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10 best tips for gracefully growing out grey hair

<h2>Pro tips that make going grey so much better</h2> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">There’s no avoiding it. At some point, you will have to deal with grey hair. Of course, how you deal with it is up to you. Some women start growing out grey hair as soon as it begins to appear. Others begin their journey by pulling out greys and then spend years dyeing it before deciding it’s too much of a hassle to do the constant cover-up. Even if you’ve found the <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/beauty/how-to-find-the-best-hair-colour-for-your-skin-tone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">best hair colour for your skin tone</a>, having to touch up your roots every four to six weeks can get old. No matter what your path is, going grey isn’t for the faint of heart.</p> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">“Many women find it challenging to grow out grey hair,” says hairstylist Krysta Biancone. “This is because it usually occurs gradually, so the transition from natural hair colour to grey hair is not easy.”</p> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">But it’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to going grey. In fact, it can be incredibly empowering, liberating and downright gorgeous when you make it to the finish line, and it can even make you look younger. But first, there are a few things you need to know. We asked top hairstylists around the country to divulge their best tips for making this transition as easy as possible.</p> <h2>Add highlights</h2> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">It might sound counterintuitive, but adding subtle colour can make the transition to grey more seamless. “When you first decide you’re nearly ready to go natural, a step in the right direction would be to start going lighter. That way, the roots grow in a little more gracefully,” says hair stylist and colourist, Kali Ferrara. “This can be done easily by a skilled colourist, with a lighter base colour in conjunction with highlights.”</p> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">One word of warning: steer clear of warmer colours like reds and strawberry blondes when growing out grey hair. Ferrara says these hues could backfire and show even more contrast with your roots.</p> <h2>Go a little darker</h2> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">On the flip side, you could choose lowlights. But instead of adding a shade that’s slightly darker (which is normally what you’d do with lowlights), try to match your non-grey hair colour. This will help blend without adding a brand-new shade to the mix. “Lowlights create some contrast and will give hair a more salt-and-pepper look that can be very becoming,” says celebrity hairstylist Gina Rivera. Just be sure not to go darker than your hair colour, says Rivera. Doing so can create too much contrast and bring more attention to the fact that you are transitioning to grey, which won’t look good in photos or in real life.</p> <h2>Chop it off</h2> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">Ready for a big change? Ferrara recommends growing your roots as long as you possibly can and then getting a super-short haircut to get rid of all the leftover colour. How short you go is totally up to you. A pixie cut can be chic and low-maintenance, but if you’ve never had short hair, that could be too big of a change. A short bob looks good on just about anyone, so that may be your best bet, though a stylist will be able to help you determine just how short will be flattering for your face shape. In general, slimmer faces tend to look great with hair that hits just under the jawbone, while fuller faces may want to go slightly longer (think a few centimetres below the jaw).</p> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">“While this can be a dramatic change, it can also be just the new look you may be looking for!” Ferrara says. “Think of your natural hair colour as a new adventure – a new, liberated you.”</p> <h2>Cover roots as they grow in</h2> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">If you’re growing out grey hair but your roots are driving you nuts, there are a few ways you can hide them. One easy solution is to cover them with a headband, hat or chic scarf. Another option is root spray or powder. “These products can mask the roots very effectively,” says master stylist Lorrene Conino. “Just spray the exposed areas after you style your hair.”</p> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">Just shake the bottle well, hold it about 15 centimetres from your roots and spritz it on. These products offer instant coverage on grey hair without an expensive trip to the salon.</p> <h2>Don’t slack on trims</h2> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">If you can’t bring yourself to do a big cut, regular haircuts (even little ones!) can help make the process go faster too. Aim for a trim every six to eight weeks. This will help you get rid of split ends and maintain healthy hair during your growing-out period, says hairstylist Nia Jones. After all, she explains, you may as well keep your hair looking as good as possible as you go through this tricky transition. Another bonus? Even if you aren’t getting a drastic cut, snipping a bit each time will get rid of old colour.</p> <h2>Prevent brassiness</h2> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">As more and more grey starts growing in, make sure those strands look as good as possible. Although grey hair is less vibrant than hair of other colours, it still can become dull and uneven if not properly cared for. Sun exposure, washing hair with water that has a high mineral content, and improper hair care are just a few reasons grey locks can turn brassy. Luckily, there’s a quick fix: using shampoo and conditioner designed specifically for silver or white hair can help tone down brassiness by balancing out the warm undertones, says Biancone.</p> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">You can also include purple toning products into your maintenance routine. Why purple? To understand how a purple product works, you need to know a bit about colour theory. Essentially, on the colour wheel, purple is opposite of yellow. This means that purple shampoo or toner helps to neutralise unwanted yellow or brassy tones that can come along with greys. Try adding toning drops to your shampoo or conditioner once a week to keep your hair the colour you want it. Taking this small precaution when caring for grey hair can help create luscious-looking locks with longevity.</p> <h2>Go big on moisture</h2> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">The texture of grey hair is quite different from the hair of your youth. George Papanikolas, a celebrity hairstylist, explains that it’s typically more coarse, frizzy and dehydrated. To combat this, he recommends arming your strands with moisturising products that will keep it silky and shiny.</p> <h2>Don’t try to remove hair dye on your own</h2> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">Let’s say you’ve been dying your hair to cover up those greys but wish you hadn’t. Well, even if you’ve just been using root touch-up kits as new greys grow in, you should never try to lift or remove hair dye on your own. “Chemicals are typically used to remove colour, and you need to know what you are doing,” warns Rivera. “If you don’t, you could end up really damaging your hair.” If this is a route you’re intent on exploring instead of waiting for the colour to grow out, book an appointment with a professional. Just be aware that removing hair dye is tricky and often takes multiple appointments.</p> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">For an easier, much gentler option, try using a clarifying shampoo to lighten the dye on your strands, says Jones. These shampoos are formulated to remove excess buildup and give you a deep clean, but they may also help wash away some colour. Just don’t use them more than once a week. These products give hair a deep clean, and using them too often can strip your strands of natural oils that add hydration.</p> <h2>Experiment with new styles</h2> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">Whether you’re trying to cover up the grey or want to embrace it, Jones suggests playing with different styles outside of the boundaries of your everyday look – ie, a ponytail, a different part that flatters your face shape or a brushed-back style that ‘hides’ roots. Changing things up allows you to play with your style, and it also makes growing out grey hair look cool and intentional. Who says blondes have all the fun?!</p> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/beauty/10-best-tips-for-gracefully-growing-out-grey-hair" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.</em></p> <p style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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“Proud of my wrinkles”: Twiggy’s guide to ageing gracefully

