Transitioning to grey...

[SanctuaryMoon]

So I'm in my mid thirties and I've been going grey for many years now. I'm currently purple with black roots (having a bit of fun as usually just keep my hair a mid brown), and am considering transitioning to grey to just be done with chasing the silver stripe once and for all. Has anyone done this and can provide any advice? I know I'm going to have to grow out the various bleach / dye / etc from my hair, but I don't want to look hideously frumpy as I do so. Any advice / words of wisdom?

[blackhairbrush]

I am trying to do this. I had been dying my hair brown but hairdresser has advised going lighter over time with more highlights. He says it will take about 2 years

[SanctuaryMoon]

2 years... urgh!

[blackhairbrush]

My thoughts exactly- he said I could speed it up by having a very short haircut, but I am not ready for that.

[Timeforabiscuit]

I've no advice, but caught sight of my hair in artificial light and saw a fresh crop of greys.

Luckily, they look silver rather than yellow so im leaving it to do its thing, dh has said it looks nice

Ive got ultra short hair, but thouhht henna might be a way to go?

[SanctuaryMoon]

I'm not sure I could go with super short hair either... I've just gone for a long bob, so probably at least two years worth of pain to get through that

Time if you can roll with it, I'd avoid going down the road of colouring... if your hair grows as quickly as mine, every 3 weeks you'll be needing to colour your roots. It's been fun as I can play with colour (hence the purple) but I really want to get off this treadmill now.

But then again, I don't want it to age me, you know what I mean?

[Isthatwhatdemonsdo]

You can strip the colour out and then put a blonde colour on then grow it out. Less painful. That's what I've done. Took about 9 months, but I've got short hair.

[SanctuaryMoon]

Thanks isthat - I may have to go for that option so it's not so bad, not sure how I'll look blonde though ;)

[dudsville]

Fwiw I had 6 months of struggle when I made the decision to go natural. I Stopped coloring cold turkey and just dealt with the changes. My hair is something people always notice and comment on so I just took it head on and told people I was growing out the grey. I didn't go for the short hair cut but did go to the salon frequently during that time. I've never regretted it. I'm now told I look distinguished. Be warned though, grey hair is totally different in texture and what's required to keep it in condition.

[Timeforabiscuit]

Every three weeks dear god! I have trouble enough keeping up with the face fur than adding another job into the mix.

Purple hair sounds awesome though, ive been tempted by pillar box red or that nearly ultra violet blue, but think my skin tone would make me look unhealthy even on a walking dead set

What about an asymmetrical cut to go with the blonde so the change in colour isnt the thing people notice?

[EraSybil]

After years of colouring my hair (I started going grey at 16) I eventually realised at 40 that my (original) natural hair colour no longer looked comfortable with my ageing skin tones. Fast hair growth also meant that roots showed within 3 weeks and I got bored with the high maintenance. I had a shorter restyle and went cold turkey and just grew the dye out, and because of the fast hair growth the embarrassment was over in 4-6 months. Haven't looked back.

I think I'm quite lucky as the grey is a good grey (I get a lot of compliments about the colour) but I do think having a proper cut on a regular basis is absolutely essential - during financially constrained times I let it grow and ended up with what I now realise was an awful 'Gandalf' look.

I wish more women would have the confidence to own their natural hair colour - it's actually nothing to be ashamed of!

[OnceMoreIntoTheBleach]

I wish I could go property grey bit mine is all in my hairline, so I have highlights instead. You can then add more/lighter ones to meet the greys until it's all there.

[Inkspot]

I'm just starting to do this at my hairdressers suggestion. I started to go grey in my twenties and am now 45. Six weeks in, I can see that my natural hair colour makes me look far healthier, but I do think it will make me look older. Am up for it though.

[ConkerTriumphant]

I did this a year ago but it was easier as I have very short hair.
I love love love my silver hair and get loads of positive comments.

Have a look at the Facebook page 'Going Gorgeously Grey' for amazing support.

[SouthWestmom]

I have a shoulder length bob now - it's taken two years but some of that was having regular short cuts to get it looking like I wanted to go grey. What worked for me was an asymmetrical cut with an undercut and thinning on the longer side to let the grey show through.
I love it, loads of people comment positively. I straighten it, wear make up and dress nicely and I don't think it's ageing - I look 43 because I am.

[wooooofudge]

I have short hair, was naturally very dark, and am transitioning at the moment. Highlights to lighten the overall effect and today have started to go lighter with the base colour. I'm hoping it won't take long.