Has anyone grown out the grey and then gone back to dyeing?

[balzamico]

My hair is completely natural now, it's virtually white, but I have a suspicion it's really ageing me. I'm only 52, and I don't want to look like a well preserved pensioner!
I dyed it for years as the greys started early but the recent years ended up with some gingery/ brassy colours that were terrible.
I've been with my hair salon for 20 years and I love them but I wonder if I need to change. I've tried and failed to attach a photo, I'll try in a new comment box

This pic was freshly washed in November, it's had a cut since then and I have another booked next week so the blonde ends are going

Yes, I grew it out over lockdown. I've booked an urgent hairdressers appointment, it makes me look 10 years older.

Are you using a purple shampoo?
Once every few washes will help neutralise any yellowness and make it look cool and fresh.

I'd have some highlights put in.

I think it's lovely!
What would put me off would be the thought of vowing any colour out again! Unless you're going to colour it forever!

I’d go blonde. I think it’d look gorgeous.

I think it looks a lovely colour. If everyone just went grey at their natural time there would no longer be the perception that only pensioners are grey! So it wouldn't be "ageing " to look grey, just normal for a person in their 40s / 50s whatever.

I'm reducing my dying, I was originally dark brown, and am now a salt and pepper. To get here, we bleached to get the old colour out, and are now trying to dye less and less each time(while still having a consistent style). I also use a shampoo that semi-permanently dyes my hair light purple which I use weekly- it clings better to the previously bleached bits, so we're seeing how it will do as that eventually grows
out.

I think your hair looks a good colour, but maybe consider something to make it zing (a purple shampoo to reduce brassiness? Olaplex?), and I would also consider a 'younger' hair style perhaps?

I did last year at 46, but it is still a lot darker at the back. I loved the silver cooking through but not the salt and pepper at the back. So I went back to dying it, but a much lighter colour than my natural colour. I just put a blonde on it now, rather than a brown, to warm up the silver and to blend it in.

I've not dyed it since before christmas though and am debating growing it out again and having highlights in the darker stuff at the back to lift that instead.

Your colour is lovely.

Definitely use a purple shampoo, and maybe try a sharper cut?

I was going time say, maybe a different cut maybe. Maybe a little bit shorter? Think the length might be working against you, rather than the colour.

I did - pixie cut and was salt-and-pepper (heavy on the salt!). I then went blonde for a couple of years but the bleach has trashed the condition of my hair so I've gone brunette again.

Too many maybes there, maybe

Lovely colour but it's not getting to make you look any younger .

I went grey on my 40's and then dyed it again. I did regret it the minute I did it, though I kept bleaching it for another few years.
I grew it out again at 50, 2 years ago and love it. I don't think it ages me though. I look my age and I'm happy with that, but if you aren't happy then go back to colouring, no point being unhappy with your looks

Your hair looks in good condition but I would say you're in you're in your 60s or 70s. Because of the grey hair.
Grey hair adds 10 years to anyone over the age of 30.
My daughter's friend (early 20s) has dyed her hair a silvery grey and it hasn't aged her.
They can get away with it.

Grey hair doesn't add 10 years, nobody thinks I'm in my 60's

It's hard to know if it's ageing you without seeing your face, although I'd say the cut of the hair is more likely to age you.

I have but I don't have the lovely silvery colour that you have op!

I have always dyed my hair (mouse) a dark ash "blonde" (although it's close to mouse in reality) and grew it out under lockdown. My natural hair is salt and pepper now and not in a good way! I really wanted to stop dyeing altogether but having it in its natural state really washed me out so I have returned to colouring it. My eyebrows are quite full and still naturally mouse so I think that is one reason why going grey looked odd. I feel much better now my hair is back to its original colour (although I dye it with natural dye and not very intensively so it looks more natural).

It's funny though because my dh's eyebrows are very dark while the rest of his hair is going grey and it looks fine on him!

At 56 with the help of lockdown I have gone grey - I LOVE it - the sense of freedom is awesome. But I find it is even more important to have a good cut - which I am absolutely dying for once lockdown ends (Ireland)

I agree with the others that it might be more the cut no matter what colour it is (sorry!)

I think it's gorgeous. Personally I wouldn't dye it again after all the time spent growing the old dye out.

Yes I have grown my hair out. I kept it for a year and have had the grey brightened, then highlighted. I have now gone back to a light brown, box colour and much prefer this. I definitely look younger but I am grey at the temples and t-section so not as grey.

I went natural about 3 years ago and it definitely aged me. However, it is thicker and in better condition now. I also don't have the regular psychological downer of grey roots breaking through. I was spending a fortune chasing them. I feel free now.
However, I recently tried a cool blonde semi-permanent Clairol dye (8A Natural Essence or similar name in Superdrug, green branding) and I LOVE it! I feel myself again. I did it because I can't get it cut and it was unkempt salt and pepper hair with brassy patches - not a good look at any age.
This colour blends the grey, tones the pepper into a warmer brown and has neutralised the brass. It has great reviews and before and after pictures on the Superdrug website.
It's also shiny and smelled good. No ammonia.

I grew my hair out and is at mo nearly all grey .I had to stop dying it as I had an allergic reaction to a dye I'd used for years .
I've been grey couple of years and doesnt bother me .
A hairdresser told me to use head &shoulders classic blue shampoo instead of purple shampoo..I've found made hair look much brighter then the purple ones and I tried them all .