to edit it and then watch it back. I was surprised at the reaction I had recently when I unexpectedly met another Silver Sister waiting in a line.

It’s becoming more apparent to me that it’s not just about the silver hair color that is connecting and pulling us together like a magnet. It’s bigger than that. The line of connection runs deep down into the soul of who we are and who we want to be in this world.

My video titled “How to Survive Your Gray Hair Journey” took an unexpected turn on the emotional roller coaster when I was filming. I never know what’s going to happen when I start shooting. On this particular video, I wanted to explain how Beauty Reinvented website even came to fruition, why I am so passionate about featuring other women on my blog and showing up in this world as a voice to break the beauty rules.

I mention a couple of examples of fate when publishing my book and meeting two women with compelling stories when I have been out and about town. I edited my video and watched it back multiple times, I started to second guess myself. Should I really be this vulnerable?

Should I let the world see me this emotional? I keep my emotions pretty close to the belt in general but after going through hell with IVF and connecting with women all over the world on what seemed to be one emotional explosion. I am much more lenient with myself when I have these little passionate windows to my soul.

Ladies, have you stopped and thought what your gray hair journey is all about? Is it really about hair color? Age? Or are you creating a bold voice/movement in society and within yourself?

I have sat and stared at the sky and thought how silly that I would let other peoples rules and ideas affect how I show up visually to the world. And I am so happy that I took the plunge in my thirties and said I DON’T CARE WHAT ANYONE HAS TO SAY ABOUT MY HAIR COLOR!!!!!!!

It’s about your attitude, building yourself up from the inside out and stepping into the uncomfortable feelings. If you are feeling uncomfortable, you are right where you need to be on this journey.

I decided that I wouldn’t be embarrassed or apologize about this video and how much I wave my hands around or how passionate I got on the topic. Most days I am still trying to be “perfect” but videos like this tell me to just be real and go with it. Stop fighting who you are and let that woman out.

Jane Your Tartan!

December 13, 2018 ·

I woke up this morning to a comment on my Instagram that went something like this: “Tartan in your knickers doesn’t line up…..not well made.” Hmmm, first I had to stop reading with one eye open and recall what the hell tartan was, Oh, right my underwear. WOW, someone is looking at the seams in my UNDERWEAR noticing they don’t match up? LOL I have made it!

Jane Your Tartan! — Photo Credit: Rick Gomez Photography

I laid in bed looking at the ceiling thinking it’s amazing I am even taking pictures in my underwear at forty-three. It’s ironic because when I was shooting this shot, I would run over to my photographer Rick and say let me see how these are coming out. I then would proceed to tell many insults about my body or how the robe was laying. Rick always rolls his eyes and says something to the effect that I am foolish and not practicing what I preach. It’s the truth, for some reason we women like to beat ourselves up over little imperfections that in reality WE can only see.

I am just like you with not always being positive about my body, hair, skin you name it that is why I am so passionate about writing and speaking about being yourself, embracing your age and finding the silver lining that we all have inside.

It’s not so much about the tartan or my ridiculous thoughts about my body in this photoshoot but how women are so quick to point out the negative, the flaws in each other. Why is that? I know the comment about my dysfunctional seams on my underwear isn’t a huge deal and maybe it’s true that the seams are beyond screwed up, but it’s the underlying energy and example that this statement creates. Perhaps the woman that wrote the comment is very unhappy with her life, maybe she is sad around the holidays, and this made her feel better, or maybe she is coming apart at the seams (pardon the pun) and needed to say something that was just true and obvious? Whatever it was it wasn’t positive no matter how you try and lessen that comment.

So what is the lesson today? What’s your take away? Think about what you are saying first before you say or write it. The holidays are a very highly emotional time for a lot of people. Think about how your comment might make someone else feel. Do you think it will empower that man or woman? Do you think it makes you a better person if you say it? Get real with yourself, find out where your intentions are with the words and comments you say.

