Should I embrace white hair at 47?

[Silverparting]

I found my first grey at 19. Have naturally dark brown hair, eyes and very pale skin. Dark brown eyebrows.

I've been dyeing my hair for 30 years. For a long time I've gone to the hairdresser for a number 6 permanent dark brown base, coupled with a blonde tsection every five weeks, cost £80. It looks great for a week, goes brassy and the greys come after two weeks.

In lockdown I've been dyeing my hair with Majirel a 7.3 in a bid to go lighter. I have to do my roots every two weeks! Even then there's a white spot at the back and I don't love the colour.

I'd say my hair is white and I am toying with the idea of growing it out, but then adding blonde highlights once it is all white, if I don't like it.

I have just started Curly Girl and was amazed to see some great results after a week. It's made me enjoy my hair again.

I'm so fed up of dyeing my hair every two weeks and not loving it.

Has anybody gone white, not just grey, in their 40s? I think if I was slate grey it might be easier.

Attached is a pic of my blorange and root growth after less than two weeks. This was pre curly girl so ignore the frizz. Have NC as still embarrassed about hair.

Thanks for the support.
I am aiming for a layered Bob.

Gwendoline those pictures are spot on, thanks.

Juliet you look fantastic. It really suits you, but anything would with that bone structure and blue eyes. Thanks for sharing your journey. You look especially elegant in the wedding photo.

I'm not bothered about looking my age. What's more important is that I feel confident.

@JulietMadeChutney

If you are undecided what you really need is a great hairdresser who will go through the options. Hairdressers bread and butter is colouring. Repeatedly. Roots. Regrowth. What takes women back time and again is colouring. So do not necessarily believe what your hairdresser says about the best option unless you are 100&% sure you can trust them....they have WAY more of a vested interest in you continuing to dye.

I ditched the dye 5/6 years ago (did a pixie...v v old thread here

I have not regretted it once. Never. Even at my sisters wedding (pic) with the posh up-do accentuating the grey.

The freedom from the grind of it all is amazing.

Scraggy tired photo is today. I am 50 in December. Do I look it? Probably, yes - but more from the eye wrinkles than the hair. And I really do not give a fuck how old I look to be honest either.

Omg I remember this thread so well. I can't believe that's been 6 years though! You (still) look great.

I remember the circles I went round before I did it. And as above I have never, ever regretted it. I have hair shorter than I wanted during the grow out phase but meh. Hair grows.

And yes, as @OooPourUsACupLove says - I now don't care if my hair makes me look my age because it is grey - because I am 100% confident that it looks better than the dye - I no longer need to worry about roots, my hair colour suits my skin tone and I have natural tones and highlights rather than a flat colour not quite right for me.

I remember that thread too! I loved that the majority of people said don't cut and go blonde and you cut it and went grey
I still don't understand why people think short hair is aging, it does nothing for me.
I have short , grey hair and its my best feature, the main thing that ages me is my face 😂

I've just read your thread Juliet - you look lovely and your naturally curly hair is gorgeous.

My appointment for a haircut is booked for a couple of weeks time and I'm wondering what to have done - I have an unwanted lockdown chin length bob. I love Coco's cut upthread.

Theres a new video on The Silver Circle Facebook group of someone getting the dye cut out and she looks great.

Thanks btw JackieWeaver

Thanks Coco I'll take a look.

I do always post on these threads. Not because I have any hard-line about women with grey hair. I encourage women to do as they please. I hate the rhetoric of ageing. The idea that it's dreadful to look one's age or older.

It's fine to look as we do. I don't want to look younger. I've earned my years.

And I'm 48, and I LOOK 48. I don't look 58 just because I have grey hair, and I'm not interested in looking 38, I've been 38, and it had it's ups and downs. But I'm not 38 or 58. I'm 48.

And I'm very happy with being 48. It's fucking amazing.

Grey hair!

I’m going grey now especially the sides mind I’m 54 and don’t care anymore, hopefully I’ll have lovely silver grey.

All those photos were in the last year. Grey hair is whatever you make it.

The 7.3 is a warm colour and won’t lighten your darker hair, that’s why it’s orangey. Not to dissuade you because you should decide whatever makes you happy but there would be much better colours for you if you decide to recolour. Ash tones would blend better for you to grow out. Light ash eventually would let you grow out without the harsh line

I stopped colouring my hair a couple of years ago. I’m 49. 20+ years of highlights, bleach and straightening had ruined my hair. My naturally wavy hair had disappeared. I couldn’t have told you what my natural hair colour was and my hair was cottony at the ends and snapped off constantly.

I had a good few inches off stopped straightening.

2 years down the line, my hair is in great condition. My hair is curly/wavy and yep, I have some grey hair too. Ive had comments from my mum and sister about letting myself go and being ‘too young’ to go grey. I think I’m just making the best of myself, as I am. And I don’t have to get my hair coloured every 6 weeks.

I do need a haircut tho and can’t wait til the hairdresser opens next week!

@shrikeattack I think you're right but you must realise that you are very attractive and not everyone ages in the same way. I thought the same but I actually started hating the way I am ageing so am having a rethink!

I would try a different home box dye first -phyto (from allbeauty.com) is my fave or else Josh Wood and see if the coverage/colour is better.

Home dyes are so much cheaper and convenient. I would never go back to the salon now.

the grey /white doesn't look too bad op,

im very dark brunette, in 32 im getting greys at the front of my head, i dyed my hair last night, after leaving it 2 months, i couldn't do it anymore it was quite noticeable.

@BestIsWest

I don’t think I’ve ever heard it said of a man that grey hair ages them.

My oh does and he dyes the greys out.

Thanks all. Shrike, you are rocking the grey!

I ended up an orangey colour in lockdown. I wanted to be a lighter, Ash blonde, but was hoping to avoid more bleach. 7.3 isn't supposed to look like this. I was hoping for a cooler colour as I have quite a ruddy complexion and red and orange clash!

I know my white doesn't look too much at the moment, but I only dyed it just under two weeks ago. Both my parents went silver/white young and my brother, four years over, is silvery white now.

I stopped dying my hair a year ago and it’s growing in completely white. I’ve had a mixture of compliments, silence and the odd nasty remark from friends and family. I quite enjoy still being able to shock people in my 50s

As well as the Grombre UK Facebook group, I can also recommend Silver Sisters, Curly Silvers and Silver Revolution on social media. On YouTube look for Nikol Johnson, Erica Henry Johnston and Monique Parent as they absolutely rock grey hair.

I’ve found the best reaction to being told I look old or I’m letting myself go etc is to say ‘I like it and that’s what matters’ It’s a strange thing to say, but I became more confident in myself once I stopped colouring my hair. My natural hair is more flattering with my skin tone and eyes, it’s just that people can’t see past the grey hair = old stereotype. Good luck, whatever you decide to do!

As with everything with our outward appearance- if you do you, you will do it beautifully.

Here’s a picture of my hair.

@Silverparting .3 after the depth number is always warm. Usually gold. You’d want like a .1 instead

Thanks Land your hair is in lovely colour and condition.

Theyre yes, I took colour advice off a well meaning aunt... I need coolness against my skin these days.