Why do middle aged women dye their hair that flat brown colour, the shade of cheap chocolate?

[moondog]

It's horrid. Stop it.

considering

because we have fuck all money.

Better than that Christ-awful cherry red that women of a certain age seem to think makes them look young and funky when in fact they just look bonkers.

It's the first step towards the two colours beloved by those in their 60s/70s - old lady light brown and old lady blonde.

I can't believe how bitchy this thread is. I started going grey in my mid thirties and I'm too shallow and vain darned if I want to look like daughter's grandmother.

I get my hair coloured professionally at the hairdresser though.

I'll be 46 on Sunday. My hair is fabulous. It's long, glossy, swishy, well cut and coloured. It would be grey if I left it. That will not happen any time soon... I pay a fortune for it though because I'm worth it'

Seriously, not everyone's hair goes horrid when you hit 40 and not everyone wants short hair.

I'm nearly 39, and natural grey/white. I like looking like me, not some construct of what 'women should look like'

Well this is all a bit mean and mildly snide.

Because getting a hairdresser to do it is bloody expensive, I imagine.

And because there is no word for a female "silver fox".

You're so right - no woman over 40, of a certain age or middle aged should be allowed out or at least not without a hat.

If you find their hair so offensive don't look at it ffs.

because they take a pride in their appearence and are happy with the result and don't really care what moondog and others think. Good on them, I say.

mumble, sounds like brown would suit you, ignore OP :)

What a nasty thread. Presumably they would all like to be able to go to an expensive salon and have professionally coloured hair but can't afford to.

Should we all go grey so we don't offend your sensibilities OP?

I'm sure the OP is a vision of loveliness.

I'm in my forties, dyed hair - it doesn't resemble the picture the OP is portraying. Don't go to a salon to have it dyed though, not because I can't afford it, just because I can't stand sitting in a salon making small talk with hairdressers for a couple of hours every months.

<a class="break-all" href="//www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=1.bp.blogspot.com/_qqkbUX9ME9U/TSYTxuaC0eI/AAAAAAAAAJE/LJhts4kbgf4/s320/jennifer_aniston-hair-styles-8.jpg&imgrefurl=atrickleofmeaning.blogspot.com/2011_01_01_archive.html&h=300&w=300&sz=19&tbnid=2IplA6ZXXL9GYM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=90&prev=/search%3Fq%3Djennifer%2Baniston%2Bhair%2B2011%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=jennifer+aniston+hair+2011&docid=jw7j17OsMm3sGM&sa=X&ei=2A17TtyNIJCV0QWZyMGjAw&ved=0CEcQ9QEwBQ&dur=4197" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I do love this colour

I'm 40 and greying but because I take more care of it now, my hair is in better condition than it's ever been. I have a mobile hairdresser and she's great. It's looks bloody good at the moment aksherly

Sorry scrub my last post. JA is over 40 and must be despatched to the sin bin of older women immediately.

yes I love that colour as well...how can I describe it to my hairdresser so I don't get yellowy blond?

I'm a middle aged woman with dyed dark brown hair, however I look bloody fantastic. So knickers to you, OP.

I feel I've achieved the Jennifer Anniston hair colour by dying it Nice n Easy dark golden blonde, then washing it in cheap shampoo and drying it harshly for a few weeks.

Golden highlights, underlying light brown. £5.99.

Here you go Corny

I have dark blonde hair naturally but have greys at the crown so I have a light brown base, then fine highlights using foils and some darker foils (mid brown) put through because that makes the regrowth barely noticeable. I use a purple shampoo if it looks brassy.

herbaceous
thanksMissbeehiving
I have 2 packs of hair colour upstairs but am not brave enough to do it myself so will have to part with more cash at the hairdressers.

What is?is it with mumsnet and the attitude to women over 40

Oh yes, my mid browns look very dark initially but after about a week it all blends together and lasts really well for 3 months.

Is that supposed to link to vodka Missbeehiving?!