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Original poster

Did anyone else start greying in their 20s?

31 replies

SapphireSeptember · 02/08/2017 03:40

And if so what did you do about it? I had a single blonde hair turn up when I was about 15 (my hair is dark brown) which scared me, and my first white hair turned up when I was 23. I'm now 28 and have obvious white hairs scattered throughout the dark ones, and seem to be trying to grow a white streak at the front. I occasionally think about dying my hair black, which I've wanted to do for years, but I'vee never got around to it. Aside from that I'm firmly in the 'leave it alone' camp as I love the idea of having white hair.

OP posts:
EyeDrops · 02/08/2017 03:47

Meeeee!

29 and I've got many scattered grey hairs. Mostly acquired through a stressful job period in my early 20s I think. Also dark brown hair.

Every time I consider dying it, I'm put off by the prospect and expense of upkeep... so I'll be greying naturally. I find it's less noticeable when my hair is bobbed because of how it falls.

coconutwater1 · 02/08/2017 04:21

Yep me too,

Found first grey when I was 21, then it just well carried on, had very dark brown hair, then the grey spread and became salt and pepper. Developed quite a Malam streak

Never dyed it just let it go its own way, less pepper and more salt over the years so now its a lovely ash blonde which does get complimented on a lot, and not a dye job ever.

Not felt the need to change it, but looking back I have saved a fortune at the hairdressers, but one did ask if I would like some extra highlights put in????? She thought It was not my natural colour.

Embrace your grey I say......

Tootsiepops · 02/08/2017 04:32

I dyed my hair all through my twenties. I'm now late thirties and stopped dyeing it a few years ago as could no longer be arsed with the expense and time of upkeep.

I'm now totally grey and I love it. I wish I'd never gone near hair dye in the first place all that money wasted.

I can't wait until it all goes totally white!

herethereandeverywhere · 02/08/2017 04:45

I got my first 3 greys at 19. My mum and hers went grey in a Morticia- style streak from the front and I knew I was destined for the same.

I have a warm not cool colouring so it does not suit me, I'm now 40 and well over 50% grey in the front flash and a good 20+% right through the back. I've been highlighting/ going blonde since I was 18 but now get it done every 6-7 weeks and have the roots and darker parts infilled with my natural colour. Costs me a fortune £170 a pop but I'm not going grey!

Dustbunny1900 · 02/08/2017 04:55

I started getting white hairs at 21..I'm now 29 and I have to dye or bleach my hair it's so bad. There's a lot more than just a few. My mother started at 16 so I guess it could be worse.
I'd love to go completely white but Until then I've gotten great at doing my own hair.

SelfObsessionHoney · 02/08/2017 04:58

Me. Since I was about 21. Am now 32. I'm a warm tone so it doesn't suit me. Also I don't like it. So I have blindfish highlights and dye put on the in between bits every 10-12 weeks. It can take going a bit longer between appointments cos the grey blends in a bit.

SquedgieBeckenheim · 02/08/2017 05:57

My first grey was at 22. I'm 30 now and still dye it on and off. Wish I had the guts to go grey naturally! DH is the same age but looks younger, I dont want to look old next to him Blush

OhtoblazeswithElvira · 02/08/2017 06:08

My mum started going grey in her late 20s. She has black hair and the greys were in her temples so she had a proper Morticia look. She never dyed it back then as she was not that fussed. She is 60 now and dyes it black, started dyeing it in her 50s. She has a healthy, tan complexion so I think that helps looking younger.

JonnyMcShortnFat · 02/08/2017 06:19

Me.

Found first grey at 20. Plucked it and the next ones I found but then resorted to dyeing fortnightly (was naturally very dark) until a few years ago when I just couldn't be arsed anymore.

This is my hair now at 37.

Did anyone else start greying in their 20s?
Pistachiois50pmore · 02/08/2017 10:18

Don't panic! I found my first grey at 27 but I'm now 36 and I don't have enough to justify dyeing it. I got a few more when I had a baby (sleepless nights) but I still only have 10 or so across my whole head, and believe me I've looked!

My hairdresser said hold off dyeing until you get to 5% grey, and don't pluck them because it traumatises the root and they'll grow back frizzy. She said if you really really can't bear to leave it it's better to snip it out.

demirose87 · 02/08/2017 10:24

I'm 29 and have a couple. I just pull them out. Ive2 been getting them since I was about 25

OCSockOrphanage · 02/08/2017 10:27

It tends to run in families. The men in particular on one side tend to be grey by the time they hit 30, but they keep a full head of hair well into their 80s. DH would love to be grey, rather than bald!

