Help me find a hairstyle please. Fringe? No Fringe? (Pics)

[ChopOrNot]

A couple of years ago I grew out the dye (did the drastic pixie cut and grew it out) So now I am blessed with a chin-length mop of salt and pepper curls. I do not want to go back to the dye but need some impartial opinions on what to do with the mop. Please!

So any suggested styles gratefully received. Should I continue to grow it? Should I get a fringe cut in (more like a bit of a wispy/ringletty shorter bit than a full-fringe. Keep it chin-length bob?

I want to be a cool funky grey - not a dowdy grey!

Any ideas please? (Oh and forgive photos - at home today with awful cold - hence I look every one of my 45 years!)

I'm not normally a fan of grey but it really suits you. I think you look more funky with grey.

I wouldn't change it too much maybe just grow it a bit more and leave it to be quite full?

I love your hair op, my hair's silver, very fine and I'm growing it into a bob from very short layers. I'm surprised and delighted that growing out the layers has made it look much thicker. I'm trying to resist the urge to have a fringe so it's in that annoying 'not quite long enough ' stage!

P.s. I don't think Barbara Cartland would have listened and I bet no one was brave enough to tell her!

Wow! I remember the older post, with the glasses, from a while back.

I was a reader then and hadn't signed up, but I am amazed by how utterly perfect your grey curls are, like head turning. Oh please DO embrace this entirely natural look, it would seem nature has blessed you not to need any damn thing by way of improvement!

I am still golden blond at 42, and straighten my hair, but it is naturally curly in a very similar way to yours. After seeing your pictures I can honestly say that this is how I want it when it does change colour. This colour and this style.
You could easily grow it a bit if you want to wear it up, but the bobbed style is so perfect as it is. Love this pic of you with it up, too. Enjoy your natural good looks:)

Oh and i wouldnt cut a fringe, the length of the curls framing your face are so lovely the way they are.

No fringe just a nice cut the way it is. Oh for hair like yours..

I think you look much younger in your photo with it clipped up.

It looks great as it is! Definitely not granny post man pat!

I still think you are all being far too polite. I really have not come here for a compliment fest. Mostly in those photos I see slightly hanging, grey (though I love the grey) spaniels-ears hair with frizz, a cowlick and wrinkles on my face. Oh and a big forehead. What I was after was honest answers about whether to change it all. You vipers all seem to like it though. So it looks like it is a change of my mindset needed rather than a rush to the hairdressers?

Hmmm. Thank you all. Have ordered a few hair clip/comb things from Amazon. Will practice the messy-up-do.

Amusingly I used to wear it up all the time a uni - but since then have always just worn it down.

I think it's a good length as it is and looks lovely, but maybe needs a bit more shape. I have v similar hair (maybe a bit curlier) and my hair dresser cuts what he call "angles" in to give it more shape. Don't have a fringe!

Also, when you wash it leave a bit of conditioner in it. Then turn your head upside down and scrunch in a little bit of gel whilst your hair is still v wet, then wrap it in an old tshirt or a microfibre towel for a little while (but not too long or will go a funny shape!)

I find this product range v good on my hair, although avoid the mousse as is v drying.

umbertogiannini.com/shop/collections/curl

Thing is, I am only going to compliment something when it actually strikes me as stand-out and worth the mention. It's never done lightly to boost an ego iyswim?

You really do look striking, it isn't about age at all to me, it's simply that your hair style, colour and face, etc do look especially attractive and dare I say enviable! It's just a nice thing to acknowledge.

It's shame we feel the need to excuse ourselves when posting pics, hurrying in to put ourselves down so we won't appear vain/smug, and whatever. I know the internet makes us a bit cynical when people post pics (presumably fishing for compliments), but if a compliment is due and the person posting doesn't strike me as vacuous, it's good to offer a positive opinion.

You look effing great.

P.S - I spent years dyeing and straightening my curls, but stopped a couple of years ago. My hair looks so much better now, no more crispiness!

On the subject of getting older and curls.... here is a pic of Hayley Mills as she is now (older than us of course) but letting her natural curls loose at last. I love the length and shape of her hair, it isn't seemingly 'done' but it is so elegant and naturally pretty. Because my hair is the same texture and colour I would LOVE to look like this as I age. (if only). She possibly colours it..I have no idea, but I'm referencing the curls and shape here not the colour.
I guess I'm saying if your hair has a good shape by nature, it would seem sad to push that away.

Your hair is amazing as it is. I think grow it longer like Helena Bonham Carter and go wild.

Find a hair dresser who will cut natural curls properly/well. I have hair similar to yours (tho not grey yet) and recently found a new hairdresser who followed my much researched techniques to the letter, rather than cutting it like straight hair, and it's been a revelation!

I asked her not to wash it, to cut a slight inverted, long bob shape, then gently diffuse it and then shape it by cutting each ringlet individually. It's worked brilliantly!

Your curls are similar to mine, so I've attached some photos I've used for inspiration. Mine is asymetric and inverted and probably a bit shorted than the photos.

One thing to be aware of is whether the curls on the styles you find are natural - IME this has a big impact on how the finished style will look.

I'm not a fan of the grey, sorry, you are only a few years older than me & i'll be sticking with my dye for a good few years yet.
I did try not dying it once but the grey got to about 3 inches and I just couldn't do it.
However, would you consider going for some really good conditioning treatments at hairdressers, this has made a massive difference to how healthy my curls look & has really made my hair in much better condition.

Fanny tbh if it hadn't been turning grey and been an utter PITA to keep up with the root regrowth it wouldn't be grey .

I 100% think though it is better than the alternative - for me the dye (with or without the roots showing at 2-3 weeks) ended up being more aging than au natural. Can totally get some people not liking it though - and that is cool.

I still long for the black, straight, swishy, shiney bob I should have been born with.

I have very dark hair & a lot of grey and it's a bloody nightmare. Am gradually trying to get it lighter, have a friend who is training to be a hairdresser so I'm her wee project.

I love your hair. Have you tried the curly girl method?

You're beautiful. No fringe! You look fab, fabulous skin and gorgeous eyes! 45? Gotta be joking.

I like the existing cut, especially without the products because it looks a lot thicker and curlier that way.

Personally I'd like that cut with a fringe (a curly one) but I'm aware that that's not a popular view. It does look good on you without one, although it wouldn't on me (I can't not have a fringe, it looks awful).

Don't dye it unless you want to. There's absolutely nothing wrong with grey or white hair.

I also quite like the updos but it doesn't look as if you need to grow it any longer to be able to manage them, and the length you've got does look very good down so you've got the best of both worlds.

I never comment on threads like this but I also remember your original post. Your hair is soooo lovely. I would change nothing about it! The colour suits you and as others have said you have such beautiful eyes. They are so shiny too!! Your hair looks lovely pinned up too so other than maybe growing it a bit more so you can wear it up I would leave it. I hope my hair goes your colour whenever I grow mine out (also sick of colouring it) xx

I really love your hair as it is. Definitely do not have a fringe cut in. No No No.

Oh your hair is brilliant. When it is shorter as it shows off your eyes and terrific bone structure. Have you considered shorter sides/ back and longer on top? Google long curly pixie for ideas. That way get the best of both worlds, hair you can clip or quiff up, adorn with slender sparkly elastics or flowers, you can tuck bits behind your ears or tame it with product.

Lush barnet, I'm jealous 😊