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.

Saw a woman today walking her dog. She had long, grey hair. I couldn't tell you what age she is, but she looked amazing. This is my future hair goal when over grown mine out.

So sick of this attitude, that it’s only 87 year old women who have white hair. Plenty of women go grey in their 30’s or younger and it’s so depressing that what is natural for them, is labelled as something that only elderly people should have. How do you think that makes these women feel?? Nevermind the patriarchy, when women say this shit about each other, we don’t stand a chance

I couldn't agree more. I had to stop dyeing 20 years ago in my mid 30s because I started reacting to the dye and I was already covering the grey then. How nice that so many of my still-dyeing sisters look down on me

If you want grey hair then go grey. Theres no should or shouldnt about it.
I prefer to colour mine. Im 45 and think grey hair is really dull and ageing, although some people really rock it, they tend to be the ones who still wear makeup and dress up, so im.not sure if theyre saving themselves any time or effort really.
I wouldnt want to wear grey or white clothes all the time, and i like doing different things to my hair

With the help of my hairdresser it has taken three years to grow my hair out. Long hair, so it was lighter streaks, balyage, and now finally the next cut will see the back of it. Like @Silverparting I let my hair dry naturally now so it is long and wavy, I do have a wand if I want to dress it up. The condition is fantastic now and it is so easy to manage time wise.

@Itsallhere

And most women have significant grey by 47. Not all of these look younger if they dye their hair, they often look 47 with dyed hair.

Quite.

Given that so many women would naturally be grey or greying in their 40s, or even 30s, perhaps it should stop being a marker for age (wishful thinking).

On the pic after using the CGM for a week I think your hair looks gorgeous both in colour and condition.

Thanks Caraher.
It's nicer on the bottom, but nearer the parting it's lighter due to the white. It's also so hard to keep on top of it.

My hair is white, not grey, as you can see from this clearer picture and I'm worried the white might wash me out due to very pale skin (that flushes easily). Previous post removed as I left my face in!

A lot of inspiration on instagram and other places. You may want to rethink your make up with your stunning new look.

www.instagram.com/explore/tags/youngandgrey/

I’m 47 and Last spring said “right that’s it!”
I’m now silver white all over really apart from the ends
I bloody love it! I’m myself!

Do it. You can always dye it again if you dont like it. Im 29 and getting loads of greys and im not dying mine.

What struck me about all those Instagram pics is how young and beautiful they all looked and their skin was all glowing! I think as more and more women just embrace the natural colour of their hair the whole stigma will disappear. I think you will see someone walking ahead from behind and just see blonde hair, red hair, grey hair, dark hair, etc without necessarily making a judgement about age. Also as proved by this thread the age at which people go grey varies wildly so deciding that a hair colour proves somebody is old or young is daft. I think it will boost your confidence because you are taking charge and working with your hair rather than having to slap chemicals on your head every two weeks.

I stopped the grind of colour, ok for two weeks, getting ever badger like for four weeks, colour, rinse and repeat when I was around your age. Since I’ve stopped the treadmill my hair has never looked better. It’s grown out beautifully and quickly and it’s in the best health it’s ever been.

The bonus is I don’t have to shell out £100+ every month or so.

I wouldn't. Most people don't suit grey hair. It washes them out and makes them look older. I know a lot of women who have let their hair colour grow out over lockdown and its aged them at least 10 years. I think the same about men, but they don't tend to dye their hair. If they asked I would advise them to do it.

Growing out the grey really does make some people look older.

Fasting, that’s just your opinion. I think the woman in the photo looks great. It’s just conditioning that tells you that her grey hair =old.

I'd love my hair to be white rather than iron grey.

@FastingBitchFace

Growing out the grey really does make some people look older.

But why is looking your age a bad thing?

Why is the desperate clinging to a false youth better?

I am 46 and grew out my greys about three years ago. It looks so much worse when it's just roots than when it actually grows out! I thought I was very silver but my hair now just looks light brown instead of dark, because my grey is like highlights.

I would go for it. The first three months are hard - I got highlights to blend the line and transition. But after that you will just be desperate to get rid of the dye as you begin to see how much better your natural colour suits you, and how damaged your dyed hair is

There are loads of Facebook groups where you can get support and see some amazingly beautiful grey haired women. I actually wish mine was all white because it looks so incredible.

The people who tell you not to do it are people who generally haven't done it, but the reality is so much better. Most people I meet don't realise I've grown my dye out.

Looking at your pictures, I can't see much grey and I think you will find it quite an easy transition.

Looking your age isn’t what I mean. I’m 50 and don’t mind looking it.

I’m saying that grey hair can make some people look older than they are, rather than their actual age.

Some hair dyeing is ageing of course, (eg the dark block colours) and of course we all get to an age where a head of brunette hair is fooling nobody except from the back.

My partner is 39 and grew her dye out 2 years ago.
She'd been going grey since she was 15 and her hair is really thick and resistant to dye so it took hours!
She looks great with grey hair and uses purple shampoo to keep it bold and shiny.

I’m saying that grey hair can make some people look older than they are, rather than their actual age.

You're braver than I am. This is MN.

I really like Alyson Walsh’s overall style and her transition to grey has been a successful one IMO.

You know why it's annoying to say you're going to look older? It's that it's just plain rude. Nobody has any idea what anyone else will look like with their natural hair colour. Yes some will look older, but there is people who dye their hair that look older than they are. Either through badly dyed too dark hair, their clothes, their skin, their posture,their attitude.
It's the blanket 'omg only old prople are grey' slightly sneery attitude that rubs us who are grey up the wrong way.

Old people