34AQuid · 02/08/2017 10:31

Yep. Got my first greys in my mid twenties.

I have dyed my hair since I was 18, though, so just kept on dying it.

I'm 40 now and have only gone a bit more grey over the years (so far) - mostly around my hairline. I use a 'roots touch-up' dye at home every 4-6 weeks to manage it.

Definitely not ready to go grey yet!

Finola1step · 02/08/2017 10:39

Found my first grey hair on my 26th birthday. Am naturally light brown so used to go for highlights. Fast forward nearly 20 years and I do have a lot of grey but not enough to look lovely like Jonny. Its more the grey straggly effect.

So I use a home dye every couple of months and colour very similar to my natural colour.

Borntoflyinfirst · 02/08/2017 10:40

I was 30 so not much later. My hair seemed to turn instantly grey as soon as I had my first child! I'm 43 now and the grey is probably about 40-50% but I rarely see more than the roots! Dye is my friend.

AccrualIntentions · 02/08/2017 10:43

First greys at maybe 19? They stood out as my hair is very dark. I started dyeing it at about 25, using a semi permanent as close to my original colour as I can get, and have been doing so ever since (I'm now 33)

danTDM · 02/08/2017 10:48

Jonny looks fantastic.
I dye mine, looks awful if I don't. I'm 47.

stumblymonkeyagain · 02/08/2017 11:02

Yep...first greys at 27, I plucked them but eventually got to the point that I need to dye it from about a year ago (I'm 35).

If I was grey all over I'd definitely just rock it (the PP looks great!) but I just have random streaks that are actually more white than grey.

BaDumShh · 02/08/2017 11:11

I got my first at maybe 15/16!

Had the odd few scattered throughout my 20s, now at 32 I'd be roughly 60-70% grey if I left my hair to it. Have to get my roots done every 4 weeks. In the meantime, I find the Loreal magic retouch root spray a godsend.

I wish I could accept the grey and embrace it, but at 32 (and often told I look a lot younger) I feel too young. And as my hair is naturally very dark, the greys are a very harsh, steel colour so not attractive. If I was a lovely, soft grey like JonnyMc I'd let my greys flow free!

Are most people here of the dark haired, pale skin variety? We seem to bear the brunt of the premature greying...

SquedgieBeckenheim · 02/08/2017 11:14

Yes I am badum. Premature grey runs in my family! My dad was completely grey by 35. My brother is fairly grey.

EraArils · 02/08/2017 11:21

Jonny your hair is great. Which purple toning shampoo did you buy in the end?

I started going grey at 17 and so did my DM. I'm now 90% grey with a brilliant white travelling around the front of my hair line. I love that bit as I'm very cool toned.
I've been dyeing my hair since I was 18 or so and have been every colour. Stopped the dyeing about 2 years ago and I'm currently growing out the bleach blonde ashy colour. I can't wait to see the end result and put an end to the constant chemical deluge that is the dyeing process.

Tomorrowisanewday · 02/08/2017 11:22

BaDumShh - your hair sounds exactly like mine, even down to the timing. Keep talking to my hairdresser about changing the colour or growing it out, but I'm so pale, I'd look like death walking :-(

EraArils · 02/08/2017 12:19

BaDum Are most people here of the dark haired, pale skin variety?

Yep, I was a really dark ashy brown colour before the grey/white set in. I'm also pale, think 1N0 in Estée Lauder Double wear foundation.

When people ask me what my natural colour is I always reply with grey. I don't think of myself as brunette (hair colour at 17) because I've been grey longer than I was ever a brunette.

Tomorrow I thought exactly the same thing about the death walking complexion but it turns out that the contrast is simply reversed. My white hair leaves my skin looking a little more lively with a little more colour, the dark hair just highlighted the paleness of my skin. I read somewhere that the grey you develop with remain the same tone as your original hair colour. So if you were an cool ashy brown then you will be a cool ashy grey.

AccrualIntentions · 02/08/2017 14:11

BaDumShh I definitely fit that description. My dad went almost completely grey by the time he left university and my brother and sister have a lot of grey too. Must be in the genes.

schnubbins · 02/08/2017 14:24

My best friend was more or less grey when she got married at 24 yrs.She found her sons first grey hair at 9 yrs of age .
He is in his 20's now and has quite a lot of grey.

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