The Golden Girls” has always been one of my favorite television shows. Blanche, Dorothy, Rose and Sophia are like old friends invited into my living room over the years. It began in childhood when Mama and I would spend our Saturday nights eating fish sticks and Crunch & Munch popcorn, drinking Coca Cola in real bottles, and laughing at their antics until we almost cried.
Only one of the “girls” had golden hair, Rose from St. Olaf played by Betty White, but that’s not unusual since it was about four friends in the best of their golden years. The show is on in the background right now, and I can hear Sophia’s sarcasm tempered with motherly advice directed toward the others.
It’s another type of “golden girls” I want to talk about — the blondes in my life. We’ve come a long way from the striped frosting of way back when, and those stripes of brown with gold seem to fade into yesterday. My favorite is the golden blonde of today. It offers modern sophistication for any age, whether it’s several shades of sand-to-gold intertwined or a rich buttery hue all over. Golden blonde is radiant with all skin tones and complexions once you find the perfect one customized just for you. A sun-kissed golden glaze with a few hand-painted colors just around the face will brighten any haircut.
I hear laughing in the background, which means one of the girls just said something amusing, most likely at Rose’s expense. Bless her heart. I don’t, however, find it entertaining when hair color ages a person such as gold’s alter ego often does — ash. I advise all my blondes to steer clear of beige, cream or ash if you truly want a color which illuminates the skin, turning back the years and keeping your age our little secret.
For those of you with gorgeous natural white hair, there is no need to fret. It is often spectacular just as nature creates it, or just get your gold on with a bronzing powder. If your hair is naturally dark — black to dark brown or dark red — it is safest to embrace your brunette or auburn beauty and stay within one-to-two shades of your natural color when lightening. Of course, there are even golden browns and opportunities to add just a bit of gold even to darker hues. Think of Rue McClanahan as Blanche for an example. You might even try a warmer foundation, not to mention all the amazing golden accessories: sunglasses, earrings and the like.
You don’t have to chase rainbows to find your little pot of gold, ladies. Just talk to your colorist about it, be open to a whole new world of gold, and stop using words like “brassy” or “too red.” Occasionally that can happen, but seldom when your colorist is a pro. Just make sure that you are truly ready before the transformation begins.
The language we speak today is different, as are the color choices we embrace, and I for one am tickled pink, maybe even gold. Plus, I hear there’s a “Golden Girls” marathon on television tomorrow. I have given up fish sticks, but let me check the Crunch & Munch supply.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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