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Original poster

Dye hair or not ?

18 replies

throckenholt · 10/01/2007 09:47

This is something that has been puzzling me for ages. What proportion of people never dye their hair ?

I have a feeling I am in a minority (I have never dyed mine) - but would love to know just how odd I am .

I have a feeling that the way to get rich is to invest in hair products

OP posts:
Moomin · 10/01/2007 09:57

I dye my hair - it's the one thing that I change from my 'natural state' (apart from shaving legs & pits every so often!) I'm very fair-skinned with blonde fine body hair and blonde eyelashes but my natural hair colour is dark brown so I think I look a bit washed out not to say freaky in my natural state. It used to be quite blonde but stated looking a bit brassy so it's a light browny blonde now and it definitely helps my self-esteem.

My friend who's the same age as me (38) has some roots showing at the moment and I noticed they were really grey the other day!! I was shocked. My roots aren't grey but are bound to be soonish and I think it sooooo ages a person. I can only think of 1 or 2 people who it suits.

brimfull · 10/01/2007 10:10

I go through phases of dyeing my hair.I can't afford to get it done professionally though and it always looks better than my homedye attempts.

Original poster
throckenholt · 10/01/2007 10:18

I am lucky that I have dark brown hair and no grey at all so far (I am 40) - but I have never felt the urge or the need to dye it.

But I noticed the other day in the school playground that I was practically the only person there who had not dyed their hair (the trend for highlights was obvious even to me who never usually notices fashion ).

OP posts:
SSShakeTheChi · 10/01/2007 10:21

Like my hair colour, suits me I think and it has a nice shine too which dyed hair often doesn't have - either that strong unnatural shine or if it's been lightened no shine at all.

When I go grey, I'll dye it though unless I look very distinguished or something with grey, depends a bit on the grey.

Think if your natural colour suits you, stick to it but if it's mousy or whatever, have it changed. I'm not keen on hair dyed black, few people can carry it off.

Lio · 10/01/2007 10:24

Used to but stopped years ago. I am going pretty grey, which I don't love, but I can't bear the thought of getting back into the cycle of having to keep dying it. I've spent a lot of the past 4 years either pg or bf, and haven't wanted to have those chemicals in me during that time, so that's made the decision a bit easier.

DrunkenSailor · 10/01/2007 10:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
throckenholt · 11/01/2007 12:17

any more ? It is gradually dawning on me that many women feel it is essential - whereas I am so unaware of fashion and style that it never really occurred to me to do it

OP posts:
caygill132 · 11/01/2007 12:23

I have dyed my hair for ages since I was about 14..that is highlights not a full head dye. I am now 27 and 3 years ago I decided to grow it out and see what my natural hair colour would be...answer...grey!!!!! I couldn't believe it neadless to say I am back highlighting my hair. I have never had an all over dye, oh I lie, I did once and cried for days it was hideous. Just a few highlights and in the summer some low lights too. I look so drab and scarry without them!

pirategirl · 19/01/2007 18:05

HI,

I dye mine, have too, have been going grey since i was 16! now 38, unfortunately its genetic, both my mum and nan were grey by 30.

its a pain in the ass tho, as i would love to have highlights again ( natural hair is dark brown, but 70 % is grey) which would not show so much root growth, yet I also need to have the roots redone and highlights at the same, and it starts to cost tooooo much.

So i keep dying it, and now its in bad condition. Have thought of going for a natural dye called herbatint, that my mate uses. Bit kinder.!!

foxinsocks · 19/01/2007 18:08

I don't dye mine. It's a sort of grey/dirty blonde but goes kinda white blonde in summer.

I've tried one or two hair dyes in patches on my arms (to test them) and they all brought me out in a rash so I daren't put them on my head.

Posey · 19/01/2007 18:11

Used to do the more outrageous colours when younger, then had it au naturel throughout my 30s. About a year ago I realised the grey was getting too much and making me look older than I am and not as healthy (it made me look quit pale and uinteresting!) Anyway now dye it pretty much my non-grey natural colour so its not a disaster if I don't keep on top of the roots. When I first did it, so many people commented on how well I looked without specifiacally commenting on my hair. It just made me look better.

gingermonkey · 21/01/2007 17:53

I dye mine (well, the hairdresser does) and have done for years and years. I started to go grey at about 19 and as my hair was almost black it looked a bit shitty. I have no idea how much grey I have now tho, because I get it done every 3 weeks just to make sure I never see it!!!!!!

soyabean · 21/01/2007 22:39

I have been wondering about this too. I'm 43 and really only started to go grey in the last year or 2. have never dyed hair before and have very little money so regular salon visits are not possible. I had a semipermanent colour put in lst summer before holiday and was happy at the time but it seems to have been more permanent than it should have been as I now have grey roots coming through. I wonder if the sun or swimming pool chemicals cd have affected the colour?
Like Posey i feel that I look drained and unhealthy but I dont want to be beholden to regular dying. And I go swimming twice a week so the wash in for 6 washes type just wash out the same week.
I looked at herbatint too pirategirl, does your friend like it?

pointydog · 21/01/2007 23:17

looky here, throcken. Some people go grey very early or they have a piss-poor colour of hair to start with (and some like trying something different but that's a bit beside the point). There's no puzzle.

So you just stop being so smug about having wonderful dark brown hair with no trace of white.

Signed: Old Grey Mare

magicfarawaytree · 21/01/2007 23:23

I have the odd grey hair,i think - my hair is very curly so its not obvious. The only reason I dont try out dying my hair just for fun is that I will have to eventually grow the colour out and by then my hair will probably be very grey. Whereas for me just going grey in the way that I am is less traumatic but I do think it is such a personal thing. I have a few friends whose hair has gone grey early and it really ages them when their colour has grown out. needless to say they keep dying it.

pirategirl · 21/01/2007 23:25

soyabean,
there r a couple of natural ones onthe market. my mate was using one that she says was really messy, but has swithced now, will get back to you with the name of the new one. Will be seeing her this week.

Then I'm gonna have a go at it when the roots start a comin,
!!!!!!!!!!

pirategirl · 21/01/2007 23:29

was just thinkin lol, what my hair might look like now if i'd never dyed it!

I have olive skin, and very dark eyebrows, so my hair ( shoulder length) would be almost white, and i'd look well scary and witchy.

There is no way I couldnt dye it, like you say its a personal thing. I'd look about 70, but am only 38.

soyabean · 22/01/2007 20:47

Thanks pirategirl, I appreciate it.

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