Tell me about your hair habits, help a woman out!

[Rainbowdottie]

I'm 50 years old. I've had my hair every colour from bleach blonde to ink black,over all these years.My hair has been dyed either by box or hairdresser since I was 15. I can only remember a period in my very early 30s where I had about 4 years "off"

I've had periods where I've religiously gone to a hairdresser for a long period. In my 20s I did about 10 years with one for hi-lights. I've recently stopped going to current hairdresser of about 8 years doing scalp bleach.

I'm now back to home colouring as I did in covid. Tbh I prefer it. It doesn't irritate my head, I feel the results are the same, of course the price is cheaper, and I like doing it when I please, instead of being tied to a chair.

I would like my hair cut....well "dusted"...but every hairdresser I meet seems to judge me on box dye sigh. I have long hair, I don't want my hair cut often so yes, when they do see it, it is a bit dry and in need of something!! The problem I have also, is that hairdressing seems so "big " these days. Years ago hairdresser didn't care whether you box dyed or not...they cut/coloured/sorted your hair with no care of the history of it...toners were used as a correction not as a necessary step! (Toners wash out on me in like 2 washes!)

I'm half tempted to go back to hi-lights but oh my! The cost! I'm loathed to pay someone to do an all over tint.....oh what to do!

Tell me what you do and the pros and cons of it!
Do you go to a hairdresser, do you box dye, do you not care about your hair, do you enjoy the experience of a hairdresser (or not!)
Talk to me about your hair,your cost,your experience and your habits (please 🙏)

I learned to cut my own hair during COVID and have not gone back. I really only suit one hairstyle and it's easy enough to do myself. For shorter hair I probably wouldn't do it myself but long hair is easy to maintain. I just put a reminder in my phone every six weeks, I take a minimal amount off and that keeps hair really healthy. Every three to four months I'll give it a shaping cut.

I have a few stray greys which wouldn't bother me except they're more blonde than grey. I'm still trying to figure out the right approach but I already know I'm not heading to a hairdresser for it and will happily play amateur colourist at home. I don't like the hours spent there either bored to tears or having to chit chat about holidays and I echo your feelings that it feels like if you're not there to get all the works done they treat you as an annoyance. Granted, I've never enjoyed going to hairdressers, it feels much less a chore to do it myself and my hair is healthier for it as I don't put off making appointments.

I dye mine myself. I'm early 40's I tried highlights but the upkeep was expensive. I prefer my hair darker and it's easy to top up my roots and hairline to cover the few greys I have.

I box dye it all every few months to freshen up the ends.

I have it cut a few times a year. They don't comment on me dying it myself (if they did I would go elsewhere).

I use a deep conditioner a few times a week and hair oil on the ends.

Like you, I hadn’t seen my natural colour for 35 plus years. Mostly done at the hairdresser, the occasional box dye when I was on my uppers.

When Covid came, I decided to leave it. I expected a glam silver mane. After all, those greys all around my hairline meant I’d gone completely grey, right?

In fact, after chopping it all off into a pixie, which I’d not had since my 20’s because I’m quite fat, and I’d look terrible with short hair (honestly, the shit we tell ourselves!) I found that not only did I look fabulous, I wasn’t that grey at all.

As it has grown out, it has revealed itself as streaky silver and a rather nice reddish brown. I love it and I won’t dye it again.

I now get a trim a couple of times a year, don’t over wash, and condition well, topped up with Dr Pawpaw spray stuff.

Mid 40s now, been colouring my hair since my mid teens starting with a bad experience with Sun-In then just going to the hairdressers after that, alternating full head/t-section/half head highlights.
Used to go about every 12 weeks apart from pregnancy and Covid, but have only been 2-3 times in the last year as I’ve suffered quite a bit of hair loss in the past 3 years which I think is hormonal but I thought I’d just reduce the colouring anyway.

Id like a bit of a change, maybe go a bit darker but im not sure what to ask for so will probably just have my usual 🙄

Bleach fried my hair a decade ago and I had to have it cut really short.

Since then I've been really restless, dying it and cutting it short, over and over. Not helped by post pregnancy sheds.

I decided to grow it a few years ago amd aim for hair health. I have finally cut out the last of the dye and I am determined not to cut, dye, tint, whatever, until its grown long and I'm ready to cut it all off again. I'm taking supplements, hair oiling, covering my hair at night, everything. My focus is on hair health.

Hairdresser-wise, I'm not going often. Cpuple of times a year. Inbetween I'm trimming at home every so often with proper scissors. Id love to have it styled because its unshaped at the moment and a really blah but I'm finally past a tricky length and can't face having it cut and going through it again.

So yeah, hair health and minimal processing is where I'm at.

I think it depends where you go.

I've gone to a few busy, city centre type salons that are full of stylists who are keen to make a name for themselves and have walls of awards and certificates but I've also visited a lot of lovely, low key salons which are staffed by older women who are much less busy and rushed.

These salons tend to be rather unglamorous and located near corner shops! But they are so homely! And much cheaper and understanding that not everyone wants the latest technique or a New Money cut and colour 😆

I box dye but get it cut at a hairdresser. She doesnt say anything about the dye.