Words are powerful make yours be a reflection of who you are.

Silver Sister Spotlight with Marilyn Moles Carlisle

October 28, 2018 ·

Ladies this Silver Sister Spotlight took me months to put together. It’s fascinating how the world works with pairing you up with incredible people. I was introduced to Marilyn by my photographer Rick Gomez he thought Marilyn would be an incredible woman to feature and guess what SHE IS.

Silver Sister Spotlight with Marilyn Moles Carlisle

Photo Credit: Rick Gomez Photography

Marilyn (Moles) Carlisle grew up on the west coast of Florida in Clearwater. Her father, a physician, and her mother’s love for animals inspired her interest in veterinary medicine. She attended college at the University of Florida and graduated from the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. She continues to practice medicine part-time in South Florida, and although she loves dogs, her special interest is feline medicine. Although Marilyn continues to practice veterinary medicine part-time, she also has a successful side-career as a classic lifestyle model and actress. She knew that to be a credible (professional) actress she would need to commit to training. She took local classes weekly at night for over a year, attended weekend workshops and recently traveled to Chicago to train at the famous Second City for improv. Her dedication to her work at training has paid off. She has been in numerous commercials (national and local), independent ﬁlms including a Lifetime movie, appeared in tv shows and can be seen in magazines and on billboards. She enjoys balancing both sides of her careers although admittedly the scheduling can be hectic at times. ! Marilyn and her husband (Stephen) of 23 years have two wonderful sons who will be graduating from college and high school respectively. She has been sporting her platinum white hair for over 20 years. Women and men have commented on her hair for years, but now she is excited not to have her hair described as a “beautiful anomaly.” Women would approach me at the grocery store and say “I wish I had the courage to stop coloring my hair.” Marilyn loves traveling, dancing, sunsets, beach walks, and spending time with family and friends. So also enjoys mentoring young potential veterinarians in their exploration of the profession.

Q: When did you first start seeing gray?

At the age of 14, I remember standing in front of my bathroom mirror and ﬁnding my ﬁrst gray hairs. The more I pulled them, the more they seemed to grow.

Q: In your professional world as a veterinarian did you feel pressure to keep your hair dyed?

The only time I have really dyed my hair was during college and my early years of veterinary school. Perms and color were popular during the 1980‘s. When I graduated from the University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, I was already transitioning into my natural color by using low lights in my hair to help blend the white and remaining dyed brown. I looked like I had a lot of frosting. Professionally I have been employed at the same animal hospital for the past 25 years. We have all grown up together, so my hair was just part of the package. Stereotypically doctors have that “distinguished” look so maybe that helped me too.

Photo Credit: Rick Gomez Photography

Q: Did your white hair come in all at once? Or did it take years to be this beautiful white color?

It seems that it came in all at once. When I decided to stop the low lights, I was 95% solid white. Only one small brown section in the front and at the ends as the low lights grew out. It looked okay, so I was lucky

Photo Credit: Rick Gomez Photography

Q: How did you feel when you decided to go gray? Was this a scary time for you?

When I wanted to start my family, I decided to totally give up the chemicals. Pregnancy and added chemicals just did not seem to be a healthy choice. My husband was supportive and loved my uniqueness, so he helped make it easy for me. My mother’s side of the family has a lot of beautiful white hair. My hair and my blue eyes deﬁnitely come from mom! Only once do I recall feeling bad about my hair. I took some “me time” and treated myself to a massage. After the massage, the masseuse asked: “Why don’t you color your hair?” “From the back, you look like an old lady, but from the front, you look so young?” That same week I went and added back the low lights. About a week later, a long time client at the animal hospital asked me why I colored my beautiful hair. He was right! That was the last time, and I have never looked back. The low lights just faded away, and thankfully my white hair came right back. To me, it looks glamorous like in the 1960’s just like my namesake Marilyn Monroe.

