anyone fancy going grey next year?

[notactuallyme]

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?

[karen8888]

I found this thread today and have read all the comments, as I have also read Going Gray (Anne Kreamer) a recommended read. I'm 42 and started to get the odd white hair at 30, my hair is naturally almost black. I started to dye my hair black at 30, now I have white wings and around 30% grey through the rest. My hair is mid back length , I dedcided in Feb that I would stop dying my hair, the reason? I had researched this ALOT, and found that the best way to grow out the dye and embrace the grey,. is to do it before you have a serious amount of grey roots, also I have seen so many women 40 plus, who dye their hair too dark or too red/plum, it makes you look older and hard faced, it makes sense to let your hair 'match' your face.I don't want to loose any length, and I firmly believe that long grey hair can look amazing. I have managed to lighten my hair quite a bit by using anti dandruff shampoo, which lifted a major amount of black dye out in the first few washes, and with the use of a good conditioner has not damaged my hair at all. So I am so glad to have found this sforum. My 14 yr old daughter said to me today, 'your grey sparkles in the sunlight like tinsel' :-)

[Nerfmother]

How lovely (and festive) sounds like a good book to try . Thanks for the anti dandruff tip, I shall try it on the remaining henna. Totally agree re. The harsh dye at forty.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

My white streak at the front and scattered 'highlights' are now about 4-5 inches long (against a background of layered chin-length wavy dark brown hair).

Yesterday evening, someone actually complimented me on the white streak, thinking it was something I'd had 'done'!

[naturelover]

nerfmother I love the cut and have had dozens of compliments!
No one seems shocked by the grey temples (more obvious than with previous haircut). Or everyone is too polite to say?

It feels great to be liberated from the tyranny of dying (and time and expense).

I figure if people are used to me with a bit of grey then it will be less of a shock as I get older and get more.

As you say karen8888 a too-dark dyed look is harsh and ageing in itself. I already feel my natural colour is more flattering to my skin tone.

Only downsides: I have to wash my hair every day (the product makes it stand up vertical in the morning) - but it's quick to wash and style as it's so short. I am definitely wearing make-up every day as well, I think I need it to feel feminine with such short hair. That said, I don't actually wear much, mainly base and mascara.

[Nerfmother]

I Agree, going grey now feels like a choice rather than having to when I'm eighty.

[auntpetunia]

Am still here persevering with the grey grow out, fortunately my hairdresser is on my side as she likes the colour of my grey! Had a few inches chopped off so got a nice bob now to carry on growing out. Had a few negative comments but don't care I'm happy with my decision.

[Nerfmother]

Another hair cut today ! Really really happy I did this, glad you are persevering aunt petunia!!

[Nerfmother]

Sorted the photos out btw - ruby, aunt petunia and the far side - you can all see my new 'do' !

[TheFarSide]

Can't see them Nerfy

[Nerfmother]

Argh!

[Nerfmother]

Ok I think I have solved it

[TheFarSide]

You look great, Nerf!!! It's a big change from your long red locks but totally vibrant and youthful. I wish I had your bone structure.

I would post an updated photo but not much has changed - two/three inches of grey roots as opposed to one inch, and a much shorter bob. I'll wait until after my next haircut when hopefully there'll be more grey than dyed hair.

[Nerfmother]

You are very kind! Glad you are still going for it! I am so pleased not to be dying my hair anymore and tbh I don't feel aged by it. I have bought some new face powder by benefit which is lovely and adds a glow

[Nerfmother]

Still here! Lone voice fighting the good fight!

[TheFarSide]

Also still here. Thread just dropped off my I'M ON list !

All going well, not caved in, getting used to being grey, etc, etc.

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

I'm still here with touched up roots whilst the underneath is growing out then I'll go for the full monty!

[Whitecat]

Still here. Thought my hair looked bloody awful after a recent cut but it just looked choppy and needed a couple of weeks to settle. Back to feeling ok about it now. Sunshine days it looks great -bring back the sunshine days.

[Nerfmother]

Phew, glad you're all still going! Got a bit lonely there ! Have only a fee inches of red now, and most of my hair is shorter and all grey.

[TheFarSide]

So, how are we all doing?

I just had my long bob cut into a short bob but I've still got two or three inches of blonde at the bottom.

It's not looking too bad because the blonde is not that different from the white/grey - it looks a bit dip dye.

I'll be mightily glad when the rest of the blonde is gone though - probably when I get it cut again next February or March. It's been a long haul but worth it.

Hope no-one's caved in?

[indecisiveandclueless]

New to this thread, but been growing out grey for months.
Struggling.
Teenage son said it looks the worst it's ever looked. When he saw a pack of hair colour in the bathroom (I'd been clearing out some old stuff) he looked really pleased at the thought I might be reconsidering.
Maybe it's not the right decision after all.
Friends and colleagues have been terribly polite about it, which is a worrying sign!

[auntpetunia]

Am still here …just had another couple of inches chopped off mine, got about 1.5 inches of brown /red left.

Glad you're all still going strong.

[TheFarSide]

Is your hair long indecisive and is that why it's taking months? Could your hairdresser do something to temporarily blend the regrowth? Don't give up now - it's so worth it not having to faff around dyeing your hair every couple of weeks.

I've been growing mine out for nearly a year, and it will be over a year when I'm finally rid of the last vestiges of dye. The reason it's taking so long is because I have shoulder length hair which I get cut to chin length every six months or so. I can't go any shorter because it doesn't suit me.

I have survived by bleaching out the brown dye right at the beginning so it's not too far off my natural colour of white grey. There's a tide mark but it's not totally horrendous.

If you need inspiration, there's a Facebook group Going Grey Looking Great which has kept me going.

[CeeceeBloomingdale]

Still here, sporting the cruella de vile look as I go from dark brown to white. I'm not getting much, nay any support in real life, people think I'm insane. Sometimes I agree but mainly I'm excited to think in a couple of years transition may finally be over (I'm a year in but still colour my hairline whilst I grow out the underneath). My hair is long.

[KosherBacon]

I keep debating this. I have a small amount of grey (5% ish) and have been colouring. In order to blend it away I've been dying it but anything that takes on my grey lifts the rest of my hair a reddish colour. I'm frustrated with dyeing and don't have the money to keep getting it done in the salon only to end up with a ginger undertones in my brown hair four weeks later.

[indecisiveandclueless]

Like thefarside I had my hair bleached to get rid of the bulk of the brown. The hairdresser then put a grey semi-permanent on to try and even the colour out. It's this which is actually almost as bad as the original brown, as it's very dark and dull, whereas my natural colour is more of a white/silver.
It does alter the kinds of colours I need to wear, and I've not really got to grips with it yet, maybe that's why I'm wavering.