To just grow out grey hair?

[VintageDiamonds]

Hi

Been dying my hair blonde since I was about 16, more recently have returned to box dye all over tint as I stopped being about to afford foil highlights at the salon. My roots are coming through now with quite a few grey streaks. My hair is naturally mousey blonde and currently quite long and layered. Planning on having it cut into a shoulder length layered bob. But the main thing is that I’m so tired of colouring it at home and think it’s time to embrace the grey. I’m 52. I don’t think I can afford or be bothered to have foil highlights put it to soften the demarcation line so I guess it’s going to look odd and obvious that I’m growing out the colour for a while. I’ve tried growing it out before but always ended up giving in dying it. Any tips? Anyone else done this and been glad they did?

51 here and took the plunge during 2020 went from long hair to a much shorter style and now have shoulder length salt and pepper Bob - I wish I was more grey tbh

Not everyone is bothered about looking older though I'm happy to look the age I am. People might think I look older than I am with grey hair because so many women dye theirs until they are 60 plus. You rarely hear people say men look older with grey hair after all. Each to their own of course but it annoys me when people say I am too young to let my hair go grey - stupid thing to say it is my natural colour at this point in my life.

I think that allowing my grey hair to show is a small raised finger to society's pressure to look youthful and pretty. Not everyone wants to be subversive, of course, but I like doing it.

I quit colour two years ago. It turns out I am only about 5% grey according to my hairdresser - I have silver streaks at each side by my ears, then a few more scattered around. I am naturally dark brunette.

The “ageing” comment is so sexist. Men are “silver foxes”, women look old? i’m 50, and think my age ages me, not my hair. No-one sees a 50 year old woman and thinks she looks “young” because she has dyed hair - she just looks like a woman who dyes her hair! I dress nicely, look after my skin/weight etc, always wear makeup/nails done, and have a super-sharp haircut, but colouring my hair is one less thing to be arsed with.

I've let mine gradually grow out over about 2/3 years, softened with some highlights/lowlights. My hair is in such better condition, and I have a blend of salt and pepper coloured hair.

I personally think the menopause mahogany look is more aging than grey hair... nothing screams box dye more than someone in their 40s/50s with no greys! All over colour is very unflattering and unnatural.

I think nothing looks more aging than obviously dyed hair against an older complexion.

I went cold turkey and grew mine out over about two years. I love it and it really is my crowning glory. I’m 65 and I’ve been my natural lovely colour of grey for 4 years now.

I’m getting highlights until the day I die. But I think you should do whatever makes you happy!! Grey hair is gorgeous.

I'm 55 and grew my hair in a few years ago, I had a very short pixie so it was easy. I've a bob now.
If I dyed it now I wouldn't look younger I'd look like a 55 yo with dyed hair.

This was it a few months ago, its longer now.

If I had hair like yours I'd grow mine out but I look better with highlights. My hair isn't a single colour and the grey is patchy.

It's so liberating and I don't miss the hassle of colouring it and worrying when the roots show

I'd never go back to full head colour

I dyed my hair for years untill i started to itch when i dyed it.
Last time i did it was the worst itch i had i had to go doctors contact dermatitis.
I came home and shaved my head bald took weeks for my head to heal.
Never will i touch a hair dye again.
My hair now is a thick natural dirty blond corkscrew curls which I had forgotten I had with gray streaks.
I dont put any heat on my hair it's just natural and healthy.

Just to let you all no that hair dye can ruin natural curls, it did in my case.
But i now have healthy curls.

I was hennaing my hip length hair, last did it Dec 19, then of course not long after we had Covid so I stopped bothering. As we pretty much shielded for ages due to DH's immune problems I wasn't bothered what it looked like! Actually, it's been fine, the henna faded, and I've had it cut to waist length so it looks neat and healthy. Contrary to popular opinion, I think it makes me look younger as I felt the artificial colour was starting to look too harsh against my pale skin. I'm 51.

I started growing out henna almost three months ago. Like a PP says, it really brings out the green in my hazel eyes and my dark hair was definitely too harsh against my almost 54 year old face. My friend said it brightens up my face and I actually look more alive and glowing. I wasn't prepared for all the looks I get, off both men and women.

No, sorry but I can’t agree.
I got my first grey hairs in my teens when I was still at school. By the time I married in my twenties I was pure white, not grey. Family trait, my grandmother was the same.
To be honest over the years I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been asked,even by strangers, where I get it done so “Platinum” 😂 & never any roots!

Personally I think nothing is more aging than dyed dark hair against a lightened older skin tone. Skin always fades with age no matter how you might not think so yourself & it looks very hard & draining.

I’d forgot about that when I got the highlights done I got a grey temp toner all over my hair to get an idea of what I was heading towards, and the first thing I noticed was my eyes when i looked in my bathroom mirror when I got home, then my skin both were so much brighter

It's not just the colour of your hair or your skin tone that ages you. It's your attitude to life. What you wear, how you move, the way you interact with people. Keeping active, and having a fun attitude to life is what keeps you young. Being kind and not being judgemental because where on earth does that get you anyways ?? That's what I think .

I'got my first white hairs in teens ans now would be completely white if k wasn't dying my hair. I had originally black hair ( Celtic pale colouring with grey eyes) and for a while I rocked that dark brown dyed black look which was horrendous on me. These days I am a golden brown which feels very 'light' to me colour wise versus the image of me in my head but think it suits my skin tone as I'm not ready to embrace the old lady white ( not grey or silver) my hair is.

@Cocolapew, your hair is absolutely stunning 😍.

I love seeing women embrace their grey hair if they want to, it just seems so empowering.

I've got some grey hair at my temples, although maybe I'll only go grey slowly as my Mum isn't very grey.

So many great replies and photos of gorgeous hair here and on silver sisters on Instagram! The blonde dye doesn’t flatter my skin tone any longer. I think it’s going to start looking harsh and unnatural soon. I’m going for it.

Purple shampoo or a violet or grey hair conditioner masque helps

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/style_and_beauty/3900924-Should-I-just-seize-the-opportunity-to-go-grey?reply=109504501

This was exactly where I was at a few years ago and got great advice on this thread. You might find it helpful.
I have absolutely no regrets

Sorry, the link is the last page for some reason but you can see the advice from the start.

I stopped dyeing my hair a couple of years ago and started using Leganza conditioner to temporarily colour it instead. It was a useful stopgap till my hair grew out - then I stopped using it. I’m not terribly grey so that worked for me, but it might be something that could work for you as a stepping stone.