I don't particularly enjoy getting my hair cut but don't hate it either. It's not an expensive salon and nobody seems ti judge the state of my hair, but if they do, I just ignore it.

I’m in my fifties with long silvery hair. I look after it really well, and wouldn’t box dye it.

Some roots are still quite dark though I’m a natural blonde (grey niw!) so I get them bleached and then a toner over it all. Modern bleach and toners means this causes minimal damage. I keep it trimmed so no witchy ends.

I go every couple of months, maybe bit longer, and it costs £86.

I use good shampoo and conditioner. Wash twice a week, blow dry it abd straighten it. If it’s yellowy I do a toner.

I have long curly hair that I didn’t know I had.
Ive always had it cut short and dyed blonde.
Then when I hit 50 I said no more dye and I’m going to grow it.
My hair is now long length, curly and a lovely silver colour that people think is highlights. .
I cut it myself as don’t trust hairdressers.
and I must have saved so much money on home hair dyes too.

I gave up hair dye during covid, I've been a rainbow of colours in the past and frankly couldn't be arsed with the upkeep!
Luckily I'm in my mid 40's and only a few strands of grey so far, I may as well enjoy the natural colour as it's free.
I used to enjoy the pampering at hairdressers but since covid it doesn't seem the same plus prices have skyrocketed, if I do have a rare proper cut I go to the local college as it's cheap as chips 😁

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied so far. It's so interesting to hear all our different experiences. Tbh I've never thought or investigated my hair as much and I'm pretty sure that's tiktok and all the hair videos I watch! Years ago I had ny hair "done" and forgot all about it, until it needing doing again! I do however look back on photos and think my hair was "better" when I was at a regular hairdresser, which is kinda making me want to go back somewhere......then on the other hand I do buy into if you want healthy long hair, leave it alone!!!! 😱😬😃

I'm definitely buying into the more dated hairdresser theory. I like that idea. Maybe that's what I need to find. All the salons I've looked at or go into,have all pretty much as you've said....all about balyage, money pieces, and big big prices. I want something sustainable.

On a separate note, I'd love my hair to be grey....and its just not!!! My eyebrows are...and I was sure my hair wouldn't be far behind it....but as yet,it's just not happened! Grey would so help me out growing out a scalp bleach!

What I did to help was to get loads of highlights

I get a professional cut, colour 2 or 3 times a year, do a box dye (mainly roots, 2 shades lighter as I have the fear of going witchy) in between, and the hairdresser comments, so I’m going to sack her :) (it’s honestly very good, I’m very pleased with the results and I have in down pat)
I also get a treatment every 4 months at another salon which is a bloody game changer. Hyrolonic acid. Hair is healthiest it’s ever been. Spendy but worth it.
actually, that hairdresser was talking about people who box dyed (not referring to mine) and was being very judgy. I stood up for all d.i.yers, saying there had to be some compromise, who has money to go every 2 months and spend 100s?
on top of all the other beauty maintenance I have to go to look less ogre like!

This is my issue, I know I should have more confidence....but the minute a hairdresser slags off the box dye, I'm like meh 🙄😒🥱. Because all in honesty, everything in my life has gone up. Literally. Petrol, bills, gas, electric, food, every insurance, holiday, takeaway, subscription...everything. even the luxury of nails, hair and waxing. Yes I want a service....but I don't want to be silly about it....nor feel the huge weight of judgement on a handful of box dyes a year! 😱

I am always doing something to my hair but my hairdresser of 10 ish years wouldn't ever be so rude as to comment. It's totally your business.

Personally I think there are hairdressers that are better at cutting and hairdressers better at colour (including keeping up to date with all the new techniques). I guess try and find the former so they aren't itching to get their hands on it.

On a separate note, I'd love my hair to be grey....and its just not!!!

I waited impatiently for my hair to go grey and then gave up; at 61 I have a white blonde buzz cut (the cut takes 10 mins, the colour 2hrs!) which I love.

I'm 65 and have never dyed my hair. I have a pixie cut now, I haven't had it long since I was a child, and it wasn't very long then. It's wavy/curly and I get it cut every eight weeks - I do enjoy going to the hairdresser. It's easy to maintain, I wash, condition, and that's it. In the morning I might run my fingers through it, but generally don't have to do anything. It's sort of salt and peppery but my hair is a nondescript light brown anyway (although a hairdresser many years ago called it caramel ash).

I’m 60 I got so sick of frizz in my face that I bought some clippers and have gone pixie or more skinhead actually. It’s feels so good and has taken years off. So much easier.

During COVID I stopped having my hair coloured, as we had to. I liked the silvery colour it went and haven't had it coloured since. I had it cut once last y year, and I couldn't believe my hairdresser was charging £86 for a cut and finish. For reference my hair is 22 inch extensions, rod straight and I wanted a trim. Sid that I went to a salon junior who took two hours, bless her to trim it and it was £30 including tip.

For colour I use the Revlon glazes from Amazon which gives my hair a gorgeous shine. I went chestnut yesterday and it lasts about 8 weeks, so semi permanent