For those of us going grey

[SilveryFoxyMe]

Forgive the name change, but I reckon this post makes me fairly recognisable.

Anyway, last year I posted my dilemma as to whether to continue dyeing my hair or let nature take over and see what was really lurking under there

I bit the bullet after yet another hair dye ending up brassier than I had hoped and not lasting at all, and decided to grow it out.

Eight months on (I do have short hair) it's all gone, and I am almost completely silver, with a few smattering of darker.

At just 47 I appreciate this is not the societal norm, and in some people's eyes has aged me. One friend pretty much commiserated with me and my hairdresser is horrified.

But in the past month I have been for two job interviews, been offered both jobs, and been invited out in a date (long story, I am happily married and he mistakenly thought I was single).

Several people have told me it looks fab, a neighbour came up to me to say I had inspired her to go for it.

My face still looks fairly youthful, I think, but at first glance people might think I am much older. Yet I still got the job offers and the date! More attention that I have had in years!

So if you are swithering, I would heartily recommend it.

PS I meant to say - be honest - I am under no illusions with regard to my general munterishness!

I've just looked at the photos I took then and it looks quite good

that's just harsh lightning and camera angle, SlipperyJack! My eyes look well baggy in certain lights so I try to avoid those mirrors. Yes you can leave your hair colour the way it is - it's pretty! it still has lots of brown through it and the silver hairs look almost like highlights.

Aw thanks findo, though I can assure you the hollows show up in all photos. The camera does not love me! Glad the hair's doable, I really can't be sodded with dye. I just wish it would all go silver quickly!

I can't tell you have grey SlipperyJack, looks like natural highlights to me.
Agree re lighting and camera angle not helpful.
You have lovely clear skin, am envious.

suzannecanthecan
Good suggestion, I will do that ( not sure why I didn't do that before). Would also be interested in personal experiences from those who did the same i.e dark- skinned, dark-haired and under 45y going grey.
Thanks!

Aha Cain, I might be able to help re skin. I have very oily skin and used to be a regular pizza face, with enlarged pores to boot. After posting on S&B in despair, I was advised to do both hot cloth cleansing (rather than my foaming face washes and scrubs) and to use moisturizing oil not cream. The difference has been astonishing. I still get the odd zit around my period, but everything else has improved no end.

Mine is only about 25-30% grey, on average and I got my first white hairs at 17. So, at the current rate, I'll be totally white at 115 :o

Grey ho is that woman who used to present the Clothes Show. I'm sure she wore scarves on her head for a long time.

Could you get away with very short? Bit like mine, upthread? Mine took about 9 months to fully grow out. I did most of it through winter, when I live in various woolly hats.

missing a w and a ? there.

ridinghigh remember Chetna from last year's bake off? Stunning
www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/great-british-bake-off/10996622/The-Great-British-Bake-Off-2014-meet-the-contestants.html

slippery I actually like your style. I have a somewhat weak at the knees thing for faces with "character" though. (proud owner of one of my own and married to another)

Caryn Franklin, she's been blazing a trail for grey hair since way back.

Loving this thread. I am transitioning also. Wear my hair up a lot so you can't see the two tone so much...

I love your hair BettyJudy, you look great.

the problem is if you watch Coronation Street characters like Emily Bishop and Rita still colour their hair and the media is obsessed about us all looking youthful.

I may consider in another 10 years'

I think it is because I know my hair may be very white at the front rather than having some grey with brown underneath so I think that would look worse on me.

As I say, if I could disappear for 3 months to see the result in private I might be ok. In some senses without being disrespectful maybe a hijab is a good idea as it hides your hair.

I had loads of hair cut off yesterday, very satisfying to see all the bleached and orange bits being swept away.
Betty your hair is a lovely colour, I think mine is going to be a mixture of white on top and darker around the sides and back.
I'm feeling quite positive about the change today, hopefully after the next cut I will see what the dye has been hiding

Thanks lovelies. i too, am quite dark round the back still... Didnt realise how much until I had this photo taken, hence the stupid blonde coloured hair bobbles that stand out a mile!

Also have the horrible orange/tobacco coloured bits too. Much nicer to have something flattering that nature intended for you. Thats not to say I'm ALL for the natural look, as I do have the odd bit of botox...

This is me before (about Feb this year) and after. I go a really, really short crop to get rid of most of the dye and a couple of follow up short crops to get rid of the remainder. The colourist also gave me at the initial chop lots of fine grey-toned highlights to blend in the regrowth.

My thread here if anyone interested. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2316020-To-chop-or-not-Honest-opinions-please It is not as grey as I thought it would be - this photo is pretty much my final colour - much greyer at the front than the back.

I feel liberated from the dye treadmill. The short hair has been OK - it grows. Do not regret it for a minute. Now just going to start growing it a bit longer again as the dye is pretty much all gone.

Wow chop, the cut took years off you! I love it.

I've just got in from my local town, I saw an older woman, beautiful dress, platform sandals and a head of gorgeous well styled short grey hair.
If mine looks anything like hers I will be well pleased!

ChoporNot it was your post that inspired me to stop covering my greys. I love your greys at the front and I think that's how mine will be; there's a band around the front and sides of white/grey, and brown at the back.

Thread not post sorry

One thing I noticed was how much my white/ grey hair suited my skin tone.
Fuck it, I'm going grey again

That's because your complexion fades as you get older,Coco! And also why dyed hair often looks inappropriate for older faces, we need a "gentler" look!
I also think it's down to genetics as to how you go grey, and how long it takes to do so, I seem to be following my lovely late Mum's route to grey although I always felt I took after Dad's side.