Gransnet forums

Health

To dye or not to dye?

(65 Posts)
Jane10 Tue 03-Feb-15 17:39:15

There are some very glamorous GNers with silver hair. You know who you are!

harrigran Tue 03-Feb-15 17:30:04

If your hair is uniformly silver I would not be worried about colouring it. My hair, if untreated, is a horrible pepper and salt so I have mine dyed every few weeks. I started colouring it after a man insulted me in a bar, he was talking to my friend and referred to me as her mother ( she is 3 years younger than me ) when informed I was not her mother he said 'well you look old enough to be' angry

Leah11 Tue 03-Feb-15 17:01:40

And that is where you are right, Mishap. I think my confidence has been zapped. My husband always said I had a young face and liked my silver hair. We had a lovely relationship and he was everything to me. I was widowed, what a horrible word, five years ago. He was only 58.

annodomini Tue 03-Feb-15 16:58:04

Try telling Judi Dench that grey hair is ageing!

Mishap Tue 03-Feb-15 16:54:31

Well - I think this is an issue of self-confidence, and you should not let anyone tell you how you should look. Hold your head high and enjoy your lovely silver hair!

Riverwalk Tue 03-Feb-15 16:50:58

Young uns can be brutally honest grin

Leah11 Tue 03-Feb-15 16:49:10

Perhaps I should qualify my remarks, the criticism, if that is what it is, although kindly meant, is coming from people much younger than me.

Riverwalk Tue 03-Feb-15 16:44:44

I saw some pics of Julie Walters recently - can't remember where.

She looked lovely with grey, pixie/spikey hair .... not too pixie/spikey but fresh and lively looking, if you get my drift!

janerowena Tue 03-Feb-15 16:43:33

Maybe you just need some colour on your face, as many women, to me, looked washed out. The ones who seem to carry it off successfully have a bit of colour to their skin, whether applied or natural. A head of silver can be beautiful, though. I have several friends with the most beautiful silver or white hair.

Leah11 Tue 03-Feb-15 16:40:09

Thank you for your reply Riverwalk. I go to the Hairdressers regularly and am told that I dress elegantly. It is always good to have a new style, and I shall probably do this. There is a freedom in not colouring your hair, and I am lucky in the fact that it is all one colour. However, it is aging.

Riverwalk Tue 03-Feb-15 16:31:54

Maybe you need it re-styling Leah - google grey-haired celebrities and see if there's something you like!

Don't colour if you're allergic to the chemicals.

Leah11 Tue 03-Feb-15 16:27:28

Thank you for the reply Tanith. It is how I originally thought. However, my Aunt has just had her 80th Birthday, dancing away, and her hair is naturally still dark. My friends and adult children think I have a youngish face, and that my hair is aging. Having a "blip" smile

janerowena Tue 03-Feb-15 16:24:55

I only know of Natur Vital, but haven't tried it myself. My sister swears by Naturtint, which contains the minimum amount of PPD that will still give a reasonable grey coverage. She says she has to leave it on for a longer time, but then her hair is quite coarse. She doesn't get the reaction from it that she had from garnier Nutrisse for example, of burning itching sensation.

My MiL looks 20 years younger when she puts a colour rinse on her hair, just a temporary one. Casting? But says she can't be faffed.

tanith Tue 03-Feb-15 16:21:30

Leah11 I am 67 and stopped hi-lighting my hair a while ago and love my silver hair.. what a shame you are being made to feel uncomfortable with your silver hair. Sorry I don't have any info on a safe dye I just think its a shame to go back to having to dye it . I have got to the stage where I don't give a stuff if people think its aging , I love it and as long as it looks shiny and healthy I don't think its aging and never intend on changing my colour again.

Leah11 Tue 03-Feb-15 16:13:54

Hi. I am 65 and have let my hair go silver, as I am allergic to the PPD found in most hair colorants. However, I am constantly being told that it is aging and that I would look much younger with my hair coloured. Indeed, my Grandchildren think I am the oldest of their Grandmothers, because the other is "blonde". Does anyone have any news of a safe hair dye, as I am beginning to feel that they are right, and perhaps I am looking older than I need to?