Grey Hair

[Coffecake99]

My hair is quite grey which I currently highlight. I'm tempted to let it grow out and see what my natural colour is. I'm interested to see what others hair is like if you have been brave and stopped dying your hair. Do you think it ages you ?? Thanks in advance

[StillMedusa]

I quit colouring 2 years ago... (brown/ highlighted) I'm 49.
I don't regret it one bit! I'm salt and pepper with white at the parting..it was longish but I had it cut short 2 months ago while travelling so now want to grow it again.
Has it aged me? I don't think so, because whatever I do to my hair, my face is going to be nearly 50.
What it HAS done is given me very healthy hair..whatever they say about colour, un dyed hair is healthier...it seems to grow faster and it is glossy.
And no roots..it can now just go whiter without me ever needing to stick chemicals on it ever again.
My husband is fine with it , my adult kids say they like it and my white streaks are cool
The first few months of growing out grey ARE tough, but after that it is easy :) Give it a go!

[MargotLovedTom1]

I 'embraced the grey' and I looked shit .

[LoafEater]

I stopped colouring mine 4 months ago after having it cut shortish from long. I was losing my hair and I was developing an allergy to the dye. Since then I have also starred on her and my hair growing back and the new growth is shiny, healthy and thick. Just had a very short pixie cut to get rid of as much dye as possible as I'm impatient to be natural now. Very s&p at the back and looking like it will be greyer at the front.

Husband loves it. I love it. Most female friends are horrified! Lots of women telling me how 'brave' I am for some reason.

[LoafEater]

*HRT, not her

[BendyBusBuggy]

Same here - stopped dyeing, hair is now glossy and husband loves it. He says the dyed hair was always the wrong shade even though I spent a fortune

[JaneJeffer]

I left mine for ages but it made me feel depressed so I went back to the dye. Mine is only grey down the middle so it wasn't a good look.

[Justgotosleepnow]

Yup me! Looks so much better. Most women end up dying their hair far too dark. And I think that's a more harsh look than grey. Basically the huge majority of women dye their hair, so by not doing so you are bucking a massive trend.
My hair is much more shiny now it's got its real grey in it. No more tyranny of roots every few weeks. I just keep it in a sharp bob and always 'do' it if it's not in a low bun/ bobble.
Go for it!

[MulhuddartDrive]

I have brown and grey hair with a short crop cut. I love it. Get lots of compliments too and I've been asked a lot if I dye to get the grey

[TheDowagerCuntess]

Following this thread, as I am seriously considering it.

I dye my hair brown, and the greys come through so rapidly, it needs re-dying after 2-3 weeks.

It is so dry at the best of times, and I'm sure the dye is making it much worse.

And like justgotosleep says, I'm hurtling towards the point - probably already there, if I'm honest - where it's too dark for me. I am so conscious of this. I keep trying to find a lighter colour, but then the roots are a different shade from the rest of it, and it looks terrible.

I have had it cut relatively short recently, and I keep thinking about just ditching the dye.

I don't think it will be too ageing, as I try to make an effort with clothes, weight, make-up, etc. but maybe that's just wishful thinking... 😖

[Puppylucky]

I finally embraced the grey at the tail end of last year. My hair was originally (30 years ago!) a mousy brown and I had been some form of blonde all my adult life. I just got sick of trying to keep on top of the root growth, plus the fact that I am currently living over seas and blonde highlights etc lift really quickly in my hair now to a most unattractive yellowy shade.
My hair is quite short so the process has been quick - although the first few months were tricky as I just looked shabby. Now it's all grown out I love it. My grey is a very soft cloud grey which in most lights looks like a pale blonde. I keep it pale with Alveda Blue Whatsit Shampoo.
Like PP, though it has been really instructive to see other peoples' reactions. Close female friends were horrified when I announced my going grey intentions (although they like it now) and it can be very difficult trying to stop hairdressers dying it blonde again!

[PhyllisWig]

Another here who embraced the grey and the jury is out. I am mousy brown for the most part with a fair sprinkling of iron grey and a white streak on one side. Am 43.

I love the white streak. I like the no dye maintenance.

But

My hair is coarser and frizzier. I feel washed out and a bit meh. I am warm toned so iron grey isn’t that flattering. If it were whiter it would be better.

