What does everyone think of grey hair?

[SilverDoublet]

Over the last 2 years I grew out my hair, it's quite grey but I just couldn't handle the regrowth reappearing every 3 weeks and didn't have time or money to deal with it. My hair was quite dark so I had been dying it dark brown. But now it's pure white in places, salt and pepper on top and still dark underneath. I asked a hair dresser if I should go blonde to hide regrowth but she said Im too dark. And I can't stand the regrowth with brunette. What do people think of grey? Or what does everyone else with hair like this do? I'm 45, don't like looking so old...

I've had a lot of thoughts about this.

I have thought that coloured hair on women is a bit like coloured bathroom suites (bear with me hear... I am going somewhere with this...!).

So sometime in the early-mid 20th century, it became possible not only for most/all women to permanently dye their hair, but also for most people to acquire coloured bathroom suites.

We then as a society got very very used to seeing both coloured bathroom suites and dyed hair on women - both of which were a novelty on the whole to society, and a marketing success.

Over time we have got tired of the coloured bathroom suites. Apart from fairly niche suppliers now, the days of avocado or champagne porcelain in every bathroom are over. It can easily look grubby and tired, and it's difficult to maintain if one thing breaks. I think that in the whole of history, coloured bathroom suites will be seen as a novel blip.

Same with women with coloured hair. Obviously there will always be women that will. But it will, I am sure, also become less of the norm, as women just get fed up with roots, and orange/green hues, and putting harsh chemicals on their skin.

I can't believe the PPs who say that grey hair can be a 'stripy, patchy mess'. Maybe if you are comparing it to the adjacent colour at the growing out stage, but stripes are actually natural highlights are they not?

I can't wait until a time where women, whatever their complexion, focus on healthy and easy-to-maintain hair and skin. Nothing looks better on a woman IMO in terms of hair/appearance, than a good hair style, healthy glowing skin, and most of all a smile that reaches the eyes.

Yes. Disconnected excerpts that You’ve joined together in some attempt to form a narrative.

Just as I can take from your post your words:
‘Caring about your appearance means colouring your hair’

and make up some narrative that this is what you believe. But I wouldn’t do that. Because I can comprehend.

That sounds awesome. Bet you look great.

Men definitely feel the pressure to maintain their hair- look at hair transplants and caffeine shampoos for men - Alpecin even have a Tour de France team which is a huge advertising investment.

I agree women are under more pressure to stay young but I certainly remember several male friends going bald in their 20s and being pretty unhappy about it.

SoMuchLego - I like a coloured bathroom suite and decent quality vintage ones are quite a fashion statement right now!

If you go grey, you need a good haircut. I’m curly and would look like a Nan if I went grey. My friend with a grey asymmetric Bob looks fantastic.

I've been thinking about this. It does occur to me (and I'm sorry if someone's already said this) that half the reason people, including women, think that grey hair makes women look 60+ regardless of their age is that most women haven't tended to allow their grey to show until they were around that age. I think that as more women elect to let their hair do its thing earlier, it will be less ageing.

But also, I'm not sitting in a chair in foils for four hours and £200 because some randoms on the internet think I'll look ten years old than I am if I don't!

I'm really surprised and saddened by so many comments on this thread about women looking 'older' with grey hair. Older than what? A person is not just the colour of their hair. Why does anyone care? Women have been conditioned to hide their grey hair and haven't been 'allowed' to show society what nature gave them on the top of their head. It's the most natural thing in the world to just 'be' grey, be natural. At 55, I've only been growing my grey hair out for a year but am absolutely loving being authentically me. Do I look older than 55? Maybe, but that's ok. I look like ME, this is what nature gave me. This is what me at 55 looks like. I grew up in a household where the first sign of grey was covered with dye, so I obliged, thinking this was expected/ the norm for all women. The only thing I regret is waiting until I reached 54 to

My mum, 72, a slave to dying her roots, and who said she would go to her grave with dyed hair, has now surprisingly stopped doing her roots when she saw how natural and lovely grey hair can be. She loves her natural hair! I'm no oil painting, I don't dress to impress, I don't have a sleek hair cut, nor do I wear 'a pop of red lipstick' as many advise when going grey, but I walk with confidence, pulling my hair back to show off my silver and am loving giving myself the opportunity to be me. Oh, and I even spray some silver sparkle in my hair for nights out and have NEVER been complimented on my hair like this in my life. It's not brave to allow the grey to grow through. It's life.

Can't edit, but meant to say, I regret waiting until I was 54 to allow my hair to be natural.

You won't regret it 😀

I'm 45, with full on shoulder length grey hair. I like the lack of maintenance and stress about roots and saving money (for things more important to me, like my children's education and house deposits), but sometimes feel a bit 'less than' around my peers, particularly the ones who naturally have barely any grey. Like why have I aged so fast and no one else has? Now my face is starting to droop and wrinkle and it's a fairly depressing combo. All I can do is try to dress ok, difficult for someone who is fashion phobic, and wear a smile, but not an inane grin, need to appear intelligent. And not too much of a smile, cos then the crows feet are out in force.... Can't help thinking I wouldn't worry about those things if I dyed it.

What is the silver spray? I love your attitude!!

I have grey hair on the sides (I'm 41) and the best thing my hairdresser said to me was to get highlights! That was it all blends in together and I don't have to worry about complete hair dyes and having to panic book an appointment when it starts coming through again.

It's just a cheap own brand from Superdrug called Silver shimmer spray. It's on the shelf near the hair toners (you'd think they are trying to tempt you back to the hair colouring) 🤔I have also used an old bottle of body shimmer spray (no longer available so hanging on to it for dear life). As long as it's non oily, if it shimmers/ sparkles, I'll use on my hair.

I love grey hair. I wish mine was greyer, but I just have few strands at almost 46. My younger sister is almost entirely white now and it looks amazing. In her case I don't think it makes her look older at all but I'm not objective, to me she still looks like a baby.
Anyway, I don't see the issue with looking your age.

How old is your sister? Was she brunette? Just curious....

There are two sisters on Fake or Fortune this week with fabulous grey and white hair. I've no idea how old they are but they remember their dad buying the painting in 1989 for their mum's 50th birthday. So I'd guess they were born mid-70s. They certainly don't look older than their probable ages.

My issue with going grey is that it completely washes me out. I did my roots yesterday and my face is just instantly brighter, less makeup needed etc… I think if I had darker eyes and skin tone I would be much happier to embrace it!

I’ve come to the conclusion that you need to wear make up all the time with grey hair. I don’t!

I would say most white 50+ women with dyed brunette or auburn hair also look pretty washed out without makeup.

Definitely!

I've never heard a man described as looking "washed out".

And yet, they mostly are.

Have a think about the celeb men in their 50s, 60s who are generally considered to be good looking and ageing well. They either have naturally darker or warmer complexions or they're sporting a tan, or quite possibly makeup if photographed.

It's just what happens as we age, if Causasian and not very olive skinned - our complexions get more flat and dull looking.