Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Women who let their hair go grey

836 replies

CJ2010 · 13/09/2012 10:36

I don't understand why women, except the very old, say age 70 plus do not cover their grey hair?

I know a couple of women who have just turned 40 who are letting their grey come through and are just leaving it. It makes them
look so much older and washed out. I don't understand it really. I appreciate that some women are into the 'natural' look and are not fussed with make up and hair dye but I think by not having colour on your hair you age yourself dramatically.

Grey hair looks so wrong on younger women. AIBU?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
user93483098350593850000 · 14/05/2017 22:08

I can see plastic surgery going the same way as hair dye one day. Women will be having a go at each other "I just can't believe she wouldn't see a surgeon about those wrinkles..."

Miniwookie · 14/05/2017 22:14

style My mum and both my Nan's have beautiful silver hair. The only thing they do is use purple shampoo. Their hair before they wenter grey was very dark. That's what gives the best silver colour.

PacificDogwod · 14/05/2017 22:19

I just don't understand why people care about what other people do with their hair?
Why would you allow yourself to look quite so vacuous and judgemental?
It makes you look to superficial and uptight. I don't understand it really.
I understand that some people are more insecure about themselves and feel the need to judge others, but I think by being so all out judgemental you make yourself look like a twat.

Being a twat looks bad on anybody at any age. AIBU?

PickAChew · 14/05/2017 22:50

My hair is a lot more silvery than when this thread started! I was growing dye out, at the time - the deep plummy red I loved had begun to get a bit garish because the amount of white in my hair was increasing rapidly.

And who says grey hair looks awful short? This is freshly cut and instantly destroyed by a gale, but I love the way my white hairs sparkle in my dark hair - and so does my hairdresser!

Women who let their hair go grey
MariposaNieve · 15/05/2017 10:04

Younger women and teens are dying their hair grey now.

YABU. It's not your hair, what's the issue? Beauty is subjective.

scaryteacher · 15/05/2017 10:19

I grew my dye out, and it looked awful as my natural colour has darkened over the years, and I looked like my Gran. If my hair were to go a lovely silver, then I wouldn't be dying it.

TerfwithaNerf · 15/05/2017 10:27

My all natural hair at 36.

I fucking love it, looks ace with my pale skin and blue eyes. And it's so good to not have to worry about dye anymore.

There are at least 10 naturally grey parents at my DC's school. It makes me happy to see people shunning the notion that you 'must' cover up your natural colour. The more people who go grey at a younger age, the sooner we'll stop associating grey with granny.

Women who let their hair go grey
PickAChew · 15/05/2017 10:28

That is gorgeous, terf.

user94567433 · 15/05/2017 10:30

Looks good, Terf I am currently transitioning my hair - growing out the dye. I too am pale with blue eyes!

I think a lot of people who get strangely insulting about people having grey are really reacting to their own fears about ageing and projecting it onto others.

It makes no sense for someone to get so worked-up about someone else's choices, unless there's an underlying reason for it.

QuietNameChange · 15/05/2017 10:45

Terfwi

That looks great :)

TerfwithaNerf · 15/05/2017 10:47

Ta all.

The best thing about it is that my old hair was really dark and one toned, I always envied women with nice highlights. Now it looks like my hair has been expensively highlighted and it's cost me nothing 😂. Win!

user94567433 · 15/05/2017 10:49

It does look highlighted Terf hope I can get mine to look so good!

Oblomov17 · 15/05/2017 11:07

Some greys are nice, some are not so flattering. Some of the silvers or whites are very nice. Some of the other greys are just 'meh'. Some are awful. Depends if you can be bothered to keep up the hassle of dying it, I guess.

I don't have any currently, so I may feel differently once I get there.

Oliversmumsarmy · 15/05/2017 11:07

I am allergic to all hair dyes. My hair isn't silver it is mouse brown with blonde and the occasional black strands of hair. If I lift up my hair between my ears and temple it is coming through grey but by the time it gets longer it seems to blend with the mouse brown and blond.

It is a mess. I used to be dark auburn. No idea where this colour has come from.

I would really like to dye it fuschia red

user93852244 · 15/05/2017 11:09

If you want a bright colour like fuchsia red Olivers you could try Manic Panic dyes. I believe they are safe and 100% vegan too.

Troubleinstore · 15/05/2017 11:19

'I don't understand why women, except the very old, say age 70 plus do not cover their legs?
I know a couple of women who have just turned 40 who are letting their legs out and are just leaving them. It makes them
look so much older and washed out. I don't understand it really. I appreciate that some women are into the 'natural' look and are not fussed with make up and hair dye but I think by not having a cover on your legs you age yourself dramatically.
Un covered legs looks so wrong on younger women. AIBU?'

How does that sound? Stupid right?

Unless you are beyond perfect you have no place to comment.
HTH Grin

YouWhatMate · 15/05/2017 11:27

I don't understand why women, except the very old, say age 70 plus do not leave their grey hair?

I know a couple of women who have just turned 40 who are dying their hair because they're going grey. It makes them look so much younger and more naive. I don't understand it really. I appreciate that some women are into the 'childish' look and are not fussed with age and wisdom, but I think by putting colour in your hair you make yourself look dramatically younger.

Dyed hair looks so wrong on younger women. AIBU?

jajabonks · 15/05/2017 11:29

@TerfwithaNerf I LOVE your hair 😍
I have lots of if random Ones and then a streak at the front (cruella de ville style) which is more of a silver tone. I love it and think it suits my pale skin better. In process of growing out the dye

FizzyGreenWater · 15/05/2017 11:31

Oooh Terf I am really hoping I get hair like your soon!

I'm mid-forties, only just started going grey. I love it - only got some round the temples and isolated hairs on top so far but I love the way it looks. It's quite soft and flattering. We'll see how it develops.

One thing I also like about seeing grey hair on women is the sense of freedom and carefree approach it implies. It's so cheering.

ExConstance · 15/05/2017 12:01

Still not convinced. If I don't wear make up and a decent bra, wear flat shoes except for trainers or see a thread of grey I just feel Meh.
I can do anything with my make up on, my myriad of highlights and low lights, and some sassy heels. If there is anyone who truly believes that facial hair is acceptable to leave untreated they have no self respect at all.

HeyHoThereYouGo657 · 15/05/2017 12:03

Perhaps they LIKE it that way .

HTH

Hmm
user94567433 · 15/05/2017 12:04

self-respect
ˌsɛlfrɪˈspɛkt/Submit
noun
pride and confidence in oneself

If you think self-respect consists of kowtowing to someone else's idea of beauty, then you have no self-respect yourself!

Maybe you'll develop a dangerous dye allergy, ExConstance - where will your self-respect come from then? Confused

HeyHoThereYouGo657 · 15/05/2017 12:04

Terf . Looks lovely

neighbourhoodwitch · 15/05/2017 12:08

Totally agree with you!

PickAChew · 15/05/2017 12:09

Do you really believe that the fine blonde fuzz I have on my cheeks is "unacceptable" ExConstance?

I'd check the fit of your judgypants. The expression they give you when they give you a wedgie is incredibly ageing.