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Hair dye or more highlights

7 replies

HorseSnorts · 19/08/2024 22:34

Mid 50s and silver is showing a little bit in my hair. I've been having it highlighted for a couple of years and I'm wondering if it's time I bit the bullet and got the hairdresser to colour it?

Is it a big hassle re upkeep? Any advice welcome.

OP posts:
KaneelStokjes · 20/08/2024 00:41

I have silver through my hair (front and back) and dye at-home, but I matched to my natural color without highlights
It's very easy as long as you take your time! Mine lasts around 8 weeks?
My mother has silver, but mostly up front, so she just uses the root touch up spray for special occasions 🙂

PorkPieForStarters · 20/08/2024 08:02

Yes, I'm quite a bit younger than you and wish I'd never dyed my hair!

Initially it was just because I wanted it a shade or two darker than my natural colour, then the greys started coming and I felt I had to keep it up, dying every three weeks, with root spray in-between, and alternating between dyeing it myself or going to the hairdresser.

I love it dyed but don't want to be beholden to the dye bottle for the rest of my life, it's so much hassle and expense (or both!). I also really begrudge the idea that we as women are socially-conditioned to hide the fact that we're aging, so I've quit the dye cold turkey and am letting it grow out naturally, though at moment am disguising it a little with powder. I wish I'd started sooner as there'd be less contrast between my natural colour and the dye. It'd going to take years to grow out as my hair's quite long.

I'm in a Facebook group called "The Gray Book - Inspiration for going gray!" which is full of amazing ladies sharing their journey to going grey and tips on care and how they're managing it (cold turkey or tactical dye jobs or whatever). It's a really friendly, encouraging place and they all look amazing, even during the grow-out stage. They seem to glow so much more with their grey hair, it's giving me hope!

All this to say, if you're at this crossroads, it might be worth starting to consider embracing your greys so you can save yourself time and money and hassle. It took me a few more times dyeing it before I was ready to commit, but I feel ready now and, actually, it feels really freeing.

Good luck with your choice!

HorseSnorts · 20/08/2024 11:21

Oh two different reactions.

If I did get it dyed and didn't like it, surely it wouldn't be too dreadful to let it grow and start all over again would it?

OP posts:
PutOnYourRedShoesAndLetsDance · 20/08/2024 11:43

Buy this .. shampoo and conditioner.
My hair has gone grey but this really helps to brighten it and make it look shiny and glossy and less grey.. but more silver.
I use to have highlites.

Hair dye or more highlights
PorkPieForStarters · 20/08/2024 12:38

It's really up to you and what makes you feel best 🙂 I can only share from my experience and my hair's quite dark so there's more contrast with my greys.

Having more highlights which blend with your greys sounds like it would be subtle and should make it easier to grow out less noticeably if you did decide to embrace the greys further down the line. Or you could have a toner put on your roots and lengths instead which is less permanent and fades out over time, though it might not fade completely. If you're unsure, perhaps have a chat with your hairdresser about your options and then take a bit of time to think about it.

I'd definitely recommend that Facebook group in the meantime though, people will be able to share their own experiences and you'll be able to see what others with similar hair to you have done.

tobee · 20/08/2024 14:49

I'm like @PorkPieForStarters but had to stop colouring because of an allergy patch test so no control over it.

I'm using a dry shampoo with colour for the moment which is toning down the white roots. I just look like I've not got my arse in gear to retouch without the dry shampoo.

I also like pork pie for starters; breakfast lunch and dinner

kersh33 · 20/08/2024 19:02

I'm 42 with dark hair but a fair few greys. After dying my hair with semi permanent hair dye for about 6 years, I worked with my hairdresser to embrace the grey!

We went short to get rid of the lengths which were super dark and then put a grey balayage through my dark hair. I now have 5 months of natural grey roots showing and you can't tell at all where the roots stop and my dyed hair finishes. My hairdresser thinks we'll top up the balayage once every 8 months or so to make it look tidier.

To be honest, I love it! The short hair (a long pixie) looks great on me and I love not having to worry about dying my hair or looking at my roots all the time. My DH was very dubious about it but now loves it. I worried I might end up look in a bit old and severe but if anything I think it makes me look younger as looking back the dyed dark hair looked quite ageing on me.

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