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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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
pollymere · 15/05/2017 18:29

My Mum went grey beautifully. It started looking like expensive highlights and then like those girls who dye it. It was silky soft too. It meant by the time she actually looked old lady grey, she'd done it so gradually she'd have looked weird dyeing it. It does suit some people. I'm so blonde that I probably won't go grey anyway...

stereolove · 15/05/2017 18:31

With the greatest respect op, fuck right off.
My greys or those of other women, are none of your business. Personally I prefer my hair in it's current condition, without bleaching, or adding chemicals. And frankly, I'm 36 - I don't care to look 19 in hair years. A few greys add some nuance and I actually quite like them.

Cantthinkofabloodyusername · 15/05/2017 18:33

I am 33 and have totally natural grey hair. I dyed it for years but last year decided that it really wasn't worth it! I shaved my head for charity and started fresh! I now have about 6 months growth and am constantly getting asked where I get my hair coloured!! Wink It is a gorgeous pewter colour and I have never been happier!

Sparklingbrook · 15/05/2017 18:33

Stereo OP is long gone.

makadan600 · 15/05/2017 18:38

It's all the rage now grey hair. Even the teens are going for grey hair look.

simiisme · 15/05/2017 18:39

I don't mind what colour people have their hair, but on me (and some others) dark colours are horribly ageing.
My hair has naturally gone a bright, silvery white. I feel very lucky. I have it in a very short pixie cut and people are usually complimentary about it.
Not having the non-stop upkeep of roots showing through is really liberating. Thinking of going pink for the summer, like I did last year.
I'm 50 now, but I thank all the pretty young things for popularising grey, pastel and white styles as it makes those hair colours less about 'old' people.

Persistentdonor · 15/05/2017 18:39

Rapidly approaching 66. SO RELIEVED I am not yet "very old"!! Wink

My natural hair colour was proper black. I had white wings in my 30's and tried to dover increasing amounts until last year. The truth is it never looked a good colour, and mainly looked bloody awful.

I hate the current grey, but at least it just looks sad, not ghastly!! Sad

Persistentdonor · 15/05/2017 18:40

cover.... oops!

DaveTheDesigner · 15/05/2017 18:42

Isn't it the 'in thing' with young women at the moment??? Can look great.

Shockers · 15/05/2017 18:43

I had lowlights put in my greying hair last Friday. I hate it and wish I'd left it as it was.

goose1964 · 15/05/2017 18:44

We can't all afford to colour our hair regularly,

Sparklyhousedust · 15/05/2017 18:49

Just decided last week not to bother re colouring mine. My ds said he likes it and I can't be arsed.

CdeS · 15/05/2017 18:54

After years of colouring, I decided to let it all go grey for my 49th birthday (the regrowth is a difficult phase) and I get so many compliments! Best decision ever... It would be interesting to understand why it bothers you so much though...

melissasummerfield · 15/05/2017 18:55

YABU

Have you considered that some of these women may have had chemotherapy and their hair has grown back grey? This is what happened to my mum, i would hate to think that there are more judgy vile people like you out there wondering why she has let herself go....

lilnutter · 15/05/2017 18:57

I swatted DH's hand away as he helpfully tried to pull out a white hair! I can't wait to have loads of them!!

I think it looks superGrin

Unhurried · 15/05/2017 18:59

OP, are you a hairdresser touting for business?

DoubleNegativePanda · 15/05/2017 18:59

To answer the actual question of why a woman would intentionally choose not to artificially cover her changing hair color:

My reasons are none of your fucking business. Just as the stick up your arse is none of mine.

Sparklingbrook · 15/05/2017 19:02

They posted in 2012 Unhurried, they may have been back then. Grin

patheticpanic · 15/05/2017 19:02

My hair is going grey, I'd rather that than have some brassy blonde or a blue rinse. What's it got to do with you?

DoubleNegativePanda · 15/05/2017 19:04

Fucking hell. Can't believe I got annoyed by a five-year old Zombie thread. Clearly time for Gin

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 15/05/2017 19:05

ZOMBIE THREAD FROM 2012. OP IS LONG GONE.

ZaZathecat · 15/05/2017 19:14

Lots of Zombies around today, is this an apocalypse?

FurryLittleTwerp · 15/05/2017 19:17

I stopped dyeing mine in my late 40s, now early 50s. It looks great & I get a lot of compliments - I have a modern style that is trimmed every 6 weeks or so.

I just became so fed up with only being really happy with the colour for the second week after dyeing.

Week one - too dark & "flat"
Week two - looks great
Week three - faded a little, roots just showing
Weeks 4-6 (depending on how often I could get round to going ) - increasingly faded, roots increasingly awful

I hated the fact it faded even faster in sunshine, in chlorine & especially when I went to Iceland & swam in very minerally water - just awful!

susanboozan · 15/05/2017 19:19

How long does it take to grow out if you have a short bob cut?

I want to go au naturel now. Am sick and tired of all the maintenance that colouring brings with it. Thanks.

Lieveke77 · 15/05/2017 19:20
  1. I totally agree with you why look older if you dont have too?
  2. Sometimes it better to keep your opinions to yourself vs sharing them (with 5M mumsnetters!) everyone is entitled to their own ways and opinions Smile