Help! What to do with my fast growing, brightly dyed hair with a very grey halo

[Levithecat]

I’ve been dying my hair for years, usually red or violet, which has historically worked well on my very dark brown hair. but now (mid 40s) my natural colour is peppered with grey with a very bright grey/white halo around my face.

I’m starting to hate how bright and artificial the dye looks at the front. My hair also grows fast and I’m having to colour it monthly.

What are my options? I wouldn’t mind growing it out but I think grey would really wash me out. Plus I need to look smart for work and think the transition would be awful. I could move to a more natural dye colour, but worried that the halo will still contrast significantly and look fake.

grateful for any thoughts/experience or suggestions for articles/blogs to help! Thank you.

Are you at home with the lockdown? If so, maybe you should let the roots come through for a bit. You might feel differently and or it gives you more of a blank canvas when you can get to a hairdresser.
Have a look on Pinterest for colour/style that you like. It's hard to suggest anything specific without knowing you.

I've got dark brown hair which is going grey very unevenly, like you it is now all grey at the front. Still mainly dark round the crown and a mix everywhere else. So if I left it natural it would look really strange right now.

I dye it brown with permanent dye and there is no difference between the previously grey hairs and the previously brown ones. I used to get it dyed at the hairdressers, since lockdown I've had to learn to do it myself. It's actually OK and I see how mainly I just need to concentrate in the roots each time, not really an all-head dyeing.

@chilled, that sounds just like mine. I spoke with my hairdresser about dying if grey but she felt that there was too much brown left and it would be a major hassle. Maybe I’ll try a brown dye and see if that takes better. Can I ask what dye you’re using at home?

Thanks @WinWinnieTheWay - I know it’s very difficult without seeing my head! I would look at Pinterest but I think the problem is the uneven greying as chilled explained (more clearly than me!)

I don't know what dye they use at the hairdressers. In lockdown at our local coop the choice of hair dye was exceedingly limited, I've done no pre-purchase research here! I've now used (twice) Garnier Nutrisse Creme Dark Brown 4. I'm happy with the results. Both times straight after I've thought ooh it is a dark brown maybe I should try one shade lighter, but then a few days later it seems to settle down and look very natural.

I think this brand also did some red/brown shades so you might not have to change that part of your look.

I held out on dyeing for many years while greying naturally, but a couple of years ago it started to look ridiculous and I cracked!

I also have very fast-growing hair. I use a semi-permanent dye because that way I don’t have such a defined root line - the new growth comes in as the dye is fading, so it looks less obvious.

Thanks @chillied

@JennyWren - that’s such a good idea!