AIMB to embrace the grey?

None of these photos are convincing me, but I do admire the bravery and no fucks given.

Pretty much what I was saying. I saw a woman recently who I used to live next to a few years ago, and she had always had darkish brown hair (was a natural brunette/dark brown eyes etc,) and she looked about 45 with the dark brown hair. (I never knew her age just guessing.)

When I saw her a few months ago, her hair was light grey all over, and I thought it made her look 15 years older. She legit looked 58-60. I was stunned. (I discovered not long ago that she was actually 53!) The grey aged her terribly.

I could not bring myself to say it looked good, because I didn't think it did. I said nothing. If she had always had hair that colour since I met her (met her 10 years ago,) that would have been one thing, but the suddenly change was dramatic. I can't see how - or why - anyone would compliment her, unless as you say/I said, the person was shocked and just wanted to be kind.

I had to go grey when I moved interstate and wouldn't be able to get mate's rates at a hairdresser anymore. Didn't like it - I'd been colouring it for decades. But once the transitional colour had grown out I got used to it, and then found (courtesy of a friend with the most gorgeous grey hair) Fudge Clean Blonde shampoo to kill off any brassy tones and give it a hint of mauve. I have thick, shoulder length wavy/slightly curly hair, and have had more compliments since going grey than in my life. So yes, do it!

And yes, weirdly, I have had several absolute strangers in the street/shops say they love the colour of my hair...apropos of nothing.

The pics of chopornot with brown hair are from 2015, 9 years ago - you think she looks 7-8 years younger so I think that’s good going!

Re the compliments thing - I’ve had strangers tell me they love my hair colour (they never did it before). I think it’s genuine - one woman wanted my hairdressers number and she is now one of his regulars and has also embraced the grey!

I was 9 years younger.....

Some people can ditch the dye and can really carry it off. I can’t, I looked terrible during lockdown. Re compliments, I have to be honest, if I bump into an acquaintance who has gone grey I tend to feel a bit startled and try and cover it up by saying “ your hair looks lovely” when I’m not sure if that’s entirely true. However, each to their own and having your roots done is a hassle but for me it’s worth it as I do it for myself and it just makes me feel better

Glad I stopped dyeing, I still miss my dark shiny hair but this is healthier and easier to deal with

@chopornot your hair looks fine grey, and it's a fairly cute and stylish look, but I have to say, you do look about 7-8 years younger on the pics where you hair is mid brown. (And I think the mid brown looks a bit better. JMO.)

I have to say also that I don't understand the people saying they get lots of compliments on their grey hair. Are random people really stopping and saying 'hey, your grey hair looks really nice?!'

And if it's people you know, are you sure they're not just saying it to be kind - if you 'embrace the grey...?' (Like when people knock 5-7 years off when guessing someone's age?) I can honestly say, I have never seen anyone look better with grey hair than they did with it dyed blonde or brown. Many people will look OK, but not better, and they will almost always look older than they did before they went grey.

JMO.

I embraced it at 43 due to developing a dye allergy. I get loads of compliments too.

Thank you 🥰
The toner my hairdresser uses is the shade ‘pearl grey’. And I’ve been using L’Oreal Professional silver shampoo/conditioner at home recently.

I'm 54 and grew out the dye over lockdown - I'm really happy that I did. No longer trapped in the cycle of root regrowth, it only ever looked perfect for about 2 weeks. I love not having the hassle and the expense! I also detest the double-standards whereby women have to eternally try to look younger than their actual age. I'm 54, so what's the problem with looking 54? It's very white at the front, with various shades as you go further back. And I have a dark streak at the front which I love. I get lots of compliments from other women - a young woman working in a carpet shop admired it today, and it led to a good conversation around expectations on women and being brave enough to be yourself.

I'm 52 and ditched the dye 9 years ago (with support of MNetters OK some said I would instantly look ancient and I should not do it ).
Yes, the grey probably makes me 100% look 52 in age. I will not be mistaken for a 30 year old. But as a PP said, I am not sure different colour hair would make me look younger either.

I have had zero regrets for stopping dyeing. Not one in 9 years.

I have had saved ££££ and hours of tedium getting it dyed, dying it myself, thinking about when to dye it, worrying if my roots were showing.
I have had numerous compliments about the colour.

A before (2015) and after (today)

Mostly people's reactions have been positive. Who has been horrified @DyddDewiSant? Is it people who also currently dye their hair?

Don't forget, you can always change your mind again.

BigBarm that is a really beautiful colour it looks so rich with real depth.

I am about 50:50 and although I use purple conditioner it doesn’t look as good as that, I think I need some sort of purple rinse to tone it down.

I embraced it at 35 - I was already around 70% grey and just couldn’t keep up with dying it as it grows too fast and my roots were incredibly obvious all the time.

Zero regrets. It’s in much better condition than it was before and I get loads of compliments on the colour, which is actually really flattering to my skin tone (very pale skin and dark blue eyes). I don’t find it to be aging. I have solid streaks of pure white, silver and pewter grey - way more interesting than my dyed colour, and more rock and roll too.

Grew mine out at the back end of last year, love my natural grey colour....I'm 38 and decided to embrace it.

I'm 40 and haven't dyed my hair for over 2 years. I'm very salt and pepper but mostly salt on top 🤣 One less job for me to do and I love my hair colour.

I embraced it a year ago. My hairdresser is a good colourist, but it was getting harder to get the right balance. To help the growing out stage he put in a few very fine highlights and a then toner. I now just have a toner when I get it cut every couple of months.
I like all the different colours and how it reacts to light - sometimes I still look dark haired, sometimes bluey silver, and sometimes quite blonde.
I’m 55 so past caring if some randomer thinks I look older. I AM older! DH loves it. And I like it because it’s perfect for my skin tone and makes my dark eyes really stand out.

So much depends on the cut. There are styles that look very dated and styles that look hip or even edgy.

Along with cut, you can look older if your cut doesn't suit your face shape.

Condition makes a difference too.

I got mine cut in a very short style and so ditched both the colour and the volume all at once. Either people are being very kind, or it actually suits me short and grey. I like it, and that's all that counts in my book.

I'm 53 and have been completely grey for about a year.
My mum hates grey hair. My sister loves my colour and wishes hers were the same (hers is a beautiful, pure white). I've had a few compliments about my colour. I much prefer it to dyeing every three weeks.l, however old it does or doesn't make me look.
Tbh I'm pretty sure my neck is what makes me look old, not my hair! 🤣

I always smile when someone says grey ages you or makes you look lazy 😀.

My cousin’s wife is 54 with mostly grey hair now and she just glows. Lovely lady worked in my office - fully grey, very well dressed and groomed and she looked amazing! As do the women I follow on instagram- all normal grey haired, well kept women, looking fabulous.

I'm the same age as you and I'm not ready to embrace the grey yet. I've only got it at the front... and it makes me look totally washed out so I'm happy to keep it dyed. I have gone a lighter shade though...

I have embraced the grey. I'm almost white now, and love it. I was very dark too, and had a moment of revelation when Ken Dodd died at 90 and I suddenly thought, 'Jesus - I'm starting to look like him, with dying my hair dark'.

My DM hates it. She's still kidding on she's blonde (now aged 86). She keeps saying 'Your hair is very aging' and I keep thinking, 'Yeah. Not as aging as the Ken Dodd look was, however'.

My hair looks better than it ever has, to be honest.

If I had a hairdresser in the family, I definitely wouldn't. I home dye and my grey gives me natural looking highlights. I go a dark blonde. My plan when I'm older is possibly rose gold. I'm old enough to remember the blue and purple rinces that pensioners got.