Gail Lowrance — Embracing Natural Beauty: The Journey of Loving and Caring for White Hair

Why do you love your hair?

I’ve had so many spontaneous, incredible encounters with total strangers from coast to coast because of this crazy hair … and I love that! People will stare first, then comment or ask questions. Females will often lament they wish they had the courage to “let their hair go and stop coloring it." That sometimes launches a teachable moment of how to make that happen. Not too many years ago, it was a rarity to see a woman with white hair, unless she was really, really old. I’ll be 64 in August, and mine has been completely white for decades. It’s hereditary, and I’ve never dyed it. It was a non-conforming statement for most of my adult life, and that fits my personality. In a way, it’s almost a trademark.

How do you take care of your hair?

I’m really lucky that it’s naturally curly, but the right layered cut is essential every six weeks. This is hard to imagine, but I’ve gone to Gary Stroder at Karen Oliver and Company for more than 40 years. He understands it. I’ve never had a bad experience there. White hair can easily take on a yellow tinge, lose its shine and become coarse. I use Pantene Sheer Volume shampoo and conditioner, followed with Roux White Minx mousse to eliminate the yellow. Then I attack the fuzziness and coarseness with Biolage Gelee and top it off with Biosilk Silk Therapy to add shine. The big weapon is a diffuser attachment to the hair dryer and volumizing hair spray called "Freeze It.” The whole process takes about 30 minutes each morning.

What is something beautiful?

A postcard waiting for you in the mailbox with just these words — "Wish you were here. I love you.”