Shall I go grey at 40?

[EoinMcLovesCakeJumper]

Just that, really. I'm 40 and I have what is now a pretty noticeable amount of grey in my hair. It's evenly distributed throughout. I mentioned it to my hairdresser the last time I had it cut, and she said she thought it looked "striking", like I have silver highlights. It would be in her interests for me to have it coloured, so I tend to believe she meant what she said!

I don't know if I feel old enough to fully embrace it yet, though. I have a short, layered sort of bob which I'm trying to grow a bit longer. My natural hair colour is mousy brown. I would say I look my age and I have no interest in looking "young", whatever that would entail, but on the whole I'm really low maintenance and I don't do much with makeup or feminine clothes. I'm also fat and not attractive. I worry that I would need to be better put-together, as it were, to pull off the grey look, rather than looking like I've just stopped bothering.

Has anyone embraced their grey at a relatively young age, and did you have to make more of an effort with the rest of your appearance to make it work?

I'm growing out the grey at the moment, I will be 39 this year. I am short and fat but use makeup and wear feminine clothes or shoes.

following as I`m 44 and really cannot be arsed with dyeing anymore!

I'm growing out my grey at 38. I started to react to hair dye a few years ago, was getting foils but it's so expensive.

I don't think I have enough to look older yet, but I do feel my hair needs to have a better cut for the grey to look good rather than dishevelled.

I grew out my grey in my early 30s, now mid 40s. I get lots of compliments on the colour. I cut it very short at first to get rid of the dye- tool around 6 months. My hairdresser always comments on the condition of my hair. I could not afford to dye it (even with home dye) at the time. I could afford it now but upkeep would be ridiculous. I’d highly recommend it.

And yes you need a good haircut and I always make an effort with make up too

Hmm, I think to suddenly start wearing feminine clothes makeup at 40 would probably be a mistake for me. I don't think it suits me, as I'm not at all womanly really, and if I put on a dress and have more than a bit of powder and concealer on my face, I look like an ageing drag queen. Not one of the glamorous Ru Paul ones, either, more like Roy Barraclough and Les Dawson.

I might just find a semi permanent home colour that is close to my natural shade and see how it looks. I don't want to do that bottle red thing that my mum does...

I went grey at about 40 - am nearly 50 now. I too keep it fairly short. I think the key to having grey hair when you're young is to have an interesting cut - a choppy bob is great. I've had a pixie crop for years and am just growing out with an undercut. Will see if I can post a pic. I love it and couldn't imagine going back to the hassle of dyeing it again not to mention the cost and bad effect it has on your hair. I'd say give it a good go and you can always dye it back if you decide you don't like it.