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Style & beauty

Grey hair and make up

(47 Posts)
borstalgran Thu 30-May-13 12:01:27

Decided to take plunge and let hair go grey - starting this pm with blending in and a sharp cut. I think I need to change my make up too so it looks up to date. Anyone been anywhere for advice; anyone find orange-faced, scary women in make up depts who could help?

Grannyknot Thu 30-May-13 12:16:27

H borstal good luck with going grey! Best thing I ever did. My hair became instantly healthier.

Re the make up ladies - I've twice recently gone for a "free make up lesson" because son's wedding is coming up and I thought I should do something! I went to Mac and then I went to Bobbi Brown (on different occasions). Both times lovely young women who were patient and understanding that I didn't want to look like a mask of myself, worked miracles (especially on my skin tone) with mineral powder and brushes and other wonder workers e.g. under eye reflecting thingies (I don't "do" eye shadow or dark lipstick"). So my suggestion is head for the young 'uns marketing the 'younger' brands, they'll not scare you off.

tanith Thu 30-May-13 12:23:52

Good to start off your 'grey' with a good cut borstalgran, also the best thing I ever did about 7yrs ago.. no more touching up and hi-lighting..grin

Can't help re the make-up plan though I only do eye pencil and mascara I never could bear foundation or anything other than a lip-gloss. I'm sure you'll find a nice helpful girl as Grannyknot says , after all they are they to sell and making you happy with your makeup is a good start.

Butty Thu 30-May-13 12:33:36

Love my grey hair. As you hair changes, you'll soon find a new way with whatever make-up you wish to use. You'll know when it looks right.

I started off by having a good cut, and keeping it cut until it was mostly grown out - and that was quite some years ago. It's now past shoulder length, and am very happy with it. I'm sure your hair will feel all the better for it, as gk says.

AlieOxon Thu 30-May-13 12:39:47

I grew mine out from brown over last winter, and wore a hat outside in public.....then had a good cut from a little woman down the road.........I am very shy in hairdressers and this is private! Just had it cut again.
(My oldest grandson said he hardly recognised me!)

Now I'm a lot more confident, I find. The only make up I have is an eyebrow pencil, as they have faded and I like just a little touch up - not large and black, but longer and brown.

Personally I think older women mostly look better without makeup?

Movedalot Thu 30-May-13 13:28:36

When should we go grey? I have a smattering of grey hair and one small patch that is very grey. Would I look like a badger if I stopped colouring? At the moment I colour it lighter than my natural shade and when it starts to grow through it looks very dark except in this grey chunk on the side of my head!

tanith Thu 30-May-13 13:39:45

I made that decision when I could see that my hair was more grey than brown.. I never regretted it but it did take a while to grow out which wasn't my most attractive periodgrin.. I agree AlieOxon I also think older woman look more attractive with the 'less is more' attitude to make-up but I know many will not agree with us.

Marelli Thu 30-May-13 14:31:19

I stopped using dye (blonde) on mine when I realised that when it grew in, there was no difference! It's now white, and after having had it all lengths, I'm now happy to have it longer and wear it up with a clip. I wear only a bit of kohl liner on lower lid and mascara. Also a smear of lipstick. My skin is really quite sensitive, so I only use Diprobase on my face, which smells horrible, but it's the only thing that works for me (I just hope that the smell goes away after a while) grin.

Movedalot Thu 30-May-13 14:38:37

I think some older women can look great with makeup, it just needs to be appropriate. I feel the same about bridal make up, less can be more.

Ella46 Thu 30-May-13 14:40:37

I stopped having blonde highlights, which cost a fortune, for the same reason Marelli. I love it now, it's silvery and still looks as though it's highlighted, and I get a lot of compliments.
I still wear make-up as I look like a corpse without it grin

Galen Thu 30-May-13 14:49:22

I went white young and have never tried to conceal it.

