White Hair 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.

Fashion Dysmorphia – Why The Need for Youth is Ruining Our Self-Esteem

February 22, 2019 ·

Let’s have a little sit-down chat, shall we? I recently subscribed to the magazine PORTER instead of receiving the magazine on my Nook. Porter came yesterday, and as I flipped through the magazine, I was creeped out at how young these models were for big brands like Chanel, Michael Kors, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, etc. It’s honestly disgusting to me that in 2019 we are still showing these little girls in clothes that cost over five thousand dollars a piece. Think about that for a second heck is anyone thinking about this or questioning how the fashion industry portrays women?

I don’t think so, or something would have changed by now. I can’t relate to teenagers in a Chanel suit or a teenager putting on Chanel makeup. I think it’s ridiculous for me to try and compare my skin, face, body to an embryo. Let’s remember that I probably see zero to one percent of the time a gray-haired model or woman over fifty featured in these magazines (that’s not a celebrity) such as Elle and Harpers Bazaar. Oh, wait! I did see a mature woman with long gray hair for Valentino but they had her hold up branches with leaves all over them so I couldn’t see her face. If you don’t believe me check out the March issue of Harpers Bazaar. We all know the fashion and beauty industry is extremely shallow but how is looking at a pubescent girl going to make me want to buy clothes? Buy an anti-wrinkle cream or even better seven hundred dollar shoes?

We all know the fashion and beauty industry is extremely shallow but how is looking at a pubescent girl going to make me want to buy clothes? Buy an anti-wrinkle cream or even better seven hundred dollar shoes?

Advertising is all subconscious ladies; you look through these magazines and page after glossy page you are bombarded with teenagers, unrealistic images, some women over the age of thirty and forty but very rarely. What does that say to us? If you are over forty, you are not beautiful, not worthy of being shown in an ad? Seriously how can you go to the Chanel counter and look at the teenage girls on their point of sale and think I am sixty-five I am going to look like that if I use this cream for four hundred dollars? Is thin, thinner, thinnest the only size in fashion? Surgery, laser, botox, filler anyone?

As a former model, I am getting so tired of seeing this display of ignorance and limited thinking by the fashion and beauty industry. It’s almost laughable to put Kaia Gerber (Cindy Crawfords daughter) a seventeen-year-old that has sparked tons of rumors recently for having an eating disorder in a Fendi or Jimmy Choo advertisement. Am I missing something? Because I feel like I am. I have nothing against Kaia or the other teenagers featured in these ads; it’s the ripple down effect that I want to point out. The pressure is beyond intense in the social media/fashion/beauty industries with more and more “influencers” completely changing their faces and bodies whether that is in the form of filters or full-blown surgeries. What is this saying to our daughters? What is this saying to women in general that feel like they are not enough because all they see is altered faced and bodies? The competition is brutal; influencers are all vying for a bite out of the lucrative pot of “influencer” marketing dollars. Enter why people buy fake followers and “likes” geez did I even just write that?

I ran a poll on my Instagram Stories the other day asking you if you thought it was weird that Chanel was featuring teenagers in their ads and most of you said that now that you think about my statement it WAS peculiar. Hearing from my followers reinforced what I have been thinking for a long time now, NO ONE IS THINKING ABOUT HOW WEIRD ANY OF THIS IS. We are all looking and not caring, or we are so numb to how dysfunctional these powerhouse advertisements are that we are blind to them. Do you think this will ever stop? Do you think that there could be a movement that one day companies will show who is really buying their clothes, accessories, and makeup?

In my opinion, it’s all fun and games for these girls until you see what’s happening behind the scenes with the pressure of social media and the pressure of the fashion industry to be thin, “perfect” and fit into a fake world ruled by numbers, subscribers, followers. Take for example Lisa Rina’s daughter Dalia, I caught up on the second episode of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills last night and was not surprised to see that Lisa’s daughter came out to the world about her eating disorder from the pressures of trying to be a model. More and more girls are looking at these ads like Chanel and Fendi with Kaia and thinking that this is normal. Selfie surgery is on the rise if you don’t know what that is you’re lucky.

Not all companies are creating this unrealistic disease. We still have CoverGirl and Neutrogena that have a brain and have tapped into their demographic. CoverGirl is featuring Maye Musk age seventy with the campaign slogan “I Am What I Make Up” and Neutrogena featuring Nicole Kidman age fifty-one for an age-appropriate skin care product like “Rapid Wrinkle Repair.” This post isn’t about not buying from Chanel or the rest of the fashion houses that are out of touch with women. This post is about being aware in a world where it seems we accept what we see and don’t stand up and say HEY! That’s Not Right!!! Start the conversation, stand up for what you think is right or wrong. Don’t sit back and think “Oh well, it’s all too big and out of reach for me.” or “I am just one voice who really cares?

