To dye or not to dye

I do sometimes go barefaced as it doesn't bother me I have very good skin, it goes with the dyed hair but the remark about not wearing makeup over 60 stunned me too. When I go barefaced or a full face of makeup it's my choice not dictated by what those at work might have thought or whatever. Real freedom is pleasing yourself without a thought as to what others may think

I agree paddyann, and I laughed at “I don’t even put the bins out without my makeup on” because that’s me too!

Have had highlights and lowlights every couple of months for the last 40 years, no way am I stopping.

My dear Mum managed (with my help) to get to the hairdressers so she could have her roots done 4weeks before she went into the Hospice. She always wanted to look the best version of herself.

Thanks for the tip dannii.

By my mid-50’s my hair which in my younger days had been dark chestnut brown, was unevenly streaked with grey and had lost its chestnut tints. I didn’t care as I’d always thought I would ‘go grey gracefully’.
Then DS announced his wedding. I bought a lovely fascinator at the second-hand shop in the village, made with rich antique feathers. I took it home and proudly showed it to MrA, thinking he would be delighted at the large sum of money I’d saved by not buying a new hat.
He took one look and pronounced that it was ok, but that it made my own hair look ‘rather drab’
That was it.
At the same time, I realised that not only was I the oldest person at my place of work, but also the only one who didn’t colour their hair.
That was 12 years ago & I’ve had my hair coloured ever since

I admire people who can be bothered - it just feels pointless to me ☺️ I never went to work without make up, now I am free and never have to wear it again ?

Beau why is there no point in over 60's wearing makeup? That really threw me,I dont even put the bin out without my face on and I'm 64 .I have no intention of going bare faced any time in the forseeable future .

I’ve never felt any urge to dye my hair - I like the grey it is - but I have no objection to anyone else doing so, though I do wonder about the effect that long term use of hair dye has on the system. DD has been dyeing hers since her early thirties to cover increasing premature greying and says she is in no hurry, at 47, to grow it out. She has it done by a good hairdresser.

I’m another one from a family who keep their hair colour to a late age. I’m 78, and my hair is still mostly darkish brown. It has white streaks at the sides, sort of underneath the brown. People think I dye it, but I don’t and wouldn’t. I rather like the white streaks. My 44 year old son says he’s greyer than me.

My father was only partly grey when he died at 94.

My daughter-in-law began to go grey when she was about 40, and she does dye it - so would I have done at that age. It’s beginning to look unnatural now, though, too blonde. It’s really difficult to get dyed hair right. It makes a lot of people look older than they need.

Just to say to those who dye their hair and hate the grey parting when it is growing out - those coloured sprays to cover the grey are amazing. I use the Charles Worthington spray when my roots are showing. Spray after shampooing and don't give it another thought until you wash it again 10/10 from me!!

I used to do mine and was very happy with it. Nice and easy by clairol gave me what I thought was a good colour. Didn’t affect my psoriasis either.
However I got fed up of doing it so stopped last year. I wasn’t sure if I’d like the result but it was easier than I thought and now I love it. White at the front and pepper and salt at the back. I have a really good cut every 6weeks in (I think) an up to date style and I don’t think I look any older at all. Did I mention that I am totally unwrinkled, have a fabulous figure and am immaculately dressed?!!
I think dyed hair that hasn’t been done very well makes some people look older. The very flat, dark hair that one sees quite a lot of. Of course, no one on here would go for that look?

I dye my own hair (couldn’t afford to have it done at the hairdressers, plus the least time sitting in front of a mirror the better for me) .

I keep finding a dye I like and get used to and then they discontinue it which is annoying as I have to try and find something similar. Nothing exciting just as close to my original light brown as I can get.

Frankly I do not give a toss about the pressure by advertisers, magazines, tv, etc, on people to look a particular way, to look younger, with the message that unless you do, you are somehow inferior, letting yourself go. or society will look down on them if they don’t. I colour my hair because I have always loved my natural colour and want to keep it as long as possible.

As another poster observed, the hair of many women with grey/white haired depends as much on the colouring skills of a good hairdresser as those who change the colour. My sister spends far more time and money keeping her grey hair looking immaculate with subtly colouring, highlights and extensions than I do.

I have always dyed my hair. About 2 years ago I suddenlybecame very allergic to hair dye and developed psoriasis all over my body. This is now under control but the only thing I can do now is have some streaks put in making sure that the dye doesn't touch my scalp. I hate the look, grey with a few blondish streaks. I don't think it would be so bad if I had lovely thick hair, but unfortunately mine is thin and limp. I think it's very ageing.

