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.

I thought what she said about long grey hair was very interesting

Agree - I can't imagine 78% women dye their hair

Long, grey, sexy, youthful hair causes consternation it seems!

Thanks for the compliments
I love the different tones through yours WitchWay, really pretty

I didn't get a chance to listen to the wisdom of Mary Beard. I think as long as you keep it in good condition so that it doesn't look straggly, long grey hair can look incredible. Mine tends to not grow any longer than pictured, so unless I am mad enough to straighten it again, fine frizz prone curls are a whole other problem! it will remain shoulder length.

Thanks very much! I have noticed it's becoming dryer & more flyaway now it's greying, so I have to crack out the heavy duty conditioner every so often. My scalp is also dryer than it used to be - in my youth I had really greasy hair.

Mary Beard is on BBC iPlayer if you want to hear it.

I have found my people!
I'm 33 and have a rapidly developing white stripe. I have started parting my hair to give it maximum exposure. I'll post a pic later when I've washed my hair ...
Silver shampoo- what does it do?

I seem to be ready to take the plunge . But having been flaming copper all my life, going flaming silver is a bit...terrifying.

But on the other hand I keep noticing gorgeous women - in everyday life, I mean, not supermodels - who're doing the grey thing and look terrific. And two of them have told me in the past week that my hair - cut short and just not redyed - is looking great.

Try and avoid impulse dyeing!
If you get the urge tell yourself you have to wait for a certain period of time and then decide whether you want to go back to square one after patiently waiting for the dye to grow out

I know red hair can look fabulous but if you are silver the roots need frequent attention to avoid the floating hair look😱

Yes. It's the envy of people who're saying "hey, I look like this: get over it". I mean I'm not going to look 35 whatever I do - I'm 52. A youthful-looking 52 but still 52.

Hello, can I join you? I'm 48 and decided to start growing my grey out about 6 months ago. I've recently had the brorange crispy ends cut off: now thinking of going even shorter. I've got ridiculously thick and unruly hair and I think embracing its madness is the only way forward

Here's mine, I'm stripy like a badger. White round temples and hair line and about 50% on my parting but it's still dark brown in the middle. I had it dyed grey/ash blonde about 5 months ago and I've not touched it since.

I'm 35 but I've been going grey since my early 20s. I wish it would just all turn now!

I LOVE THIS THREAD! Hair dye can fuck off as far as I'm concerned (no offence to others that dye, I think some look really nice on young and old).

Well done OP

I'm not surprised it's 78% dyeing their hair
I don't know anyone under 60 who doesn't
I'm in my 40s and wabted to grey gradually rather than have a hassle growing it out
My hair is thick, has to be kept a certain length or just too much hassle and I wouldn't want regular cuts
I'm getting annoyed with people asking if I plan to dye it or calling me brave
Hairdresser isn't fussed though, but she also thinks it's brave. She feels she can't go grey because it would be the wrong image for her salon (she owns it). Sadly I know what she means.
I really hope more women embrace the grey, I'm feeling like the only one.

I haven't dyed mine since July 2015. Best thing I did, was cut it into a longer version of a pixie cut. Previously I had a shoulder length cut. Had a few bad hair months when I was growing it out. I've had loads of compliments about my shorter hair. Think the old brown will all be gone next cut.

How's everyone doing??

I'm 75% dye free now, should be 100% by the time winter rolls round as my fringe has a lot of colour still.

I had my hair cut today, went in for a tidy up (crop was looking a bit bouffant) and she just did what she liked, which pee'd me off. Good thing my hair's been growing quite quickly.

Doing ok here doctorboo. I last dyed my hair a year ago. It is certainly getting easier now that it has gone beyond the stage when it looks as though I haven't bothered to do my roots ( ah. . .roots - remember that ? Not missing that at all. )

I do still have a two-tone look which is very noticeable on photos. You are lucky to have hair which grows quickly. Mine grows slowly and I believe it could be another six months until all the brown ends are gone. I have my hair as long as the base of my neck. This length suits my face, so I just have to be patient - am in this for the long-haul and, importantly, my lovely hairdresser is on board. At my last haircut she used a purple toning shampoo which brought out the silver tones and brightened it and she didn't tell me until I asked her what she had used.

Wish I could stop colouring my hair. Almost completely white at front for about 4cm but loads of really dark hair at the back. Tried growing it out twice but gave up after realising I'd look like Lisa Dingle. I have the frizz too

Sorry to resurrect an old thread but does anyone have advice regarding the best way to manage the transition from dark brunette to white grey? I'm only 42 but basically now 100% white grey (thanks to thyroid & hormone imbalance IMO). Fed up with dyeing my shoulder-length hair every month and it really gets me down when my roots start coming through. I would love to get off this stupid carousel but am so worried about growing out the colour, plus my skin colouring is very 'autumnal' with hazel eyes and dark brows. What is the best way to start the process?

I'd go to a hairdresser and ask. I'm turning 40 this year & at my last haircut i mentioned I wanted to embrace my greys rather than cover them. Got an appointment next week where we plan to chop it all off in a funky pixie style and to highlight with even more grey/silver to go alongside my natural silver.

Defo ask a hairdresser. . . Just re read got post and if you already dye it, that will make a huge difference.

Thanks cindyrella. I have considered getting my hair cut much shorter but have such a round face that I don't see how it will suit me. I may have to resort to a strategic head shave for charity! My hairdresser thinks I should wait until my brows go grey but that could be many years away yet...

Hahaha well look at Charlize Theron! She did a buzz cut to salt and pepper & looked fab. What I would give for bone structure like that!

How are we all doing ? A year no dye and 6 months since the big chop to get all the crispy blorange dye off ! Now to keep growing :)

That's a lovely colour drama.
I'm 64. Still got loads of brown all over so it's still blonde highlights for me.

I have lots of sporadic, horrible, wiry, sticky-uppy greys on top of dark brown long hair. It looks fucking awful if i dont keep on top of dying it. I cannot wait until it goes completely grey and i can either leave it as you have or go blonde like my mother.

Thanks Dowser, Flumpet mine was originally dark brown and I started going lighter to try and hide the grey but I looked awful even dark blonde , the hairline always went orange and my face looked like a tomato;) I was so fed up after a shocking high light job I had to admit defeat. Then as it grew out I realised the hairline was still dark hence the orange ! So much easier now plus my skin tone looks better with my natural colour , you never know how it will look until you have a few good inches of roots showing