I can’t wait until the day that I hear my mailbox clang pour a glass of crisp champagne and slide into my reclining couch to read the latest fashion magazine. I expect to see glossy page after glossy page women over forty that inspire me, encourage me to embrace my age and love my aging body. It might be far off on the fashion and beauty horizon, but I will never stop dreaming of the day we celebrate women through age and acceptance in magazines, billboards, the workforce, TV and commercials.

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.

How to Stay Fit Over 40

November 5, 2018 ·

You might have seen on my Insta-Stories the other day that I met a woman who had an unbelievably toned smokin body and then she dropped the bomb that she was seventy-one years old. I immediately thought can I hire you as my trainer? Maybe I can get her to write a workout program for me?

She has almost thirty years on me, and she looks like one strong powerhouse! I decided at that very moment that I better pull it together if I want to look like her when I am seventy-one. Her body was lean, toned and it wasn’t about plastic surgery. She told me that she works out at Orange Theory Fitness and Ladies, that’s fierce.

You are probably wondering why I am wearing sunglasses and a red lip while working out right? When you have silver hair, you can do whatever you want. I even didn’t shave my Greek stomach hair because I don’t think it matters does it?

Oh, I am sure there are plenty of women out there that will say something about that happy little trail. I ~~think~~ know there is beauty in what everyone takes and shames away. Now, have I always thought this hair on my stomach was beautiful? No, but I feel after you go through extremely challenging trials with your body what’s a little hair on your belly?

I started thinking that my body is the only thing I have any real control over in this world. I decide what I eat, drink and slather all over it, no one else does. Maintaining a fit physique doesn’t just happen it takes work to see incredible results. Not many people are up for putting in the time, discipline and sweat it takes to reap the toned and sculpted rewards.

Lucky for me, I have always been into working out and enjoy the challenge of pushing myself to new levels physically. Do I love every second of my workouts? Some days I do and others I would like to pull the covers over my head and pretend I am not alive.

When I was young, I was very active in playing soccer, tennis, and softball. As a teenager, I was drawn to the leotards and step aerobics then working out in the gym. I will admit in the 90’s I did buy Suzanne Sommers “Thigh Master.” Secretly I think that thing worked and toned my thighs.

As an adult kick-boxing was my jam, then I fell in love with spinning. I can’t tell you how many creative ideas have come to me in the hour spinning classes I have taken. Being active is a part of who I am. When I have stressful days, only a workout can reset my body and my attitude. It’s honestly a lifesaver. I made staying active a priority, and it became a habit.

It goes without saying that I put my body through hell when I fought to get pregnant with every IVF cycle, nine to be exact. Not only did I inject truckloads of synthetic hormones for four years but I altered the actual shape of my body. It’s unsettling to see the strange changes that synthetic hormones do to your body from the amount of hair growth to the inches on your thighs that appear practically overnight.

When you are a human science experiment like I was it’s incredible how out of whack your body can get and takes years to recover. I feel a responsibility to my body to stay in shape, eat right and work out because of everything I put my body through trying to get pregnant.

I am not obsessive with working out, but I do make the time every morning to power walk with my Frenchie then get in the gym for a Peloton session or my favorite cardio with the slide board. If you don’t know about the slide board you should, it’s a game changer for your butt, thighs, and legs.

Are you are sitting back reading this blog post and feeling bad about yourself because you haven’t worked out in years? This is your push. It’s time that you decided to get off your heinie and hire a trainer, sign up for a spin class, get your girlfriend to walk with you before or after work, make your dog your workout partner. The time is now, decide to push yourself and do it.

Dig deep because when you are out of your workout game, it is incredibly hard to start up again. My eye surgery this past summer derailed my working out, but once I got back into my groove, it was like I never took a little hiatus.

Here are my five top tips to stay in shape after forty:

Be realistic with yourself: Don’t try and run a marathon if you haven’t trained. Find a workout that makes you happy whether that is Pilates, yoga or walking on the beach or in the cold brisk mountains. It’s not about fitting into what you see in Shape magazine it’s about what makes you wake up in the morning.
Plan out your meals: Don’t wait until the very last minute when you are starving and about to eat anything and everything in sight. Set Sunday’s for your breakfast, lunch, and dinner planning each week. I just signed up for Martha Stewarts Meal Delivery Service to take the stress off of having to create exciting meals each week. I will do a review on what I thought of the quality and ease of making the meals later this month.
Set Goals: Where do you see yourself in one month, six months, one year from now physically? Map out your exercise plan and set mini goals. Once achieved reward yourself with something that makes you happy from a blow out at DryBar (one of my favorite things to do) or a delicious glass of wine. You deserve to celebrate yourself and reaching your fitness goals.
Find a partner: This can be your husband, girlfriend or someone you meet at the gym. Having a workout partner gives you a little push on the mornings where you want to hit the snooze button a million times.
Get involved: There are many ways you can find support with other women just like you looking to be in their best shape. Gyms have fun contests and programs that make you push yourself; Facebook groups are an excellent way to connect with other women that are sharing tips and advice on getting into shape. Don’t see a group that fits what you like? Create one yourself.

