Women who let their hair go grey

[CJ2010]

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?

Is there any way of digging up the zombie OP to check her hair colour now?

Anyway, I think my greying temples look distinguished

Oh you are all being so polite. Why do they let themselves appear washed out and aged? Perhaps it's because they judge themselves and worth beyond that of appearing youthful to satisfy others. I bet the same ladies go out without makeup on or brushing the biscuit crumbs from around their mouths. In fact I know we do. 44 and a grey blonde. I also don't go to the gym, don't buy designer brands And have the antithesis of an elegant house. My kids wear t shirts shorts and trainers everywhere everyday. Often with unbrushed hair Including at school. My husband doesn't have an enormous penis a six pack or a designer midlife crisis. And our dog hasn't been bathed for months. Oh and I also wear big knickers more often than not these days, especially the washed out grey versions and almost never with a matching bra. But here's the clincher I'm happy - I'm happier now than when I hid my greys and held my stomach in. The husband doesn't seem to mind much either. Maybe the question would be better posed as why do women dye there hair instead of growing grey naturally?

I am in my 50s. You have to stop covering the grey at some point. It starts to look weird if you don't.

1. Some people don't think getting old is the worst thing in the world.
2. Some people look wonderful with grey hair.
3. Some people who dye their hair make a pigs ear of it and it looks far worse than being grey.
4. Some people physically can't dye their hair.

I respect people choices but I don't understand it. Surely you want to look as good as you can?

Do you want all women to conform to the patriarchy's ideal of a woman? To value women because of their appearance not their abilities or intellect?

Why?

My family just do not go gray until 70s just saying as I do not need to colour my hair and have not one white or gray hair.
But it's personal preference

But look at T. May? I think she should stop dying hers gray and let the natural red and horns come through .

But the bottom line for me is that unless I look good I feel like a slob. If you have a good hairdresser coloured hair can look very natural, packet home dye only looks good if you are lucky. I just have slightly fairer and slightly warmer than my own colour high and low lights, so no roots. In an organisation of 150 female employees I often get compliments from colleagues, so it is not a male linked thing. Another more senior colleague who is the same age as me is usually thought of as being a lot older, sometimes our appearances are compared with the view expressed that she does not present a good image of our organisation. She has grey hair and dresses for comfort not for style. the business we work in has a care home - so not exactly trendsville.

If you have a good hairdresser coloured hair can look very natural

On me it results in puffy face and chunks of dandruff like mounds that itch like crazy and weep and red scaly skin

sometimes our appearances are compared with the view expressed that she does not present a good image of our organisation

So sod intelligence, hard work and compassion it is all about image. No wonder care homes get bad press

I like that women are embracing it and kinda saying "fuck you" to this youth obsessed society. It does make people look older as it's a colour associated with old age. But it can look really good. I also like the craze at the moment for older women with pink/blue/purple hair. Fuck you society!
Men look good with it too. Matt le blanc suits it.

I respect people choices but I don't understand it. Surely you want to look as good as you can?

Speaking for myself, I want to look as kind as I can. I want to look as intelligent as I can. I want to look as approachable and responsible and hardworking as I can.

But looking as good as I can is very low on my list- and I am not sure looking as young as I can features at all. "Old woman" simply doesn't have enough bad connotations for me, I have known too many old women who were excellent role models and I shall be happy to join their ranks.

I have gone grey. It does make me look older but I don't give a shit. I could not be bothered dying it anymore. I have naturally very dark hair so I would only get two weeks of looking OK before the white stripe appeared on my scalp. So when it's obvious I was dying it why bother. I'm 48, hair goes grey, so what. It's in much better condition now and with all the colour gone, looks great. I've not read all the posts and imagine the OP was just on to flame things but I've found going grey quite liberating.

What a nasty thought to have about other women's appearance. They'll have the last laugh because women who've been using dark pigmented chemicals for long periods are at much greater risk of developing cancer.

The wish to avoid carcinogenic chemicals aside, I have greys that cannot be covered by box dyes because the colour doesn't hold. I've also tried henna and after 5 hours they were still white.

So yes I COULD go tot he hairdresser but I can't afford to go every few weeks to get them covered up?

What do you suggest CJ2010?

Some women are allergic to hair dye!!!!

Bloody hell- what century is the OP living in? Life's too fucking short mate, believe me!!

This century but 2012.

I have quite light blonde hair and the "grey" is just making my hair lighter (I think the hairs are more white than grey). It looks nice anyway and at 50 I have no intention of colouring it.

Fortunately, we've moved on a lot since then

Surely you want to look as good as you can?

Not even on my radar.

I don't brush my hair, own a handbag, wear makeup, buy clothes unless I have worn out everything
I am more interested in hammers and crow bars than high heel and cosmetics.

I think grey hair looks awesome. I'll be fully embracing mine (which is very slowly coming through). Even the young uns are dyeing their hair grey, so it must be cool . What other people do with their hair is their prerogative so YABU.

Surely you want to look as good as you can?

Does this also apply to Botox, facelifts, fillers, etc?
Do we ask these questions of men?

I love grey hair. I think it's beautiful and some woman just really rock it. I also love it when older women have really short cuts. Just gorgeous in my opinion. My hair is going grey and I have stopped highlighting it. It has just changed texture and no longer dyes nicely. Plus all those chemicals.... Op handy and blood rude.

Doh... Meant to say OP yadbu and bloody rude 😁