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Original poster

Head shave to go grey

519 replies

Squashit · 30/10/2017 20:49

Has anyone gone down the buzz cut route in order to transition to grey?

I am seriously considering it and just bunging a hat on rather than go through another disappointing processing episode and putting off the inevitable or dyeing over it when it turns a weird shade.

I am absolutely comfortable being grey.

So has anyone bitten the bullet and if so how was it?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
279
Glowerglass · 02/12/2017 19:35

Has anybody used a stripper to try and remove the dye? Does it work? Would seem to be too good to be true?

kaitlinktm · 02/12/2017 20:55

Great thread and I am inspired - although a little concerned about the difficulties people experience when their hair, like mine, is still quite dark at the back. Post menopausal thinning too. Sad Who am I kidding still dyeing it at 62?

EraArils · 02/12/2017 21:25

I don't really mind my hair being darker at the back, it does look lighter in daylight, almost the same as the top really. It gives a great contrast and actually makes my eyebrows look better. My eyebrows are still very dark and they are darker than parts of my hair.

My hair was naturally very dark prior to dyeing, bleaching and turning grey.

papersmile · 09/12/2017 09:59

Has anyone managed to get shiny grey hair? I'm now dye free and I don't mind the colour, but I miss the shiny healthy appearance that my hair used to have.

Isthatwhatdemonsdo · 09/12/2017 10:10

glower stripping does work but your hair wil go orange if you've used dark colours.

GeekyWombat · 09/12/2017 10:40

I just saw this thread come up in active posts and it might have just changed my life! I’ve had grey coming through since 20, turn 40 this year and am so so sick of dyeing it but wasn’t sure how to get through without the badger phase. I’m not sure I’m brave enough for a buzz cut, but have lots of for thought.

pickleface · 09/12/2017 11:00

Coco you are my hair goals!

rizlett · 09/12/2017 11:09

To move away from dye {sun in} I recently tried Cassia obovata on my light brown at the back but white/grey at the front hair.

Cassia is not meant to colour hair but will colour gray so it now looks like a sort of dirty blonde all over and my grey is blending in much more. I really like it.

I added in two teabags of chamomile to the powder mix.

MagliaRosa · 09/12/2017 11:16

I’m loving this thread. Was in Boots yesterday and spotted the Colorista washouts. I’m naturally very dark with lots of grey streaks but was wondering if these would work on just the grey so I’d sort of end up with coloured highlights (thought it’d be fun for Christmas). I can’t find anything online to say if it works on grey hair - only blonde or bleached & I’m a bit worried about staining. Has anyone tried these & how did it go?

Cocolepew · 09/12/2017 11:22

Thanks pickle BlushGrin
I'm still using the toner I bought and I'm really liking it. It's blending things in nicely and I can leave it on longer if I want pink or purple.
This is todays.

Head shave to go grey
Cocolepew · 09/12/2017 11:27

The colours probably will work on the greys Maglia, but I would be careful about staining . Tgel and Head and Shoulders will lift colour out though.

Head shave to go grey
arousingcheer · 09/12/2017 15:42

MagliaRosa how funny, I just tried those L'Oreal colours last night (but not to cover greys). If you are interested in trying non-natural shades I'd go with Directions rather than the L'Oreal product. They don't contain the same level of pigment as Directions and look rather faded (both too bright and too sheer if that makes sense).

Do you have large areas of grey or are you more salt-and-pepper? It is more likely to work on larger areas of grey as I think scattered greys just won't show up well. I suspect you'll need a full-on treatment (like Directions) to get much of a result as grey hair is notoriously resistant to taking even chemical colours, never mind this kind of transparent wash.

When you say you're worried about staining, do you mean your clothes? In my experience these vegetable colours wash out of clothes/bedding (they're a bit like fake tan in that they are very staining but don't seem to hold on fabric). I'm concerned about my coat though, which can't be washed. Also the tenacity of a stain may depend on what colour you're using so don't take my word for it. Smile

MagliaRosa · 09/12/2017 16:08

Thanks Coco and arousingcheer, I've got quite a bit of salt and pepper but also a couple of streaks underneath. I was thinking more of the colour staining the hair and being left with a strange colour. I'll take a look at the Directions treatment.

arousingcheer · 09/12/2017 16:12

I'm sure it will depend on what colour you use but the colours are very true and are likely to just go pastel until they wash out rather than turn into something murky or orange/yellow like chemical treatments can.

I'd be surprised if they'd stain grey. Colour-treated hair is more porous so that would be more of a concern. And as Coco says a harsh shampoo (or washing up liquid) should do the trick. You can always do an inconspicuous test swatch and see how it washes out. If it helps the pastel shades are the ones people complain about washing out too quickly.

HoosierDaddy · 09/12/2017 20:07

My mum and sister noticed my grey today. We were sitting in sunlight and my mum commented on it (positively, I think!) She mentioned that it's going the same pattern that hers did. My sister is a bit Hmm about it "are you doing that on purpose like?" 😂

ChipInTheSugar · 17/12/2017 16:12

I've booked in for a platinum colour in the new yet but I'm not sure about the shade really. I was expecting him to suggest something blonder iyswim. Think it's a Wella 10/8 which I'm thinking will just make it look grey all over ....

Head shave to go grey
Cocolepew · 19/12/2017 10:35

Are you getting highlights or a full head Chip?
It's a really nice colour.

ChipInTheSugar · 19/12/2017 13:45

Full head (I think). I'm not sure if it's the right colour for me (although I do generally trust my hairdresser's judgement). I think I was expecting 'proper' blonde like yours - this feels like I'm just dying it a dirty-snow colour.

laudanum · 22/12/2017 09:31

I shaved my head and let it grow out.

RaindropsAndSparkles · 22/12/2017 09:50

I'm greying at the front dark at the back. I have three shades of highlights every 7 weeks, interchanging between t bar and half head.

I often wonder about gradually switching a colour for a shad of grey to do it discretely but hairdresser says no it won't work. Also asked her if I could have a few blue highlights and she said no, it's silly.

Am so bored with it. Am 57 but pretty sure I'd have a badger band at the front.

rizlett · 22/12/2017 11:14

Here is my gray/white at the front and dark at the back and then after when I had put cassia powder and chamomile in.

It made such a difference to the condition of my hair too - though to be fair the first picture is in need of a brush!

Head shave to go grey
Head shave to go grey
EraArils · 22/12/2017 14:53

laudanum When did you shave your hair and how long did it take to grow out? Are you happy with the grey colour you are left with? What length is it now?

Cocolepew · 22/12/2017 15:12

Looks lovely rizlett.
I gave in a cut my hair a bit. It was driving me mad. I left the top but cut a bit of and undercut in.
I'm still using the Garnier toner to counteract any yellow.

Head shave to go grey
Head shave to go grey
quirkychick · 22/12/2017 15:40

I've just found this thread again! I'm 15months of no colour and just the ends are blonde now. I went blonder, from dark, but didn't like it much, it did damage my hair and scalp, but I had about 4 inches cut off, the scalp is fine now, too. I was going to have platinum highlights but dudn't feel my hair could take any more.

I've just discovered a fantastic clarifying conditioner, recommended on a silver hair FB group, so thought I'd share. They do a shampoo too, but I follow the curly girl method so cowash. It's by Acure and is Lemongrass and Argan Stem cell Clarifying conditioner, you can get it on Amazon. It takes out lots of yellow and leaves hair really shiny and silver.

A lot of women take biotin and collagen for those wanting faster growing, thick hair.

Lots of you are looking really fabulous Xmas Smile.