The Silver/Gray Beauty Book

Women with gray hair can be asand often are moresexy, sophisticated and elegant than women whose hair hasn't begun to ""silver,'' believe Ray, beauty director at La Costa Spa and Resort in Carlsbad, Calif., and syndicated beauty columnist, and Hynes, a health and beauty writer. As evidence, they point to celebrities such as Linda Evans and Elizabeth Taylor and present dramatic before-and-after photographs of ordinary women. The enthusiastic tone of the book is tempered by its basic sound advice, which is applicable to younger women as well because the basis of beauty at any age is good health and grooming, as the authors stress. The drawback here is that so much of the sensible and effective material is unoriginal: if you must be in the sun, use a strong sun block; don't select sunglasses with fashion-color lenses; don't smoke or abuse alcohol; drink plenty of water. In addition to the makeovers, chapters include tips on hair, skin, teeth, hands, feet, plastic surgery, makeup and jewelry. Above all, the book asserts that a woman's personal needs, taste and common sense should determine her beauty routine: ``Don't ever be afraid to break the rules.'' (January)