[hazeyjane]

My hair is grey and short (clippered on sides, long on top) - most people seem horrified or concerned I am ill! I, however, love it!

[BexleyRae]

I'm just going through the ditching of hair dye. I've had a pixie crop and my sides are dye free, dark brown with a good lot of grey, I'm excited to see how much grey I've got on top when the dye grows out

[MaudesMum]

Me too! I did have very dark brown hair, but it started to look harsh when dyed back to that colour, so I went down the route of highlights all carefully shaded in with the grey, and it just got more and more of a faff. Now I'm a mixture of grey and brown, cut pretty short and sharp. I'd love to be steel grey all over, and have considered dyeing it to help nature along! If I'm being really honest, I've partly embraced this because I've reached a stage in my career in an industry where youth is celebrated, where I don't want to play along any more - I'm quite happy being seen as the age I am.

[Ineedmorelemonpledge]

I’m thinking of a change to grey. At the moment I have neutral coloured hair (like Annette Benning for example)

But I hate the process of getting it dyed every four weeks.
I’m thinking of this style and colour ...I may even get it dyed grey and white as a statement

Difficult though isn’t it? I don’t know why, but it is...

[TheDowagerCuntess]

My hair is coarser and frizzier

No - don't say that...!

[CMOTDibbler]

I'm 45, and have had undyed white/grey hair for 6 years now. It is totally white at the front, and then varies with a stubborn patch of only 50% grey at the back. I love it, get lots of compliments, and its soft and in very good condition - it's also bra strap length.

[PhyllisWig]

Sorry Duchess

It may be my regime to be fair. I have loads of quick growing hair but it’s fine so has always been flyaway.
I live in a damp part of the uk. I have a halo of frizz :(

[Want2beme]

Llst year, I completely grew out my highlights, which took over a year to do. I then had a few much lighter highlights put through the greyest part of my hair, (top of head in the parting), and I really liked it. I didn't top up the highlights for 9 months, which was my plan, but when I did top them up, the bloody colourist put too many highlights in and I'm now back to where I started, growing out the colour again. My original plan was to have light highlights, so that the grey wouldn't be so obvious when the highlights were growing out, as I don't want to be colouring my hair on a regular basis anymore.

[dantdmistedious]

I've had to stop colouring as I have developed an allergy to seemingly every bloody hair dye in the market.

It's actually kind of liberating, not to mention saves me £££££.

Mine isn't coming through in a block at the parting but in streaks. I have dark hair and it kind of looks like silver highlights. Mine is In a long bob.

I'm 38, don't think it has aged me.

[Winniethepooer]

Personally i think grey hair ages people.
Personally i will continue to spend a ridiculous anount of money on my hair.

But, grey hair will always,look better tben badly dyed hair... just my opinion.

[Legallybitdim]

I decided to take the plunge couldn t stand dying it brown any longer. Had it cut very short. It came through dark grey on top and white round the sides and front. The white looked nice, but the grey didn't suit me. So, bleached it all pure white. Love it. Never ever thought it would look right, it was an experiment at the time. I get people complimenting me all the time now. Roots bleached by me, every 5 weeks. Use a good toner shampoo and conditioner. Now growing it again.

[Snagz]

My aunt grew her dye out and the grey looks fabulous. Shiny, pale silver grey. Wish I could dye mine that colour!

Think it took about six months for semi permanent due to finally go, and it was a bit of a weird colour for a while, her hair is bob length.

[elQuintoConyo]

I stopped dying 3 years ago. I'm about 80% white, 20% mouse. It suits me, it is in great condition, i don't have to worry about roots.

Only one friend was honestly horrified at the thought of goung grey, the rest were very supportive, including my hairdresser.

It hasn't aged me, i'm 42 and i look 42. I don't have wrinkles, i don't dress in a wolf fleece and have unkempt bed hair. Neither am i high maintenance. I just look like a 42yo who happens to have white hair.

I have an inverted bob and it took 18months to grow out completely. Hideous time - hilarious photos now i look back!

[PickAChew]

Very dark hair and fair skin here. Gave up on dying it years ago (for fun rather than to hide grey) because it was just becoming too harsh and going lighter would wash me out.

Very even salt and pepper and, when freshly cut, it's quite sparkly. My hair stylist always complements the colour.