When do you decide to go grey?

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Is it when you cannot keep up with the dye/re-growth race? When you peer at your roots and think " I only did these two weeks ago and look, I'm silver"

Or when you think "Hmm, it doesn't actually suit me now, dye looks fake". I don't think my hair remembers its real colour, it'll be interesting at least to see what happens......

Or (which I'm hoping is the right reason) you get your haircut with the intention (honest) of dyeing it but think "Actually, I look quite good"


My hair is short (think Long Pixie) cropped at the back/sides and maybe 2" on the top. Had it cut 4 weeks ago and I was going to henna before we went on holiday but I just CBA.

So, I'm planning to have another crop in a couple of weeks, and see how it looks. If it all looks dreadful, I have some Emergency Henna (but I don't want the risk of orange highlights so that'll be if I really don't like my natural hues)

[Cocolepew]

Im 48 and first went natural last year, then stupidly dyed it. I only have a tiny amount of colour left to cut out. Atm I have a very short pixie.
I stopped dyeing it dark a couple of years ago because I thought the dye was affecting my health. I started to bleach it instead. Now I just can't be bothered, so I'm happy to be grey ☺️

[Pisssssedofff]

I can't see me ever going with it, I've got ginger hair that I highlight so I'll just put more blonde in I guess but no way am I doing the silver fox thing ever

[PickAChew]

Whenever you want to.

[Microwaste]

I quit dyeing a couple of years ago (mid-40s now) and I think it actually looks much better than constantly having grey roots and brown hair. I have a very similar cut to yours, longish pixie. I know quite a few women who have fabulous grey hair and that inspired me.

[Ginmakesitallok]

When I looked at friends who were having to have their roots done every few weeks. I thought I really couldn't be arsed with that so stopped dyeing my hair about 2 years ago. I now have some natural grey "highlights".

[Sweepingchange]

I was always told to "go with your eyebrows"! Not sure if this is good advice or not though!

I'm 52 yrs and I'm confronting this dilemma atm. I've dyed it for years and then got fed up of the hassle and the chemicals and decided to return to my original colour - which turned out to be a very 'messy' streaky mix of grey and white and dark brown - not attractive at all.

While I am enjoying the "liberation" from hair dyeing, I was not impressed with the way my hair looked on a few recent photos. The grey/white is very ageing.

If I had a lovely even "light" grey I would go for it and be out and proud - but I think I will revert to the dye packet shortly.

I just really don't like the thought of putting all those chemicals down the plug hole every six weeks or so though .

[Sadik]

For me it'll most likely be when I'm properly grey all over, rather than patchy pepper and salt. I have very short hair though, so the dye only lasts 2 haircuts, and I leave it au naturel for a few months from time to time just to see where it's at.

[ginorwine]

I have white hairs at the frount but a , in my view , v unflattering dark mouse at the back and it's not a nice colour for me .
When I have greys that are pretty and suit my skin tone - until then dye ! ( hope eventually the back will go grey !)

[Cocolepew]

This was my last attempt, it's actually more silver now, though it really only white around my face.

[woodhill]

I think if I could live on an island away from the world I would to see the results.

The sides are so resistant and the grey seems to come back.

[123rd]

I'm only 39 and I haven't dyed my hair for over two years now. Only ever used to do semi perm home jobs anyway.
My grey is quite cool looking. Very 'silver highlights ' interspersed thru my dark hair. If I had bad roots then I'm not sure id be so brave

[Andthereshewas77]

I'm early 50s and I stopped dying mine a month ago. I'm not as grey as I thought I was, just my temples really. I'm glad I stopped now so that don't have to grow out a whole head.

I'm hoping to look distinguished.

[Statelychangers]

My mother is 84 and is still dyeing her hair and why not? But it's not for me, I can't be arsed with the upkeep and imo grey roots look worse that than natural hair colour - as long as you don't go grey very early I just wouldn't bother beyond 40, but that is a personal preference.

