I let my hair go grey at 38, AMA

[starsandstuff]

I stopped dying my hair at 38, I'm now 42 and it's been fully grown out for a couple of years and I love it! I sometimes see some people saying they might like to but they're unsure so AMA.

So I am dark haired but going very grey, and really struggling with it at the moment. Has anyone dyed dark hair that is going grey that silver grey colour? What's the best way to go about it? Do it make the going grey easier? Do you then get dark roots that are worse than grey roots in dark hair?

When I was thinking about it I went to a hairdresser and asked if I could dye it grey and do it that way. He said it would take a lot of bleaching and toning to get it silver, which could damage it, and as it grew out there would be dark roots, so that's why I decided to go cold turkey. But on the FB group I'm on some people do it in stages so they get grey streaks through it, or go gradually blonder, or just get highlights so there's a softer grow out line. If you're thinking about it one of the online groups is a good way to see how people go about it. Or you can get a really short pixie crop so it grows out fast - I would not have suited that or I totally would have done that!

I'm debating the high,lights route to soften the regrowth and to get used to being lighter. I really need to stop home dying as I'm itchy for a few hours after using the brand's I used to have no problem. It left me with one I could use, but that one itches last time too.

I can't bring myself to spend the time and money to get it foiled just to cover grey....and that's if I don't react to that! Are highlights different? I really don't know as have only ever home dyed. I think I need to visit the hairdresser to ask.

My DSIL went very blonde then grey. Her hair us a lovely colour, and she was really dark brown. I'm more lousy, but just sick of worrying about what it looks like and whether I'm taking risks to keep dying.

Not at all helped that my dh is 45 and only has grey in his eyebrows. Or that my best friend who's 42 has zero grey in her hair. It's not fair...

Urgh.... Mousy, not lousy.
I'm definitely not lousy.

Your hair is beautiful. I'm the same age as you without any grey hairs and have been seriously considering paying to go that colour

@LarryFreakinStylinson are you me?? I am 35 and super fat, with lots of grey hair which I am letting grow out.

OP this is a perfectly timed post for me. I've used semi perm dye before but about 4 years ago decided to just let it all grow out. But when I catch sight of myself in a photo from 5 years ago (pre-child!), I am struck by how much younger I look with dark hair and I've been having a serious wobble over it!

From start to finish (as in the last of the due cut off) was just over a year, maybe 14months. But the last few months the ends were so faded anyway. After the first couple of months it's honestly fine. People around you get a little fascinated by it but that's ok!

I came across a pic a couple of months ago from a few years ago and my hair was long and really dark then and I also had a wee wobble! But then I remembered a) it's not just the hair making me look younger - I actually was 5 years younger then! And b) if I dyed it again it would look like that for exactly one week...and then all the hideousness of maintenance would start all over again so I knew it wouldn't be worth it. Occasionally I have dreams where I dye it and I'm always annoyed in them for undoing all the hard work and I'm relieved when I wake up

newnameallround Has anyone dyed dark hair that is going grey that silver grey colour

Yes that's what I did. It was dyed a mid brown and I bleached it platinum blonde in one go - or rather my hairdresser did. She then toned it to silver and I use purple shampoo and conditioner every day to keep it silver rather than dirty blonde

BUT it's short so damage wasn't a concern. Not 100% it's something i'd do to long hair.

My roots were silver when it was brown and looked terrible. When it was highlighted blonde a couple of years ago the roots were steely grey so I knew I was quite grey. I was worried the roots would be v dark coming through the silver/bleach but it's actually fine and has looked far better than I thought it would.

Turns out i'm far greyer than I thought. The whole idea was to find out what colour I am naturally as i'd totally lost track. I'm quite surprised how grey I've gone in the 10 yrs since I last saw it natural.

My hair was coloured dark brown and I just gritted my teeth and grew it out. Last dye was November and I got a longe pixie cut in June. The last month or so was hard

Gorgeous hair OP. I’m in the middle of growing mine out at the moment and have about 3-4 inches of grey roots and the rest blonde. Had it cut into a chin length bob today to get rid of a lot of the blonde and I’m happy with the result. I was considering some highlights to soften the regrowth line but don’t think I’m going to need to do it after all. Hopefully another six months or do and I can get rid of the rest of the blonde

Your hair is beautiful, OP. If I thought mine would look like that, I'd almost be tempted to take the plunge... I've had grey hairs since I was about 15, and started dying in my mid-20s when my roots became grey. Am 36 now so would be completely grey were it not for the good people at L'Oreal. My Dad's sisters all went grey really young as well, so I know who to blame

My hair is probably my best feature, though - long and dark brown and in fairly good condition - and I'm quite attached to it. But I hate the faff of having to dye it every few weeks.

I suppose, for the transition phase, one could use a semi-permanent dye for a few months, and then just let that fade out once enough had grown that there wouldn't be a really harsh line?

I've toyed with the non permanent option but I've read that the red tones are really stubborn and don't fade when the rest do.
It's the same reason you can end up ginger if you use a dye stripper. The red stains the hair.
I dye mine a light golden brown and yet often end job with a gingery pale brown.

Your hair is BEAUTIFUL. I'd let mine go grey if it looked like that!

I've been going grey since my 20ies. I've dyed it at various points, but leaving it now. My dad was white by the time he was 22 so it was inevitable. My sister is a few years younger and greyer than me but still dying.

I like it, it's fine and quite funky. Tbh I never really gave it any thought, I just decided not to dye it and now it seems to be seen as a bit of a statement in various places.

Mine is naturally going grey too but I never started dying it! I kind of never realised nearly everyone did....

I didnt really have spare money to throw at hair on such a regular basis. Or if I did would rather do other things with it!

I have requested to join to fb group you suggested. I hope this will keep me motivated.... My eldest said the other day 'mummy has hair like a skunk'..... oh dear

Started going grey in my 20s. I've not dyed my hair. Lots of people think that I'm much older than I am. I hate the fact that men don't seem to dye their hair when they age. How many times have you seen a grey haired man, standing next to a woman with obviously dyed hair ! I spend the money and time I save on my hobbies. However, I don't have the type of job where I need to try to look younger.

My hair starting silvering at thirteen, it was entirely silver at twenty-five. :P

Beat you. I did it at 37. Although I don't have grey. I have white with light brown.

Looks beautiful @starsandstuff ! Can see why you stuck with it :)

Wow I'm 42 as well and my hair as pretty much majority grey now but I do colour it dark brown. I'm wondering if blonde would be a better option. Can grey hair be coloured blonde?

Wow! Firstly, your hair looks absolutely beautiful! And secondly, massive well done to you!
I'm naturally very dark yet the grey is through in a few days. It's exactly as you described having to fit in dying it so often. I use a natural dye to try and minimise the damage. I'd love to be brave enough to let it go fully grey but I think I'd look more like a skunk with black and white stripes than some stunning grey bombshell like yourself!