<p dir="ltr">Twiggy first exploded onto the modelling industry when she was crowned “The Face Of 1966”. The icon has since developed a stellar career and was even made a dame in 2019.</p> <p dir="ltr">Despite her rapid rise to fame (her photo was spotted by a fashion journalist) and her trusty address book full of celebrity contacts, the '60s icon remains grounded as she shared her love for the “ordinary things”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We’ve all met people in the entertainment business who are kind of flying, they’re not quite with the world, are they? And that’s not me,” she said in an interview for the <em>Daily Mail</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I love going to the supermarket, just ordinary things. I love my job, but my life is real life with Leigh and my kids, my grandkids, my friends”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Twiggy, whose real name is Lesley Hornby, is a proud grandmother who clearly loves going by adorable nicknames as she prefers to be called “mimi” instead of grandma.</p> <p dir="ltr">When speaking about her grandchildren, her face lights up. The former model has two biological grandchildren from her daughter, Carly, and three step-grandchildren from her partner, Leigh Lawson’s son, Jason.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s got three now, so when we get a houseful, it is noisy. But I love it. It’s what life’s about, isn’t it?” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Twiggy also proudly shared how different her life as “mimi” looks. The usually glammed up star said that in her day-to-day life she is usually bare-faced, with a ponytail.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s me when I’m out and about. Sunglasses, hair just pulled under a baseball cap,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Unlike other stars who may have opted to go under the knife, Twiggy is proud of her natural look.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I’m kind of proud of my wrinkles,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I understand when people have little tweaks and maybe I’ll even do it, I don’t know.</p> <p dir="ltr">“But what I don’t think I’d ever do is all the stuff they inject, when they get those funny cheeks that look like cotton wool balls have been stuffed in them. It would frighten me,” she shared.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also shared how she embraces ageing by never getting botox.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It’s botulism, isn’t it?” she said of the procedure.</p> <p dir="ltr">“And I never fancied the idea of that floating round my body."</p> <p dir="ltr">She also said that she does Pilates once-a-week which helped her eliminate back pain, which had plagued her since she turned 60.</p> <p dir="ltr">Twiggy’s life story is going to be told for the first time in a documentary made by actor-turned-filmmaker Sadie Frost, with the final footage for the film taken just last week at the Cannes Film Festival.</p> <p dir="ltr">In September a Twiggy musical, <em>Close Up</em>, written and directed by Ben Elton is set to be released.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Dame Joanna Lumley opens up on stress, adventure and ageing gracefully

