Should I just seize the opportunity to go grey?

[gemandjule]

I’ve been tempted to stop colouring my hair for ages but too chicken to go through with it. Obviously I haven’t been to the hairdresser for 2.5 months now and this is where I’m at. I still have to go to work every day. Before all this I thought I would never appear In public while growing out the colour so had no idea how to do it but now I’m thinking just go for it. Get a good cut when hairdressers are back and brave it out.
What do you think? Will I be brave enough to go for it when I have a choice? Will it age me terribly to grow it out? I’m 54 by the way.

I grew in my grey a few years ago when I was 50. I like to think I have that smart grey bob picture from earlier. On a good day I do, but not when I can’t be bothered to wash brush and style it!

I’m lucky my grey is steely with a few different shades and I like it. A friend of mine is a lot whiter, so has her hair highlighted with a range of greys. It looks great.

I had my last highlights on the 1st December, I have decided to leave it now until this December before I decide what to do , I have over 2” of roots new but not looking to bad, so I’m going to carry on.

Latest update. Got a haircut today. Nearly there now. Cut a lot out today so it’s a lot shorter than usual. I’m delighted I persevered 😁. Can’t see myself going back now but never say never. Now need to lose the 2 stone that crept up with the menopause so I don’t look too frumpy 😲

It looks great!!

I love it! Well done on persevering. I grew mine out a couple of years ago and it's the best feeling to be due free. I was having the roots dyed at a salon every 4 weeks, so I'll save about £7,000 into my pension fund before I'm 65 😂.
I love my hair now, whereas I didn't like the condition when it was dyed. It's thicker and softer.
I bet yours is kinder on your skin tone now. You may need to rethink colours that suit you.

Someone posted upthread about a purple mask, what would that do to 2" grey roots and a light brown permanent box dye?

Would it make it purple or blend in the grays with the rest of the colour?

@superstar63, I'm not a hairdresser but did something similar. The roots took on a lovely metallic silver shine, it made no difference to the dyed hair.

Go for it. If you don't like it you can always colour it. X

I never bothered dyeing in the first place. My original colour was a very dull matt dark brown, and I much prefer my current grey, which is actually silver and catches the light nicely.

As a doctor, I felt it gave me a bit of gravitas to be grey - the patients tend to assume that age = experience!
Now I’m retired it doesn’t matter one way or t’other, so I just have a short smart cut to look tidy.

It looks great Op!
I grew mine out nearly 4 years ago at 48.. chopped it a bit shorter, suffered the inbetween ,massive roots stage..and have never looked back! Mine's dark at the back but with great grey streaks that look like highlights and it is SO much healthier now... and because it's healthy it's now down to my bra strap..the longest it has ever grown without looking tatty.
I occasionally treat it to purple shampoo to keep the streaks looking nice but it's a lot less effort as it is more tolerant of heat styling.

Brilliant update- well done you! I did start trying but couldn’t see it through. I’m “only” 42 so I’ll try again in a few years. My best mate has done it and looks fab.

Your hair looks great!

Sorry to hijack but does anyone know if the boxes of colour remover you can buy on amazon actually work? I have about an inch of roots which I was supposed to get coloured today but was ill so couldn't. I'm now wondering whether to just say sod it and go with the gray.

Thanks for the lovely comments everyone. I’m chuffed with it! Few more photos which give a better idea from the side and the back. @JonasKahnwald I looked at a few blogs on growing out colour when I was at your stage and the general consensus seemed to be to just leave it alone which is what I did. To be fair lockdown and face masks made it easier 😁

It look fabby!!

Love it!

DameCelia, that sounds as if it would make the roots even more of a contrast to the light brown box dye rest of it.

What's a girl to do lol! I assume the purple shampoo washes out so the look would not last too long if it all went wrong?

Really would like to go grey but it will take forever, although another couple of inches and I may hate it and want to colour again lol.

Gemandjule your hair looks a lovely colour grey.

Oh your hair is fabulous @gemandjule. I might just have to bite the bullet and persevere. And also grow my fringe out 😲

@jonaskahnwald - I haven't used an Amazon colour remover, but I have used the Superdrug one. It takes out all the excess dye (you may need to do it twice). It stinks like raw eggs and that smell stays in your hair a few days despite shampooing. The colour when stripped is always "blorange" because dye permanently changes the hair shaft colour. So it's lighter, but brassy. Most people them use toners or purple/blue shampoos and conditioners. For me, it made less of a contrast between the old dyed colour and new growth, so it was worth it. Lots of conditioner required. It didn't damage my hair, but it was a bit drying.

@gemandjule your hair looks amazing!

@JonasKahnwald the level of success will depend on whether you've used silicone styling products like Frizz Ease with heat. Straighteners cook the silicone into your hair, sealing dye in. I had to have that bit cut off.

Lovely cut

I embraced my grey 3 years ago when I was 47 and now have silver shoulder length hair. I love it and I love that so many women are now ditching the dye.

I have a feeling that come March-June 2021 the most common hairstyle will the grey chin length bob.

It's not going grey,it is going silver.

It looks great.

Thanks again everyone. It was a big decision for me so it’s lovely to have positive feedback. I reckon another one or 2 cuts and I’ll be there. 🎉

I'm afraid I'm going the other way. I was letting my blonde grown out. The top is really light (think Helen Mirren) and if it was all growing out that colour I'd be fine. However I've got some dark patches - some are really dark - and it's very uneven. I also have thought over the past few weeks on Teams Meetings that it is ageing me. I went for a cut and blow dry today and had a chat with my hairdresser. I'm going back the week after next for a colour and she's going to out lots of very fine highlights through the darker patches to give a much more natural lighter effect. it's only taken me 9 months to crack!

I'm very envious of you ladies on here who are getting such great results though!