Q: What advice would you give other professional women when it comes to embracing your gray?

Professional women, and in fact all women should feel conﬁdent. Conﬁdence is strong and sexy all at the same time. Choose what makes you feel conﬁdent and then just run with it. Embrace your look!

Photo Credit: Lynn Parks Photography

Q: How did you get into lifestyle modeling? Are there any jobs that you loved working on as a gray-haired model?

Modeling and acting were never on my radar. However, in a Pilates class, I became friends with a woman who introduced me to an amazing photographer Rick Gomez. Rick took my ﬁrst headshot. The year was 2009, and really very few people had my look. Rick and my friend Patricia helped connect me with a few talent and modeling agencies. I approached my acting with determination to learn. I took acting classes as well as special workshops. Just as in my veterinary practice, I continue to strive to be my best. I have a type “A” personality and am a perfectionist. Modeling and acting are generally fun for me and reﬁlls “my love bank.” It does have a lot of rejection though and honestly; I still struggle with that at times. However, when I am on set, it is fun to step into someone else’s life as a character and the modeling helps me feel pretty. The mid-life career keeps me focused on taking good care of myself by making healthy food choices and exercising, especially loving my dance class. ! I have worked hard and tried to make wise choices. I have great agents who do their best to get me opportunities. A few of my favorite jobs include a Lifetime movie (Girlfriend Killer), and a billboard on I-95 (Seminole Casino). I have had some great commercials such as Prudential Retirement and a Dunkin Donuts where I combined my veterinary and acting worlds. Print jobs for award-winning country clubs (Boca West) are also fun. I also will be on the cover of Jan Rogers second book called “Going Gray Beauty Guide: 40 Gray8 Going Gray Stories” due out 2019 in hardcover and e-book. I am so very thankful and proud to represent our Silver Sisters!

Connect with Marilyn on Instagram: @Marilyn_Carlisle

Book Launch December 1st, 2018

October 18, 2018 ·

I am so excited to announce my first book launch on December 1st, 2018. Writing a book has always been on my radar, I wasn’t sure how my book would take shape would I write on infertility or going gray or both? In January, I made the decision that I would write a book to help women all over the world FINALLY have a Bold, Fierce, and encouraging step-by-step guide on how to embrace their natural gray hair in a modern and empowering manner. Beauty Reinvented encourages women to live authentically with an unapologetic attitude toward society’s view on gray hair and aging.

I had zero help when I started on my gray hair journey; I couldn’t find one woman in her thirties that had a blog or had written a book on how to go gray. I wanted a little insight, guidance, and raw information so I could be prepared but google search after google search I came up with nothing. I felt so alone and unattractive, but I pushed forward and made it to the silver lining two years later. I designed my book to be a workbook format that will help prepare you for all of the ups and downs of going gray. Some of the highlights of Beauty Reinvented include Developing Your Gray Attitude in chapter 4, and down-to-earth informative advice in chapter 5: My 5 Strategies to Going Gray. The book is rich with personal anecdotes and infused with my expert beauty advice on how to upgrade your skincare and makeup routines throughout your gray hair journey.

Beauty Reinvented will be available on Amazon and Kindle December 1st, 2018. Don’t forget to sign up for my Newsletter for exclusive invites, offers and discount codes.

Silver Sister Spotlight with Beth Djalali-Style at a Certain Age

September 15, 2018 ·

I can’t believe that it’s been two whole months since I last posted! I was busy working on my new fall lipstick collection that launched this month, writing my first book that will be available this holiday season. And Ladies there is more exciting news on a couple of BIG projects I will be announcing and sharing with you in the upcoming weeks, but today I am thrilled to feature Beth from the top-rated blog and YouTube channel Style at a Certain Age. Beth and I met through Instagram, and I had the pleasure of meeting Beth and her husband “Mr. Style” in real life this month for dinner. You might have caught our fun night out with our husbands if you follow me on Instagram I posted a Story of the two of us at one of South Florida’s most popular seafood restaurants on the beach.

