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Original poster

anyone fancy going grey next year?

430 replies

notactuallyme · 20/12/2012 18:55

so, i've been toying with this idea for ages (am nearly forty) but always end up dying it. i thnk i'm going to go for it - anyone want a support thread for intermittent updates?

OP posts:
TheFarSide · 05/02/2013 22:55

Just read the article - a very good description of what I'm going through at the moment - thanks shopafrolic.

PessimisticMissPiggy · 05/02/2013 23:18

Wow. Well done everyone for staying strong. I'm noticing more silvery shimmers in my previously non-grey sections.

I'm wondering whether or not to really push with my weightloss, lose the double chin and go for a pixie cut to completely cut out all of my dye. If only losing 2stone was so easy!

shopafrolic · 06/02/2013 08:35

Glad the article was of interest. I'm probably 70% plus grey with a very short haircut but I'm not ready to let go of the dye just yet (just turned 40). My hairdresser says I should "embrace" it but I can't yet. We are starting to put a few highlights through it though to soften the line as the grey roots appear!! I'm very impressed reading this. Good luck!

Original poster
notactuallyme · 06/02/2013 13:08

Wow! A sudden burst of energy, prob down to the article! I will try to post a photo, eek! I do feel that letting yourself go shouldn't be the same as going grey - we need to stamp that out. Its about good skin and hair care and not valuing yourself by clairol!

OP posts:
neriberi · 06/02/2013 14:14

I'm 38 and are in the process of going grey. I have naturally very dark brown - black hair and lots of the grey, which all seems to be concentrated at the front of my head which means I look like a badger when it grows out after colouring, so I decided to stop dying my hair. That was a a year ago.

I did however use a couple of semi colours in 2012 because I panicked about going to a job interview with root growth Blush the semi's seem to have clung to my hair not washing out properly which is fine because they've made the grey look like a dirty blonde and I have no root growth!

I rather like my grey, its a lovely silver colour and seems to sit well with the unwashed out semi colour, however I did ask my friend who's a colourist to put some low lights through my hair, I have hazel eyes and very pale skin which means I can look a little washed out with the amount of grey, so I had low lights put in and chopped my hair into a short bob and for once in my life I'm actually happy with my hair Grin

Meglet · 06/02/2013 14:34

My hair is dark brown and only has some grey speckles, but I've never dyed it and have no intention of doing so. I figure that grey hair doesn't affect me, whereas eating well and going to the gym will keep me looking younger.

I'm keeping it shoulder length as it can be curly and short hair looks awful on me.

Original poster
notactuallyme · 06/02/2013 17:35

farside - your grey looks lovely! almost like the blonde. You'll be fine!

OP posts:
doglover · 06/02/2013 17:42

What an inspirational article! I must re-read it if I ever have a 'wobble' in my grey journey!

PessimisticMissPiggy · 07/02/2013 20:22

neri sounds lovely!

Original poster
notactuallyme · 09/02/2013 15:56

Okay!
I just had all my hair cut off!
It was down my back in a cascade of red curls and now it's just under my chin. With a good few inches of grey underneath but only a small visible bit / stripe. Looks like it's really happening...

OP posts:
Aquelven · 09/02/2013 17:11

I'd just like to add my agreement to Lubylu's encouraging post as I too am through the other side & don't regret for one minute dumping the dye.

Stick with it, you're doing brilliantly.
It really is worth it in the end. No messy hours every few weeks, gone the expense, far more flattering to your skin tone as it lightens along with your hair AND no more risk of a horrendous allergic reaction like that poor boy had this week that was reported in the papers.
As someone who has been rushed into A&E on three occasions with anaphylactic shock ( not hair coloured related but to a medication I need to keep me going, heart related) believe me, it's not something to risk for something that's use isn't vital.

My hair is white now, has been since I stopped colouring it in my early thirties. I have a shoulder length bob & I get more compliments on it now than I ever did when it was dark. Get stopped in the street & my son's new girlfriend took to the peroxide to try to get hers the same!!
The transition bit can be a bit of a chore, disheartening at times, but honestly it is worth sticking with it. Good luck....just think you could be platinum blonde for free. Wink

TheFarSide · 09/02/2013 18:16

OMG notactually !!!

