She Dodged Going Full Gray For Years. Then, She Left The Salon Looking 10 Years Younger

For many women, the transition from colored hair to gray hair is a poignant moment. It marks a new chapter, but it also speaks to an empowering claim of aging beauty standards; with such an emphasis on youth, embracing one's natural gray is a bold and beautiful thing. And for so many women, once they actually do go gray, they feel liberated, free, and can look even younger than they did in the days when they dyed their hair. Boldly claiming gray hair is just one of many tips for rocking gray hair with confidence. That certainly was the case with one woman who finally embraced her gray hair and looks even more incredible after the fact.

A client named Anastasia worked with celebrity colorist Jack Martin to go gray. Fun fact: Martin was the stylist who helped Jane Fonda go gray, as one of many celebrities who've embraced their graying natural hair color. So, Martin is clearly a pro. Anastasia flew all the way from Texas for the appointment, as Martin is based in Tustin, California. Giving some of her backstory, Anastasia shared that she had been dying her hair with permanent color for many years before switching to demi-permanent color. At that point, Anastasia had had enough and booked an appointment with Martin to lift her color and embrace her natural gray. The appointment took a little over eight hours, but Anastasia left with a gorgeous gray style and, based on the massive reaction to the video online, people are unified in the opinion that she looks even younger with gray hair. 

While it might seem counterintuitive, going gray can actually brighten and freshen a person's appearance. Anastasia's incredible transition by colorist Jack Martin blew up online, and the video raked in over ten million views, with people raving about her new, flattering gray hair. "For anyone who insists that silver hair is aging, she looks younger with the silver," a netizen commented on the viral video of Anastasia's transformation. "All gray and she looks 10 years younger!!!" another wrote. "This cut and natural silver looks stunning on her. Her beautiful eyes pop," a third chimed in. Her classic bob was also a solid choice, too, as it's one of many haircuts that perfectly flatter gray hair. 

There's actually a good reason why going gray can make a person look younger than when they were coloring their locks. Some dyes can appear too harsh and flatten the color contrast of the hair as it frames the face. There's also the factor of skin coloration and harmony; as we age, our eye and skin color often soften, and gray hair can actually flatter one's facial features more than dyed hair. Finally, there's a confidence factor that rises when women embrace their natural gray; owning a gorgeous gray mane can boost that self-assuredness, and women often look even more radiant as they dictate the terms of their own beauty. This was certainly the case with Anastasia. She looked stunning.