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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:
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purplemeggie · 13/07/2015 21:57

Oooh, I like this thread. I'm 42 and getting more than a few grey hairs now. My sister's 10 years older than me and was horrified by the thought that I wouldn't dye my hair - and ds didn't like the idea of mummy getting grey hair, but DH thinks I should.

The thing is, I remember when my mother was about my age, that she kept going on at my grandmother about how she shouldn't dye her hair as she was well into her seventies and it looked a bit ridiculous. But now, she's the one in her seventies and still dying her hair. I challenged her about it recently, and reminded her of what she'd said to Grannie, and her response was "oh, but I'm still not completely grey and I think it would look awful. When I'm completely grey, I'll give in to it." But isn't that much harder? I can't imagine going grey overnight, but I can imagine just never fighting the process and letting it happen a few more hairs at a time...

....and purple shampoo sounds right up my street Grin

suzannecanthecan · 13/07/2015 22:06

When I'm completely grey, I'll give in to it." But isn't that much harder??

I think you've nailed it, probably easier for most to grow out the dye and let the natural colour come through when you only have a small amount of white hairs.
The more white the greater the contrast and the bigger the temptation to keep dyeing ?

urbinosparrot · 13/07/2015 22:09

Those of you who have posted photos - you all look great, and I most definitely don't think any of you look old because of the grey. In fact I think you all look amazingly youthful!

I think self-confidence is the key to looking good regardless of hair colour, and I also agree that hair dyed a uniform flat colour is ageing.

I'm 55 with a dusting of white hairs which I can still hide with semi-permanent colour, but I only do it occasionally. I hate the whole process of my hair being initially too dark for a couple of weeks before settling to my natural colour (dark chestnut) for two to three weeks, and then fading to a nasty orangey tint. I''ve been thinking about going grey gracefully, but my DH and DD are both horrified and accuse me of letting myself goSad

I think the in-between stage can be hard. Pepper and salt looks great, and true silver always looks elegant, but I think I'm doomed to go grey very slowly like my DM. At 84 she still hasn't reached the pepper and salt stage, and just looks faded, and that's how I'm starting to feel too.

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 13/07/2015 22:14

You all look gorgeous! I'm another who started greying at 19, but blonde so not too bad, but dyed it till about two years ago. It's very silvery blonde now, but I'm struggling against the blonde! I want it greyer! Been using directions silver, but it just isn't taking very well, especially at the front. Use purple shampoo and conditioner. I also need a decent, non ageing cut as its fine and tends to the witchy. But it's getting a hairdresser to listen, I want cool and funky, not puffy and ageing!

woodhill · 13/07/2015 22:17

I think if you could not mix with anyone for 6 months I might and see how it looked but you never get that chance.

Canadalife · 13/07/2015 22:29

Hay lovelies....I stopped colouring my hair about 2 years ago. Kept it v short to grow out the colour and then embraced the real me. I am so glad I did...lots of anti from my mum, still colouring at 83. But it is so easy...and I have been stopped in the street and asked where I get it coloured! I do sometimes wonder who the grey lady is that I catch sight of in shop windows....but over all am v glad I did go grey. I feel as if I am not pretending any more.....

For those of us going grey
NanTheWiser · 13/07/2015 22:40

You're fabulous Canadalife! (I think we may be gaining a few converts... )

BrowersBlues · 13/07/2015 22:48

Thanks so much again for posting photos. Canada your hair is amazing. I am definitely going to do this. My hair is still very dark but when the time comes I am going to do it. I would rather be grey than colour my hair every few weeks. I literally couldn't bear that.

CuttedUpPear · 13/07/2015 22:55

I have just got back from Asda with a haul of cut price Touch of Silver stuff. I noticed it is under the Pro-Voke label that my hairdresser neighbour had told me about. I didn't realise that it was the same make.