Grin
twentythirteen · 09/02/2013 18:22

Just thought I'd have a read to see what folks are up to in their journey. I went for a trim today and very kind (very young I should add) hairdresser complimented my "natural highlights"! I do love it. I last coloured my hair over two years ago and although the first several months were a struggle, and it took some time working out what products to use on my uncoloured hair, I've never looked back. Good luck to you all!!!

CeeceeBloomingdale · 09/02/2013 18:40

I've just dyed my hairline and thought I'd look up this thread. I'm 36 but probably look a little younger. I started going grey when I was 11and have coloured my gair dark brown ever since. It's vety porous so a semi will grow out like a permanent so I tend to use pernanent as it's cheaper. My grey is almost white so very contrasting. My middle parying is probably 95% grey now but the back more salt and pepper so I'm experimenting by only dying the hairline which is the visible bit (I gave long hair and wear a ponytail most of the time to hide roots). I'll see what the underneath bit looks like before commiting to going grey. I feel too young but then the maintenance is too much.

frostfrond · 09/02/2013 19:12

I am not trying to put anyone off as it is a personal choice but I would just like to say. I let my hair go completely grey 2 years ago after getting it cut really short and then it came in quite a nice colour of grey and was very curly.The thing is I felt I looked much older and people TREATED me as if I was older.I am 49 and look that but no older and people in their 60`s were saying "we" in conversations with me as If I was as old as them .I went back to the hairdressers and my hair is now a lovely light brown shade as I had been getting it dyed darker brown for years so of course it was going darker and darker and would not lighten so going grey actually made me have the colour of hair I had been craving IYSWIM as it was easy to colour it after that .Just another way to go if you are wobbling

Original poster
notactuallyme · 09/02/2013 22:03

Thanks 2013 and ceecee for the positive stories - it does seem quite hard now, but I just want to stop with the whole dying, waiting for roots, colour build up etc. frost thank you, that is a bit depressing! I was chatting to the hairdresser about maybe getting a cple coloured strands at the front, to ensure it looks like a positive choice!

OP posts:
TheFarSide · 09/02/2013 23:03

I still say grey hair doesn't actually make anyone look older, it's just that we associate it with being older. We will all get to a point where dyeing our hair is just going to make us look like old people trying to look young. I think we should explore ways of projecting youthfulness other than dyeing our hair - the obvious ones being the way we dress and our fitness levels.

TheFarSide · 09/02/2013 23:05

There's always false hair extensions in a range of colours.

Original poster
notactuallyme · 10/02/2013 08:21

Farside - I agree. Plus roots coming through look really ageing and ungroomed anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
notactuallyme · 16/02/2013 08:58

Still trying - got about 2 inches of grey, and an appointment in 8 weeks with hairdresser...

OP posts:
Intersat · 16/02/2013 09:49

I'm glad you're still going grey. I have been following the thread from the start and made the decision to stop dyeing my hair too. Unfortunately it is taking ages to grow at all. I used to think it grew fast up until this point. Apparently you stop dyeing it and it stops growing! Who would have thought it.

Original poster
notactuallyme · 16/02/2013 12:35

Weird!
Do you think it's psychological? Like it feels forever?
I'm going to put a few while highlights through the front of mine when it's all gone, just to make sure it looks like i want grey! Not in a kind of covering it up/ every six weeks way, just a little nod to this being a choice.

OP posts:
doglover · 16/02/2013 12:47

I'm starting to struggle with how my hair looks at the moment. Although, to be fair, I think it's more the style than the rather nondescript colour. My fringe does peculiar sticking-out things which is currently driving me crazy - I need to 'keep the faith' and possibly think about a restyle! Confused

Original poster
notactuallyme · 16/02/2013 12:50

Don't give up! If you dye it, you'll be fine for six weeks, and then the teeny grey roots will appear again....
Straighteners for the fringe?

OP posts:
TheFarSide · 16/02/2013 14:16

I'm finding my hair-related mood can swing from one extreme to the other.

I've had a really good week with a compliment from some friends that lighter hair suits me, and generally feeling really confident, but then woke up yesterday feeling like a 50 year old with grey roots ...

Good idea to have a goal to aim for, notactually, with your white highlights plan. I'm sure it will help keep you focused, and when you get there you might find you don't need them after all.

Doglover - the restyle idea sounds like a good one. At least you can see that the colour isn't the problem. Stay strong!