Mumsnet Talk

You are very kind! Glad you are still going for it! I am so pleased not to be dying my hair anymore and tbh I don't feel aged by it. I have bought some new face powder by benefit which is lovely and adds a glow

You look great, Nerf!!! It's a big change from your long red locks but totally vibrant and youthful. I wish I had your bone structure.

I would post an updated photo but not much has changed - two/three inches of grey roots as opposed to one inch, and a much shorter bob. I'll wait until after my next haircut when hopefully there'll be more grey than dyed hair.

Ok I think I have solved it

Argh!

Can't see them Nerfy <sulk>

Sorted the photos out btw - ruby, aunt petunia and the far side - you can all see my new 'do' !

Another hair cut today ! Really really happy I did this, glad you are persevering aunt petunia!!

Am still here persevering with the grey grow out, fortunately my hairdresser is on my side as she likes the colour of my grey! Had a few inches chopped off so got a nice bob now to carry on growing out. Had a few negative comments but don't care I'm happy with my decision.

I Agree, going grey now feels like a choice rather than having to when I'm eighty.

nerfmother I love the cut and have had dozens of compliments!
No one seems shocked by the grey temples (more obvious than with previous haircut). Or everyone is too polite to say?

It feels great to be liberated from the tyranny of dying (and time and expense).

I figure if people are used to me with a bit of grey then it will be less of a shock as I get older and get more.

As you say karen8888 a too-dark dyed look is harsh and ageing in itself. I already feel my natural colour is more flattering to my skin tone.

Only downsides: I have to wash my hair every day (the product makes it stand up vertical in the morning) - but it's quick to wash and style as it's so short. I am definitely wearing make-up every day as well, I think I need it to feel feminine with such short hair. That said, I don't actually wear much, mainly base and mascara.

My white streak at the front and scattered 'highlights' are now about 4-5 inches long (against a background of layered chin-length wavy dark brown hair).

Yesterday evening, someone actually complimented me on the white streak, thinking it was something I'd had 'done'!

How lovely (and festive) sounds like a good book to try . Thanks for the anti dandruff tip, I shall try it on the remaining henna. Totally agree re. The harsh dye at forty.

I found this thread today and have read all the comments, as I have also read Going Gray (Anne Kreamer) a recommended read. I'm 42 and started to get the odd white hair at 30, my hair is naturally almost black. I started to dye my hair black at 30, now I have white wings and around 30% grey through the rest. My hair is mid back length , I dedcided in Feb that I would stop dying my hair, the reason? I had researched this ALOT, and found that the best way to grow out the dye and embrace the grey,. is to do it before you have a serious amount of grey roots, also I have seen so many women 40 plus, who dye their hair too dark or too red/plum, it makes you look older and hard faced, it makes sense to let your hair 'match' your face.I don't want to loose any length, and I firmly believe that long grey hair can look amazing. I have managed to lighten my hair quite a bit by using anti dandruff shampoo, which lifted a major amount of black dye out in the first few washes, and with the use of a good conditioner has not damaged my hair at all. So I am so glad to have found this sforum. My 14 yr old daughter said to me today, 'your grey sparkles in the sunlight like tinsel' :-)

Farside - I'll do it tomorrow, prob the new image...did have a wobble today when I watched moulin rouge and thought of the lovely long red hair I'd chopped. Definitely over the hesitation stage now!
Coco - lovely colour ideas there, and an excuse to visit a few makeup counters...
Nature lover - wow! Do you like the cut? I originally thought I'd go short to get rid and then long again, but really like it shorter, what about you?

I have cut off most of the dye by going for a pixie cut. It feels really liberating to be rid of the brassy ends and by the next cut I should have no dye left at all.
My temples are really grey but I think the cut is stylish and DH and some friends have given me lots of compliments.
I'm really committed now to not dyeing my hair ever again!

Glad you're settling into your grey, Nerf. And I must say I'm grateful to you for providing the shove I needed to do this too with your "Anyone fancy going grey ..." post.

BTW I can't see your photos when I click on your new name - you might need to update your settings.

I think grey can look really elegant if you have a cool skin tone and suit those soft pinks, smokey lilacs and blues. Equally striking if you do the high contrast look with a shock of white hair against black & white and crisp jewel colours.

Update. This is the best decision ever! Haven't dyed it for about six months now, and its quite clearly a choice. Seen a photo from yesterday and it looks good! Will try to upload it later. Was really hard when I had the growing out roots thing, now I can't wait for all the red to go. Helps that's its more silver white than steel grey.

Brilliant! So we will have unstraightened grey hair atop a face full of make up, tattooed eyebrows, lashes etc. Hmmm......

I think that counts as a tattoo and is therefore fine.

I'm saving up 300 quid for permanent eyebrows.... Shh!

Fine with me. After all, I'm still dyeing my eyelashes.

i don't know if i could cope with that just yet - can we hold that thought til i'm less stripey?
soon, we'll be ditching make up and Grazia....

Maybe we need to have an anti-straightening sub-thread going. We can't replace one tyranny with another.

It's me (notactuallyme) I've name changed to more accurately reflect life as the mother of three boys....(and onle girl, but no Nerf interest there).
So. I've realised that I need to straighten my hair in order to feel okay with it. And i am desperate to lose all of the red ends, but can't without getting a frumpy cut. So, stuck.
But - the relief of not having the tiny grey edges at my scalp, is immense.