Sook Thu 30-May-13 15:53:18

I stopped having my hair dyed brown over two years ago it was messy growing the colour out but I had regular trims and coped with it. My now shoulder length hair is pepper and salt with broad silver streaks in the front. Yes I suppose some might compare me to a badger but surprisingly I do get a lot of compliments about how nice it looks. My hair is very thick with a natural wave and it's in better condition now than it was when it was dyed. I have now found a style that I like and when I have plucked up courage I will go to a decent hairdressers and have it styled. I positively hate hairdressers!!!!

The only make up I've ever used regularly is mascara and a touch of lipstick. My fair skin is much paler now and I can look as if I've just been dug up, so I went off to my local Boots and had a foundation matched to my skin colour. I have to say it was one of my better ideas and it looks totally natural but nicer. I've recently had my almost non existent eyebrows tinted and I'm really pleased with the result.

Ella46 I think your hair is gorgeous.

Butty Thu 30-May-13 15:56:46

Move Just when you're ready. smile. Why not try it for a while, and if you hate it - out with the lightener again.

Ella46 Thu 30-May-13 15:56:53

sook Thank you smile, I wish I had some eyebrows to get tinted grin

Butty Thu 30-May-13 15:59:25

Ella Just checked it out. Yep, your looks lovely. smile

Great pic.

Butty Thu 30-May-13 16:00:23

Yep, your..hair...looks lovely!

Ella46 Thu 30-May-13 16:03:46

grin thanks

whenim64 Thu 30-May-13 16:11:06

Ella I would love to have hair that is your colour. Mine just goes mousey and dull, so on go the highlights again. My sister's hair is now a natural ash, and my friend's is a pearly white/blonde. I am quite envious envy

Greatnan Thu 30-May-13 16:22:54

I quite like having white hair, but it was a bit messy when the dyed blonde hair was growing out.
I haven't worn make-up for years and now I think I would find it very cloying - but I do have a year-round slight tan.

borstalgran Thu 30-May-13 20:15:33

Thanks to all. Like the idea of Mac or Bobbie Brown. Have eyebrows dyed and then fill in with pencil - they migrated from eye brow to chin. had the sharp cut which is great - hairdresser agrees with decision, next time a few blending highlights and then let it grow out Hair is short so not long. Actually a relief to do it. Grey and proud, we are!

Marelli Thu 30-May-13 21:11:44

Ella, I've just looked at your hair, and agree with the others that it's lovely!
borstalgran, my eyebrows are growing on my chin as well shock. In fact I'm thinking of auditioning for Santa this year. Has anyone got any advice on how to deal with this? I usually have a go with wax strips, but there's surely a better way? And why is it that I have white hair, but my upper lip has dark whiskers.....blush?

Galen Thu 30-May-13 21:49:00

I only wear makeup for special occasions!
Then it's only minimal.
I Lke the bare essentials range.

FlicketyB Fri 31-May-13 16:00:09

Indo think grey v colour is a matter of how you go grey. I have a friend who is going grey all over and her hair is elegantly iron grey, no need to worry about colour.

Unfortunately my family pattern is to go absolutely white haired round the face, like fur trim on a hood, while the rest stays the original colour, bar a little fading and goes grey very slowly. I do not find it an attractive look. So until the hair on my parting begins to show considerably more grey than it currently does, while the hair round my face is entirely white, it is going to be the application of a pack of Superdrug best to my hair every three months or so. It only takes half an hour. so hardly impinges much on my time

Grannyknot Fri 31-May-13 16:47:16

The thing about the mineral powder (which I didn't know and am very happy with the result, and I also don't like foundation and never wore it) is that it is not like foundation. It just kind of evens out skin tone and stuff. I'm a convert.

sunflowersuffolk Fri 31-May-13 20:41:03

I still use Hair colour at the moment, I would be such a faded brown and white mix, not very flattering. I think when you do go grey (or white) you have change the colours for makeup, and also clothes, to flatter your new hair.

I agree about less makeup. I don't like the feeling of foundation on my face, so I use fake tan (Clarins self tanning milk) in winter, just to give a bit of colour, and it looks natural. I put a bit more on my cheeks, so it looks like a natural glow, and only needs topping up now and then..