Tired of my Grey Hair

[Hmmmwhatsthat]

I stopped dyeing my hair and let my natural hair grow in the past few years. I loved it, its in great condition and there's a fair bit of shiny silver in it. But I'm tired of it now. Saw some photos of myself taken recently and well, I just look like the tired 60-year old that I am. So has anyone else done similar and gone back to dyeing? How did you feel about it?
Previously I had an overall colour (mid brown) with highlights. I found it difficult to get a colour that I was happy with and I realised that as my skintone had changed (lightened) with age I needed something paler. So the silvery grey suits me as long as I wear a bit of foundation or bronzer/fake tan.
My idea now is to go for an all-over colour, have just seen pics of Denise Welch and am tempted to go for her colour, or maybe something a bit more ashy.
Would I be mad?

[veryvery]

This is the colour it turns my hair which was the same colour as the OP photo.

[veryvery]

I've never heard of home-made dyes, sounds interesting. My fear would be that the colour wouldnt be consistent. I guess I'd have to be very precise with the amounts etc.

It's actually very easy. You can do a strand test to check the colour is right too.

I brew up 6 camomile teabags, 2 redbush teabags, a pinch of turmeric the size of my little fingernail. And half a teaspoon of instant coffee in a standard size teapot until it's cool enough to out on my hair. I just saturate clean dry hair with it to ensure coverage is even. I leave it in and dry and style as usual. It gives a colour wash which turns grey hair blonde but you still can see the natural streaks through. The ingredient I'd say you have to be most careful with is the turmeric as it is quite powerful and people can use (a lot) to turn their hair a cartoon yellow.

The stain lasts for more than a wash. I use the tea on my hair every other wash. It's pretty easy and not very messy. It's only a tea after all.

[Hmmmwhatsthat]

I typed a response last night and it didn't post for some reason, so trying again.
I've never heard of home-made dyes, sounds interesting. My fear would be that the colour wouldnt be consistent. I guess I'd have to be very precise with the amounts etc.
I also think my hair could be resistant to certain things, the hairdresser often commented to that effect when I used to get it done before.
I may try a toner.
I think since lockdown I've given up doing my regular full face of (mostly subtle) makeup. I always look brighter and fresher with foundation, eyeliner etc. If anyone has any recommendations for a good lengthening thickening mascara I'd be very grateful as my eyelashes have suddenly gone short stubby and sparse.
So a sharp haircut and more makeup, maybe a toner and oh, lose a stone or two. No big deal

[Cottipus]

Your natural grey is lovely- but if you want to colour it that’s your choice. Grey does tend to split the crowd.

L’Oréal do some good grey toners in their age perfect range- only last a couple of washes so you could try something wash in wash out without committing to permanent colour. They are formulated for naturally grey hair. The beige blonde has worked nicely on my grey roots before.

[Cocolapew]

Don't do it! Why would anyone think ash blonde would be nicer than what you have?
Change your style or use toners or wash in colours.
I stopped dyeing in my 40's and then after growing it out dyed it again and immediately regreted it.
I'm 51 now and back to grey.

[Puppylucky]

Are you me? I've grown my grey out and it is exactly the same shade and condition as yours, but I've found now that the novelty has worn off, I'm getting a bit bored with it. As I understand it, the silver you and I have gone still has quite a lot of darker hair in it, so would need to be bleached out to get Denise Walch's colour, which would lead to roots etc. I'm also finding that my grey hair is very resistant to any temporary dyes of the London Bleach style, so I can't even addd shades of pink. I am reluctant to throw away all the hard work with a full head dye though, so do agree that maybe its the cut I need to look at.

[veryvery]

Mine grew back the same colour as your's pretty much after chemo treatment. I make my own dye using a mixture of a tiny bit of turmeric, redbush tea, camomile tea and instant coffee. It stains my hair a blonde colour.

[Hmmmwhatsthat]

But maybe a good cut will do the trick. Its lockdown hair basically, I'm used to getting a cut every 8 /10 weeks.

[dudsville]

I know this isn't the point but your eyebrows are fabulous.

[Hmmmwhatsthat]

Thanks once again for the lovely replies, and the pics. I have been searching for ideas and keeping a board on pinterest; but theres a severe lack of pics of women my age looking good on style pages. You can either have gorgeous young things, or else Helen Mirren and Judy Dench.
So I think I'll wait til my hairdresser opens and ask her for advice/inspiration. My worry would be that I'd pick a colour and find that it doesn't match my skin tone.

[candilemon]

I would go for an ashy blonde look which would be more sophisticated. Grey hair is ageing. The texture and style are nice - from what I can see!

[SouthWestmom]

Fairy don't grow it out then? I don't look like an old witch, thanks and I'm sure op doesn't either. I'm just sharing ideas. None of those women are model attractive - they all look pretty normal to me.

[Clearoutre]

Couple more. There’s plenty on Pinterest.

[Clearoutre]

Keep/incorporate your wonderful silver!

[BackforGood]

I wish my hair were all that colour. Yours looks lovely. FAR better then the 'dark brown with big patches of grey' iIm living with.
It certainly doesn't look 'old' to me.

[Franticbutterfly]

If you think it might give you a boost go for it. I'll be blonde until I die (apart from right now when I am a number of colours thanks to the current lack of access to hairdressers).

[Fairyliz]

@Noeuf Those women all look gorgeous because they are gorgeous. I didn’t look as good as that at 20!
If I let my grey grow out I would look like a frizzy haired old witch.

[JollyGiraffe12]

I’d go for a light/medium ash blonde if I were you

[SouthWestmom]

Hi op before you go for the chop, I'm adding my saved photos (I have grey hair too and am late 40s). These are my favourites on the top and avoid at the bottom.

[Hmmmwhatsthat]

Aw thanks for lovely replies. Am off to google Bleach London. If I was to dye it I was thinking of the attached pic. I also love the cut but I prefer it a little longer due to my neck definitely showing my age.

[GrumpyHoonMain]

If you don’t look your age then yes dyeing your hair could definitely help you look younger. In India and China one of the reasons why people often look decades younger at 70/80 is because of hair dyeing. I would suggest a lighter colour maybe an ash blonde.

[Kittykat93]

Your skin is better than mine... And I'm 27

[Apileofballyhoo]

You look younger than me, and less tired, and I'm early forties.

[WanderingTrolley1]

Hmmm, your skin is amazing for 60! Your hair looks lovely, too; very attractive. Stick with it!

[MobLife]

I'd get some really good balayage done-it would blend beautifully with your hair