Color Change

My hair was white and curly when I was young,
turned shades darker until it was chestnut --
a color in-between my dad’s and mom's.

These facts I know:  Reduction of pigment

makes hair gray .No pigment turns it white. 
Heredity plays a part, so does age. 

What I’m not sure of is what color

my hair is now.  After ten years of highlights,
the true color is unknown. I’m sure it’s changed
from brown to gray, or hopefully white. 

Mom took her time turning gray

and I assume I’ll be the same.
My paternal grandparents were white haired

at an early age; beautiful silky white hair.

The maternal genes are the ugly yellow gray
that I would hide.  When I get older--

say sixty-six or so,  I think I will stop dying
my hair so I’ll know, whether I’ve covered up something
beautiful, or if I'll continue to enhance.