Would you leave this hair natural? (pics)

[LadyHenrique]

I was fairly pale/bright blonde until my mid forties, now darkened somewhat, and had highlights for a few yrs.
Now they’re growing out, so the top 6 inches of my head are my natural hair.
The ends are fuzzy and broken thanks to the process so I’m not too keen to do it again. The regrowth is healthy, wavy and soft.

What colour even is my hair now?
Would you highlight again or just go with it?

I kind of like the natural as it has it’s own highlights (as seen in pic to the right).
I have a few whitish bits coming in at roots, possibly my version of grey, but they’re like highlights..
I was also told my hair was cool ash at salon but I’m sure it’s warming with age. Is this possible?

Looks like a grey/ash brown at the moment. I would leave it for a bit and then get a good cut to lose the broken/damaged ends and see how you feel after that.

I like the colour, maybe try those shampoos for blonde hair that are meant to highlight the blonde colour before you decide whether to change it?

Thanks, will definitely wait a bit, it looks different in every lighting situation but this is under a skylight. Just not sure yet. Now I’m wondering if this IS my version of grey!

Those blonde shampoos ash it down a bit as they are supposed to counter orange/brassiness, so wouldn't do that. Agree your best bet is to grow it out a bit. It looks a nice colour but could put a richer brown on.

I think your natural hair is a lovely colour. I'd grow it out, maybe try a clear gloss on it for a bit of shine but I wouldn't personally colour your hair (I only colour mine as it's naturally off black and I've been going grey since 16 😭)

There’s no way I could dye my hair brown, my lashes are pale blonde and my brows the same. My eyes are pale blue so I imagine I’d look dreadful.

I have quite similar hair when it's natural. though a slightly warmer brown, also with fine white strands. I do highlight it just to thicken it up a bit and make it less slippery, but yours looks thicker than mine.

My mum had blonde hair all her life, never coloured it but allowed it to go grey naturally and now its the most beautiful grey colour! Her mum had similarly gorgeous grey but had spent her life colouring her hair dark/golden brown. It was such a lovely surprise when she couldn't afford the colour any more and allowed the natural grey to grow,. I was hoping my hair would be similarly gorgeous but its not

It looks like it’s coming in light brown to me. If you wish to stay blonde then some blonde highlights would add colour depth due to the difference and make it look thicker.

so yes, I’d colour.

I have that hair colour, it's dark ash blond. Comes out looking almost dark grey at the roots, lightens with the sun into a paler ash blond as it grows longer and the years go by (I'm outside a lot). Yes I'd leave it natural. Nothing wrong with what mother nature gives you and there's no upkeep. I'd cut off the damaged parts though, maybe the whole highlights if you want it all one colour, it'll grow again. I'm going grey and like you it's coming through pure white, it blends in with the blond easily enough.

Looks grey because it's all bunched together at the roots . You can see where the light hits it that it's actually blond. As it grows longer , flows around you and the hairs aren't so tightly bunched together, the light hits more of it and you'll look obviously blond. It'll always look darker at the roots though, almost as if you've dyed it and it's growing out. That's just the way it is.

I have about six inches of dark blonde natural hair, and then the rest is bleached. My bleached hair is so frizzy and damaged, and now I just want nice healthy hair that looks sleek.

Personally (and you might not feel the same!) I think that frizzy hair really ages me, so I am keen to grow out my crappy bleached ends and be natural. I think even my greys will look better than that fried frizz texture. And I should have nice natural highlights in summer.

Thank you everyone!

I so agree unhealthy, damaged hair is more ageing.
My new natural hair is so soft and sleek in comparison and it really suits my eyes and complexion. In real life it is a mix of lighter and darker tones which seem to change often. It feels slightly unusual and softer than when I was young.

Considering everything i a, going to stay out and grow it out. Amy natural waves are great when not damaged and I think I like the slight caramel-y tones that have grown in that I never used to have.

Oddly enough I saw a woman probably early 50’s today with gorgeous hair and realised it was the same colour as mine. Hers had greys highlighting it and was beautiful. That made me think.
My hair isnt grey yet but there are very white strands coming it’s so I will see how that goes!

Dear god those typos, anyone else,loathe iPads for typing a/?
not even bothering correcting the above

Your natural colour is lovely.

When I was growing colour out my hairdresser did a nice half set of foils starting part way down to blend everything out. They did a subtle mix of highlights and low lights, which I found helped.

Your natural regrowth looks a lovely colour. If you don't mind having your hair a bit shorter, I'd say cut off as much of the damaged hair as possible. Before you know it your "new" colour will be in the majority!
My hair is much, much greyer and I've recently grown it out after dyeing it for 25 yrs and love the variety of shades it now has.

I think your hair is lovely natural. I would not highlight. Once it’s grown out, you could consider lowlights though as you seem worried about being washed out.

I stopped colouring my hair in covid and discovered that my ‘real’ hair was shinier, had a much nicer texture than the coloured hair AND suited me.
I suspect you might find the same.