I thought Beth was the perfect woman to feature on Beauty Reinvented not only because she is a Silver Sister but so many of you are looking for style advice as you transition into gray. Beth gives you solid, approachable fashion advice on her YouTube channel and total style eye candy on her Instagram feed. I love how she incorporates her classic style into everything she does from her Friday drink recipes to her Instagram stories. Make sure you sign up for her Newsletter, so you don’t miss out on any style inspiration.

Q: What age did you decide to let your hair go gray?

When I turned fifty, my stylist in Minneapolis suggested that the highlights we foiled in every three months or so were replicating my natural hair color. When she said let’s go
“au naturel,” I said yes, and never looked back.

Q: How did you find your niche in the fashion blogging world?

Well, I always call myself the accidental blogger as I found my way into the blogosphere through a book I wrote but didn’t get published. I did snag an agent who emphasized the importance of a social media presence for writers/authors. It took me two years before the light bulb went on to share my daily outfits through a blog and corresponding social channels. The twenty-year-olds were doing it why not a fifty-six-year-old? Who knew it would be so much fun?!

Q: You have lived all over the world, do you feel that living overseas has influenced your personal style?

Not having the opportunity to shop my favorite brands helped me to become creative with the items already hanging in my closet. When I came back to the States for a yearly visit, I learned to power shop a skill that serves me well as a style blogger. On the plus side, I had access to some amazing tailors and affordable tailor-made clothes while living in Asia. That was a game-changer!

Q: What are the three must-have fashion pieces every woman over forty should own?

Blazer, blue jeans, and a fabulous handbag.

Q: What wardrobe colors work best for women with gray hair?

Oh gosh, that’s a hard question as I don’t feel as if I wear outfits based on colors. Don’t get me wrong; I knew there are certain colors that suit my coloring better than other colors. But I love brown and still wear it. I guess you’d say I like coloring outside the lines.

Q: What makes you “tick” when it comes to fashion?

I am a classic style girl through and through and have been since my teens. But I’ve learned to keep my classic outfits looking fresh and modern instead of stodgy and stale with accessories. Scarves, shoes, belts, handbags, and jewelry that are tied to the trends help!

A big thank you to Beth for sharing some of her style tips with us today and don’t forget to follow her on her blog, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook for up to the minute style. Remember we have a lot of support on my private Facebook group “Beauty Reinvented” so come on over and join us we would love to support you. Until next time Ladies, Stay Fierce!

Silver Sister Spotlight with Kristen Karlisch

July 13, 2018 ·

Celebrating another Friday with a Silver Sister Spotlight. Kristen found me on YouTube about a year and a half ago when she was just starting her gray hair transition. I thought she would be a great feature to inspire you ladies.

Kristen is a proud mom of two creatively kind girls (now tween/teen), wife and business partner to an incredibly talented interior and commercial photographer of 20 years. Originally born and raised in Houston and then moved to Dallas 25 years ago. Kristen feels so lucky that she gets to see the world and meet new people through her travels in the photography industry.

Silver Sister Spotlight with Kristen Karlisch

Photo Credit @stephen_karlisch_photo

Kristen says there are moments in our life that a big decision is made which shapes your destiny. I have had many but one significant one was changing my career at age 30 and then meeting my husband because of it. He has always encouraged and supported me in my many different interests. I love marketing, being in the creative visual field, I have been certified in teaching full comprehensive Pilates (although I don’t teach but practice) and also certified as a health coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. I did the IIN year course to just educate us as a family to learn directly from the source versus reading articles and being confused. Highly recommend for anyone, it’s an amazing school and community. Much needed in this world of increasing health problems. My dedication has been to our photography career, however, I think teaching kids about entrepreneurship, saving and giving back is truly important. Our daughters are dabbling in the e-commerce world targeted to tween, teens on up to moms. It is empowering them with my help and they are giving back a portion of their sales to Pencils for Promise and fundraisers to support education.

