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Style and beauty

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Original poster

Hair dye when you are going grey (silver white, actually!)

33 replies

wickedfairy · 16/12/2010 15:19

Naturally I am mid-brown but have quite a lot of grey (silver, white actually) and my hair is currently dyed dark brown. I want to lighten it up a bit, as I am very pale skinned and I think my present colour is quite draining (even though people say it suits me) but mainly because my roots are so obvious when they come in.

I don't want to be blonde but just a mid-brown again - do you think the roots will be less obvious with lighter hair or just as bad? I need it doing every 6 weeks and have swathes of silver hair- I think now more of my hair is silver then brown - I am only 33.....

I wish I didn't have to dye my hair at all now - very jealous of those of you who don't need to!

OP posts:

jalopy · 16/12/2010 16:20

Realistically, I think the roots will show whatever colour you choose.

I'm older than you and conscious that I look paler as I age. I tend to go for light ash brown/dark blonde shades, even though my hair is predominantly mid brown. It sort of 'highlights' my hair rather than giving me an unflattering block of colour. Far less draining, imo.

sethstarofbethlehemsmum · 16/12/2010 16:24

I think hair turning silver is very beautiful. (Well, mine is anyway.)
Nobody needs to dye their hair. You can just learn to appreciate its true colour.

Lilymaid · 16/12/2010 16:28

I'm much older than you and have some mid-dark brown with ash colour painted on at the hairdressers. Seems to give a more natural look than a solid block of colour.

PurpleMiffy · 16/12/2010 16:32

I also dye my hair, I'm very grey and only just turned 30! I'm not sure about going a lighter colour but having highlights would help. I don't mind colouring mine as I find it actually conditions it.

AlistairSim · 16/12/2010 16:34

Don't dye it!

Grey hair is beautiful, I am envious.

cece · 16/12/2010 16:51

I agree think highlights are better than a block colour.

I am currently growing the last of my colour out though and I am my 'natural' colour at the moment (or I will be 100% after my next cut).

I have been told by several people how striking it looks with grey bits in it. Not sure if that is a completment or not though!

Meggles76 · 16/12/2010 18:36

I am naturally a mid brown colour. At 34 I have way more grey / silver hairs than I want. I do not find them lovely or striking

I have caramel highlights and a lighter blonde highlight put through it. These llighter colours definitely make regrowth better as the greys blend in more with the lighter colours.

panettoinydog · 16/12/2010 18:52

sim, greay hair is often not beautiful, you wag

stickersarecurrency · 16/12/2010 18:58

I have this problem and I'm only twenty fucking nine [angryangry]. I used to get a half head of ash blonde highlights every couple of months but it costs a fortune and now I'd need them redone every month so it's Nice 'n' Easy all the way. Perhaps in another ten years I'll concede defeat.

geraldinetheluckygoat · 16/12/2010 19:05

im also completely grey on top and mostly underneath, at 34. It's a total bugger actually, when the roots come through you look like youve got a three inch wide parting...
I find fructis dye quite good for coverage, and also excellence creme is good too. Mine grows really quick, is very thick and is quite curly. I think If I let the grey come through i would look like a crazed old bat.

However, it is very sivery and shiney, and when I am older, I will let it go grey and think it will probably be quite pretty. Not ready to do it yet though!!

I find the annoying thing about it is that the more grey hairs I get, the more wiry and unrully my hair gets, and it was already medussa like to start with...

PurpleMiffy · 16/12/2010 19:44

Nope I don't like my grey. It's coarse and looks horrid. I'm currently sat with dye on my hair. Trying out the John Frieda foam stuff

Original poster

wickedfairy · 16/12/2010 19:44

I was thinking highlights are the way to go but I don't want to be blonde.

Can I get highlights (or is it lowlights) that are light brown but not blonde? I've been blonde before and it's not a good look on me!! My skin is very pale and I am sure in certain lights, has a bit of a blue tinge!

Got appointment on Saturday to get "it" done, whatever "it" may be!!

Thing is, I have layers through the top, so if I just got a half head, then the underneath would be really dark, with lighter bits on top. God, this is going to cost a fortune, although I suppose once it's lighter I could just get touch-ups along parting and temples or something....

