How NOT to look washed out with greying hair?

[theidsalright]

I've been growing out the natural coloured (mid brown) dye since I got pregnant, DD is now 7months and I just got a fair bit lobbed off, so it's brown with grey bits through and definitely greyer at the front and underneath is

I'm happy enough with it and my hairdresser is being encouraging, telling me that I can get away with it, it goes with my style etc (ROFL)

BUT
BUT
BUT
every time I catch sight of myself I wince. I look washed out. My normal make-up just isn't doing the trick. My pale complexion, previously framed by dark hair is now, well, washed out!!!

Do I need lipstick? More eye colour? (I do wear full eye make up and blush every day). I'm 38 BTW.

Help?

Well, I'm no expert but here's what I've found works for me.
I'm now completely white, with pale skin, blue/grey eyes & have had to completely rethink the colours that work as I used to be a natural redhead.

First got the right foundation shade with the Boots colour match thingy. Brilliant as most ranges didn't have anything pale enough, except Mac but I don't live near a stockist. I was Calico, palest at Boots.
I always need eye makeup else my eyes disappear but not too dark. I use a pale cream to get rid of redness on lids then a taupe colour for emphasis with liner, Clinique gel liner in Smokey Grey is brill, & mascara.
I need blusher, look like death otherwise. But not too dark. I use a pale pink. Then a lightish lipstick, there's a few I like if you need names. Too dark & they make me look more washed out than with none.
Hope this helps a bit

Would wearing a bright/dark/deep coloured scarf help to lift your skin tone? I had a short foray into blonde hair a few years ago and looked utterly washed out, but scarves helped - never did figure out the make-up though.

I think lipstick helps enormously, as long as it's the right shade for your skin tone (cool/warm, light/dark etc).

Is your hair in a style? I think well cut and styled greying hair looks amazingly elegant.

Definitely lipstick.

Yes, definitely lipstick like the others have said.
But I find browns, nudes etc don't work at all now, need one with some brightness to it. Pink, coral type shades. I bet red is good if you can wear it but all the ones I try look too harsh.

Wow, thanks for the detailed responses! I have experimented with bright pink lipstick but I tend to feel over dressed for the toddler focused activities I spend my life doing! Like the other mums are staring at my lips! Maybe this sounds ridiculous... When I used to have a social life I wore bright red lips. I guess it's about getting the balance right between enough make up and too much.

You might also be wearing the wrong colours (clothes as well as make up)

Yes to perhaps wearing the wrong colors for your hair now.

I was brunette until my early 30s, now late 40s and been nearly white grey for a few years. I really suit pink and purple shades that I never wore before, and green, bronze and red that used to be great just don't work any more!

Colour analysis?

Agree with previous comments. I am in exactly the same position and have had to dramatically alter my 'look'. Always mascara and always lipstick. I love the new Revlon lipstains - come in a range of colours, stays put and is cheap!

are you defining your eyebrows? It makes a massive difference. The boots natural collection eyebrow pencil is cheap good and comes in natural shades - don't go too dark!!!

Colour? I wear black, white, grey with the rare bit of colour. I don't do colour! Yikes.

Eyebrows-yes, I need to remember!

Lipstain- check! Wore the Revlon one, a pinky red, today (you have to top it up a lot?)

I went from dark brunette to highlighted dark blonde lately...I was amazed that some of my clothes just didn't suit anymore. I have a wedding coming up, when I rooted out my posh dresses, most of them looked so odd- all the cool tones, blues purples etc.

I'd definately try some scarves. TK Maxx usually has a good selection. For lippie, how about a coloured balm? There are a fair few of different ones... I have one by Korres called guava. It's a sheer bright pink/red. Very flattering.

Eyebrows is what will save you from pale obscurity........... Browzings by Benefit is what you want after a nice wax and shape , go to boots and get a foundation colour matched and a nice slick of red lippy. In my opinion eyebrows and lips are the key to it all.

And coloured scarves..........

now I do sound like an old gimmer

I would suggest washing your hair in a silver shampoo, as grey hair can look a bit dull, this will simply make it more of a silver colour and also make it shine. And definately lipstick, could you put it on and blot it for more of a daytime look?

Get a colour analysis done - black, grey and white are winter colours and can make non winter people look very washed out...

It's all about the colours you wear, more than anything. Make up will help, but if you're wearing the wrong colours it won't help enough.

A good rough test is to sit in front of the mirror, make-up-less. Get loads of clothes / material in different colours. Don't have to be your clothes, anything of reasonable size you can hold up to your face will do at a push - tea towels, cushions, towels, ringbinders, magazines...

Hold them up to your face, see how good/dreadful you look and assign each colour to one of 3 piles - good, maybe and shite. Extrapolate the colour analysis to your wardrobe and look at your clothes with a critical eye, get rid of anything that's not working. Buy new things in colours that work.

Oh and take into account tone as well as actual colour - you may find that more muted (mixed with black) or pastel (mixed with white) shades of the colours that previously suited you will work better. But don't discount deep colours, just see what works.