[getdownshep]

I love my grey. I grew it out last year at 49 and I could never go back to doing my roots every two weeks. I haven't had any negative comments, not that I would care!

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

Ooh lots of Go Grey - yay!

I'm 50, I work in healthcare so maybe looking a bit more distinguished will be to my advantage?

Regarding the eyebrows - mine are practically nil , so hopefully my hair won't follow their example . (I have to draw them in a bit to give them shape and definition)

My hair does feel pretty soft after the henna so I'll need to see how it grows out but I think a pre-Christmas crop then let it grow out a bit and see from there.

I think I might go for the Carol from The Walking Dead look, she rules !

[niminypiminy]

I don't think it's a once and for all thing. I went grey about 10 years ago and loved it, then about 3 years ago I got bored again and bleached it. Now I'm bored again and going back to grey. In fact, I've dyed it grey using Colour Freedom Metallics. I'm liking it again! I've always had a crop - I get bored of the colour not the style.

[niminypiminy]

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[Eolian]

I'm 45 and haven't got any visible grey hairs yet but I'm pretty determined not to dye it at all.

[LillianGish]

I'm in the "getting your hair cut with the intention of highlighting, thinking it actually looks quite good" camp. I have naturally fair hair and used to highlight, but now just prefer the colour with all its natural pepper and salt. I also think the texture of my hair is much nicer now - much more youthful than with dried out highlights. I also have a short, pixieish cut and I have to say I think it's much easier to make the decision with a short cut. A couple of cuts and all the old highlights are gone whereas if you have long hair it takes a lot longer and rather like trying to grow out a fringe you have to persist and may just give up and go back. I also think long grey is much less flattering than short grey - in fact I don't really like long grey at all, so I think if you are someone who has gone through life with long luscious locks that define your style then it is much harder to come to terms with how an older you might look. The short answer is with short hair you can easily see if you like it and if you decide you don't get some highlights/colour put back and then change your mind again a couple of months later. A couple of lovely short cuts on here by the way ladies

[ThisPasadenaHomemaker]

When you just cannot be arsed with the dye carousel any more. I was dark brown naturally until the greys took over. The contrast between my lengths and my roots was awful and I had to do my roots every 2 weeks. So I shaved my head and embraced my natural grey.

Here's mine. It's one of the best decisions I've made. There'll inevitably be someone post to tell you that grey hair = instant old witch but I think my photo and the others on this thread prove that they're talking out of their arse .

[CMOTDibbler]

I went grey early, and reached a point where a) the grey just showed within a week and b) I was sick of dyeing it.

Best thing I ever did, and I rejoice in the fact that I've discovered that having grey/white and long hair is apparently one of the most rebellious things a 40 year old can do with their hair!

[Statelychangers]

ThisPasadenaHomemaker your hair looks very cool!

[LadySilvia]

I'm very early on, going grey-wise, but, for me, pictures like this look so gorgeous and make me want to brave the change!

[DontCallMeBaby]

I'm 44 and stopped dyeing my hair a couple of years ago - and it was a decision to stop dyeing rather than go grey, although I knew there would be some grey beneath it all. Roots weren't grey as such, but the dye was still high maintenance as it was purple and would fade and look shit after about four weeks. So I stopped dyeing it and claimed it as a feminist statement It's not unlike getdownshep's (in fact the style is quite like mine was until I set fire to my fringe in May). I refer to my 'ash-blonde highlights' ... I like it about as much as I've ever liked my hair, and am particularly fond of the grey patch over my left ear which matches the same thing on my brother.

I am planning on semi-permanent dye over Xmas for a giggle though.

[SquirrelPaws]

When my roots looked really bad really fast, and having just gone back to work when DD was a baby I didn't have the time or energy to keep on top of them. I went a bit shorter until the dye was all grown out and now I have silver streaks here and there, which I quite like. I do find that I look like an old witch more quickly if I forget to have it cut, but I don't think that looks as bad as unkempt roots.