To let myself go grey

I’m 36 and letting myself go grey 😅 more through lack of knowledge rather than an active decision. I LOVE grey hair in colour but the texture is horrendous. Apparently I need blow outs which sounds expensive. DS is 8 and has had a few grey hairs since he was like 4…!

That’s funny! My mother wasn’t happy about having a grey-haired daughter, and she has never dyed her hair and used to wax lyrical about aging gracefully!

Same here.

Dyed hair aged me. I look much better with my hair greying as it should - if anything it makes me look younger as artificially coloured hair can be aging. And in any event, I am happy to look like the middle-aged woman I am. Nothing wrong with getting older. Not everyone gets the opportunity.

I tried it and quite liked it to start with, then my grey started coming through in weird patches so now looks like I’ve had a bad dye job (ironically!)
I’m booked in to get it coloured in two weeks

I'm 46 and have loads of grey and haven't coloured my hair in 2 years. I really like it. I agree with others that obviously dyed hair can look harsh and ageing

Tell me more about these grey toners though....

I’m under 60 and stopped colouring my hair 2 years ago. All my hair is natural colour now.
It’s still mostly dark at the back but I have some lovely grey bits framing my face now.
I don’t care if people think it ages me. I’m the age I am and if someone doesn’t like it they’re welcome to avert their eyes.
The only person who has commented negatively and expressed she dislikes it is my mother who still dyes her hair in her 80s but hates to admit her age or be thought of as old. I think having a child with grey hair makes her think people will suss out she’s not in her 40s 🤣

Nothing ages people like dyed hair, so many think granny brown looks good when it just brings their aging face to the forefront.

I’m mid sixties and yet to embrace the grey. I have it mid/darkish brown with a few highlights. My complexion suits this colour.

I hate the stripe. I don't have much grey currently, use casting colour semi perm as couple of times a year which fades out, however if I had highlights or permanent colour, I think my existing grey would be more noticeable at the roots as it grows out.

My ex boss went completely grey during Covid times (she was grey before but couldn't be bothered with dyeing it at home). She was 40/41 and looked awesome and no one ever commented.
I am/was strawberry blonde so I am going white and quite like my "super blondes" but sometimes box dye the back of my hair a light blonde as I mostly wear it up and it can look a bit mismatched. Only do it for my own preference though and never particularly my professional look. My professional brain is inside my head and not outside!

I stopped dying my hair in 2014 when I was 43- due to a sensitive scalp. Now at 54 I am still the only one of my group of friends that doesn’t dye their hair and it doesn’t bother me now, it did for a couple of years at the start. I’ve never worried what others think.

Bizarre - I've never heard it suggested that grey hair is "unprofessional". Quite the opposite impression - women who go with their natural hair colour look more mature and hence more experienced, professional, and aren't basing their look on what is superficially appealing to men.

There is a huge difference between hair colour and hair style, of course. Your hair can be neat in any colour, though it's easier to achieve with short hair.

It depends on your natural hair colour, your complexion and the shade of grey you are. I let my roots grow out in my last pregnancy and, frankly, they looked pretty awful because they were a kind of harsh, steely grey that made my complexion (fair, warm) look grey/green almost and made me look weird.

I just use henna. Simple, no worry about chemicals, accuracy or hair damage, and it’s covered all the greys while conditioning my hair and making it absolutely shine. It looks like me and my complexion looks normal not sallow and ill.

Why don’t you try doing it at home before you write it off as a “faff”, then you’ll be able to make an informed decision.

I don't know what to say really, I've never had job where people spent time considering their coworkers hair😁

Is it a charity thing?

Going grey is alot more common than it used to be. Do what feels best for you.

Have your hair how you like, it is nobody's else's business.

I'm early 40s, very dark hair that is going steadily more grey. I don't dye it - I had highlights for a while but got bored, I'd rather be salt and pepper.

My boss is about my age and has considerably more grey, but dyes the lot. The inch or two of grey roots before she does it again always looks worse than if she left well alone and was grey all over, imo (not that I'd ever dream of saying so to her)

That doesn't look "unprofessional" though? I'm sure that the flyaway bits aren't as obvious to other people, particularly if you're using serum?

I think it's interesting - it really can make you look younger. I think it's the contrast really. Often a lot of dye jobs look very ageing.

Go for it. You don't have to dye your hair and I doubt it'll impact your job!

My Auntie let herself go grey before she turned 50 and she looks stunning. It somehow makes her look younger.
Do it!

So are there office conversations about the connection between hair colour and professionalism? What's making you equate the two?

This, x 💯.
People's hair goes grey. If you don't want to dye it, don't. I let my hair go grey and it's not hindered me professionally or socially.

The most professional and professional looking woman I know is going grey naturally but ultimately it's whatever will make you feel good.