Proverbs 16:31 Hair…Glory Found in the Grays

Last year (August 2018) I put out a post titled Get Real. I wrote about my colored-over gray hairs, and created a parallel in the way we sometimes cover gray areas of our life—making it appear like we have it all put together.

Okay, so while that post was meant to encourage authenticity in a person—to bring light to those gray areas…remaining open, honest, and real with others in an emotional sense—well for me, the words of that post (when I reread it) tangle me up on my increasingly graying hair, concealed under shades of dark hair dye…complete dishonesty with myself and anyone else who’s been fooled by my false-dark tresses.

Why in the heck would I encourage honesty and openness, when my hair color isn’t even real?!

With that in mind, I’m done coloring it!!

And I’ll be the first to say, it doesn’t look great right now.

The gray roots are nearly an inch in length at this point; I’m sure you’ll need to zoom in or grab a magnifying glass to see them in the photo, but I assure you they’re there! The bathroom mirror…and my oldest daughter…remind me frequently.

I still have quite a bit of natural brown so it’s going to get interesting before it gets normal. It’s going to require patience. It’s going to beg for my grace. My self-conscious mindset will, without a doubt, be tested.

This is where the Good Word beckons its way in and then firmly stands over any negative words or thoughts that may potentially be spoken over my decision, even my own wavering mentality in this choice.

Psalm 139:14 says, ‘I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.’

This was one of King David’s many praises to God, recognizing Him as our Perfect Maker.

I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I believe, 100 percent, in the validity of that, but when I read it and then continue to color my hair, it goes against every hope and assurance found in that verse. Every time I choose to color my hair, that false dark color boldly shouts that I’m in disagreement with the true beauty found at the core of the very words in Psalm 139:14. If I’m covering up gray hair then I feel like I’m saying I don’t believe the sincerity of that verse…without even moving my lips.

The truth is, people, it’s time for me to take my own advice, and get real!

The world tells us to ‘fake it to make it’: color it, buy it, get the plastic surgery (been there, done that—that’ll be a different “brave-topic” post for later)…

However, when we remove ourselves from the pressures of a multi-billion dollar hair color industry, and allow scripture to claim over us and soak into our roots, this is what we find regarding hair color:

Proverbs 16:31, NIV version: ‘Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.’

For simplicity, I love how the NLT version words it:

‘Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life.’

Doesn’t that sound beautiful…and natural…and filled with wisdom?!!

I’ve decided I’m gonna embrace this gray crown of glory, because frankly the days of my youth I treated like a joke, and if I’m supposed to be moving forward and not dwelling in the past (see Philippians 3:13 below) then allowing my hair color to age naturally is one more step away from that mess. This is one more way to disconnect from the errors of my past; I’m pretty fond of the ‘seasoned’ version of me over the old me anyway.

I’ve done my research and I know I’m not the only woman in her mid-thirties with covered grays so I’ll continue to give updates on how my hair is growing out—tips, advice, picture phases, and encouragement, through future posts. Subscribe (below) to the blog with your email address if you haven’t already to receive those updates and other weekly posts!

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And if you’ve found your way to my blog just because of this post, I promise you’re not here by accident. Trust that you were created by an amazing God who loves you just the way you are (hair colored or not) and who has created you fearfully and wonderfully.

Feel free to message me with questions, comments, etc.

Philippians 3:13, ‘Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,’

Author: alimw2013

About For His Purpose~ My name is Alicia and I'm a thirty-something year old who loves Jesus. Only through God’s amazing grace and mercy I have been redeemed from past regret and shame. Reading His word has allowed me to look past Satan’s forceful lies, to see myself for who Christ says I am in Him. Through writing I have learned why I made the choices I made in my younger years and I now have a better understanding of why I desire to love God like crazy these days. Despite my daily failures, God remains faithful always. I am reassured of His unconditional love for me by every ink-drop spilled out on paper, each committed prayer as I cry out to Him, and deep understanding reflected through reading His word as truth. Yes keeping a blog will make me vulnerable to others’ opinions- there will be some who don’t understand, some who may criticize or judge, but on the other hand if just one piece expressed through my writing grabs someone’s attention and directs them to God, then pouring out my heart in a blog for the world to read is worth it. I choose to glorify Him alone through words streaming across a glowing screen. And it wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t reveal the fact that I’m incredibly quirky; I’m my loving husband’s best friend, my vivacious kids’ craziest cheerleader and spiritual trainer (3 John 1:4). I love anything farmhouse and rustic style. I think cupping a warm coffee mug in the palm of my hands is more satisfying than the contents within. I share a common obsession with my husband for the mountains, but I would (without a doubt) settle for waves crashing against my legs at the Atlantic Ocean just as well, and I almost always have a Yorkie curled up on my lap while writing. *All photos are photographed by forhispurpose.blog and therefore may not be stored or photocopied in any manner.

25 thoughts on “Proverbs 16:31 Hair…Glory Found in the Grays”

  1. Your post made me smile. I also thought about how at my age it is not only gray hair but other things that cause me to trust the truth of Isaiah 46-” Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” 🙂

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  3. Well well….Now I know why I’ve been adamant about not touching mine. Although the hair on my heard remains to be 98 percent black, with exception to a few scragglies on my temple edges, my facial hair didn’t get the memo. I’ve always jokingly said to folks that I’d never dye my hair because it lets people know to not mess with me, because it means that God’s given me some wisdom. (Lol)

    God has a way of sending us a message that makes us laugh because today was a tough day!! Thanks Sis!!

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  4. I’ve been gray for many years, but I’m a lot older than you. Still, I lowlighted and highlighted way up into my 50’s and then I developed an allergy to hair dye. I knew better than to try to force it because one of my relatives did force it, and I’m not lying, her hair fell out! 😱 I’ve learned to embrace the gray and I have even learned to embrace the wide white shock in the front! It’s hereditary and that a whole other blessing to learn you favor a grandparent! ❤️ Go girl!

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  5. You got real a whole lot faster than I did! Low-lights help break up the gray-line until it grows out more. It’s less “interesting” as you say but you have to color it again in the interim.

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    1. Ya I have a friend who would like to do what she calls peekaboo highlights and I may allow her to do that and then do kind of an ash color tone on the highlights just to help blend which will help with the growing out process, but we shall see! If I go for that I will definitely have to do a follow up post!!

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    1. You know, last night when I looked at my silvery hair in the mirror (after brushing my teeth next to my daughter)…I said to her ‘wow it actually looks pretty!’…this week since I’ve changed my thinking on it, I’ve actually respected the idea and how it looks …and it feels good!!❤️

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  9. Oh my goodness, I just love this post. Several years ago, I made the decision to let my hair go gray, and it doesn’t look so bad! What’s especially fun is seeing all the younger women coloring their hair silver. I figure, why pay good money to make myself look younger when all these younger ladies are coloring their hair to look like mine?? Maybe I should just appreciate it instead.

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  10. Several years ago my wife chose to let her hair grow natural rather than color it the brunette she used to be. It came in glowingly silver/white! She looks like an angel. Many womenn are jealous of her because they don’t have the courage to do it! I’m glad for you, you are honoring God.
    Ron

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