<p>After a stellar career that has seen her become an award winner, a dame, a comedy legend, and a household name, Joanna Lumley knows a thing or two about balancing priorities. </p> <p>In a candid interview with <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/uk/lifestyle/a43008716/dame-joanna-lumley-april-interview/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Good Housekeeping</em></a>, the 76-year-old opened up about the stress she handles in her everyday life and the importance of realising you can slow down. </p> <p>After speaking honestly about experiencing a stress-induced breakdown in her 20s due to burnout, she says she approaches life very differently these days. </p> <p>"I will never, ever misread anything so badly again in my life," she says. </p> <p>"Now, if I’m tired, I will make sure to put my head down and go to sleep. If there’s something completely awful happening, I deal with it head-on or I let it go. I don’t do stress any more; I won’t let myself go there."</p> <p>Despite learning how to slow down when it comes to work, there's nothing Joanna loves more than adventure, with her work recently taking her to the Banda Islands, Zanzibar and Madagascar for a new series exploring the centuries-old spice trade.</p> <p>"You can have an adventure at any age," she says. </p> <p>"I’m not saying everyone should go and do a 14-day trek up some very steep mountains. But, if you’re like me and you’re scared of something, be brave. Chances are, you’ll come back and say: 'Well, wasn’t that something?"'</p> <p>When not travelling to explore every corner of the globe, Joanna finds solace in her latest creative venture: a podcast, called Joanna &amp; The Maestro, which she hosts with her conductor husband, Stephen Barlow.</p> <p>The couple chat about their shared love of classical music, which Joanna revealed was born out of one of the pair's evening rituals. </p> <p>"Every night, I have a bath and listen to Classic FM while Stevie is in the bedroom reading. During my bath, I’ll shout out questions about the music, such as: 'How old was Tchaikovsky when he wrote this?'" she says.</p> <p>"Without fail, Stevie, who’s a musical genius, patiently puts his book down and answers me. So the podcast is me in conversation with him, asking all the silly questions that somebody like me has."</p> <p>The pair first met when Joanna was 31 and they've been married for more than 35 years, but Joanna explained that marriage wasn't always on the cards.</p> <p>"The truth is, if I wasn’t married to Stevie, I wouldn’t be married," she says. </p> <p>"I’ve always loved men, but I never thought: 'Oh, I want to settle down.' It simply didn’t cross my mind. But there was something different about him; I was drawn to his whole mindset – and his knowledge of music."</p> <p>While Joanna is always keeping busy with her various work ventures, one of her most incredible achievements remains when she was awarded a damehood from Princess Anne: even if she fumbled over her words while meeting the royal. </p> <p>“I was met by Princess Anne, but sadly I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I could barely speak," she says.</p> <p>"I apologised and she said: 'Don’t worry, you have a lovely brim on your hat.' She kept on talking before I curtseyed and went out into the Picture Gallery. Stevie was there waiting and I just burst into tears."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Mind

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How you can help your pet age gracefully

