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Original poster

Talk to me about dyeing grey hair

41 replies

MinnieMountain · 02/02/2020 18:38

After a lifetime of not really bothering with my hair, I've decided I need to have it dyed to cover the increasing grey hairs.

Is it best to go straight to a permanent dye? I'd go to the hairdressers.

Do I ask for the whole lot to be dyed one colour?

How easy is dyed hair to care for?

How often do I have to have it touched up?

My hair is light-medium brown, straight, fine and nearly shoulder length.

OP posts:
FreakyToes · 02/02/2020 19:10

Is it best to go straight to a permanent dye? I'd go to the hairdressers - No, go for semi-permanent. It's much kinder on your hair and if you don't like the colour, it's easier to get rid of.

Do I ask for the whole lot to be dyed one colour? - A full head tint is much cheaper than having highlights.

How easy is dyed hair to care for? - Fairly easy in my opinion, just buy specific shampoo for coloured hair.

How often do I have to have it touched up? - It depends but generally every 6-8 weeks. If you choose semi-permanent then you will always get a full head tint. If you go for permanent then you can just get your roots done (regrowth).

I personally use semi-permanent box dye at home, it's so much cheaper and more convenient than going to the hairdressers.

PrincessLouis · 02/02/2020 20:28

Agree with most of what @FreakyToes says. I would start with a semi perm as you’re a virgin but if / when the grey really sets in only a perm really does the business. You could alternatively do highlights for a sort of blending approach rather than covering all the grey. Personally I think it is worth going to the hairdressers for the look and the impact on your hair - I have a treatment on mine when I have it done (perm roots + combed through on the whole head for 10 mins at the end) which seems to make quite a difference to hair condition. Good luck it’s totally worth it!

Fleamaker123 · 02/02/2020 20:35

I've just started dying my hair myself after years of having it done at the hairdressers. I've saved myself a small fortune. It was £76 every seven weeks for cut and colour, now it's £5.99 for a box of dye and £8 for a dry trim. Marvellous!

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 03/02/2020 06:40

Right, I'll try semi-permanent at home then. Hairdressers if I get it wrong.

Thanks.

OP posts:
Ninkanink · 03/02/2020 10:31

I would say don’t do it! It’s a lot of upkeep and maintenance.

Look at some of the ‘growing out grey hair’ threads here and see how freeing it is to accept the greying, and instead get a fantastic new haircut and pamper your hair with good treatments and conditioners that will improve its condition (which dyeing will not!). You could get highlights put in if you really want to dye it.

(I know it’s not what you were asking but I just wanted to mention it before you start on the treadmill of time and money for dye jobs...)

bingowingsmcgee · 03/02/2020 12:34

Totally agree with ninknink. Get the very best cut you can afford and focus on learning to style it and on makeup & clothes. Starting to dye when you're already partially Grey is gonna be a nasty shock. Even if you were high maintenence, do you really wanna have to dye those snowy peaks every 3 weeks? Soo much hassle and you can work with the grey if the style is right.

Rhubarbncustard4 · 03/02/2020 12:39

Another vote for going with the grey - I think condition and cut is key though .

ByAppointmentTo · 03/02/2020 12:48

Don't start to dye your greys! Invest in a really good, regular cut. It will look far better than trying to cover up the grey and having roots on display two weeks after colouring.

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 03/02/2020 18:36

Advice noted.

I need to stop trying to cover up the fact that I'm peri-menopausal at 41 due to cancer treatment and just roll with it.

OP posts:
HappyAsASandboy · 03/02/2020 19:30

I have used dye for years and am doing the dreaded grow out at age 41. It was tough for the first 6 months of grow out, and it still looks quite shabby now Sad But I don't want to keep dying it, so there's no other option really!

My advice would be embrace the grey strands one by one. Much less obvious and much nicer to wear than growing out a tide mark for several years!

EoinMcLovesCakeJumper · 03/02/2020 20:01

I started a thread on here a couple of weeks ago about going grey at 40 - the consensus was that it can look good but you have to make more effort with having a really good haircut and taking time to do your makeup properly. I decided that for me personally, just spending an hour every six weeks colouring my hair was less trouble and less high-maintenance than spending half an hour every morning making up my face. I went for a permanent home dye kit but then, I have dyed my hair before so I'm not a complete novice.