Kristen with her husband Stephen in Italy

Q: Tell us when you first started seeing gray hair?

My mother found my first silver when I was 20. We were in California in a convertible sitting at the stop light, and I can still feel the sting from that strand of hair being pulled out by mom showing me my first silver with a smile. Thanks for the chuckle of a forever memory Mom.

Q: What were your initial feelings about seeing the silver?

I think we just laughed it off and then I just pulled them for the next ten years before I started coloring looking back I wish I would have had the confidence to let them grow. My paternal grandfather was all silver in his 20’s so I definitely inherited more of that gene.

Q: Being in a creative field do you feel that your silver hair is more accepted by your industry?

Absolutely! I receive compliments all of the time, however, owning it proudly makes a huge difference.

Q: What do you teach your daughters about beauty and aging?

I made the decision to start this journey two months before my 50th birthday. It had been on my mind for two years. I am glad our girls will have this memory as I fully expect them to have to face this decision one day. Many of my friends my age have shared with me remembering the time their mom decided to stop coloring and how much they admired their mom for making that difficult decision that society has shamed and labeled for so many years. Our girls have been VERY supportive and could see the negative effects of the chemicals that I was experiencing for years. I am truly grateful to them, my husband, mom, sister and other close family members for their support as I know many who have no family support. None of them felt I would be considered “old” or that “she has let herself go” or any of those other messages that are whispered or in our head. When I was in doubt for those first 6 months they were cheering me on and didn’t want me to give up. We try to live a pretty clean lifestyle with organic skincare, food, health, activities, kindness to others and gratitude. Our girls amaze us with the beauty they see in others that may be judged negatively by people. They are the friends that are there taking up for the kids being bullied, have a learning difference, who needs a friend and are in need of a little support.

Q: As a photographer, you see beauty through a lens do you feel like you see your gray hair beauty differently than the world?

Photographs were what helped me daily. I saved many images on my phone of women I admired that I found on Instagram, Pinterest, and private support FB groups. I saved those images and looked at those women I admired to help get me through those days that I felt weak and wanted to go back to faux color. My husband photographed me this time last summer on the beach. It was about seven months and the first time I had felt pretty again. He loved how I was starting to embrace my look and directed me, so I was showing my grey and silver confidently. That shoot made me want to secretly take up some lifestyle modeling representing women middle age with grey hair. It was a lot of fun.
As a photographer, I think it would be fun to do a portrait project of women 30-60 with their natural grey/silver hair. Photographs are truly inspiring, and it is definitely becoming more accepted to see younger silver sisters, and I love the movement that is taking place. It is pretty sexy.

Q: What is one thing you would want women to know that are starting out on their gray hair journey.

Luckily I had a very supportive stylist. I chose to use very fine sheer low lights on the cap of my head to help the demarcation as the grey and silver were growing out. For some, they chose to use highlights and some just go for it and do nothing but let it grow. Just know there are options (but please don’t try to pull the color out) but having a stylist support is so helpful in being successful especially in those weak moments. You have to get out of your head. The old messages of “ I will look old”, “what will people think”, “I let myself go” or “they are looking at my hair” are negative old messages from old ways of thinking. Believe me, vanity does get challenged but OWN IT and you will rock the sexy silver. Use support groups on Facebook if you have none, find the many silver sisters on Instagram and just try to make it past the rough 6 months. It does get better. Your hair will become so healthy, so soft (no more straw brittle hair) and lots of new growth. As my wonderful husband told me from the beginning, “If this makes you feel better then I am all for it. It’s just a color and you can choose whatever color that makes you happy.” Remember you are doing this for you, not anyone else.

