Christie Brinkley Gets Honest About Going Grey

American icon Christie Brinkley continues to stun at 69 years old. Brinkley isn’t scared of her grey growing in, but she’s not yet ready to go fully grey. She recently met with celebrity hairstylist Rita Hazan who helped her deliberate the “age-old question: to gray or not to gray.”

“Women are very interested in gray hair,” says Brinkley in a video she shared. “It’s really cool on some people. Mine isn’t that kind of cool gray hair yet,” she adds. Brinkley says she hadn’t realized she had so much grey until she saw the photos on the beach. The lighting and mirror in her bathroom at home didn’t catch it. In Brinkley’s case, Hazan says she could get away with a couple of highlights to blend it if she weren’t always photographed in different lighting with different cameras. “People who are pro-gray are so pro-gray, and that’s fine,” says Hazan, but it doesn’t have to be for everyone.

Hazan tells us the pros of letting your grey grow out are that you don’t have to worry about your roots, and you get a chance to embrace your natural beauty, which can completely refresh your look. Gray hair can also act as built-in low-maintenance highlights. Not to mention, grey hair is trending with stars like Andie MacDowell and Sarah Jessica Parker leaning in.

However, there are some cons worth noting. Hazan says grey hair may be more coarse and frizzy, making it harder to smooth and style. Additionally, grey hair can turn yellow or become dull. Hazan says going grey might not actually be as financially freeing as you think. You will save money on dye appointments. However, Hazan notices people with grey hair tend to invest in smoothing treatments due to the new difference in texture. It’s also worth noting the in-between time when you’re in the process of greying can be tricky. “With hair growing about six inches a year, it takes a significant amount of time to fully grow out,” says Hazan. She advises working with your colorist to find ways to conceal the growth or opt for light tints or glosses to blend.