To be sad at going grey already

I started going grey at 17! I'm 27 now and have lots of greys, I just dye my hair as close to my natural colour as possible.

I felt like you at first, I've gradually come round to liking my greys, although they can be a bit wiry. I did go a bit mad with John Frieda's blonde spray-on bleach when I noticed my increasing number of greys (summer 2020), which I'm currently growing out.

It really helps to see it being normalised, I especially like Keanu's girlfriend's hair.

I've had to embrace it, also allergic to dye. I gave up on highlights a few years ago as it was just a waste of money as it wasn't hiding anything anymore! Grew them all out and am now about 50% grey, I use a purple shampoo and they greys are more silver, I have two big streaks and below shoulder length hair. I really like it now and have avoided the 'badger stripe' of growing out all over dye.

I'm in the same situation (mid 30s, lots of grey hairs, allergic to hair dye) and I know you've said that you don't want to do this but I have discounted all alternatives so I'm just going with it. What's hilarious to me is that my mum and gran still dye their hair (mid 50s and mid 70s respectively) and I've decided to let whatever happens happen. Just thought I'd add another post on to show you're not alone.

Yeah I know I said HE looks 3-4 years younger even with grey/white hair, but that's because for a start, I had only ever seen him like that. Plus, grey hair is more ageing on women (unfortunately.)

@AHungryCaterpillar

YANBU to be upset, as you are still quite young. As people have said though, it's not uncommon to start going grey in yours 30s. I didn't get my first grey hair til my late 40s, but I know many people who started getting grey hairs at 28-35!

Just dye it like many other people do. I absolutely dye mine, and always will. Like fuck will I let the grey show - ever! If others want to, then good luck to them. Even though I don't mind looking my age, I refuse to look older.

And yes, going grey as you're getting older IS ageing. There's a couple both aged 58 in my street, and I have known them 5 or 6 years since they moved in. So since they were 52. He has always had grey-ish/white-ish hair, and SHE was brunette. Looked natural too as she has brown eyes and olive skin. She looked roughly her age; maybe 3-4 years younger. HE (even with the grey/white hair, also looked 3-4 years younger.)

A few months ago, she decided to 'embrace the grey' and stop dying it. She looks like she has aged 15 years. When I first saw her the other week (walking down the road with him,) I thought he was with his mum! I am gobsmacked at how much she has aged with her hair grey now.

As I said, no WAY will I go grey. The blonde is staying!

My DS started going grey at 16, so it could be worse!!

I stopped dying in lockdown I am in my 50s

I'm not mad on it but my roots came through very quickly I probably look older but I'm past caring

I dyed for years' since late 20s

I started greying in my early teens. You can't imagine how bad it is to have teenage acne and greying hair. I was very dark but I'm now a blonde.

Are you allergic to all dyes? What about semi permanents? Henna on white hair does tend to have a bright orange effect. The "dark hennas" have other stuff added to them - sometimes not entirely healthy stuff I understand.

I'm mid 40s and nit going grey but friends with dark hair had greys from mid 30s. Its is no biggie. Dye it, or don't. Men lose hair in early 20s. Look at Prince William. My friend is mid 30s and he's gone full on buzz cut bald due to his bald patch being so big. Just get over it. You will look back at 33 being young.

People were claiming that natural grey hair makes you look years younger than dyed and guilted people for colouring their hair and not embracing their 'authentic self' - please!

I would say you are very lucky to have got to 33.
Dd going grey since she was 16 .

I started going grey at 25.

I am 42 now and honestly, I am shit at remembering dying my hair so I know I am totally grey now as I leave it far too long in between and what grows is all grey/white.

A few people I know have a stoped dying their hair and have gone totally grey but it’s not for me and it never will be. I’d feel like an old lady.

First grey hair at 17. Had very thick hair so couldn't really tell until it became more obvious in my early thirties. Dyed it for twenty odd years. Stopped dyeing four years ago. Now have waist-length silver and white hair.

If I was your age there would be no way I would embrace it but everyone is different. I'm embracing it now because I can't be bothered with the dyeing - very dark hair so the roots would show after four days. Having said that, won't rule out dyeing again.

I've seen posters on here talk about colour enhancing shampoos and conditioners so maybe this would be worth a go?

When did your mum go grey? It tends to be genetic. My mum started greying in her teens. I started going grey at 17! I have dark hair too so now I dye it.

I’m the same age as OP and 60% grey with previously dark brown hair. I tried the blonde highlights thing but it looked ridiculous so I’ve embraced it and now all the colour is out it’s fine! Can’t be doing with dying roots every 2-3 weeks! I still look my age!

I'm 33 and going grey, I'm not really that bothered if I'm honest.

Could you get away with bleach highlights or extra grey highlights to blend in? In my very limited experience dark dyes seem to cause more allergic reactions than light. I’m going grey now and I call it silver highlights, I quite like it tbh.

I’m a little older than you (38) and have decided to stop dyeing my grey hair. I get how you feel! I have been very up and down about it.

But more and more people in their 30s are choosing not to dye and normalising what is very normal. I started slowly going grey at about 31/32.

Vitamin b12 deficiencies can cause some grey, but mostly it’s genetic.

Sali Hughes looks great with her greys! In fact, she’s allergic to a particular type of hair dye like you, so she went all in with her greys and had the brown hair dyed grey so she’s be 100% (so she’s not allergic to whatever the grey dye is).