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It may surprise you to learn that once your beloved dog and cat turns seven, they are classified as a senior citizen.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pets experience the effects of ageing just like their human owners, which can include changes to eyesight as well as behavioural issues. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Greencross Vets’ chief veterinary officer Veronica Monaghan spoke to the </span><a href="https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6211948/growing-old-gracefully-how-to-care-for-your-senior-pet/?cs=14259"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Canberra Times</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> about what you can do to help your pets age with grace as well as explaining what you need to know. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"There are a number of health concerns pets can encounter as they get older, but owners can play their part in the quality of their furry friend's life by keeping an eye on them and providing appropriate care for their age," she said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"If your pet is entering the senior age bracket soon, you can take precautions to help your pet live a long and happy life. Dogs and cats age at different times based on factors including their breed and size. Pet parents should adapt their pet's diet and exercise to suit their individual needs to help them age gracefully."</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She also said that pet parents aren’t aware of different dietary and care requirements once they hit senior age.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"We recommend switching to dog and cat foods that specifically cater to seniors to make sure they're getting the correct nutrients for their life stage," Dr Monaghan said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your animal’s mood can also change from what you’re used to.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">"Sometimes changes in behaviour can be linked to health issues, such as arthritis or tooth pain for example, so be sure to check in with your vet if you see any changes in your fur baby," she said.</span></p>

Family & Pets

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Men, here’s how to go bald gracefully and care for your new dome

<p><a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/beauty-style/2018/01/prince-william-debuts-surprising-new-look/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Prince William's short-crop</span></strong></a> is a cop-out that only extends his hair loss odyssey, and that's from a bald man's perspective. </p> <p>Like many men, I faced this prince's whispy-haired fate and only came to terms with it late last year. I wish, in retrospect, I had done it far earlier and would encourage men to do the same. </p> <p>The 35-year-old royal's hair patterns have been closely followed for a long time, but he has fallen short of the mark with his recently-revealed new do. He's old enough to be able to embrace his inevitably bald future fully, rather than sheepishly trimming it millimetre at a time. </p> <p>Not many have the audacity to face balding with confidence or know how to do it gracefully. The most graceful way, I contend, is just cutting it all off. </p> <p><strong>The big shave</strong></p> <p>Following three months of pondering, one friend got sick of me talking about it and told me he'd do it. He sat me down and shaved my head into a chess board, so I finished the job. </p> <p>It's not trivial though, it was a matter of going through the five stages of grieving for me. I'm sure it's like that for many men. </p> <p>It began with denial, ignoring the increasing amount of hair on the pillow each morning, which was followed by anger: cursing my double helix for lacking luscious hair follicles, and then the purgatory of bargaining. </p> <p>Prince William is still bargaining, and it's a spot too many men have lingered in. Back in the day people had toupees, then came plugs, weaves, tinctures and elixirs, Chevy Chase comb-overs, and more recently, awful tattoos.</p> <p>I used hair regrowth treatment and, spoiler alert, it did not work. I went short on the sides, long on the top, and that didn't work. I went short, like William, and that lasted a little too long. Questions over the shape of my head, like if it was an alien-like dome or ridged like the Grand Canyon, swam through my head.</p> <p>It's how one accepts, the final stage, their bald head that separates the likes of Jason Statham and Bruce Willis from Homer Simpson and Donald Trump.</p> <p>My barber, Sherman York, from The Stylish Man in Auckland, says there's only one way to find out what your head's going to look like. Shave it off, or go to your local and ask the barber what he thinks. </p> <p>York says lads do lose confidence as they lose their hair, despite the fact they would find themselves in the company of The Rock, Sir Ben Kingsley and Patrick Stewart.</p> <p>He tells me his firm belief is men shouldn't worry about going bald, they should shave it short and not try to make their hair into something it's not: long.</p> <p>When it comes to seeing how it looks underneath, there's nothing to worry about. "The thing about hair is that it grows back," he says.</p> <p><strong>Lids and accessories</strong></p> <p>Off with my hair, I donned a lid as I sheepishly returned to work, hoping people don't notice. </p> <p>Thanks to all the money saved on expensive haircuts, you can invest in a proper classy hat. Beards are a great accessory too. </p> <p>Like shoes, or clothing, if you invest in good hats they should last a lifetime. Trilby, newsboy, cheese cutter, pork pie, 10-gallon, Panama or bowler, the list is long.  </p> <p>Truckers and flat-peak caps are good too, be prepared for serious irritation on the back of your head if you get a cheapie.</p> <p>Glasses are great, they'll accentuate your facial features and distract, slightly, from your shiny new head. </p> <p>Many of the aforementioned hunks and celebrities have adopted the upside-down face too, so don't be afraid to get hairy. </p> <p>I have a neat beard that covers a couple of weak chins and makes my face look a little slimmer, thanks to York's handy work every couple of months. </p> <p>A wee bit of facial fuzz can complement a shaved head, so grow at your own discretion, but make sure it doesn't look out of place and you treat it with the care you'd treat your non-existant hair with. </p> <p>Maybe, just maybe, if Prince Will were to grow some facial hair, he might look a little less like the love child of Voldemort and Squidward, from SpongeBob SquarePants and more like a princely DJ Forbes. </p> <p><strong>Caring for the new dome</strong></p> <p>Following my initial shave, the leathery skin on my head was uncharted and felt foreign. It had never seen the light of day.</p> <p>Exposed to the weather and sun, moisturiser and sunblock are a bald man's best mate. Applying everyday helps avoid dandruff and more complicated, and scary issues, later in life. </p> <p>On a recent visit to the doctor I was urged to use a sunblock with the highest SPF possible everyday. We live in New Zealand, so it's easy to understand why.</p> <p>If you're not a fan of your shiny head and want to dull it down a little, ask to borrow a powder compact from a make-up wearing friend. Try it, you just might like it. </p> <p><strong>Regrowth and upkeep</strong></p> <p>Despite the fact you can throw your comb out with your Dax Wax, you still need to look after your head and the few hairs that will continue to sprout. </p> <p>Some shave everyday, others every couple of days or once a week, and this does affect your head like your face. It comes down to how your hair grows. </p> <p>Being bald means you can give yourself haircuts on the regular and, for free. I purchased some clippers that have paid for themselves. I have a Mach 3 for the short shave. </p> <p>Some people use oils and soothing gels after shaving, which helps with ingrown hairs and the burn of a bad razor.</p> <p>For me, the legendary bald men mentioned all have one thing in common: confidence. So, whatever you do, embrace your lack of hair and rock it.</p> <p><em>Written by Thomas Heaton. Republished with permission of <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>.</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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7 celebrities on ageing gracefully

