I recently wrote about GRAY HAIR and whether we should fight it, until death do us part, or just get on with it. For me gray hair is like sharing my age. I’m 76 as of this writing and I am proud to tell anyone my age. (Some didn’t make it this far, so there’s that.) And, I have gray hair!

Today, I want to talk about the other hair surprises that old age brings. I’m not going to give much of an introduction. The hair surprises didn’t have much of an introduction, either. They just happened! Or, maybe I just noticed them one day. Either way, for the younger ladies who have not reached a certain age, be forewarned.

The eyebrows go first. And, to be honest, I’m not sure it wasn’t of my own doing. I noticed a few grays in my brows and I tried plucking them. Soon, like weeds in an untended garden, I had more gray brows than dark. I’m a good gardener so I weeded the brows until the grays were almost gone. Pretty soon, I was close to being browless. It’s not a pretty sight. And, when they grow back (if they do), they are always gray.

For those of us who have reached that certain age, you are well aware (if you are honest) that we are more forgetful than in days of yore, we often make a wrong turn on our travels, and (I speak only for myself on this one) we don’t always know when to shut up or stop. The gray eyebrows are much like us when we reach that certain age. They don’t have the same knowledge that my darker brows had or nature has allowed them to become forgetful. Brows generally know how to grow and in which direction until they get the grays. The grays don’t know when to stop growing and often seem to be headed in the wrong direction. Put the tweezers aside and grab the scissors.

I’m going to be honest here. I haven’t mastered the brow dilemma. I still trim and brush, but every day or so, there’s a stray that returns while I sleep. I know there are products that can help, but wouldn’t that put me back to the same place I was with the head hair? It’s always something as we age.

The big surprise was the facial hair. Who knew that women of a certain age started growing hair on their faces? I thought my first facial hair had fallen from my head and landed on my chin. I tried to brush it away with my hand, but it stayed in place. I tried again and it was still there. With my magnifying mirror I discovered that it was attached to my chin. Okay, so only one. I plucked it.

And then, there were two. Now I have five regulars and several wannabes. So, every morning, I now wash my face, brush my teeth, and pluck the five regulars from my face. Always something.

So as not to be discouraging, I have a few words for any younger woman who has stayed with me through this discussion of aging. You don’t have to shave your legs as often. That’s a good thing, because at a certain age bending down with a razor in your hand isn’t as easy or a safe as it once was. Remember the country song “I Shaved My Legs for This?” Well, you will have less hair to shave and there is a lot less of this, too.

At some point, Brazilians are no longer necessary unless you have your face done. Lest you think I am complaining about getting older, I am not. Nature has its own remedies for most things. All the hair that once resided below the waist, just moves above it.

Happy plucking, Ladies. And, Cheers!