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Original poster

For those of us going grey

730 replies

SilveryFoxyMe · 12/07/2015 14:09

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! Grin

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

OP posts:
Thread gallery
119
traviata · 18/07/2015 19:37

greygreygrey I love your hair.

I am struggling with my grey hair at the moment. I've stopped dyeing, the colour is ok, and I want to embrace the grey. But it's growing very curly, and my hairdresser keeps giving me a cut like a toilet brush, which is hideous and very ageing. Trouble is, if it isn't cut, it just grows up and out, like an Afro.

ouryve · 18/07/2015 20:14

I'm imagining a chuckle brothers style haircut, traviata. :o If that's what your stylist is giving you, it's time to ltb!

GreyGreyGrey · 18/07/2015 20:39

Thanks for the compliment Traviata! My kids tell me there friends at school mistake me for their grandmother! Angry

The best thing I did was to go to a male barber rather than a female hairstylist. Men don't usually chemically treat their hair to change the texture, so they know how to cut natural curly hair. Short hair has changed my life. I feel southern pulled together

traviata · 18/07/2015 21:03

it's along those lines, ouryve, but with curls. She's been my stylist for 10 years, and has been fab until now. I don't know what's got into her.

The grandmother thing does worry me. I have been poring over style blogs recently, trying to figure out the secrets to not dressing older. I definitely could be taken for a grandmother to my DC (could just about be by age).

Notfootball · 18/07/2015 21:32

Ridinghigh I'm black (Mac nc45) and the grey is poking through my hair, just a few in my parting and scattered throughout. I haven't got the courage yet to drop the dye but I'd love to as I have my hair relaxed and I worry about it becoming over processed. I'm watching this thread with interest.

SomethingOnce · 18/07/2015 23:23

My kids tell me there friends at school mistake me for their grandmother!

I'm assuming your DC are young. I wouldn't set too much store by what they think!

SomethingOnce · 18/07/2015 23:37

Notfootball, you've brought to mind one of my favourite grey-embracers!

Not sure how old she is, maybe mid-fifties; she has dreadlocks that are progressively greyer from tip to roots. She's very attractive generally, and her hair looks amazing.

Sadly, I have the wrong kind of hair so it's not a look I can hope to copy - just have to admire.

woodhill · 19/07/2015 10:35

Grey love your hair, how did you block your face, it reminded me of that Sapphire and Steel episode with the man with the blank face in the photos. not you but the concept

GreyGreyGrey · 19/07/2015 12:21

Thanks woodhill.

On my Mac, there is the ability to edit out spots by blurring them. I just did that on a massive scale.

dorothymichaels · 19/07/2015 12:52

Grey streaks all over now at 41 with entirely grey/white temples. I stopped colouring it about a year ago and cut hair really short as it was also getting thin. Last night someone said I had lovely colouring. I'm actually really looking forward to it all being white. My mum is entirely white haired and it really suits her in a Judy Dench type cut.

For those of us going grey
Notfootball · 19/07/2015 19:33

I wish mine was that cool Something, mine just looks dodgy.

claracluck71 · 20/07/2015 22:13

I think I should probably hold my hands up and join this group Smile.

I've been going grey, and dyeing my hair, since I was 17 and now that I'm 44 I've had enough. There is no joy left in the 4-week ritual of hair colour all over the bathroom, so I have decided to stop colouring Shock.

My 'natural' colour is dark brown, but I've been gradually lightening over the past few years and with the sun's help it goes very light in the summer.

I don't know exactly when I last dyed it, but I estimate it to be about 25 weeks - eek. My mother is horrified, and my hairdresser dubious, but my DH knows better than to say anything other than 'I'm sure it will lovely'!

Good luck everyone Thanks

woodhill · 20/07/2015 22:25

I've just touched the roots, important event this week. I even got my poor ds to put colour on crown. wish it grew underneath

suzannecanthecan · 20/07/2015 22:54

I showed my other half my parting and he swears blind that he cant see any difference between my roots and the dyed lengths.
I think it's part tact and part masculine refusal to distinguish anything other than basic colour groups :o

I plan to just keep mine long and let it grow out

WhisperingPea · 21/07/2015 10:53

I started colouring my hair at 34; stopped at 48 and had it cut short. That didn't work for me so I ended up dying it again. Now, 4 years later, with shoulder length hair I'm trying again. The hairdresser started by adding blonde highlights - it looked awful and I hated being blonde having been long/ medium dark brown all my life. I have dark eybrows and don't wear make up.

So 7 months ago I just stopped colouring. It's long enough to be tied back so the blonde bits aren't very noticable. I think in another 6 months and a number of decent cuts I should be all grey/ white. It suits my skin far more and is in better condition than for a long, long time. I think it's best to bite the bullet and just stop colouring than do it via highlights - or if short hair suits start by chopping it all off.

CainInThePunting · 22/07/2015 12:20

I think it's over a week since I shared my last badger stripe.
It's definitely not an obvious change but it's there in solidarity for anyone else going through this stage with me!

For those of us going grey
Cocolepew · 22/07/2015 14:59

Yours is blending in really nicely Cain.
I shaved my back and sides pretty short this morning and have lovely patchwork hair colours now Hmm. There was a darker dye underneath my blone so the back is a totally different colour to the rest!

Cocolepew · 22/07/2015 15:03
Hmm
For those of us going grey
For those of us going grey
For those of us going grey
Cocolepew · 22/07/2015 15:07

Front view

For those of us going grey
suzannecanthecan · 22/07/2015 15:07

here's mine
early days for me
keep up the good work Cain:)

For those of us going grey
SewingAndCakes · 22/07/2015 16:22

Here's mine, I think this is 8 weeks of growth...

For those of us going grey
Deeznutz · 22/07/2015 18:24

I would love to go natural. My colouring means it will look grim. I have pure white hair over my ears and the rest is salt and pepper on top with more pepper than salt. I have a pixie and hate long hair so I think it will end up looking like that guy from the Sopranos.

Anyway just wanted to say I think everyone on here is going to look great x

Itsalldramarama · 22/07/2015 21:16

Thanks for sharing pics :) here's mine ! Think about 8 or 9 weeks growth ! Just washed it and chopped an inch of mums net style !! ( been waiting a week for dd to bring scissors home !! ) God it looks orange in the pics but it's not that bright I hope in real life !!! Well done every one !:)

For those of us going grey
For those of us going grey
hippospot · 22/07/2015 21:37

I stopped dyeing my hair two years ago and the dye is long since gone (short hair). I like the way the colour looks now, it's mostly quite mousy but with about 30% white, and some blond from the sun. I think it suits my skin tone more than the solid home-dye I used to do (couldn't afford salon). DH loves it.

But I can't seem to stop myself having the odd wobble about appearing older than I am (41) simply because of societal norms of most women not dyeing. I have only a couple of friends who don't cover their grey.

I have a big reunion coming up and am feeling quite self-conscious all of a sudden. Doesn't help that I'm "between hairdressers" and not happy with the cut either.

hippospot · 22/07/2015 21:38

"most women dyeing" that should say!

I meant to add - the condition of my hair is really good now too.