<p>When you think of Hollywood, you’d be forgiven for thinking “young”, “slim” and “beautiful”. But in recent years, there’s been a refreshing – and very welcome – shift towards embracing the beauty of ageing.</p> <p>From Nicole Kidman to Susan Sarandon, we take a look at what some of our favourite celebs have to say about positive ageing.</p> <p><strong>1. The only way is up</strong></p> <p>“I think in the past, the thought was your twenties are when you are at your best, and after that it’s downhill. Now women are realising that we are at our best as we get older. We are attractive, we are more interesting, and we are more self-assured than we were 10 years before, and there’s something sexy about that.” – Jennifer Lopez, 48.</p> <p><strong>2. Your priorities change (for the better)</strong></p> <p>“I obviously don’t have the same body that I had when I was 20. But I also don’t have the same mindset either, when I was wracked with self-consciousness and insecurity. Now I really appreciate my maturity as a woman, my depth of spirit and soul and my understanding of who I am and what’s important to me.” – Elle Macpherson, 53.</p> <p><strong>3. All you need is love</strong></p> <p>“Love is a really nourishing thing. My husband always says that a smile is such a great thing because it’s so youthful. [Beauty] is about being strong and healthy and feeling good inside so you feel good outside.” – Nicole Kidman, 50.</p> <p><strong>4. Lines and wrinkles simply show you’ve lived</strong></p> <p>“Ageing is out of your control. How you handle it, though, is in your hands.... In my older face, I see my life. Every wrinkle, every smile line, every age spot. There is a saying that with age, you look outside what you are inside. If you are someone who never smiles, your face gets saggy. If you're a person who smiles a lot, you will have more smile lines. Your wrinkles reflect the roads you have taken; they form the map of your life. My face reflects the wind and sun and rain and dust from the trips I've taken. My face carries all my memories. Why should I erase them? – Diane von Furstenberg, 70.</p> <p><strong>5. Look after yourself</strong></p> <p>“You’re very lucky to age. If [you don’t], you’re dead! Ageing is a good thing. I’m very simple in terms of maintenance. I’m not somebody who does a lot of different things, but what I don’t do is smoke cigarettes. I think if you’re smoking in your twenties, in 20 years your skin is going to show it. Or if you’re drinking too heavily. I think paying attention to [your] lifestyle is really important. And a certain generosity of spirit.” – Susan Sarandon, 71.</p> <p><strong>6. Share your wisdom with the world</strong></p> <p>“You live your life, you go through ups and downs, and hopefully you grow. The growth part is the most exciting part for me [...] The beauty of getting older is the surprise of what else you can do to make the world a better place with the wisdom you’ve accrued over the years.” – Goldie Hawn, 72.</p> <p><strong>7. You are important, no matter what your age</strong></p> <p>“We live in a youth-obsessed culture that is constantly trying to tell us that if we are not young, and we’re not glowing, and we’re not hot, that we don’t matter. I refuse to let a system or a culture or a distorted view of reality tell me that I don’t matter. I know that only by owning who and what you are can you start to step into the fullness of life. Every year should be teaching us all something valuable. Whether you get the lesson is really up to you.” – Oprah Winfrey, 63.</p>

