Hi Judie and Evelinda,
My mother just referred me to your fashion column and blog. She is almost 80 and still very style and fashion conscious. She would like me to write you to see where you might suggest for a great haircut and style. She has short, beautiful silver hair, and we’ve tried the usual suspects in Cherry Creek. She would like someone that really knows how to cut and style and would really like your suggestions.Also, just wanted to pass along, if you need a GREAT place to shop for GORGEOUS, mouthwatering vintage things, visit my friend Shelly at Swish in
Colorado Springs, on Colorado Avenue. I love to shop myself, and I can unequivocally say that I have never been to a more luscious store; everywhere you look one item is prettier than the next. She has gorgeous one-of-a-kind dresses, skirts, gowns, coats, hats, shoes….just a treasure to visit, with very fair prices.
I work for Blacktie-Colorado, so fashion is a must for me!! Hope to see you sometime at a non-profit event!! All the best for this holiday season,
Pam
Dear Pam,
We love to shop in downtown Colorado Springs, around the Tejon Street area, so we will definitely check out your friend’s boutique. We love Black-Tie Colorado and hope to see you soon.
Your mother sounds wonderful. What a coincidence that we recently ran two columns on gray hair, read below. In addition to the salons in the story, two of the women interviewed rave about their salons. Lynda Kacvinski: Metro Hair (303) 326-0303 in Aurora, the owner Dana Hicks is her stylist and Walli Ricardson likes Gary Woodcock, the owner of Montana Salon and Day Spa in Marina Square or Tamara Sandburg in the same salon. Good luck!
Evelinda and Judie
Going Gray–Part 1Evelinda: We used to go every two to three months, then we upped the frequency to once a month. Now we’re flirting with every three weeks. We’re not talking about trips to Costco, honey, – we’re talking about getting our gray hair colored.
Judie: We’re going gray kicking and screaming. Other women have cheerfully accepted the inevitable. In case we ever get the guts, we spoke with several who have gone gray. Here’s why they did it.
Wallie Richardson, event designer and calligrapher, started going gray at 16. After highlighting and dying her hair until age 40, Richardson decided to let it go gray. ” My hair grows really quickly, and I was spending too much time and money on touch ups. Both of my parents were gray early and I always found it attractive on them.”
Macy’s Cherry Creek personal shopper Lynda Kacvinski-Cukale says a celebrity photo convinced her to gray: “I saw Jamie Lee Curtis on a magazine cover and saw that she went natural. I decided that if she could do it so could I! I let my roots grow out for about a month and went to my stylist and had her crop it like Jamie Lee’s. I love it!”
Style Matters: These women told us to prepare for the reactions of friends and family.
Richardson was taken aback when her son was in kindergarten and his friends asked him why his “grandmother” brought him to school everyday. “My family and friends were surprised, but very supportive,” Richardson said.
Lynn Cooper, director of donor services and campaign at the Allied Jewish Federation of Colorado, wasn’t so lucky. “The women in my family think I should cover my gray. Other fashion conscious friends think I should color my hair too.” However she says: “I find peace of mind in accepting myself as I am.”
Urban Roots gardening store owner Diane Stahl was harassed by her mother and women of her mother’s generation who were appalled. (They) “said I looked like a mouse! The gray washed me out! Most of my generation … thinks its pretty and sexy! About five years ago I was riding in an elevator in a downtown Denver hi-rise. A woman who was riding with me asked who “high lighted” my hair because she loved it. I smiled and kindly replied, ‘God’! That’s when I started to feel comfortable not regularly coloring it!”
Roberta Cedillo, Colorado Public Radio senior underwriting associate, also experienced negative generational feedback. “My father says …’Tint that.’ and older friends think I should wait.” However, “My husband loves it. His hair is almost all white, like Charleton Heston at the Red Sea.”
Going Gray Part 2
Style Matters: Last week we spoke with some brave women who allowed nature to take its course and let their gray hair fly. Here’s advice from two gray-haired beauties on how to pull off the look.
Charlotte Baron, Treasurer of Fulcrum Publishing, recommends changing clothing colors once you go gray. What works for her is mostly black, white and red. “For hair care and styling, I do a daily shampoo with Aveda Mint shampoo, blow dry with a round brush, and give it extra shine with Paul Mitchell’s Freeze and Shine hair spray.”
Jo Haight Sarling, Director of Collections and Technology at Denver Public Library, agrees with Baron’s color choices and says that now that she’s gray, pastels wash her out “but dark colors look fantastic.” For products, Sarling suggests washing with “‘Your Crown and Glory’ shampoo once a week - helps to keep hair from thinning.”
Style Matters: Growing out gray hair and caring for it requires some tricks of the trade from salon stylists.
Growing It Out
If you want to take the plunge, colorist Mitzi Mannion of Heinz & Co has clients grow out the gray as much as they can stand. Then she highlights the remaining color platinum. “You can’t make a gray color, platinum is the closest to gray you can get,” Mannion said. She adds a toner to seal the gray and platinum shades together. The advantage is that you can go gray all at once, and the platinum shade gives women an idea of what they will look like.