Like many others on here, I've been dying my hair since my early teens and have long since forgotten what my natural colour is or was. I like being able to choose what colour I have and, apart from the dreadful time I decided to go deep red, I've always been pleased with the results. As for the time at the hairdressers being boring or expensive: that couple of hours in the hairdressers chair is the only time I ever get completely to myself and I love it. As for the expense; its my money, I earned it and I'll spend it how I like!

I think it is nice to have a change and, unlike a tattoo, it isn't permanent so no harm done if you don't like the colour.

Highlights are wonderful because you don't get such an obvious problem of regrowth of natural hair colour near the parting.

I think there are plenty of ads with young women sporting wild coloured hair, along with others showing women who are natural (dove ads) with wrinkles, grey hair and a few extra pounds.

I had mine cut and dyed every six weeks at the hairdressers for 20 years or so once I could afford it (did it at home before that) but now I'm no longer working (apart from looking after DGS), I no longer dye it or have it cut, just let it go grey and pin it up. I no longer wear make up either, just can't see the point in the over 60's - I do spend a lot on moisturisers though, I don't mean I want to look like an old hag ?
My natural dark brown hair is now striped blonde and white, which is interesting....

I had the brunette/caramel dye bleached out of my hair on a whim just three days after retiring and two days before my 66th birthday. It was a bit yellow at first, but once that grew out my hair is now silvery white, and I love it! I have it cut well, and I have changed my makeup and the colours I wear to suit it. No more hours spent in the hairdressers, and no more expensive visits either! I have my hair cut every couple of months and pay £30, and I never have to time dyeing visits to fit in with holidays, weddings etc. What’s more, my family say my white hair makes me look younger!

Indeed. I have no dislike of dyed hair or a problem with it, and there is room for everyone, whatever their tastes.

However, there is a heck of a lot of pressure by advertisers, magazines, tv, etc, on people to look a particular way, to look younger, with the message that unless you do, you are somehow inferior, letting yourself go. It’s that that I dislike. Those adverts for women’s hair dye more often than not suggest that being grey is the most terrible thing you can allow yourself to be - that’s how they make their money.
Yes, dyeing hair or not should be personal choice, but I would hazard a guess that there are many out there who have it done because they think society will look down on them if they don’t. That’s the thing that is wrong.?

Just the same as its others' problems if they don't like dyed hair.
There is room for everyone, whatever their tastes.

I did have a period of having a semi permanent colour to cover my greying hair, but as it grows really quickly, I decided it was too expensive to continue. I’ve also come to the conclusion that if people don’t like my greying hair, that’s their problem, not mine.

I'm 69, been colouring at least 40 years and have been just about every shade except black.
By having meshes/streaks/foils the problem of roots is pretty much avoided.
It is such FUN... especially now when it is so easy to have a pink or purple or green slice or two.

My two dgc, dgd is 10 and dgc is 7, are allowed to have fun colours in their hair for school holidays. Dgd has waist length hazel hair and there are pink, purple, green and turquoise colours, it is beautiful. Dgs has green at the top and front, the rest is short, and we call him Kermit.

It's all fun.

Many of the beautiful silver haired older ladies are actually having their hair coloured these gorgeous silver shades, as confirmed by my friend who does this, and by my hairdresser.

Not only is hair dye inexpensive about a fiver a month, it involves no time in the hairdressers because I do it at home. I have my hair cut every four weeeks which costs around 40 quid a month. M y hair is in excellent condition, really healthy and shiny. I have no problem with root regrowth as my hair is spiky with no parting. It grows fast so I couldn't leave it longer than 6 weeks max. between colouring.

Bottle blonds sounds rather disparaging. Each to their own. I think most posters on here are not dyeing to keep a job or stay young looking. Just that they like their hair a certain colour.

Grammaretto dying your hair is not necessarily expensive. I do mine myself with a pack of hair dye from Superdrug. I use a shade lighter than my real colour so that I have colour variation in my hair as if it was natural.

I think it costs about £7 every three or four months. I have no problem with roots as my grey hair is limited to round my face and the under layer of hair at the back.

I am not bothered about looking younger or competing at work. I am just loathe to lose a hair colour I have always loved, until it is absolutely necessary.