Beauty & Style

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Jane Fonda’s secrets to ageing gracefully

<p>It’s hard to believe that film and TV legend Jane Fonda is 78 years old. The former aerobics queen is definitely the authority when it comes to looking and feeling great in your 70s. Here are her secrets to ageing like a movie star.</p> <p><strong>Exercise</strong></p> <p>Would you expect any less from the woman who brought us Jane Fonda’s Workout, the highest selling fitness video of all time? These days she’s slowed things down a bit, swapping jazzercise for walking, cross-country skiing and yoga. Despite suffering osteoporosis and having both a knee and hip replacement, Fonda says, “the most important thing is to keep moving, to stay active. That’s what I do and that’s how to stay strong.”</p> <p><strong>Diet</strong></p> <p>Most would agree that as you get older, your body tends to gain weight a lot easier. Because of this, Fonda believes that every calorie you eat should count. In her recent fitness DVD Prime Time, she explains, “it is very important what you eat because your cells regenerate more slowly.” Fonda suggests avoiding refined sugars, opting instead for complex carbohydrates, fruits, colourful veggies and lean meats.</p> <p><strong>Meditation</strong></p> <p>At the age of 70, Fonda decided to learn how to meditate, saying it helps her “focus, become clear and calm.” She has even credited the relaxing practice with giving her renewed confidence. It’s also a great natural remedy for depression and anxiety – <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3047347/Meditation-effective-antidepressant-drugs-depression-treatment.html" target="_blank">a recent study</a></span></strong> showed that meditation can be just as effective as antidepressants. Fonda, who suffered depression in her 60s, says she wishes she had learnt how to meditate much earlier in life.</p> <p><strong>Love and friendship</strong></p> <p>Fonda, who has been married three times and is currently in a relationship with music producer Richard Perry, told <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2011/09/13/jane-fonda-secrets-for-aging-gracefully/#73bc042d2ed0" target="_blank">ForbesWoman</a></strong></span> she believes love is even better later in life. “When we can walk into a relationship as a whole person, that’s where intimacy comes.” She also credits her girlfriends with bringing her happiness. “To stay young at heart, you have to have love in your life.”</p> <p><strong>Accepting yourself</strong></p> <p>Like many young women, Fonda says she struggled in the search for “perfection”. She admits to dabbling in plastic surgery, but says she is not proud of it. “I was taught to think that if I wanted to be loved, I had to be thin and pretty. That leads to a lot of trouble.” Having fought bulimia when she was younger, Fonda believes “we’re supposed to be complete and whole, and you can’t be whole if you’re trying to be perfect.”</p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><a href="/news/news/2016/03/women-share-wisdom-on-ageing-in-moving-video/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">6 women share wisdom on ageing in moving video</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/03/celebrities-who-get-better-with-age/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">7 celebrities prove you just get better with age</span></em></strong></a></p> <p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2016/03/100-year-old-jean-dawson-yoga/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">100-year-old Jean Dawson started Yoga at 67</span></strong></em></a></p>

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