To dye or not to dye

eek!'' I emitted that ear-splitting screech at the reflection, staring back at me from the mirror. Was that really me - the ever-young, e...

eek!8221; I emitted that ear-splitting screech at the reflection, staring back at me from the mirror. Was that really me 8211; the ever-young, ever-youthful me who had never in her wildest nightmares seen herself as anything else but young? I almost turned around to see if there was someone lurking behind my shoulders. Maybe it was that reflection I now saw. Maybe the light wasn8217;t right and I, being myopic as well, get the benefit of doubt, right? I crept close, cheek-to-cheek with my mirror image and looked again. But sure enough, there they were, all over. When, in the name of God did this catastrophe happen? That, too, without my knowing it?

I guess it was at that moment that I attained enlightenment. Life is but transient 8211; here today, gone tomorrow. This revelation however ceased to lift the cloud of depression that hung over my head for the next seven days. Finally I spoke about this grave problem to my mother. Always a calm and patient lady, the exact opposite of her daughter, she listened to my woes and offered her solution 8211; colour! And so henna entered my life. Grey hair seemed to be a story of the past and the cupric glow seems to have added character to my appearance at least I like to think so.

All my friends who have to live with pre-mature greying have had a similar first encounter with the grey pests. Each combated the problem in their own way. Some used henna, some used amla, others took to using chemical dyes and still others let it be.

For my friend, Deepa, dyeing her hair has become a luxury that she indulges in, every month. All she has to do is go to a beauty parlour, where she sits back and meditates, while the henna is soothingly applied on her hair. Even the shampooing is done there. She believes she is entitled to this pampering once a month. The most popular colouring agent today is the hair dye and those who use it, go all out trying to make you take it up. And why not? Your hair attains the jet-black colour if you happen to choose black, which it wasn8217;t, even before you started greying. Says Priya, quot;It is hassle-free and the end result is dazzling.quot;

But what about the effect on our body? Aren8217;t there any adverse effects of using chemicals on the scalp? Doctors say that the strong chemicals contained in the dyes are extremely harmful since they get absorbed into our bloodstream very quickly. Also its effect on the scalp could be a cause of skin cancer.

Followers of the dye would scoff at such suggestions. For them, the logic is ready 8211; the gallons of polluted air we take in everyday is more likely to cause cancer than the sparsely used hair dye.

Again there are individuals who just let it be. The grey does not make them feel uncomfortable in any way. In fact having streaks of grey is the in8217; thing these days. So, you have VJs and models sporting streaks of grey 8211; only they apply it artificially while we, lesser mortals, fight hard to keep them from showing!

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Those who have used the dye from their 20s or 30s cannot let go at 50 because at that juncture there is no black hair left. This sudden reality of a grey mop is reason enough to stick on to dyeing. Manoj uses a cunning strategy 8211; only on special occasions does he apply hair colour and that too much less than the prescribed amount. He says it washes off in a few days and he is back to his own grey self.

But as people gradually become aware of chemical-fallout, they turn to herbal products, which do not have drastic side effects. So its henna, amla or tea that goes on to our crowning glory giving us a false? sense of having postponed old age. But I guess, the underlying thought is to be happy with what looks back at you from the mirror.