Keep blonde or ditch it?

[Akitamum]

Hello! I am 46, have a just longer than chin length bob, longer at the front than at the back. It's has a lot of blonde highlights, I love it but my hair looks like straw. Trying to decide if a darker colour would be kinder to my hair, though I am worried that the couple of grays I keep finding might multiply and become more obvious Not sure whether to try more high end products to try and fix it or give up on the bleach. Worried darker might make me look older lol. I don't want it to look perfect, I like to dress a little alternative and sleek and straight isn't me but I feel a little Worzel Gummidge at the moment. Does anyone have any shampoo/conditioner suggestions that may make me a little less straw like? Or should I bite the bullet and ditch the bleach. And am I too old for an undercut?

Unfortunately bleach is the enemy of hair. Two products I use are Olaplex.No3 and Philip Kingsley Elasticiser. These come up on best products lists year after year. As I understand it these help repair damage to the bonds of the hair. Also use deep conditioning masks at least weekly. Garnier hair masks in the big pot are good, also Aussie 3 min Miracle. Aveda is really good too but really pricey. Coconut oil overnight is good and cheap.

Another vote for Philip Kingsley Elasticiser

I think the active ingredient in PKE is castor oil. Apply castor oil to your hair as a pre-wash mask.

I don't think anything can repair hair but it is softer after the oil.

My hair sounds similar to yours though far more grey. I tried going a bit darker and it was horrid, way more upkeep and certainly aged me.
My hair needs moisture rather than protein. I don't think the shampoo matters so much though I use sulphate free, no particular brand. I recommend the garnier hair foods banana mask (not the others). I use it to condition and a bit as a leave in.
When my hair is especially dry, I soak it with olive oil, wrap it up and leave on overnight, washing out the next day.

Thanks for the suggestions everyone The Philip Kingsley stuff sounds good and that's a great idea to use castor oil as a cheap alternative. @NorthernSoul55 I suspected that going darker might age me so that's interesting that's how you felt about it. I had some neem oil in the cupboard I had forgotten about so put that on before washing. My hair certainly looks better so I am going to try other oils too. Might not have to give up the blonde yet!