Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Style and beauty

Looking for style advice? Chat all about it here. For the latest discounts on fashion and beauty, sign up for Mumsnet Moneysaver emails.

Original poster

When did you start going grey? And do you dye your hair?

96 replies

selfselfiequeen · 05/11/2023 20:05

Just want some reassurance that it's not only happening to me that is having premature grey hairs spout up... I have clusters of grey all over my hair.

They started just after having my 2nd child nearly 2 years ago and I started to get them more after my third child was born 7 months ago.

I'm in my early thirties and used to think going grey only happened to older men and women.

I refuse to dye my hair. But don't know what I will do when grey takes over the whole of my hair.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
user1846385927482658 · 05/11/2023 20:43

But don't know what I will do when grey takes over the whole of my hair.

It's easier to adjust/accept/embrace when you allow it to happen gradually rather than the shock of dyeing it for years then having to grow it out once it's all grey.

Creepybookworm · 05/11/2023 20:43

20 and I dyed it until 45 and then let it f do it's thing. Now have a pixie. Don't suit blonde and the brown dye started to look unnatural. Doesn't make me look older, in fact I get more compliments now. I look my age which is fine by me.

Mediumred · 05/11/2023 20:45

@Reddishraddish guess you are a redhead! I am too and no need to dye yet at 53 tho it’s not as vibrant as when i was younger and I have a small grey streak at the front. I saw a younger reheaded friend last night and hers has gone grey as well as starting to fade for a slightly older male friend who had very bright, almost electric, red hair so it’s not a given even for us gingers!!

SiennaMillar · 05/11/2023 20:46

Mid twenties, and no

ImBrian · 05/11/2023 20:48

I was 20 when I first noticed grey hairs. I dyed it for years till my late 30s when I grew it out. I kept it grey for about 4 years but went back blonde and I do prefer it this way even with the extra costs. I think once it’s more white I’ll try again, my sides are 100% white but the top is still quite salt and pepper.

TheDandyLion · 05/11/2023 20:59

I got my first grey around 18/19 and I used to dye my hair throughout my twenties then stopped at 30. I have full head of silver greys at 38. Will never go back to dying, its in such better condition now and suits my colouring.

gotomomo · 05/11/2023 21:04

About 47/48 50 now and still not dying it, still blonde

PermanentTemporary · 05/11/2023 21:04

A few greys from early 40s. At 49 I felt really drab and started having highlights to break it up, still doing that at 54. Hairdresser is starting to suggest a few steel grey highlights in the mix but tbh not sure yet.

icebearforpresident · 05/11/2023 21:07

I’ve had the odd grey hair for years but 2020 really did a number on my hair! I looked in the mirror one morning and realised I had a good inch of grey grown in. Dyed it as my hairdresser, when I finally got back in said that it was pretty much the only big bit of grey I had, it was just randomly at my parting. Earlier this year I decided to just let it go, I’m 38. I got a drastic haircut, one side is pretty much all shaved and the other shoulder length. The short side is totally grey the longer side has a few inches at the roots. My plan is once it’s came in more I will even out the length and hopefully be grey all over, or at least enough that I can dye grey whatever hasn’t gone on it’s own accord. At the rate it’s going I’ll be grey within the year.

NoraLuka · 05/11/2023 21:10

Early 40s, and I only have a few greys but they are silvery grey and I have dark hair so they stand out. I’m planning to never dye them because I know I’d be rubbish at the upkeep and I think half grown out dye looks worse than natural grey. Sometimes I do get bored of my hair and do a semi permanent box dye, will probably still do that.

Vintagecreamandcottagepie · 05/11/2023 21:17

45, a few greys. First one at 39.

Going lighter round the temples. Redhead- sides aren't grey- more of a faded red. Bit blonde.

Definite few grey strands on top tho.

Not dying, fascinated to see what will happen next!

And not bothered by aging... at least not yet! Happy to be 45.

Disillusioned11 · 05/11/2023 21:17

Happened really quickly. Went from none to almost completely grey in 2 years between 48 to 50. Hair already dyed from mousey brown to blonde and continues to be so. Grey hair is very aging and l’m very average and certainly not pretty enough to be able to over come this.

Oldermum84 · 05/11/2023 21:23

17, now 38 and never dyed it. I dread to think the time and money I would have spent covering it up. It's natural to go grey. Embrace it I say!!

CatherinedeBourgh · 05/11/2023 21:25

I started at 17, dyed my hair until late 40s, now no longer do.

ButtonFork · 05/11/2023 21:27

I was early thirties, but only a few until I got closer to forty.

I was shocked when it happened but then I realised that early thirties is actually middle aged LOL so perfectly natural to have grey hair at that age.

thenightsky · 05/11/2023 21:29

Reddishraddish · 05/11/2023 20:35

in my 60s, nothing yet, but no, I won't dye it

Dark auburn here and 64. Got a few greys coming in over my ears. Not had to dye yet.

WhatTheEll · 05/11/2023 21:29

37 and no greys yet! I'm naturally auburn and I've read that naturally ginger/red haired people are least likely to go grey. I used to dye my hair years ago and probably would again if I started going grey. 🤞🏻

eurochick · 05/11/2023 21:33

I found three after doing my A levels at 18 - one for each subject! And then got a few more each year. I'm late 40s now and I think have a fair fee but I dye it so it is hard to tell! I had so few I didn't do anything about them until my 30s. At first I disguised them with a few highlights but now I colour the lot.

Rachaelrachael · 05/11/2023 21:38

First one at age 16 and I had to dye it from age 18 it became so noticeable 😪

Letspretendweareallcool · 05/11/2023 21:38

I've had a few grey hairs for a couple of years but not really noticeable, I'm in my 50's, also have the red hair gene.

CrunchyCarrot · 05/11/2023 21:50

67 and still not grey! My mother was completely grey by 30, so am quite surprised!

TryAgainWithFeeling · 05/11/2023 21:51

I’ve had the odd grey since my 20s. Now 39 and the grey is pretty solid! I home dye it, but it grows out so quickly and so obviously (my natural colour is a mid brown), that I’m wondering whether to go blonde so it’s less noticeable or just embrace the grey. But I’m very overweight and don’t think I can cope with being both fat and grey at 40!

tinnedbeansandsausages · 05/11/2023 21:51

Im 42 and have sensitive skin. I am going grey but I don't think I can use regular hair dye because I did a patch test and it was a bit itchy. Does anyone here know if there are any salons that do hair dye for sensitive skin?

Simd1 · 05/11/2023 21:54

30s is not young to go grey, it's pretty average I'd have thought. I found my first grey hair at 30. Now 39 and still only have a small number of strands at the front.

Spirro · 05/11/2023 21:54

I got my first grey at 38. Pulled them out for about five years, by which time there were too many to pull! So I started going to the hairdresser for a quasi dye every 3 months. It’s semi permanent so it doesn’t change my natural colour much, and it can’t lighten my hair. It does colour the greys though, and the colour sticks to the greys more. My hairdresser recommended sticking with quasi until I’m at least 30% grey.

Maybe when I’m very old and my hair is pure grey I might stop colouring it. But I won’t ever have salt and pepper hair, it looks fricking awful. Like you just can’t be bothered with yourself.