Result - and all on offer!

suzannecanthecan · 13/07/2015 22:58

yes yes!
I am ready to take the pledge and renounce hair-dye from hereon in.
Thanks to all those who have so generously shared pictures:)

MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 13/07/2015 23:11

I spent the last 8 months growing out my colour.. I'm 47 and have a grey fringe some side bits and lots of underneath patches. Then I had a mad moment and redyed it.

I SO SO regret it.. I let the hairdresser do an all over brown with 'subtle highlights' which look like brassy stripes :(

Now I have to start again, so next week when I finish school for the summer I am having it mega short (currently longish bob) and going for it again. This time I won't waver. My natural grey felt so much healthier and nicer and had a shine to it. My dyed hair looks brassy and awful :(

I wish I were brave enough to take clippers to my head!

CuffsAndCollar · 13/07/2015 23:13

I'm going to be the one to lower the tone. Am I the only one more worried about grey pubic hair than head hair? Blush.

BrowersBlues · 13/07/2015 23:22

Someone had to ask Cuffs. I guess just keep the lady garden cut very very short. I am never going to wax that whole area, bikini line certainly but that is it for me.

butterfly133 · 13/07/2015 23:24

Cuffs, I'm not worried as I don't plan to show it in public Grin

suzannecanthecan · 13/07/2015 23:33

pubes?
nope totally unconcerned!:o

I would suggest that one reason men dont get too hung up about going grey is that they are more focused on balding and receding.
Those with hair are probably just grateful to have any hair no matter what the colour.

dancelikenooneiswatching · 13/07/2015 23:47

i lost all my hair to chemo 18 months ago. I had always kept it long and dark. When it grew back I decided to leave it its natural colour and see how it turned out.

So I now have short, silver hair and I love it. I get so many more compliments than I did before.

These are my before and after pics:

For those of us going grey
For those of us going grey
MedusaIsHavingaBadHairday · 13/07/2015 23:49

Dancelikenooneiswatching... you look amazing! Your short silver suits you so much!

BrowersBlues · 13/07/2015 23:51

Dance you look absolutely incredible. I prefer you with short hair.

dancelikenooneiswatching · 13/07/2015 23:57

Thank you Medusa and Browser

I was 59 in the first pic, 60 in the second.

I had hoped it would grow back like Cheryl Cole's but I got Philip Schofield instead Grin

I really love it, and it's so easy. I use the purple shampoo and conditioner, and my hair is so soft because I'm not using any harsh chemicals or heated tools on it. A bit of wax and I'm good to go.

dancelikenooneiswatching · 14/07/2015 00:04

Canada you look fabulous.

CuttedUpPear you can sometimes get Touch of Silver in Poundland. I stock up when they get it in.

BrowersBlues · 14/07/2015 00:25

What is purple shampoo?

Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 14/07/2015 06:34

Cuffs, I didn't worry as I don't have any left!
Browser, what it says, stops hair looking brassy, makes it a bit silveryer. Touch of silver is a great range.

iisme · 14/07/2015 07:33

Hmm. I'm a bit worried about the comments that good make up is essential to avoid looking washed out. I've never been a make up person (special occasions only) and to me doing make up every day would be way more hassle than getting my hair dyed every 6 weeks (though not nearly as expensive!) Any other non-make-up wearers happy with their decision to go grey? I'm still dying and wavering about whether to stop or not (just turned 40, mostly brown but with quite a lot of grey coming through at the roots).

Panadbois · 14/07/2015 07:40

I decided to stop dyeing my hair brown last year and opted to go lighter. I'm now considering going really short, pixie cut, but am scared.
I do look at photos of my brunette self and feel sad though.

CuttedUpPear · 14/07/2015 07:56

Bowers purple shampoo is this amazing revelatory product that all grey/blonde/brassy people should know about.

I have mid to light brown hair with a few highlights and grey throughout. It looked terrible, especially in the sunshine, until I started with the purple shampoo.

Now all the brassiness has gone and it looks like I have highlights all over.

It would work for you too Medusa