For a more gradual method, try a combination of high lights and low lights (a darker color than base color). To soften the line of demarcation, Pam Grieve, stylist at Salon Posh, uses low-lights and highlights depending on the natural hair color to make growing out the gray seem natural and pretty. “Unless you are one hundred percent gray, you still have strands of your natural pigment in the hair mixed in with non-pigment gray hair. Low lights blend the different pigments. Everyone can have good gray hair with the right stylist,” Grieve said.
The Right Cut
Once you’re gray, the cut is critical. Zoe Traphagan, owner of Salon Zoe, calls the look”mid century modern.” She recommends a structured haircut–”the more structure you have in your cut, the perkier you look.” Try chin length bobs and wedge cuts that are stacked, and avoid long hair which could emphasize unflattering jowls.
Irene Zimmer, owner of Third Avenue Studio, agrees. “There is nothing worse than long, limp, gray hair with no style. You can be gray, which is very dramatic, but you want your look to be current.”
Maintenance
Gray hair requires special products to maintain color, shine and texture. Here are some recommendations:
1. Color: To avoid yellowing use a blue or purple shampoo weekly such as Bonacure by Schwarzkopf ($14.50 at salons and Ulta), or Artec White Violet ($17, Ulta) Don’t overuse these shampoos or you could become a victim of the dreaded ”blue hair” syndrome.
2. Body: Gray hair tends to loose body and texture. Use a root boost to give lift and volume such as Aquage Beyond Body Thermal Styler, (about $17 at salons) Instant Root Lifting Spray, Frederic Fekkai ($19.50 Ulta) or Full Shine Volumizing Mousse, John Frieda ($5.09, drugstores).
3. Shine: Fabulous gray hair is loaded with shiny. Try John Frieda Shine Shock ($5.95 at drugstores), Pureology Shine glossing mist ($25, Ulta and salons) and Aveda Brilliant Spray ($18 at salons).
4. Conditioning: Like all hair, gray hair demands a high quality conditioner. Use conditioners with high concentrations of moisturizers.
Style Matters: We will still be erasing our roots monthly. Should you decide to go gray, bu-bye– we’ll miss you.
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January 14th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Hi
I was listening to you this morning on KOSI 101 talking about what to buy on sale now that will still be in style next winter. What about animal prints? Will those still be good? There is a leopard print coat on sale at one of my favorite stores that I just love. Will it still be good next year? Thank you!
January 15th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Dear Patty,
Animal prints come and go, regularly. You’ll be able to include this coat into your wardrobe for a long time as the trend waxes and wanes. If the coat fits well and it’s a good price - buy it. Do Look for a more classic cut. What will go away is this season’s voluminous sleeves, so avoid this look in your coat.
By the way, you are the lucky winner of a purseket. Email us your address: stylematters@comcast.net and we will mail to you next week.
Judie and Evelinda
Evelinda and Judie
January 15th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Good morning,
I heard you Kosi 101.1 this morning and would love to have one your purse organizers.
Thank you for the tips
Cindy
Dear Cindy,
Thank you for listenting to Style Matters. Please email us your address at stylematters@comcast.net and we will mail you your prize. You are our third and final winner!
Evelinda and Judie
January 15th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Dear Style Matters,
Hope this is where I need to e-mail for the pursette mentioned on KOSI. I love listening to you when you are on KOSI.
Have a great week!
Sincerely,
Cecilia
Dear Celcilia,
Thank you for your nice comments! You didn’t win this time, but we are regulars on KOSI and will try to bring a “treat” for you ladies next time we are on.
Don’t forget that Valentine’s Day is around the corner. Pick up the perfect gift for your girlfriend: copy of our Colorado best-selling book “A Fashion-Lover’s Guide to the Best Shopping in Denver and Beyond” right on this website or at all major books stores.
Judie and Evelinda
January 15th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
Dear Style Matters
I’m attempting to win one of those 3 pursettes! When you first broadcast it was first 3 to blog or ask questions, well I went to your web site and submitted a question…..next time on air you stated blog or email….so I’m trying it all! Probably the 333 to respond, but could you tell me where I can purchase this much needed item?
Thanks
Bonnie
Dear Bonnie,
You sound like our kind of woman - - one that doesn’t give up! Unfortunately you weren’t one of the first 3. Next time we are on KOSI we will try to bring a new treat and maybe you will win.
You can buy this product at their website, purseket.com.
Evelinda and Judie
January 15th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Dear Style Matters:
I was listening to your time on the show this morning, I must say normally I will change channels I just don’t listen to things that much if it is not music. I do my news at night. Any way I just wanted to say I really enjoyed hearing your ideas and all of your information. I am a 58 year old woman who likes to dress nice and am truly so tired of finding things that work for my grand daughter or I have to pay a whole pay check for it. Thanks for the info on the shoes now I don’t have to toss what I have and as for underwear well that is another story. (Victoria Secrets or underwear my grand mother would wear????)
Shirley,
Dear Shirley,
You didn’t win this time, but it’s always great to hear from a fellow fashionista. You are one young grandmother so you must have a great time with your granddaughter. Pick up a copy of our book, A Fashion-Lover’s Guide to the Best Shopping in Denver and Beyond, for her Valentine’s Day gift, then take her to one of the the little known shopping neighborhoods you will find in our book. You two will have a great time. You can buy the book right on this website or at major bookstores.
Evelinda and Judie