Connect with Kristen on Instagram @kkarlisch

Silver Sister Spotlight with Maryam

June 29, 2018 ·

Happy Friday Ladies, I am so excited to feature Maryam Remias today as one of our fierce Silver Sisters. I found Maryam on YouTube a couple of years ago and loved her spunky attitude and fun beauty videos. Let me introduce her to you.

Maryam lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband Eric and eight-year-old daughter Arianna. Maryam creates makeup, beauty and gray hair videos on YouTube and Instagram. Her favorite thing is to hang out with her family at the beach. She loves Persian food and Korean BBQ. It’s safe to say she’s a major foodie.
Before her YouTube career, Maryam had a corporate job working as a graphic designer. When she had her daughter, she decided to stay home with her, but because of her workaholic nature, she needed to do something else besides being a stay at home mom.

At first, her hobby was collecting makeup and binge-watching YouTube videos. At the time Maryam was silently going through depression and was feeling very lonely, and YouTube was her escape. Her husband suggested she start her own YouTube channel rather than watching other people’s videos. Creating beauty videos began as a hobby but now has become an exciting career path for Maryam. The community of supportive women encourages her to keep going.

Q: Gray Hair is becoming a huge movement right now, when did you start embracing your gray?

I discovered few strands of gray on the crown of my head at age 19. At that age, I related gray hair with being old. So, I refused to let anyone see my gray roots, and that’s when hair color and I were inseparable.
Through my mid 20’s, I had developed skin allergies to hair colors. I knew something was wrong with coloring my hair, but I wasn’t ready to show my gray.
It was in 2014 that I started to embrace my gray hair journey. What led to me embracing my grays was that I was tired of coloring my hair every two weeks and the skin allergy on my scalp had gotten terrible.
I remember the day when I thought that growing out my gray hair could work for me. I had looked up gray hair on Pinterest and found beautiful older women with naturally gray hair. Also, pictures of young women with colored gray hair that looked fantastic. That’s when I started to become curious about how I would look with gray hair.
I spoke to my husband and showed him the photos on Pinterest. He was supportive, and we both wanted to see how it turns out. I’m very thankful that it became a trend because it gave me the courage to stop coloring my hair.
So, I started my transition journey and embracing my gray hair in 2014.

Q: You have a YouTube channel where you teach women about beauty and style did you feel insecure doing videos with gray hair?

I was insecure in the beginning about doing beauty videos as a 40-year-old woman with gray hair. It was scary to put myself out there and get out of my comfort zone. I was also going through so many ups and downs with transitioning to gray hair.
The only way I could deal with the emotions was to talk about my gray hair transition on video. I used my YouTube channel as a vehicle to tell my story and share my journey with others.
I figured by sharing my story I would help someone going through the same situation and hopefully make an impact in their life. Check out my Playlist HERE

Q: How do you encourage other women to start their gray hair journey?

The way I encourage other women to start their gray hair journey is by sharing my story and sharing tips on how to get through their transition. I give the resources that helped me transition to gray hair. I also share the videos that I’ve made about gray hair on my YouTube channel.

Here are a couple of resources that I used on my journey.

• Looking up “Women with Gray Hair on Pinterest” – You’ll find many beautiful women with gray hair with different skin tone and hairstyles.
• I also recommend joining Gray Hair Facebook groups – They are a very positive and an encouraging place for anyone going through the transition.
• Lauren from How Bourgeois was an inspiration to my journey to gray hair

Going gray is not for everyone, and the only way you know for sure is to try it out. You may fall in love with your gray or silver hair and never think about coloring again.

Q: Do you feel that gray hair is a trend or a movement?

It was a trend for younger people to dye their hair gray but that trend seems to be going away.
In the past six months, I feel that there is a movement of natural gray hair. I’ve been seeing lots of women with gray hair on social media sharing their transition journey or just rocking their beautiful gray hair.
It became undeniable when a few months ago, Maye Musk became the new face of CoverGirl. I also knew that beauty industries view of women with gray hair was changing when beauty companies started to reach out to work with them.