There are many free apps now that you can download on your phone that gives you personalized workouts. YouTube has excellent videos from simple exercises to the full-on CrossFit training. In the world we live in now you can’t make an excuse for not working out.

No time? Well, there are time management apps for that too or how about hiring a virtual assistant? See, I told you No Excuses. What’s your favorite workout to do? Share in the comments below I am always looking to add something new to my routine.

5 Things To Remember When You Stop Dyeing Your Hair

November 2, 2018 ·

Do you know what to expect when you stop dyeing your hair? I didn’t and I suspect the majority of women don’t either. Let’s keep it, real Ladies, we have dyed our hair for decades why would we think about all the pitfalls when we stop dyeing our hair?

I think it’s essential anytime before you wander in an unchartered territory such as the gray hair transition to get an overview of what to expect. I filmed a video a couple of months ago called What To Expect When Going Gray. I receive dozens of DM’s and emails a week from women telling me they had no clue on what to expect and wished they had some idea before they kicked their dye box to the curb.

I have rounded up five things to remember when you stop dyeing your hair.

Go into this exciting and unique time in your life with the knowledge of where the challenges and emotional pitfalls are, so you are prepared when you hit those rough patches. I feel the more you know, the more successful you will be with your gray hair goals.

How I Keep My Gray Hair White

October 31, 2018 ·

I am always getting the question “How do you keep your gray hair so white?” and the simple answer is I am not so sure. Seriously what kind of response is that? Keep on reading.

I feel its a combination of your genetics and what hair products you use. I have used hair products that make my hair look dirty and give it a yellowish cast. When I see my hair looking yellow from hair products it’s almost like kryptonite to me, I will literally do whatever it takes to keep my hair bright white. I have experimented with tons of hair products over that last three years some amazing and some I threw away after using just once.

Let’s first consider the fact that I had a white stripe show up right above my right eyebrow in my twenties but I refused to allow my hair to be grey, so I dyed it for years. Then I noticed that this white stripe would not take the dye and turn a reddish color which looked terrible with my brown hair. I let the white line claim it’s territory on my head at around the age of thirty-four. It was a love-hate relationship going back and forth dyeing it and making it my friend. So I started with a white stripe not yellow or ashy. I equate this to genetics this super white stripe is what color my hair is no matter if I used a purple shampoo or not. My grey roots came in just as white. When I was first transitioning to grey, my hair was white roots and dyed black hair, not the ideal look, but I made it work. I cringe just thinking about that time.

I have seen my white hair turn yellow by using DryBar’s dry shampoo it comes out of the bottle a yellowish/brown color which is the worst product I could have ever used on my hair. A little trick I use if my hair needs to be washed and is looking not bright white, I will spray this dry shampoo into my hair, and it makes my hair fresh, absorbs the oil and super white. I used this trick when I was trying to lessen the demarcation line at the beginning of my grey hair journey. I would spray this dry shampoo in strategic areas to create streaks of white, so my hair looked more even, and my white roots were a little more blended.

I experimented with so many different shampoos and conditioners that were made specifically for grey hair. I was getting frustrated with the lack of improvement that these “grey hair” products were supposed to do to my hair. I didn’t find that they were improving anything from texture, hydration, manageability, so I stopped and saw this shampoo and conditioner that I feel has been the best for cleaning and volumizing my hair and keeping it amazingly white. My hair has more manageability, texture and an overall hydrated fehttp://bit.ly/2EU0Zzoel. I use two products after I shampoo for smoothness and anti-frizz one is a spray oil and the other is a blow dry cream. I have been very happy with the results of these two products. Here is also a fantastic shampoo and conditioner that I love using because it’s an oil shampoo and conditioner a powerhouse of hydration which most gray hair needs but most importantly does not weigh down your hair.

I am always open to trying new products but like the saying goes “If it ain’t broke.” I go into more detail in chapter eight of my new book launching December 1st, 2018 called Beauty Reinvented–How to Embrace Gray Hair, Upgrade your Self-Confidence and Redefine your Beauty. I detail hair products to the best haircuts when going gray.

I think that you should experiment with products and find what works for your hair. Everyone has a different texture, weight, thickness, etc. It’s not a one-size-fits-all when it comes to your hair products. Ask for samples when you are at Sephora, order travel sizes and see how your hair performs with different formulations. It takes time so be patient, but when you do find the perfect combination for your hair, it’s total nirvana.

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