AIMB to embrace the grey?

[DyddDewiSant]

I'm 57 this year. My natural hair colour is very dark brown, but I started going grey years ago and have always dyed it. I've had enough and have decided to embrace the grey! My hair is short and I've almost grown out the dye now, I'm getting used to it and rather like it.........but I've had some very strange reactions from some people who are horrified!!!
Have you embraced the grey? How did you find people reacted?

I’ve no idea why my post was deleted.

Well it was incredibly rude. Maybe that?

I went fully Greg at 49 . I just couldn't be bothered to dye it every week . I've never regretted it ever . The front is pure white and as you can see it's down to my bra strap . Not witchy at all , more Galadriel.

Lots of people I know grew out their dyes during covid and never went back.

i am grey/white at the front and a darker salt and pepper at the back, so I get fine grey/silver highlights 3-4 times a year to even it out a bit.

I’ve read a lot worse on here.

@Berlinlover what you said was very rude and misogynistic.

Grey hair looks much so better than the dyed alternative, in the same way that an expressive face with laughter lines is more beautiful than one frozen by Botox.

Getting older - and, shock, looking older - is no bad thing. We're taught to be dismissive and fearful of older women. Laughing in the face of that is such a powerful thing.

The lighting can completely change how the colour looks! And I don't seem to have any with it down and easy to see the colours. I'd say the up do photo is closest to how it looks in natural light, the other photo was taken in very yellow/warm light.

Nearly 45 and the last time I coloured my hair was 2019, I think? Started getting a few grey hairs in my early 30s.

I've had everything over the years - bleached blonde, pillarbox red, rainbow undercut, blue balayage - but I got bored. It's a lot of upkeep.

I don't have massive amounts of grey - I have naturally dark brown hair - aside from a rather cool mallen streak and some 'sparkles'. My hair is also naturally curly, so the grey isn't quite as obvious as it would be on somebody with very straight hair.

I DO tint my eyebrows, though. Those little fuckers can fuck off.

I started going grey at 21. My mum was 17. It happens. It's taken me twenty years to get to the point I'm mostly grey. I don't think it's at all unusual for women in their 30s and 40s to have significant amounts of grey, we're just used to them covering it all up for years.

This is my hair now. I last had a t-section of highlights done a year ago, which you can see the remnants of at the top, but underneath it's all me.

Your hair is gorgeous - cut & colour. You've got a lovely face too.

I’m 43 and got white hairs as auburn. Auburn hair doesn’t go grey!

I saw a former colleague (she retired 12 years ago) with hair coloured to a deep red. She looked ill as her skin tone is naturally gets pale. She was 72.

These threads always go in a depressing, ridiculous direction, and I find it so rude.

Person A:
I’m thinking about going grey. Should I?

Person B/C/D:
Give it a go! I did and I have no regrets - I like it and I’ve found it actually suits me. Plus it’s really low maintenance. You can always go back to dye if you hate it. Win win!

Person E/F/G:
Anyone with grey hair is deluding themselves if they think they don’t look dreadful… You look absolutely ancient and totally undesirable now… It’s inconceivable that it could EVER look nice on anyone because my neighbour let her hair go grey and now she’s a total hag… Anyone posting a nice picture is lying and has dyed it… Anyone who says anything nice to you is either a) only saying it out of pity (do you actually believe them, you idiot…?!?) or b) imaginary, because how could anyone genuinely say anything nice about grey hair when it’s OBVIOUSLY awful and everyone around you secretly thinks the same…

Some people clearly judge others for ignoring conventional beauty standards while daring to still feel good about themselves. The fact that so many people automatically equate natural grey with giving up is just laughable - I see
loads of stylish grey haired ladies around me, starting around the mid 30s mark. They rock it. It’s just another hair colour. It doesn’t make them look older - they look their age, just with grey hair.

So… big high five to everyone who does what they want with their appearance, just because they feel like it. Dying your hair doesn’t make you live any longer.

How about because it was insulting and ageist?

I'm 51 and have been grey for about 4 years now. It's bliss not having to colour it every 6 weeks and it's in the best condition it's been in decades. It's also long, I do have to be careful it doesn't get too long - other wise I start to look a bit like a scarecrow, and it is a bit more wirey, but I am 51, embracing it and I love it.

My mum sneered at me and said 'you'll look ten years older' when I said I was just going to let the grey happen (currently have two clear stripes developing in my dark blonde hair - am early 40's). I don't know how old she thinks she looks, but she definitely looks at least the age she is. I was told I looked 'about 30' just the other day (def a bit of exaggeration from the person who said this - I look older than 30), so the grey doesn't seem to be making me look older yet!

It's a personal decision, but I do think dyed hair is generally obvious on older women and doesn't make them look any younger.

My colouring is the same as yours- I started to grow my hair out in lockdown as I'm about 80% grey and it just didn't suit me. My natural colouring is quite dark brown which doesnt suit me either, so I've found a brondey sort of colour which suits and stick to that.

I'm not bothered about the ageing part - I think grey hair can look fabulous. But I'm also vain enough to want to choose the most flattering colour on me for as long as I can.

57 & this is mine. I stopped highlighting about 4 years ago. I'm happy with this colour combo.

I agree it’s a depressing thread - but just as much for the “dyeing your hair is ageing and looks awful “ posts. Loads of women look amazing with grey hair - certainly all the ones who have shared photos on this thread, but equally, lots of us who dye their hair look good too.

I fully agree - no-one should be judging anyone for the colour of their hair. It’s just a waste of energy and happiness all round - we should all feel confident doing what makes us feel happy with regards to our appearance, whatever that might be. No judgement from me - I dyed my hair for years, until I reached a point where (for me) it looked better not to, so I stopped.

My rant was mainly directed at the posters who continue to insist that it’s impossible for grey hair to look nice - they’re just being unnecessarily rude and contrary in response to people saying they’re perfectly happy with how they look.

It’s fine to have grey hair. It’s fine to have coloured hair. It’s all fine.

Each to their own

I was naturally very dark so maintaining that became a problem as I had roots after a fortnight.

So now I'm dark blonde and it lasts.

I find grey incredibly ageing and I think if you are 'embracing' it you need to have a very good cut otherwise you end up with frizz and looking old.
Which only matters if it bothers you.

I find grey incredibly ageing and I think if you are 'embracing' it you need to have a very good cut otherwise you end up with frizz and looking old.

Jeez, will it never end? My hair has been frizzy my whole life, even when it was black. Should I be embarrassed to go out in public? And as for looking old. Old compared to what or whom? Myself 10, 20 years ago? Other people? People younger than me? The same age as me? Just women or men too? All these strangers I'm supposed to compare myself to. I hate this whole idea where WOMEN have to up their game when they go grey. Just to walk out the front door and mix with other humans.

Gah! My blood pressure does not like this😆

I’m happy with my grow out. I used to have to dye it every 3 weeks because my hair grows fast and greys are very white! I also had problems with scalp irritation due to the chemicals in the dye. Even Aveda. I agree with the comments that neither natural or dyed is better - it’s what suits the individual that matters.

Has anyone who has embraced their grey, found a decent eyebrow pencil / product that isn't really dark? I don't really want to tint mine, but they're still quite dark when the front of my hair is white so I feel like Father Ted some days 😂

😂 That’s one of my many reasons to not go grey. My eyebrows and eyelashes are black.

I have black eyebrows and silver grey hair. I like it😃😃