OP posts:

GwennieF · 16/12/2010 19:53

Mine is predominantly grey too and while I'm not bothered about the colour (on most days), I don't like the fact that they're becoming increasingly fuzzy. Does colouring it make any difference?

Sorry, I know the OP's question was about choice of colour but nobody I know has enough of the fuzzy greys to be able to advise if you know what I mean....

Rooble · 16/12/2010 19:59

I used to get whole head done (darkish mid brown) but roots showed really quickly, plus the colour would fade really fast, to a horrid ginger kind of colour, especially in summer. Now on alternate colours (ie every 12 weeks) have sort of honey coloured highlights - the regrowth and fading is far less visible. I think it is the way to go. I was really bothered about it seeming too blonde, but it really doesn't.
Do you trust your hairdresser to advise?

alemci · 16/12/2010 20:02

mine is grey round the front and it started to go in my late 20's. i sometimes go to the salon and have a semi permanent as the roots are not so noticeable. it needs doing now so i may put a home colour on the roots and comb it through.

AlistairSim · 16/12/2010 20:07

I'll have you know, dog, DP has a head like a shiny gun.

'Tis very attractive.

PurpleMiffy · 16/12/2010 20:28

Colouring makes a huge difference to my hair. Makes all the grey smooth, shiny and gone!

panettoinydog · 16/12/2010 20:35

grey much more attractive on men admittedly

Chatelaine · 16/12/2010 21:11

Grow it out, you may need to go a bit shorter and then go for high lights. Takes about 6-8 months. You will no longer have a block colour or harsh regrowth line. It is so liberating not having to hide every bit of grey. Blending it in is the way to go.

daffyd · 17/12/2010 08:44

hi all, have been going grey since my twenties-boohoo- and now really grey on sides and in parting.I use permanent dye, used to do at hairdressers, but have dark brown hair and used tol have reddish undertones, but found they dont cover greys very well, by 2 weeks it was ready to be dyed again! so now trying home colourants in darker colours, blonde/highlights would be easier to blend with grey i would imagine.Purple miffy please tell me if the john frieda foam stuff works, i was thinking of getting it.I used to nice n easy 10minute stuff which is pretty good and very easy to apply.By the way grey hair does get very coarse and frizzy especially if your hair is already wavy or curly like mine,the dye keeps it conditioned and under control.I'm afraid i will not let myself go grey! It is very agging if you are below 50 i think and so will wait another 13 years before I succumb(if ever!)

wonkytree · 17/12/2010 15:43

It is so comforting to read all of these messages!! I am also fighting the grey parting battle. Saw my first grey threads at 17 am now 39!! I think slightly darker roots and highlights brought through seems most natural. I seem to end up going too block brown or gingery blonde. Ahh. What have nice and easy done to their colours by the way? I'm sure my normal blonde 102 looks blue?! Had to mix and try lots of others.

alemci · 17/12/2010 17:28

my garnier colour wasn't too bad. got my husband to put it on the roots and then through the rest for the last bit. looks ok. slightly reddish tone. i think it is a semi permanent colour.

PurpleMiffy · 17/12/2010 18:39

daffyd the john frieda foam was fab! Really easy to apply. Grey is all covered and I am a happy lady. Just waiting for my babyliss to arrive. whoooooooop

HouseOfBambooootiful · 17/12/2010 19:09

I think it depends how dark your natural hair colour is. The lighter brown it is, the easier it is to go the highlights route, or do a 'colour wash' at home in a similar or lighter colour than your own to tint the grey into highlights.

Both strategies can be very tricky to get to look natural (vis Louis Walsh's latest attempts at 'disguising' his grey).

Mid- to dark brown/black with lots of grey is a complete pisser as the roots shine through brightly within 3 weeks WHATEVER you do.

If you have a badgery roots problem I'd recommend dying with a home semi-permanent (24 wash) at least every three weeks. You only need half a pack at a time (to save cash). Daniel Field Watercolours are the best I've found - no mixing or smell at all and seems very gentle - almost like putting foamy shampoo on rather than a full-on home dye job.

alemci · 17/12/2010 21:02

the semi perms are good because they fade out so you don't get such a line.

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