Men dyeing hair

[esme1]

AIBU to really dislike DH dyeing his hair to cover the extensive grey? He always used to mock other men doing it, and now he is in the throes of middle age he has succumbed himself. He is Cameroonian, with lovely thick curls, and I think the grey looks fabulous, but he insists he looks too old, especially to fellow Africans. How many men really do dye their hair? Does anyone else hate it on men?

[cheeseandmarmite15]

I dont like it myself.

[OuchLegoHurts]

I don't like it, I find it much more attractive when a man doesn't care...

[Hariasa]

It is entirely his own choice.

Do you colour your own hair?

[ZippyNeedsFeeding]

I don't dye my hair but I wouldn't judge another woman who did. I don't feel any differently about men doing the same thing, why would I?

[SunsetBeetch]

It wouldn't bother me at all. Why are there such double standards about this? Both in terms of it being more socially acceptable for women to dye their hair, and that men with grey hair look 'distinguished' but women apparently just look old and that's bad.

As long as he doesn't have a bad Paul McCartney dye job

[ItGoesWithoutSaying]

I think we've had these threads before and, as Sunset says, there seems to be a double-standard. No-one criticizes a woman for dyeing her hair (in fact sometimes the opposite) but a man doing it is seen as a bad thing: vain, ridiculous, unmanly.

I think it is something to do with it being seen to be "masculine" not to care about your appearance (although not extending to personal hygiene I hope!) but also that men can be valued for age and experience whereas women are valued much more for their looks.

Whatever the sexual politics, I need to sort out my own feelings on this. DH has always had lovely dark hair but there is grey creeping in. He's looked at it a few times and said "Should I do something about it?" So far I've been non-committal.

TBF, it does look better without the grey but still a part of me thinks "Noooo, don't be vain". Hmmmm.

[OuchLegoHurts]

I dye my own hair, wear make up, and shave my legs. If my husband started doing any of those things I wouldn't like it. Fact. She asked for opinions and that is mine! I find it attractive when a man doesn't care too much about his hair. In fact, I love a shaved head. Just my preference. I'm sure there are plenty of women who like high maintenance men...I'm not one!