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.

That looks really great. I missed my Feb appointment so had gap of nine months between appointments when I eventually went in August for low lights and I regret not continuing with growing out the grey. There are always good cover up brushes for the interim bit and you've inspired me to try again.

Thanks for the update. that looks great.

I'm going to try the clarifying shampoo and vitamin c mask today. See if that makes any difference.

This is the first time I've seen your posts so seeing the whole journey is a particular treat, your colour is beautiful!

I stopped colouring my hair just before my 39th birthday. I have long hair and I had some notion that I wanted to go into my 40's with whatever my natural colour was. I don't know why I ever coloured my hair as my natural colour is nice and rich, but since unveiling it I've developed "distinguished" white streaks that I love. I hope you too continue to enjoy your natural hair, it's so nice!

This is mine after quickly running a brush across it this morning (unwashed or conditioned and in desperate need of a trim). I stopped colouring it 6 years ago.

borntobequiet - that is a lovely shade of grey! I would love to be able to strip the dye from my light brown hair which is still most of it at the moment but too chicken to risk it.

What is the difference between blue and purple toners, I know nothing about them but wondering if using one or the other may "blend" things in a bit and avoid the obvious badger stripe?

superstar63
I use Bleach London Smoky shampoo and conditioner which tones the brown down and makes the gray a nice steely colour. I leave the shampoo in for as long as I can be bothered. Am currently sitting with it in a shower cap.

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

I do hope not! I’ve had that for the last 20 years, I don’t want everyone to look like me!

Yours looks amazing @gemandjule, bet you’re so pleased you persevered.

Ginsmything, that sounds interesting but is it an actual bleach? How long are we talking about to leave it in 5 mins or half an hour?

I suppose I could start slowly and just wash normally and gradually increase the time left on to see how it looks.

@borntobequiet your hair is my goal ❤️

It's lovely and shiny.

It looks great, I've been growing mine out too through lock down! It's a lot more salt and pepper than I would have liked.

I'm using whatever silver toner I can get my hands on, the L'Oréal Age Perfect on in silver is really good, just leave it on for about 3 mons after shampooing!

It's very long atm and needs a good cut but I think I like the colour! The only downside is it seems to need washing more often now it's not all dried out with bleach.

Thanks for the compliments! It does make up a bit for being old. I’ve washed it now and will get it cut during the week if poss.
One thing I noticed is that the colours I wear have changed, and oddly enough, black and shades of grey look fine - used to wash me out. I also wear some shades of blue, which I used to avoid. The only greens that work are deep forest green and darkish olive/khaki, and deep berry colours are OK.

@superstar63 tinted shampoos just leave a deposit of blue or purple dye on the hair, which counteracts yellow tones. It doesn't bleach the hair.

@DameCelia OK thank you, it looks like I will just have to be patient and wait for they grey to grow more and see how I like it. Not so bad if it is even but have a feeling it may be a bit stripey, I have a few white chunks here and there I think.

So I got there 🥵. It was worth it. I love not minding roots and planning my life around trips to the hairdresser.
I need advice around colour to wear now though. I’ve always worn quite neutral colours as I had dark hair, strong dark eyebrows and sallow skin but now I feel I might need to update this.
Any advice??

For example this is what I’m wearing this minute but not sure if it’s good with steely grey hair 😥

It looks great, well done
I stopped wearing so much grey but it actually looks ok when I do wear it, white also looks good.
I don't really wear bright colours and wear a lot of black, I had stopped before going grey because I thought it was draining me.
Stick red lipstick on and you can wear any colour

Red lipstick is a good plan 🤣

Also a lot cheaper than new clothes

I would take the money you’ve saved from not dying it and spend that on ‘having your colours done’ with House of Colour or similar

@ToManderleyAgain yes I could do that… but I’m very lazy 😂. I want someone else to do the work for me 😉

@gemandjule I wear a lot of neutral clothes and when I stopped dying my hair and the silver came through, I also found that it was washing me out. Black isn't too bad but grey tops its just too much. Try a brightly coloured scarf or something else to break it up.

Your hair looks fabulous btw.

It’s beautiful. I can’t wear anything remotely cream/beige, it just looks terrible. My wardrobe is mainly black, navy, grey and cobalt blue. And always, always red or shocking pink lipstick, I look dead without it