Women with gray hair are considered less COMPETENT: women who “risk” letting their natural grays show up may be ashamed of their decision, the study warns.
- The survey of 80 women examined attitudes toward those who embrace gray hair
- The investigators asked the women hugging silver locks
- Women found to turn gray are considered less competent, the study says
Researchers have found that women who leave their hair gray are naturally more incompetent than women who dye their hair.
A survey of 80 members of Facebook groups where women hugged gray hair revealed a “conflict” between authentic aesthetics and being considered competent.
The women who made the transition say people, including family and friends, often embarrassed them and accused them of “letting go.”
But the women also received support and a sense of brotherhood from Facebook groups.
Researchers say the study exposes the “impossible” beauty standards that women maintain, which only become more unattainable with age.
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Researchers have found that older women who leave their hair gray are naturally more incompetent than women who dye their hair.
“We are all limited by society’s norms and expectations in terms of appearance, but expectations are more stringent for women, especially older women,” said lead author and PhD candidate Vanessa Cecil of the University of Exeter.
‘The‘ old woman ’is an undesirable character in Western societies, as she looks incompetent or unpleasant, if you look at her.
“In our study, we wanted to understand why some women choose natural gray hair.
“Faced with standards impossible to be natural and stay young forever, these women are doing what they can to maintain status.

A survey of 80 members of Facebook groups where women hugged gray hair revealed a “conflict” between true aesthetics and being considered competent (stocks)
“While many reported negative consequences, such as being ignored or treated as less competent, they also felt happier about‘ flying my natural flag ’.
“We also found that women chose to make up for the fact of turning gray using other beauty practices, so embracing gray is not the same as embracing the old look.
“Something gray-haired and youthful glamor is one thing, but in Western societies it’s still not okay to look old.”
Women who want to embrace gray hair say the change was facilitated with the support of their loved ones.
Cecil says many women have been accepting their silver locks for a while, but the Covidid-19 pandemic has given an extra boost to the movement.
The study is published in the Journal of Women & Aging.