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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not dye my greys at 33.

16 replies

Ostryga · 02/08/2022 22:26

I truly don’t care if I have grey hair but the comments I am getting! I have random people at work saying ‘ooh you’ve got so many greys! Time for the hairdresser!’ And my family doing similar.

How do you go grey in your 30s without the incessant comments. Can I just say “ooh time for you to have some Botox!” to anyone that questions it?

OP posts:

ThreeRingCircus · 02/08/2022 22:30

I'd be interested too OP, I'm a very similar age and also don't want to dye my greys..... I've only got a few so far but I've never dyed my hair and don't want to start now. It's unusual though, most women do dye it so I do wonder if it'll make people think I'm older than I actually am.

StoneofDestiny · 02/08/2022 22:30

Do what you like with your hair - nobody else's business

Fairislefandango · 02/08/2022 22:32

What rude and ignorant people you must work with! And behind the times too. Lots of women embrace the grey these days. Some even dye their hair grey! Of course YANBU.

Violettaa · 02/08/2022 22:32

God how rude!

I’d be tempted to make them squirm ‘why do I need the hairdresser? Is there something wrong with the grey bits’? All said with an innocent smile.

LocalHobo · 02/08/2022 22:36

Grey hair is very desirable though? Some of DD's mates, late teens, have dyed their hair grey.

MrsMontyD · 03/08/2022 10:36

I'm a little bit older than you but I'm in the process of growing out my hair colour while I've only got a few grey highlights. Mine are mostly around my hairline and I was finding that within 2/3 weeks of a colour I could see greys coming through. I'd had my hair colour matched to my roots anyway so the grown out hasn't been too bad.

If you're tempted to colour your hair consider that you may eventually need it done every 3 weeks to maintain it AND if you decide to grow it out later you may have to deal with a really noticeable demarcation line. ALSO I'm in the Midlands and it costs £58.50 at my salon for a retouch, I'm sure it's a lot in big cities and the south.

I'm glad I made the decision when I did, my hair should be all natural with the next few months and I can then just let it slowly get greyer in its own time.

Ultimately it's your hair and your decision, but don't let anyone pressure you into something that'll cost you time and money, only do it if it's right for you.

BiddyPop · 03/08/2022 10:45

I used to get highlights in my late 20s for fashion reasons, and tell the hairdresser to make sure NOT to cover the greys so that I had an air of maturity/experience (the team I was managing were a number of years older than me and a couple of them felt I was a "silly young thing"...).

Now in my 40s, I don't do highlights anymore (except very red ones at Christmas for fun ) and am still letting the greys slowly get more prominent.

OldYork · 03/08/2022 10:51

well done you! Hair colour maintenance is a giant expensive pain in the arse….I’m trying to work up the bravery to grow in the grey…I’m a good deal older than you, maybe 15% grey….around parting and at the front…I’m intrigued now to see what they would look like without the colour and highlights so attempting a grow out. I’m still on the edge about it though and using semi-permanents until the highlights have grown out.

savehannah · 03/08/2022 10:51

I'm in my 40s and have never dyed the grey away, mostly through laziness, I can't be bothered to keep on top of it and think really obvious roots look worse. I've decided I'm just going to let it happen. Right now it's about 10% grey but mid brown otherwise so not as obvious as on dark hair. It's your hair, do what you want.

superram · 03/08/2022 10:55

what would happen if I used a semi permanent dye on my whole head (I fancy pink). My hair is very dark brown, would the grey go pink? I only have a few and plucked a couple out yesterday so not overly concerned but am too lazy to dye it all the time.

StrychnineInTheSandwiches · 03/08/2022 10:58

but isn't it quite fashionable now? I know loads of young women who are letting the greys come through.

Musti · 03/08/2022 11:00

I know some people who stewarded getting grey very young. Most dyed it but some let it go grey recently and it looks very cool.

User48751490 · 03/08/2022 11:04

I am almost 40. Had grey hair for years now. I don't dye my hair. Happy as it is. More noticeable if I tie my hair up in a bobble. I suspect a lot of it has been brought on by stress. Just leaving it as is, don't fancy the ongoing hassle of dying it.

awwbiscuits · 03/08/2022 11:05

I'm the same age and won't be dying my hair. I don't want to commit to it, and the greys coming through are bright and silvery and I kind of like them!

User48751490 · 03/08/2022 11:05

I am around 30-40% grey.

asiangrey · 03/08/2022 15:15

Stick to your guns @Ostryga
I prefer money to be better spent elsewhere rather than hair dye.
I am in my late 30s and also have visible greys.
All my friends say its ageing and all dye theirs.
I would prefer it if society didn't expect us women to have dyed hair.
The chemicals are terrible for your health.

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