How much grey hair at 40?

[Greyowl7]

I have just turned 40 and have gone from practically zero grey hair to this in a couple of months.

Is this excessive at 40? It's all I can see and I hate how wiry they are.

I know it seems like an easy fix as I could just dye it but I've never dyed my hair in my life and don't feel ready to start yet.

Any ways I can disguise it for a little longer? I use the Plantur39 brown shampoo already but am not sure it makes any difference.

Or maybe if the condition was better (less wire-y/stickout) I would mind them less?

These, absolutely great and cheap too, I use it once a week and leave on for half an hour or so.

I was totally grey at 40

You've hardly got any greys. A few sticky out ones, hardly a significant proportion of the rest of your hair.

Im 45. Am about 30% grey maybe? All through but with one proper badger stripe down one side. Tied up today but you can see the coverage.

Would a change of parting help? All (well, most) my greys are down my centre parting.
I put dye on my hair once when I realised I had a few greys. I hated how it smelt for weeks, even though I washed it daily, and the root regrowth at 4 weeks was ridiculous. I haven’t done it again, I’d rather go grey!

Maybe more like 50% now from that photo. Hard to say. Not bothered about it enough to look that carefully very often.

Wow that’s early, did you have really dark hair?

Pretty dark, you can see the photo. Noticed first ones about 25ish I guess.

I use the colour effects conditioners too, they tone it down a bit (most of mine are at my parting or underneath so not too visible unless hair is up). I stick it on in the shower once a week then shave, exfoliate etc before washing it off again.

I'm 41 and about 70% grey.

The average age to grey for women is 35. It's completely normal to have quite a lot of grey hair by 40. It's just that most women dye it so we aren't accustomed to seeing younger faces with grey hair.

I’m 43 and have been completely grey for well over a decade (if I didn’t dye it). Natural hair colour is a very dark brown, so there’s no hiding those roots!

That makes sense, I knew some girls who had white streaks in their hair at secondary school and some lads with grey in their 20s, all black hair

I have no idea how grey I am …dye it regularly. Wish I didn’t but the way is a horrible grey colour and sticks up curly - means I’m not ready yet to let it be.

I started having the a few but all around my face - through my hair I didn’t have a lot till around 40.

My sil is about 70% grey she rocks it as it grows through her hair lovely (she has black hair) she is 42.

My husband starting going grey around 27/28. My daughters are waiting to see if they take after me or their dads side of the family!

Thank you all, I will give the Colour Effects conditioner a try. The Plantur39 shampoo is drying my scalp out and making it dandruff-y so it's not ideal.

My mum had very black hair and went grey quite young so I was wondering if I'd inherited premature greying.

Somewhat reassuring to hear it's normal, i think @Dellomana nailed it, I have an incorrect perception that I'm the only one going grey because the majority probably just dye it.

How often do you have to dye it once you start?

I'm really grey at early thirties. I've gone for grey blending with high and low lights. It's been great for me I just look blonde essentially and means in not doing re growth every 2 weeks.

Me too. I was as grey as OP at 21.

I got my first greys at 23, so to get to 40 and only just get them now- you are doing well! I have no idea how much grey I have now, but at least 50% I'd guess.

I did try a shampoo with colouring in it, but it stained my fingers and nails, so wear gloves!

I know you don't want colour just yet, but if/when you do, I use casting colours which is a semi. Unlike a permanent colour, I don't get a harsh line as it grows out. I have dark brown hair (other than ALL the greys now) but I buy a colour several shades lighter, otherwise it comes out too dark.

I was doing great until I had two kids in my 40s so now have more white hair than I'd like! I have never dyed my hair either but I use Infuse My Colour shampoo which builds up a nice natural looking colour. I spotted Glaze Supergloss in Super drug which looks like it could be good for undyed hair too.

I must be lucky. I have counted/ seen 5. Am 44;)

Wow, I feel lucky. I turned 50 last year and haven't had even one yet. My Mum was 60 before she got her first grey hair so I am hoping I take after her. 🙃

A lot of my friends my age are completely grey. I'm 41 but I don't have any on my head but I have a few white eyebrow hairs, that look a bit mental as my eyebrows are dark! 😂

It's genetics, my mum is 77 and has only a few grey hairs. My grandad (her dad) never went grey.

I think I’ve got quite a lot but I just keep dying it so not quite sure how bad it would be if I left it for any length of time

Similar, I have none yet and my mum was 65, she was still very brown when she died at 80. But we all have blonde/light brown hair

I'm blonde and so was Mum. She started to change and go a lovely silvery grey when she hit about 60 and her hair was like a platinum blonde/light grey. Her grey was really attractive so I am hoping that I take after her!!

I started going grey in my late 50s. I now have a silver band at the front of my hair but the back is still it's natural colour with no grey at all.