Bored of my grey hair but I don't want to dye it

[lurchermummy]

Hi all, I have about 80% grey hair I guess, I grew it out during lockdown and it is so much less maintenance than having roots to maintain. The rest, mostly underneath, is still natural mid brown. I don't really mind the grey, but just sometimes I feel like it looks really drab and washed out and makes me look older than I really am. Although I am 54 so not that young really! I've tried all the silver shampoos et cetera and they don't seem to make any difference. I'd just like to be able to do something more interesting, like when I used to dye my hair I might try a different shade of red or brown to ring the changes. Is semipermanent dye literally a no-no with grey hair? Or is there anything else I can do to temporarily change the colour? I'm not sure about highlights because I think it might go to yellowy, what do you think? DH really hates middle aged women with with pink or blue hair so please don't suggest that! Thanks for any ideas.

I think you can use semi p's on grey hair - you just might not get such strong or long lasting results.

The worst that can happen is they just wash out a bit soon. They're fairly cheap and it would be interesting to try :)

I'm with your husband, I don't like bright pink or blue hair on middle aged women either - and as a middle aged woman, I feel qualified to have that opinion

I would go for some temporary spray on hair colour in coppery red and see how you like it - you can wash it straight out if you hate it.

Shrine drops - you mix into your normal conditioner and apply for temporary colour. Comes in silver or more 'fun' colours. And you can alter how many drops you use for a more subtle or vivid effect.

www.boots.com/shrine-drop-it-kit-silver-10291269

I could have written this myself, lurchermummy! I think that eventually my mousey hair will become quite a nice white but currently the mix feels bland and a bit greige. Putting my shoulder-length hair in an 'up do' seems to suit the colour somehow, slowly working out what clothing colours suit me best now and also trying to dress a bit 'edgier' (no soft floral type fabrics) helps me feel a bit less like I'm become the infamous invisible middle-aged woman. Is it actually the hair or how it makes you feel that needs a change?

I cannot tell you how much I am hoping someone come along with a magical answer on this thread!

Don't use a glaze on grey or whites it's not intended for that.

I've grown mine out too and the thing that makes it look good is keeping it straight as you can see the stripes of white and then the dark brown.

I'd go for a more edgy cut perhaps than resorting back to colour.

@jeaux90 YES! The edgier cut, but what does that look like?

My dark brown hair is 30 % grey and I even wondered about dying it all grey! I then decided it was all about the cut but I don’t know what cut to go for.

All pinterested out, also not that old (43).

I’m also hoping for the miracle!

@Gardenerboo I know right!
If you have a decent hairdresser can you take your Pinterest board in and see what he/she says?

I went for something a bit more edgy (I'm 50) and I love it but it does help keeping it straighter and in good condition.

My friend has highlights and lowlights on her grey hair and it looks really great.
im about the same as you, about 80%, but unfortunately can’t colour it due to allergies ☹️

@jeaux90 the condition is somewhere between straw and wire.

I bought some straighteners for the first time ever to try to smooth and tame it but I don’t like to use them too much.

I'm allergic to dye and have been 50% grey since about 30, I've kept my hair un-died and long. It's in fab condition but I have two massive cruelly de ville streaks. Highlights are a waste of money because you can't see them. I'm just going with it. Sometimes when I get really bored I use colour drops, in the colours your H doesn't like but they lift it a bit and only last a couple of days.

I paid a fortune to have it foil lightened so nothing touched my scalp, the colour. Lifted within a week from the grey and I was left with orange strands.

@Gardenerboo it's in bad condition generally or just the greys are? What kind of hair do you have?

@jeaux90 just the greys, they’re so wired and dry. I’ve got fine hair but quite a bit of it. Shoulder length with a few layers (they don’t help the frizz and I’m growing them out).

I’ve tried coconut oil and take skin and hair vitamins. I suppose it’s just the texture of the grey hairs.

Thanks all seems I'm not alone! Perhaps an edgier cut is the answer but it's already shortish and in a sort of choppy pixie, so I'm
not sure. I might book a consultation with a decent hairdresser and see what they say. I think I'll also buy a new lipstick, it feels like a bit of colour might help the situation.

@lurchermummy have you had your colours done? I did when I went grey and I think it really helps

@Gardenerboo what I found with my grey is I need a conditioner with lanolin in like American Cream from Lush.

@jeaux90 thank you for the recommendation! I’ll try it.

I love this stuff but it washes out pretty much entirely so it depends on how often you wash your hair and how much of a faff you find the application. I'd advise using a colour much lighter than what you'd assume. I have very dark (almost black) hair mixed with about 50% grey and I use 6/dark blonde.
I'm fair and when I used to colour the grey to match my base colour it eventually looked too severe and made my skin look papery, but I can't really go lighter and warmer, warm shades don't suit me. Not sure what would happen if I got stuck in a downpour 😀

@crispinglovershighkick thanks that does look good for the odd occasion but yes I do wash my hair every few days, that's definitely the sort of thing I was thinking of though