First grey hair

[HopelessWanderer]

I wondered how you reacted to finding your first or second grey / white hair on your head?

I don't know whether to let my hair do its own thing and turn grey, but worried about looking like a badger.

Also I recall my Grandmother saying when I was younger that women in their 40's shouldn't have long hair. They should have a neat short hair do. My hair is shoulder length, I'm not sure I can rock the pixie.

How have you handled your hair whilst maturing. Is being over 40 with a short hair do a thing? Did you bother pulling the grey/white hairs out, or did you leave them? Did you start dying your hair to disguise them?

What are your opinions of women who don't colour their hair when they're going grey?

Views from men also appreciated.

First couple of grey hairs for me were just hormonal rogues. I still have a full head of thick drak hair.

I used to pull them out til they got more numerous.

Now I just have my highlights done every five minutes. Costs a fortune but better than being bald.

64 and no ‘grey’ hairs... I call them my sparkly bits. I haven’t pulled any out, and I haven’t changed my hair because of them. I don’t intend to dye my hair, and I don’t give two hoots what anybody else thinks about that.

I'm 51 and have been going frey for the last 10 years. My hair at the back is dark brown, but very white at the front. Who gives a shit?

I'm 40 and been getting them for about 15 years! Naturally dark hair though and it grows unbelievably fast, I have to get my roots done every 2-3 weeks.

I dyed mine blonde until last week. I decided it was getting sly, so had a base colour slightly darker than my natural colour, and grey highlights put in. The theory is that as my roots go grey, then the whole thing will grow out and not look terrible. I then plan to have the front dyed white.

Duh. It was getting stupid, as it was costing over €100 per go for roots or an all over dye and highlights. I go to an expensive salon.

Early 40s, recently stopped colouring and totally grey/silver pixie cut. It's pretty cool actually

The 'no long hair over 40' is a really old fashioned view IMHO

Got down to the hairdressers for dye job! No way I'm going grey for at least another 20 years (I'm 42). Not having it short either. I think that advice is from when people seemed old at 40.

I started getting greys when I was about 21ish. I'm now 32 and have lots in the front that grow so quick. I wish they'd hurry up and merge into one streak to be honest then i could say it was intentional.

I don't love them but I obviously don't hate them because I'm very lazy at getting my hair done so they only get covered every few months.

I've just let them grow, I've got a scattering at 47. My hair is shoulder length, did have it short up until about 40. I've got thick, shiny, dark hair which grows really quickly, so I'm happy to leave it in its natural glory. Plus I would resent spending so much money and time trying not to look my age, because I'm quite happy as I am.

Started getting grey hair in my early 30s. I'm early 40s now and use a route touch up every 3 weeks and get it done proper at the salon maybe every 4 months.

I have shoulder length balayage and no I won't be getting it cut short because I have a round fat head.

*root touch up 🙄

Women don’t shut up shop at 40 anymore.

Have your hair the way you like it best.

The thing that excites me if I get white/silver hair, is I'll be able to go full mutton as my Dad would call it, I'd dye my hair a daft colour which I've never been able to do.

Thank you for your honesty. I don't want to go short, ok I won't go daft long either, but I've seen older women with long hair, I think they look fine.

I think it's because it was all about the perm in the 80's, no way would I do that again

I grew mine long and dyed it. I had kept it short (various 90s styles) while my DCs were young, and weirdly, while pg and breastfeeding it had lost it's natural curl but that returned once I spent a few years not pregnant. It was nice to return to the longer curly hair I had when younger.

I don't intend to switch to grey any time soon. When I do, I will dye it blondey grey to begin with, as I think I have the same greying pattern as my mum - grey at the temples and darker on top, not a look I would choose. When I do opt for grey I will either cut it almost Sinead O'Connoresque or keep it in the most elegant buns I can muster up.