Gransnet forums

Chat

To dye or not to dye

(120 Posts)
Grammaretto Wed 15-Aug-18 15:39:48

After listening to Woman's Hour recently and a debate about whether to keep dyeing greying hair I noticed it was all about looks and trying to look younger in a cut throat world of work.
Nobody mentioned the effect on the water of all those tons of hair dye chemicals.
Personally I don't dye my hair and I dislike what I see as "bottle blondes"
These are older women with yellow heads .
I'd be interested to hear some of your views. My Dil already dyes her hair and she's 30 years younger than me.

Blue45Sapphire Fri 17-Aug-18 16:12:06

Oh, I could not bear to go grey! I am 70+ and have been colouring my hair for the last 20 years. I go every 6 to 8 weeks to have my roots done and on alternate appointments I have a few blonde highlights put in. My hairdresser made a mistake once and forgot to book me in for my roots and I came home and cried because I was so grey! I booked in again for the next day and had them done!

FlexibleFriend Fri 17-Aug-18 15:59:50

Does it really matter whether it's extravagant, vain or whatever it's our hair and our money to spend as we see fit and if what we spend it on makes us feel good isn't that all that really matters? I have every intention of indulging myself however I see fit until I turn up my toes.

Craftycat Fri 17-Aug-18 15:24:09

Been dyeing my hair since I was 14 & got suspended from school for it. To be fair it was purple!
Now I get it highlighted by a hairdresser & have no intention of stopping. Vanity? Yes probably but I like it so why not?

EthelJ Fri 17-Aug-18 15:17:11

I dye my hair and have done for many years. I'm not sure what my natural colour is now but I suspect a dirty grey. I think grey hair looks lovely on some people but it's just not me.
My daughter also has highlights in her hair not because she is gong grey but because she likes it and it makes her feel better.
I don't think I am a bottle blonde. My hair is dyed light brown with highlights .

It is quite expensive but I enjoy my visits to the hairdressers. I always take my Kindle and I see it as a bit of me time. I'm not extravagant in any other way, so I see dyeing myhair as my luxury.

Riverwalk Fri 17-Aug-18 15:11:34

Jenni123 the students have done a lovely job - your hair looks very healthy and stylish. smile

Marie888 Fri 17-Aug-18 15:08:46

I gave up dying my hair when I realised that it was so bad for the environment. I now make my own soap and shampoo bars cleaning products etc because of the impact it has on our waterways and health

Magicmaggie Fri 17-Aug-18 15:00:42

I shall dye until I die?

Luckylegs Fri 17-Aug-18 14:09:43

I’m another one who has no intention of going grey for the foreseeable. It costs me a fortune but I thoroughly enjoy relaxing in the salon, I love my colour and cut and I know it would age me if I stopped. I’m honey/blondish/caramel colours in highlights and everyone admires it. My slight worry is I do hope Grammaretto doesn’t let her DIL know that she disapproves of her colouring her hair! A recipe for in law problems right there, don’t be so disapproving and miserable!

GrannyGravy13 Fri 17-Aug-18 13:54:40

Oops not legend wax I meant leg and eyebrow wax.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 17-Aug-18 13:54:07

This is sort of hair related!

I went to the 'beauticians' yesterday, for a manicure/pedicure and legend eyebrow wax. Told husband several times where I was going. It was raining heavily I had got soaked twice, on my return husband said she has done your hair really nice this time!!!

Makes me think how awful it must look when I actually go,to the hairdressers ??????

Theoddbird Fri 17-Aug-18 13:51:25

I dye my white hair metallic silver. Have to say I love the fact that my hair looks dyed grey...hahaha

sharon103 Fri 17-Aug-18 13:47:45

paddyann, DoraMarr, me too. lol Putting the face on is the first job of the day for me. I have been colouring my hair since I was 13. At that time I used Harmony, and Hint of a Tint if anyone remembers them. I have always loved the plum coloured hair dye but haven't ever found the courage to use it. I hope you are all taking the advantage of the senior citizens discount at the hairdressers for the over 60's.

pollyperkins Fri 17-Aug-18 13:12:38

Well we all do what we like don't we? It's our choice. We are not all alike.

maryrose54 Fri 17-Aug-18 12:51:46

Oh dear Summer,I used that embraced word!!

maryrose54 Fri 17-Aug-18 12:50:57

I used to have highlights until it got to the stage where they didnt show up anymore,so I embraced my now natural white hair which I keep in a short style. Several people have said how lucky I am to have white hair rather than salt and pepper. It certainly doesnt make me feel old.