My only addition to the advice you've already had is that home dyes always come out more red than you think they will... so unless you want that look, try to go slightly darker than you think you need. If you try a semi permanent one first you can find a shade you like and experiment with a few different ones.

damnthatanxiety · 03/02/2020 20:22

If possible, DO NOT START COLOURING!!! You have made it this far and once you start, it is a nightmare stopping. How about trying some toners (at the hairdresser) that can make your greys a nice grey. There are horrible witchy poo greys and soft, gorgeous greys. See if a good colourist can help you achieve a lovely grey. Yes it is still a type of colour treatment but much more subtle and not hard to stop as it is very subtle.

damnthatanxiety · 03/02/2020 20:26

www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/grey-hair-summer-trend

Ninkanink · 03/02/2020 20:33

@MinnieMountain Flowers that must be tough.

MsMarple · 03/02/2020 20:55

Don't do it! The whole roots and maintenance faff is expensive and time consuming - and if you don't keep it up, the regrowth will make you look like a badger.

Spend your money on a great cut and deep conditioner instead. I wouldn't go back to the dye bottle now if you paid me.

Msgiggles30 · 03/02/2020 21:00

I am 31 and have been grey for about 4 years now! I cant face to just let it grow out at my age so I box dye every 4 weeks or so Hmm

LisBethSalander07 · 03/02/2020 21:03

If I could turn back time, I'd never have coloured my hair.

If you feel you really have to do something, get some highlights put through it to blend them. It won't cover, but they're less noticeable.

EoinMcLovesCakeJumper · 03/02/2020 21:27

I don't see how maintaining your roots is any more faffy and time consuming than any of the other beauty-related tasks that people do without thinking about them. Makeup, eyebrow shaping/microblading, nails, eyelash tinting, body hair removal, the list goes on. If the OP feels like she doesn't want to go grey yet, I see nothing wrong with her trying a semi permanent colour to see if she likes it. Grey hair doesn't suit everyone; it doesn't suit me. I'm not blessed with the sort of features that can carry it off.

Canyousewcushions · 03/02/2020 21:41

I grew mine out in my mid 30's...
It tool ages and I regretted ever dying it. I get nothing but complements now- I do pay for a really decent cut with a hairdresser who loved the colour but don't ever get messy roots etc.

I do get a huge number of complements on it- it's funny because people assume it's dyed and then start getting all embarrassed/flustered when my response makes it clear that it's natural.

If you do colour it then there's a lot to be said for semi permanent so it'll fade a bit as you hair grows. Also if you've got quite a bit of grey, avoid anything with too much red in it (I.e. no chestnut brown type colours, stick to a plain dark brown). The red ones tend to come out really bright red on grey hairs and make it really obvious they are there.

chartreuse · 03/02/2020 21:44

It's really not that much hassle, I've been doing it for about 10 years. I would far rather spend a couple of hours every 3-4 weeks on dying my roots than going grey.

Each to their own, if you want to go grey then good on you, but it's not for everyone.

OP I started off using box dyes, I use Majirel now, but easier to start off with a box I think. I'd always go a few shades lighter than the description, 'light brow' always comes out as dark brown, and always go for an 'ash' shade to minimise the orange tones. You'd probably want a dark ash blond. After dying I always put on a deep conditioning mask, wrap my head in a towel and leave it on as long as possible. My hair is silky smooth and shiny.

WalkingOutOfFlabbiness · 03/02/2020 21:46

Would henna be an option - easy if messy, gives great condition and the greys give you natural highlights as they take the colour more

Ninkanink · 03/02/2020 21:51

I totally agree that if you don’t want to go grey you don’t need to! Of course you should do what you think would be best for you and leave you feeling most positive about yourself. I only mentioned it to give you the other side of things, especially if you have never been bothered with your hair before. If maintenance and faff isn’t your thing then it could be a bit of a shock to your system, that’s all.

whatdoyouthinkyouknow · 03/02/2020 23:48

My hairdresser recommended I change to semi permanent dye.
I use a box dye and do my roots every three weeks and as it fades you don't get overlay where the hair turns black.

Original poster
MinnieMountain · 04/02/2020 06:50

Hmm. It's a tricky one.

I'm going to go to the Boots No.7 counter to get advice on a change in makeup. I can then see which seems like the least hassle- dyeing or more make up.

OP posts: