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 don't know what they would lose tbh, Bluelady
Surely, she could have said yes we'll dye it all grey or do highlights or something if she wanted more business.
She sent me away with a haircut I'd gone for anyway, I can't afford salon hair dyes I use a box.
They are usually the best people to advise on hair, I find

My sister has stopped dyeing and has gone grey/white.

I hate it - it makes her looked washed out and bland. Obviously, it ages her but I think you have to accept that.

I think it can look OK though.

I'm 39 and have never coloured my hair as I liked my natural colour.
Now I have quite a lot of grey and I quite like it. I can't be arsed to keep to a dyeing schedule so I will see how it goes. Might change my mind, but it's not bothering me at the moment.

I am in my early twenties. I have never dyed my hair and never will. I have some grey hairs here and there. So what? No body has ever called me an old hang. I get a lot of attention in public but u don't think it is because I look hideous

I have very little grey and have my hair highlighted for interest really as with age the colour has become a bit drab. I would be driven mad by having to maintain colour any more often than I do( 3 monthly or so)
In your shoes I would def give it a go. I know lots of women with dark hair who have gone grey very glamorously. It looks so striking.

Could you not go lighter? I used to be a very dark brown (fake, naturally I am light brown) and over the last year I have gradually gone very blonde. I have a lot of greys in one area of my head and I just don’t notice them anymore, neither does anyone else... I can go months now whereas I used to have to go every month. Blonde really does help with hiding the grey.

I'm 51 and haven't died my hair since August last year. I told DH I was colouring my hair till at least 60 but then got fed up of doing it. He, sensible man, just made non-commital grunts to both announcements.
I have about 4 inch roots at the moment. Mum's hair is a lovely silver colour but Dad's is that non colour which looks brown in some lights but grey/colourless in others. It's hard to tell at the moment but mine seems to be a combination of the two - like mum's at the front and left side and Dad's everywhere else.
I have thought of a trying a semi-permanent colour just to even things up as it grows but having never used one before I'm not sure.

OP I don't think grey hair is necessarily aging, I think it's attitude. Some people in their 30's and 40's seem older whereas as others don't, regardless of hair colour.

I’ve considered going lighter but I can’t imagine being blonde, I don’t think it would suit me! Plus the 50% or so of hair that isn’t grey is still dark brown, so I think the roots would still be an issue.

I’ll be going on mat leave later this year so I might ditch the dye then, when there’s no work to be looking smart for and I’ll have more important things to worry about than my roots

I grew mine out at 40 and it was such a relief! It starts of coarse then gradually softens.

Let it grow out and go grey. You'll look fab and save a fortune.

I (43) have very dark hair and lots of little grey streaks. I've never touched it with colour.

OP I'm kind of in the same boat - I have less grey in the parting because I pluck them out but loads through the sides - however my natural colour is a chocolate brown so the addition of the grey hairs just makes it look dull and mousy and shit! I have balayage in the lower length which helps but I don't want to go blonde as a "solution", nor do I want a brunette block colour all over for years, but I'm not grey "enough" to simply allow it to grow through yet. It's such a shit stage, especially if you have dark hair - at least if you are blonde you can bleach it and tone it grey all over.

Oh I'm 32 btw. I don't want to look scruffy and mousy which is what will happen if I stop picking out the greys - but it's becoming impossible to keep up

My grandmother was significantly grey in her late 20s as was I. DS was a silver surfer at 16. For us its genetic and we made the choice not to fight it. My DM was the exact opposite. I currently have rod straight waist length white hair, its who I am.

I'm 47 and growing mine out after many years of colouring my hair.
I would go for it, but I would advise that you get a decent haircut, and maintain it.
Grey hair on poorly maintained hair looks dreadful.

I became allergic to hair dye.

Dyed hair and grey hair can both look great or terrible depending on how well hair is looked after. Growing dye out is a pain, there were a few months when I hated my hair.

I would advise slapping on warm olive oil all over once a week, leave for an hour. Takes a lot of washing out but is great as a super cheap harmless conditioning treatment.

My natural colour is "wild rodent" Always had it highlighted. I now have blonde, light brown and caramel foils. Half head wvry six weeks, t bar every six weeks. I'm late 50s and may ease it off when I turn 60.

Waist length white hair - wow. That must look amazing.

Waist length white hair - wow. That must look amazing.

Amazingly horrible.

I was watching a very weird Netflix documentary a few days ago (bear with me) called Wild Wild Country...

...And one of the former cult members who was interviewed (again, bear with me) was now in her 50s or 60s, with the most gorgeous long grey bob. She had been very dark when younger. She could have passed for 40 or so, she was so glowy and her hair was almost like silver.

So yes, do it, because people who are naturally very dark always look much better grey than mousy types like me.

I really thought blonde wouldn’t suit me but I love it more than the dark... if you do it gradually you get used to it. Blonde is very forgiving and so many different tones mean it works with lots of different skin tones. I know how tough it is though I feel the same about mine but I really do forget about them now. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

There really isn't any difference at all.

What a vile, bitchy comment, Benny.

'natural,' pubey, wirey grey (that comes to us all)

I may be completely delusional, but my head hair bears little resemblance to my pubes.

My friend with longer hair than mine, stopped dying at the same time. Her hair looks fab, and no pubeyness at all it is in great condition.

@user1487175389 yes! I saw that & know exactly who you mean. She looks great!