Fed up with dying my hair. To go grey or not to go grey?

[TheSweetLittleBunny]

I'm 43 and I'm soooo fed up of dying my hair. If I left it, I would be completely white (not grey) on the crown - like a streak, and the rest is mostly black with the odd white strand in it. I wear my hair in chin length natural bob style, and I am brown skinned, so if I were to completely leave it,the result could be quite striking - if I wore the right clothes and make up. On the other hand, I could end up looking like an eccentric middle aged hippy on a bad day!

Grey hair does not seem to be very popular choice for women who are grey in their 30's or 40's does it? The thing is when you start dyeing your hair, when do you stop? Do I really want jet black hair when I'm 80?

[cornsilkpyrotechnicqueen]

I think well looked after grey hair is very glam.

[ItsAllaBitNoisy]

I'm almost completely grey, and I'm 37. I'd love to stop dying it, but I'm too chicken.

[TheSweetLittleBunny]

Yeah, me too

[Amandoh]

I think, if we're honest, it doesn't matter how well looked after grey hair is it'll still make the person look older than if it was coloured.

As your regrowth is so light perhaps you could think about going much lighter. If you had it lightened to a blond similar to the new white/grey hair then the roots would not be as noticeable and you wouldn't have to have them retouched as often. Would blond be an option with your skin tone?

There's an article here that might be of interest to you.

[ib]

Me too, very fed up but would have big streaks like you. I suspect it could look good if I was the type to be impeccably groomed every day but I'm not so would look dreadful most days.

[RoseOfTheOrient]

Oh me too! but at 40, I don't feel ready to be grey yet...and in that article, all the women mentioned were Hollywood stars who have hairdressers on hand to make sure they look great every hour of the day or night, grey hair or not! I know I would just look like a curly headed grey kitchen mop if I let my hair grow out

[peanutbutterkid]

I am 41, going grey, I'm sure it makes me look 'old'.
On the other hand, I am not fat(!) Slim and pretty fit, instead. Which frankly, I think is quite an achievement in itself (smug emoticon).

I feel like a rebel for letting myself go grey. I'm not very confident person, but I feel perversely smug for being bold enough to be myself and not have to reach for hair dye.

Plus, all these hair dyes, can they possibly be good for you? They have to be bad for the environment, too (if only in the packaging and manufacturing). I couldn't stomach contributing to all that on regular basis, just to appease my vanity.

None of that is meant as a comment on other people's choices, mind, but I know it's looked down upon when a woman lets herself go grey before the age of about 60, and it shouldn't be.

Of course MEN can go grey if they like at 40, almost nobody sneers at that, do they?

[honestfriend]

I think grey hair looks great on younger women, but makes older women look old!

I know a 38 yr old with very short grey hair and she has a very pretty face and looks great. On the other hand, I know a 50+ woman-who has a great figure but looks decidedly old with her grey/white bob.

The usual advice is to blend grey in with low lights and highlights, but if you are dark skinned with black hair this is not going to work for you really.

If I was you, I'd keep dying the streak!

[Wuxiapian]

I'm 30 and the greys have been coming thick and fast the past 2/3 years.

I've decided to grow old gracefully.

I know that once you start dyeing, it's a non-stop palava.

Luckily, I'm blessed with (some) good genes, people think I'm 18/20.

I'm with you, peanut!

[nkf]

My thoughts this morning as I found some grey hairs. I have decided never to go grey. I'm not sure if I need to start dyeing yet but I think it is ageing. And - to be honest - men don't look that hot with white hair either. They just kid themselves that they do.

If you want to stay grey, I think a short cut and a silvery look to the grey works best. I think there are shampoos and conditioners that do highlight the silver. But I also think you need to have a very unlined face for it to work.

[soopermum1]

how about gradually going lighter with some lighter highlights? my mum (an incredible looking 62 year old) had dark hair and dark skin. she still dyes it but has honey coloured chunky highlights, which i think look great. if you get then decide to go for it, the effect might not look so harsh as you grow out the dark bits.

[wonderwoman73]

Personally I'm going grey and I can't be bothered to dye it (I'm 35). I think the key is to go for a definite style, long greying hair is way too hippy!

If you do decide to dye I'd consider the health side quite carefully when choosing which dye and some of the main comercial dark dyes (black and dark browns) have a chemical in that's been linked to bladder cancer. If you want a less toxic alternative try the ones from health food shops but they don't last as long.

[TheSweetLittleBunny]

Yes I use Natratint and have done for a while. They're great. I dabbled with henna and indifo for a while because I wanted to be totally au naturelle - but it was so messy and took so long, I couldn't help reaching for the Natratint again.

Anyway - I have decided my cut off is 50. Until then I will keep dying my hair, and at 50 I will go for a totally mad Zandra Rhodes look. I'm watching Loose WOmen on TV at the mo - I bet they all dye their hair

[TheSweetLittleBunny]

Henna and indigo that should read