Entirely Shallow Thoughts on Hillary Clinton’s Hair

Since I think we’re all tired of politics, I’d like to offer a completely shallow response to last night’s 60 Minutes interview with the President and Secretary Clinton. Did you notice what Hillary’s doing with her hair these days?

Yes, it’s longer, but I’m talking about the color. Her usual blonde has a big white streak curving from her forehead back, and the hair at her temples is completely white. It was soft, feminine and elegant, and yet she looked her age. Sort of glamour girl meets elder statesman.

I immediately noticed her hair because I, like most of my friends, have been playing with the whole “aging gracefully” thing. For a couple of years now I’ve been staring into my bathroom mirror at white hair framing my face. I’ve thought of all the beautiful white-haired women I know, and considered letting nature have its way with me. Unfortunately, the rest of my hair is a conglomeration of the original auburn and the white that’s only slowly advancing. Thus far my hairdresser and I have opted for lots of highlighting, allowing the white to blend in.

Hillary says she hasn’t had any plastic surgery. Of course, she’s a politician, so I’m not sure about the trustworthiness of that statement. It seems to me her cheekbones changed a bit a few years ago. But her neck looks original, just as you’d expect of a woman her age. Relaxed is perhaps the best way to describe it, as opposed to the taut necks of my women friends who’ve had theirs tightened.

Many of the women I know have had “work done,” and I must say I consider it from time to time. One friend went to Costa Rica and had a facelift, with beautiful results. Another had a very unhappy outcome, and looks as though she beamed down from another planet. Although I’m not big on saying “never,” I think I can safely say I will never have the whole enchilada. It’s just too scary. I might, however, do some maintenance on my own neck. And my eyes. I don’t mind the wrinkles – well, much – but I’d be very happy if the bags would pack up and go.

As a feminist, I reject the idea that a woman must retain youth and beauty to have value in the world. I love the way women like Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren have embraced their own maturity and resisted the pressure to look younger. When I was thirty, I was sure I’d simply let nature take its course. I couldn’t imagine I’d ever want to interfere with the aging process. Of course, when I was thirty people would stop me on the street to remark on my wonderful skin. Perspective is everything.

I have had Botox, once. A girlfriend gave me a spa package for my birthday, and I used it for a few magic shots to smooth out a wrinkle between my eyes and lift my eyebrows slightly. I might do that again. Although I like the results friends have gotten with fillers, I’m afraid I’ll just have to live with thinning lips and marionette lines. I’m entirely too pain averse. Have you seen the needles they use?