Q: Social Media can be harsh at times with the negative comments. How do you handle negative comments about your gray hair?

It can be very harsh. I’ve gotten my fair share of negative comments on Instagram but very few on YouTube. What’s weird is that I get negative comments from women close to my age, but the younger generation is more accepting.
I don’t answer negative comments because the people writing them are looking for attention. I believe that the more focus you give the negativity, the more you receive it.
My hope is for everyone to embrace their uniqueness, no matter what their hair color, size or age. We all have a voice and story to tell, and we can all learn from each other.

Check out Maryam on Instagram and YouTube where she shares beauty for women over 40 and tips on transitioning to gray hair.

Silver Sister Spotlight with Hayley

May 18, 2018 ·

I am very excited to feature Hayley another Silver Sister from Australia; I am obsessed with booking a flight to this gorgeous country in 2018. Hopefully, I can make that happen.

Hayley is from the beautiful Gold Coast In Australia and has two gorgeous kids and happily married. When Hayley was younger, she worried about what others thought of her and suffered from body image issues, but after having a large cancerous tumor removed from her abdomen when she was twenty years old, it made her realize life is too short. Since then Hayley has tried hard to live in the present moment which is sometimes easier said than done. Hayley finds that Yoga helps her with living in the present and she makes practicing Yoga a priority.

Before having her kids, Hayley worked as a makeup artist and still uses her make up skills by volunteering with The Look Good Feel Better program that teaches and helps women battling cancer to know how to apply makeup and work with their skin after chemotherapy and radiation. When Hayley is not working, she loves to study Italian, and she currently sings in an Italian choir for fun. Traveling and learning about different cultures is one of her passions.

A few years ago she came across pictures of young women with natural grey hair who looked amazing. She thought, what if Mother Nature got it right? What if my natural hair color suited me? So she stopped dying it and has never looked back.

Q: When did you first start seeing gray hair? What were your initial thoughts?

I saw my first grey hair twenty years ago when I was sixteen! I wasn’t too fazed but a little surprised if anything thought it was funny. Being that young, there was never a feeling of “Oh no I’m getting older.”

Q: Being Australian do you feel Australian Society is more accepting of gray hair compared to America?

Australian culture is influenced by America, so I think the beauty ideals are similar. I have had overwhelmingly positive feedback and not one negative comment about my hair but Australians are pretty laid back, and if someone didn’t like it they’d never tell you to your face. I do feel like we see a shift here in what’s considered beautiful and diversity is genuinely embraced.

Q: How did you become a gray hair model with Silver Fox Management?

I read an article about Silver Fox Management and it caught my eye as my husband called me his Silver fox. I thought why not? I sent a photo in, and they replied. Silver Fox Management said they would love to sign me on. I’m also with Extra Edge talent, I’ve been doing some extra work with them they too are big fans of my hair, and it’s uniqueness. A casting director told me recently “Don’t ever color your hair; there’s no one else that looks like you!”

Q: You seem to be very passionate about supporting women, can you tell us how you share and encourage women to embrace their beauty?

I think a woman supporting other woman is powerful; we need to boost each other up. I also have a ten-year-old daughter; I want to be the best role model I can be for her. Embracing and accepting your true self and living an authentic life is a message I like to convey. It goes beyond hair and what we look like it’s celebrating our differences and experiences that make us unique. A few of my friends have recently stopped dying their hair, they don’t have grey hair yet, but they colored their hair because it’s just what they felt they had to do. I’m not against people wanting to dye their hair by any means but if women say to me that they are sick of going to the hairdresser every four weeks I encourage them to give it a go and see what happens. Nothing to lose!

Q: What has been the hardest transition personally for you going gray?

I had very long dark hair, so I chopped it off to above my shoulders. I didn’t feel like me without long hair, but It didn’t take long to grow back. At first, I was worried what people would think, but as I went along, I cared less and less. You have to rock the skunk look!