Transitioning to grey from brunette

[Girlintheframe]

Has anyone done this and if so how did you manage?

I've shoulder length brunette hair and have given up on the dye as was having to colour it so often.

It's come in white around my face and salt/pepper every where else.

I was coping really well but now with 5 inches of grey showing it's really starting to get me down. The contrast between the grey and brunette is really hard to live with.
Do I cut it all off (not convinced very short hair will suit me) or resign myself to wearing it up for the next year?

I've tried going lighter in the past but my hair is fine but very coarse and just doesn't respond to bleach well.

Any ideas?

I'm going through the gritting my teeth stage, in the hope that eventually it'll be nice.

I had a tough year. I have long hair and refused to go short, but my hair had always been my vain spot. That was a hard year, mostly kept it up in a bun so in hindsight I should have just cut it. Since then though, the freedom from maintaining coloured hair has been so worth it. I've been told it's "distinguished", and I'm seen as older (younger people being more respectful, etc.) So that was also an adjustment too.

Forgot to add, coloured hair is totally different to natural hair, and I became perimenopausal a few years later. Between that and the greys I spent a year and a ton of cash finding the right shampoo, conditioner regime.

I've gone lighter. Find a good hairdresser.

What is the right shampoo conditioner regime. Please spill!!

Op you could try semi- permanent colours that will gradually wash out?

If you've got five inches of grey I'd be very tempted to get it cut - that way you've really only got a couple of haircuts to get rid of it all. Plus the grey will be the dominant colour. It won't take long for it to grow if short isn't for you.

I've gone slowly lighter with highlights iver the last few years.
Benefits - growing the grey in is less stark

• highlights look more natural than all over dye
• you don't have to get it done so often and it doesn't show if you go for months without going to the salon (as in lockdown).

Disadvantages - expensive

• takes ages, but I take my laptop and work while the colour is working its magic

I cut it all off. Sorry thats not what you want to hear but it was easier for me as it was already short crop to begin with so to chop straight to pixie wasn't a big step.

I went cold Turkey. I did cut my hair short and kept it short for 3 years. It's now bob length.

Could you post a picture of yourself ? ( face squiggled out )

People could advise if shorter hair would suit and I want a nosy on your hair colour

@Notcrackersyet

Op you could try semi- permanent colours that will gradually wash out?

I had only used semi-permanent (well actually Casting, which is called demi-permanent) and still had to grow it out. I think possibly the 8 wash ones do wash out, but they don't cover grey.

I grew mine out, without cutting it short and the hardest is the first few months/year. It took about two and a half to three years to totally grow out all of the colour, but once it was only on the bottom few inches it didn't look too bad, although you only really get the full effect when it is all gone.
Now I get complimented on the colour, and yesterday when I got it cut one of the colourists came and told me she loved my colour.

The in between stage is the worst isn't it. I used root spray to help blend in the demarcation line until it softened. The dyed ends got lighter and became orangish so had to use a blue shampoo to help tone it down.

Sounds like cutting it might be the way to go.

I've been wearing it curly which has helped a bit but I know the more grey it gets the harder I'm going to find it.

I've attached a couple of pics showing the grey and face shape. Not convinced short is going to suit me tbh. My face is quite long and lacks cheekbones.

Any suggestions appreciated

You've got a great oval face shape op- I think you could get away with short hair.

I'm in exactly the same situation, I've developed a scalp condition and can't dye it, but to be fair I've been thinking about letting it go grey for the last couple of years.

I have maybe 3-4 inches growth and I'm starting to get a good idea of how it will look (good I think), but I'm torn about cutting it short.

I've never been happy with my hair when it's short, but I'm not exactly happy with it now so???

My DD is begging me to let her have a go at it, but I'm too chicken, right now.

I'm currently transitioning. It's been 5 months since my last dye. I'm 32 and had previously been colouring every 3 weeks. I just had enough. I'm considering a chop. Hair grows after all

@Cheesypea

You've got a great oval face shape op- I think you could get away with short hair.

Thank you.

Think I might bite the bullet and at least have the conversation with my hairdresser.
I so get it's only hair and wish I could be more chilled about the whole thing.

Ah I remember this dilemma well, I just stuck with it and it was hard looking like a stripy badger and had it cut in a really short bob (Louise Brooks like) as soon as possible, I kept it tied up as much as possible, but I found it so liberating not to have to worry about the upkeep of dying my hair.

The growth doesn't look too bad and the whole look should improve in a few months time. Hang in there, wear headbands, scarves and hats and it will be worth the wait.

I'd stick with it. Soon it will look more intentional. Until then have you thought about a bit of brown root spray? Not to cover every grey but just a general mist around the area of your grey roots might help your confidence/ help it blend more. Home Bargains normally have one for £2. They got me through the tricky months. I didn't want to lose length.
They definitely do wash out, unlike dyes, even semi-permanent/ "temporary" ones which DO stain and set your progress back.
Good luck. You're in the thick of it.

My hair is quite similar to yours, and I had lowlights put in a few months ago to blend in the grey a bit better and to blur the bit where grey roots and brown lengths meet.
It works well, I'd recommend it .

I don't have as much grey. My hairdresser says around 30 percent.

Got my hair cut into a chin level bob because I thought it looked better being in a neat style. It took 1 year and 9 months to be all my natural colour.

I grew all of mine out - chopped into a short bob. It looks shite as it's salt and pepper/mousy so I'm really washed out.

I can't be arsed to get properly coloured again to I lift it with a Superdrug colour shampoo. Gives it some warmth and lifts the grey bits to look like highlights. I have porous hair so it lasts for a month or so rather than just 8 washes and it gently fades. I shove it on when I'm in the bath

@HappyAnimals

I'd stick with it. Soon it will look more intentional. Until then have you thought about a bit of brown root spray? Not to cover every grey but just a general mist around the area of your grey roots might help your confidence/ help it blend more. Home Bargains normally have one for £2. They got me through the tricky months. I didn't want to lose length. They definitely do wash out, unlike dyes, even semi-permanent/ "temporary" ones which DO stain and set your progress back. Good luck. You're in the thick of it.

That's a really good idea! I have one of those sprays and could give it go, like you say not to cover but more to add a bit of blurring iyswim.

So glad I posted, feeling much more confident now. Thanks so much for the support everyone, just been having one of those 'ugly' days but feeling braver now.

So helpful sometimes to know your not the only one