Shit. Do I look "Witchy"?

[ChoporNot]

Saw an ex-colleague in town today. Not seen her for c7/8 years. Bit of chit chat, small talk. And then "So you have embraced the grey. I thought of doing it in lockdown but was scared of having that witchy vibe... You're kind of rocking it though...." A bit of a pause, a change of subject and soon after we went our separate ways.

DIdn't think much of it then. But now it is digging at me. Do I look witchy? Midlength grey curls. A bit of frizz - then my curls nearly always have a bit of frizz.

Photos attached. Would normally be wash- day today - but playing sport tomorrow morning so eeking it out an extra day - so not an "insta-best-photo-possible.

Should I listen to the "Witchy" or the "Rocking it"? I know I look my age and don't really care. But I am just wondering if I need to rethink the length/style? I am nearly 50 (like days from being 50) so wondering if am over-thinking it cos of that...just having a bit of a crisis.

Honest opinions please?

@BrightonOrLancaster

Going against the grain here, I love the grey but really dislike the curls. They are overly defined IMO and you would suit wavy better than curly with more volume

Curls aren't that easy to manipulate - it's her natural hair pattern. With mine I don't get the same look even if I do the exact same steps If you want to manipulate curls to wavy, you're looking at straightening it then waving it and the second it rains or goes damp, they'll spring back anyway

You know you've inspired quite a few of us to take the plunge? I remember you from your thread a few years back showing how you'd progressed through the various difficult stages of going grey. At the time I really appreciated you showing your personal photos of your journey.
You look fab, not at all witchy!

Not even remotely witchy, you look glamorous and I’d have put you at in your 40s

not witchy
at all.
nearly..rocking it... the colour n curls is fab ..duno cure but..something fronty/higher i dunno.youre lovely

I think you look great too.

I oil the bejeezes out of my hair. Ever since I've been doing that it's grown much longer (fine, thick, curly). Had a hairdresser tell me once it would never get past my shoulders, with the oil it's mid back length.

To get shine, you could always put a toner over it. Talk to your hairdresser about what would be best with your colour. As someone said above, people are deliberately dying their hair grey, so there's got to be grey toners.

I've got my grey inspo pics for when I get that level of grey. Deliberately dying grey would be a better transition for me as I wouldn't have to sacrifice length. There are some beautiful grey videos on YouTube - on young people, but beautiful dye jobs.

Love it love it!

@GlomOfNit

Wow, this is such a novelty - a MNer actually posting a photo of her face!

OP, you look hot and gorgeous and your hair bloody well rocks. I am SO envious of women who are still able to maintain long hair at our age. I've had a boring bob for about ten years now (am 48) as mine won't keep any sort of condition past the top of my shoulders. I desperately want the long, curly (permed) hair of my relative youth.

As for 'witchy', I think it's sad that people characterise women over the age of, say, 45 with long greying hair as 'witchy', but I've always wanted that look! I would love to become an older woman with long grey hair.

This OP posts her picture a lot on mumsnet!

I think you look good.

I doubt she’d have said it if she thought you looked witchy. More likely she was talking about how she thinks she might look. Like when somebody says “oh, I’d love to give that a go but I’d probably end up xyz.”

As a fellow curly, I can only hope once my hair goes grey it looks like yours. I love the curl pattern and the cut, the colour is lovely too.

You look amazing. Going grey is a massive emotional journey of self acceptance and I feel for you. Your friend is misogynistic and ageist which is her problem not yours...

Trust me you don't look witchy.
I on the other hand am about to turn 54, with hair half way down my back that is salt and pepper grey....
Pass my broomstick! What's more I do not care. I love my natural colour, and it's thick and healthy .
I'd like your curls tho :)

I've seen you post your face/hair on Mumsnet before.

It's fine, you look fine, you look like you.
Nothing like me, but guess what....I look fine too!

I am embracing the grey but I need more of it - the sides are nice and silvery but the bloody top bit is hanging onto to 'I was very blonde then my hair went to a weird flat brown colour'.

You look bloody fabulous.

this is like de ja vu.

surely im not the only one noticing this?

I think your hair is really cool. Definitely not witchy, whatever that means

You look fabulous OP. Rocking it for sure.
You also look like great fun. Unlike your ex colleague who is a completely miserable bitch.

And happy birthday

No I think you look really nice. She sounds like an unwitting 'jellyfish' as Bridget J put it.

'Witchy' to me is kind of peppery, frizzy, frayed and long.

Your curls are coiffured nicely and the colour is grey/blonde. You look great; honest.

@nothingbutsnow

this is like de ja vu.

surely im not the only one noticing this?

I thought I had read similar before? Also seems as though someone needs a few compliments.....

I'm 40 and I'd love to be rocking it like you! In fact now I know what I'm aiming for.

Nothingbutsnow - I clicked on this thread and thought "ah yes. I recognise that face - again" 🙄

Absolutely no need for you to be sensitive around your hair. It looks lovely
And the curls give it volume. I expect you'd look more 'witchy' if it was straight.

@nothingbutsnow

this is like de ja vu.

surely im not the only one noticing this?

No you are not alone. OP is on one of her regular “fishing”expeditions.

You look great. I think the ends of your hair might look tidier trimmed with a blunt cut. Love your curls, they remind me of Kelly McGillis looking glam in Top Gun
https://images.app.goo.gl/adSdZ6hEZ5Yh4DPZ7

I think you look beautiful and your hair is just gorgeous x