The movie “Fifty Shades of Grey” had most women and more than a few men talking earlier this year. Well, I won’t critique the movie, but I do know a thing or two about grey hair. When Patsy Hicks decided to own her grey and shed her winter coat, I was more than happy to oblige.
God must know a thing or two about hair color because so many folks look more natural with the help of a few strands of silver. It begins around the hairline. Then we notice those silver hairs are bringing friends to the party, and before you know it, your silver lining is staring back at you from the mirror. Some have darker hues of sterling silver, while others welcome lighter strands of white. In Patsy’s case, it closely resembles one of Mama’s homemade frostings from a box, and I don’t mean Betty Crocker. Oh, boy, do I remember those days.
An orchestra of natural grey performing alongside hues of silver and white set the stage for our makeover, and we proved that grey matters, with or without Christian Grey from the movie and without the help of a private jet or a best-selling novel.
We began with what our grandmothers called a “permanent wave,” but not your grandma’s Ogilvie or Toni. Instead we used a modern approach with big rods for looser curls. This new spin on an old favorite gave the hair volume to spare lending itself to a razored fringe chiseled into the hairstyle all over for an edgy, devil-may-care vibe. Sometimes all a girl needs is the right man in her life to unleash all her fantasies, well, her hair fantasies, of course.
The face was painted with a warm foundation, topped with a dusting of bronzing powder to enliven Patsy’s complexion and wake up the skin. My favorite tips for someone who has, well, signed up for Social Security, shall we say, is to add a bright lipstick, play up the upper eyelids, and don’t be afraid of color — on the eyes, lips, accessories. Since Patsy passes for 50, I’m sure this busy mother of two, grandmother of four, great-grandmother of one, and animal lover extraordinaire won’t mind sharing her story.
Sultry, spicy and sensational was our script for Patsy, and that’s one shade of grey I adore.
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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