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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To let myself go grey

58 replies

sunshine244 · 12/02/2026 19:27

I hate hairdressers and always have done. I'm neurodivergent and can't stand the noise and the need for random chat. My hairdresser is lovely but I just find it awkward and a sensory nightmare. I've had the same issue every other hairdresser too. I have a similar loathing for the idea of going for a massage or getting my nails done (neither of which I've ever done).

I'm now mid 40s and the greys are starting to come through. Apart from issues with stray course hairs sticking up noticeably sometimes I don't really mind. I'd much rather have greys than deal with hairdresser more often or faff with home dying kits.

However there's only one other person I know my age or up to 60s that's not dying their hair and it does make them look much older. I also worry I'll not be seen as professional as although I work in the charitable sector everyone my age seems to dye their age.

Yabu - force myself to consider hair dye

Yanbu - go grey and ignore everyone elses opinion

OP posts:
ImPamDoove · 12/02/2026 19:41

A home box dye really couldn’t be easier.

But go grey if you want to. You won’t be alone as lots of women do it nowadays. I’m too vain; I think I’ll be getting mine dyed until I’m very old.

Coffeetimes3 · 12/02/2026 19:41

Why is embracing the grey only acceptable for short hair?!

WallaceinAnderland · 12/02/2026 19:40

I'm the same as you about hairdressers so I've been dyeing my hair at home for years just using a box dye. It's quick, easy, looks great and is much cheaper than a salon anyway.

I think embracing the grey is fine if you have shorter hair. Which means more frequent trips to the hairdressers to get it cut. I take it you wear your hair long?

LightYearsAgo · 12/02/2026 19:37

Coffeetimes3 · 12/02/2026 19:34

I know plenty of women who just embrace the grey. I'm one of them as well.

Honestly, sometimes you have to ask yourself the question, would a man worry about this?

I resent having to conform to illogical things because I'm a woman.

I'm afraid I find the idea of a person's natural hair colour being 'unprofessional' utterly ridiculous

I have to agree with this, who thinks grey hair is unprofessional?

Coffeetimes3 · 12/02/2026 19:34

I know plenty of women who just embrace the grey. I'm one of them as well.

Honestly, sometimes you have to ask yourself the question, would a man worry about this?

I resent having to conform to illogical things because I'm a woman.

I'm afraid I find the idea of a person's natural hair colour being 'unprofessional' utterly ridiculous

GreenAppleAndALilSalt · 12/02/2026 19:33

Eh, I’ve been going grey since my mid-twenties. I really don’t care, and I can’t be bothered to keep up with the maintenance, cost and chemicals of dyeing it.

2old4thispoo · 12/02/2026 19:32

I voted YANBU but personally I will be having highlights until the very end!

Catza · 12/02/2026 19:31

Really depends on how much grey you have. I am maybe only 10-15% grey on a pretty dark base and it doesn't look hood. However, I have recently bleached my hair and am using grey toner and it looks amazing. If you are more than 60% grey, it can look quite striking especially if you use toner over that at home.

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