SummerJ Fri 17-Aug-18 12:41:23

Just had mine done this morning and chuffed to bits! Roots coloured, hair layered and well cut (shoulder length) and highlighted through the layers. My natural hair colour is now probably silver/grey but I have absolutely no intention of ‘embracing’ that colour. How I hate the term ‘embracing’! People can look amazing with their peppered greys but it’s not for me! I consider the money well spent and will continue with this extravagance until I believe it looks ‘wrong’. Hopefully when I’m on my last legs!

keffie Fri 17-Aug-18 12:40:06

Always coloured my hair even before I needed too. I won't grow older gracefully (boring it would be for me)

Yes I am still gracefully wild. I don't do mutton dressed as lamb though. I am a colourful dresser, quirky with a bit of vintage style at times and wild. I can do it. Not everyone can.

I shall continue to be. In the words of Bob Dylan "Forever Young"

blue60 Fri 17-Aug-18 12:11:25

I'm naturally blonde, and used to have my hair highlighted. I've stopped now, as the silver that's coming through looks quite good and enhances the blonde I have left.

Slowly, I'm turning away from chemicals and using natural products as far as possible, especially soaps, shampoos etc (I buy these from LUSH) as my skin has become more sensitive in the last couple of years.

mabon1 Fri 17-Aug-18 12:09:40

I am 77 years of age have never dyed my hair and don't intend to either, people say I look about 60 so it's not ageing on me, mind you perhaps it's all in the genes. Lucky me.

gulligranny Fri 17-Aug-18 11:57:48

I always had fairly nondescript hair until it started to silver-up about 20 years ago when it gave me lovely highlights. It's now silver all over and I love it - it's short and spiky and really suits me; I wear makeup and colourful clothes and jewellery and far from making me feel and look old it seems to have had the opposite effect.

Madbird Fri 17-Aug-18 11:46:26

?I have virtually no hair so wear a wig, have done so for the last seven years....the colour depends on my mood at the time?

Emelle Fri 17-Aug-18 11:39:54

I decided to let my hair go it's natural silver about six months ago. It seemed pointless being careful about the food I ate and the skin and make up products I used when I was still using 'nasties' on my hair. I have found a shampoo that is vegetable based and am really loving experimenting with blues, pinks and any combination of them. The money I save on colouring my hair I use to have my it cut more frequently.

Jaycee5 Fri 17-Aug-18 11:31:47

My hair is muddy blonde now which I am not particular keen on but it started thinning a few years ago and I don't want to make it worse. Regaine did reverse it fairly well but I don't want to undo the benefit.
Grey hair does suit many people but not everyone and looking good can help to ward off depression.
It is a good point that there are enough chemicals going into our rivers and oceans and there is usually a lot of plastic involved so I can feel good about not doing it but I can't honestly say that that is the reason.

Grammaretto Fri 17-Aug-18 11:15:50

I seem to have touched a couple of raw nerves with the expression "bottle blonde " I am sorry to cause any offence. It was really to distinguish a hard peroxide look from a natural colour. I am quite old so in 1966 I was a hippy flower child with long flowing locks . Now it is short and grey with a few brown bits, unfortunately not white.

Where I live it is almost obligatory to have blonde hair and tanned skin if you are female of mature years. I am digging myself deeper now.....wink
I love the variety of skin and hair shades and wish there wasn't so much pressure to conform.
Someone reminded me of the long-term effect of chemicals into the bloodstream of hair dye too so go for it Emma Thompson!.

leeds22 Fri 17-Aug-18 11:08:35

'Bottle' blonde here too. Actually pretty much my original colour when young and I'm not about to go grey. My real colour now appears to be a motley selection of greys and browns and a bit of red, so no thank you.
My mother was a 'blonde' until she went into a home at 85 and they let it grow out - she was a lovely silver white, so maybe when I get to that stage .....