To grow out my grey in early 30s?

[AaronPurrSir]

I’m in my early 30s and have been getting the odd grey since my teens. Now, I’m probably around 40-60% grey.

It’s very noticeable as the rest of my hair is naturally very dark, almost black. I alternately get roots done at the salon or do them at home of time/money is tight.

I’m sick of it. So, so fucking sick of it. I get my roots done and within 10 days the flecks of grey are coming through. It’s currently been 4 weeks and I have a good 1-2cm (pic attached).

I genuinely cannot face this upkeep for the next 40+ years. I’m very lazy and fairly low-key with beauty, and this is too much hassle.

I’ve floated the idea to a few people who have reacted in sheer horror, saying “no! You’re FAR too young, it’ll age you terribly, you’ll look like an old hag” etc. But I think as long as your skin and face are in good nick, a hair colour won’t age you?

Opinions please!

I love grey hair and I’ve grown mine out. I’m 53 though - depends how you feel about the aging effects of grey. I don’t tHink it’s aging but many do. I also had very dark hair, and it limits your options. I went a lighter base colour (not too light) with some red and blonde highlights tomdisguise the grey grow in before I decided to go for full grey. If you go grey, I think you might need a very funky cut to keep it youthful.

Im sure I've seen lots of younger ladies dyeing their hair grey. It certainly won't make you look like an old hag, that's a horrible thing to say. If you're not happy with what you're currently doing, change it. How about letting it grow and see how you feel, and then you can always go back to dyeing it if your not happy with it

grey is very fashionable at the moment. now is the best time to do it. I bet you will look fabulous x

I grew mine out when I was 43 - older than you I know. People said it made me look years younger.

I’m wondering about this myself. I have the same issue and amount of grey but I just can’t keep up with it, either time wise for appointments or the money. Frankly I’d rather spend £80 on something else and it’d be monthly. I’m wondering about going very short.

Just be aware that it will be almost entirely women that are negative about it. From ‘Oh, you are brave’ to nastier jibes. I started going grey around the same time and didn’t dye it. 25 years and a lot of shit later, I’m still not sorry!

Sorry but I think grey hair ages you terribly

I’m 35 and fully grey. Started growing it out at 32 and, once I’d grown all the dye out, had my natural grey (about 50%) highlighted with bleach. I get it all toned a silvery grey.

Still takes time at the salon, but much less than it used to as roots aren’t much of a problem.

Urgh just realised its a lot more. OMG.

greendale.

If you have a really good cut, I think it can look fantastic.

There's a thread, I think in style and beauty about going grey gracefully.

I'm 37 and similar to you. Dark natural hair with a generous salt and pepper look under blonde highlights.

I have decided to grow out the dye as naturally as I can to see what I am left with. Other options are simply cutting the lot off, but I'm not that brave.

I decided if I was naturally greying, it was probably more aging to keep slapping colour on without knowing what my natural hair was actually doing anymore.

^ That should say I had my natural coloured hair that had not yet turned grey bleached.

My mum is in her 50s and recently decided to go grey and natural after dyeing her hair since she was 14.
She was worried it would be a bit of a dirty grey and age her but actually it’s a really brilliant silver colour with black streaks and looks great in a sleek bob! It’s in really lovely condition and she looks fab.

So I say go for it, it’s a lot more fashionable nowadays and you can always dye it again if you don’t like it.

I’ve been researching young women on Instagram who have done it, and some of them look stunning. Pic attached of one woman who I think looks great and not old at all.

I find it’s much older women who are very negative about it, they have an attitude of “well I’ve had to spend 40 years dying my hair so why should you get out of it!”

I'm going grey - my hair is mid/light brown so they aren't quite as noticeable, but I'm not doing roots as I cannot be arsed with it. I'm saving up to get balayage done which is quite a nice way of easing into grey, as the lighter hair and streaking helps to blend in the greys - and then you just keep getting your hair trimmed as normal and it all eventually grows out.

Me too.

And I have the added issue that my natural colour seems to be getting darker too.

I can't decide what to do, so no help I'm afraid, but it's quite nice to know I'm not alone when everyone else seems so 'put together'

Could you have your hair dyed grey? Or would that look shit when the bits of dark come through? I think grey is really nice once it's all grey.

If you like it, grow it out. I have lots of grey now (am 48) but still colour it. I don't dye it one colour though, I have highlights done in my natural colour (dark reddy brown) to "camouflage" the grey so some of it still shows through, but a lot less of it. There's no really obvious strip of grey roots reappearing after 10 days, it takes a lot longer to start showing and even when it does it's less obvious than if it is dyed one colour. I occasionally leave it so long between hairdresser visits that I consider not bothering but I do feel better and think I look a little fresher with a bit less grey!

I've grown mine out and I'm 37. I cut it to a shoulder length. I've got a really smart grey stripe at the front and love it.

I feel your pain Op. I'm a fair bit older than you and have been colouring my hair for about 20 years, I was a brunette with natural gold and red in my hair so my grey wasn't as noticeable. I did it myself for years until I couldn't manage a good job anymore as there was so much grey. I get my roots done about 3/4 times a year, I cannot justify the cost/time to do it any more frequently. I have now had lots of highlights put in, in readiness to grow out my grey. I am apprehensive but if I don't like it I will just dye it again, but I am excited about growing it out and will just concentrate on keeping it cut and in good condition. Given you say you are low key I would just do it, once it is grown out if you don't like it you can always dye your hair a different lighter colour which doesn't show re-growth so starkly. I suspect you will love it.

I’m
Mid-40s and hate my grey. Luckily I don’t have loads and can go 3 months without dyeing - it’s mainly at the front. I would never go grey gracefully. I’m not a beauty(!) but I’ve always had nice hair and it’s one of my few assets. If I went grey I’d look 10 years older. It’s a no from me, but if you’re confident in your looks generally and think it would look ok, go for it. My grey hairs are like pubes 😂

Ah, that's the thing, the texture of mine hasn't changed at all. Whoever said you need a great cut is spot on, too.

Grey hair doesn't make you look old. Old fashioned thinking makes you look old. Some women spend a fortune trying to get the grey but why bother when you have it naturally?

Why do you think you would look 10 years older, JustDance?
Incidentally OP, I love your user name.