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Style & beauty

Hair - grey or highlights?

(64 Posts)
shabby Mon 15-Sept-14 09:57:25

I am in the same position as you suebailey my son is getting married next year. I have grown it to shoulder length because I fancy an 'updo' but it's the colour that is giving me a dilemma. I think I might just go for something completely different - blondish? - after all it's reversible if I don't like it. Although I still have black eyebrows. I think I may have to go and try on some wigs first!

Pittcity Mon 15-Sept-14 09:34:40

When my grey became pronounced my hairdresser persuaded me not only to go blonde but also to grow it. I have made him go gradually lighter until eventually I hope to be naturally silver just like marelli.
I find that being blonde means less colouring as darker roots are fashionable and the natural grey just looks like expensive highlights. I simply have my roots done every two months and use the Touch of Silver shampoo to keep it bright.

Nonnie Mon 15-Sept-14 09:30:22

What colour are your eyebrows? Maybe you should take that into consideration. My hairdresser is adamant I shouldn't stop colouring as my eyebrows are almost black and she thinks it would look odd if hair was different although I don't go so dark as it can be ageing.

Nelliemoser Mon 15-Sept-14 09:05:17

Mine is short and still with a good proportion of the original black along with the white? silver? grey?

I am leaving it like that mine would look so wrong if I tried to do anything else with it.
I am lucky to have that original colour left though.

Marelli Mon 15-Sept-14 08:33:51

Mine is shoulder-blade long and white. It used to be brown, then when the grey started coming in a bit faster, I used Nice 'n Easy 101. Then I realised the regrowth was the same colour as the results of the dye, so I just let my own colour come in! However, I do have quite a dark brown 'stripe' underneath at the back, which can look a bit odd when I plait it to wear it up! grin

suebailey1 Mon 15-Sept-14 08:28:43

I echo your experience shabby so changed hairdresser but I'm really very dark naturally but in reality have grey hair which I can see on the roots but never let it go more than 5 weeks without a colour which is expensive - no not doing it myself at home after several early disasters. I had almost made up my mind to go grey when eldest GD announced her engagement and wedding at a very nice venue in Dedham. So I think I will keep going until after that and then see.

Iam64 Mon 15-Sept-14 08:16:10

shabby - if you're paying a hairdresser to colour your hair, I agree, find someone with a real interest and skill in colouring. My sister recently changed her hair dresser, and wishes she'd done it ages ago, as the colour is so much better. I used to do mum's hair every 4 weeks or so with Nice N Easy, once mum was unable to do her own that is. The colour was great, but I don't have the skill to do my own. Plus, as long as I can afford to go and have it done, I will - no towels, bathroom etc to clean up, someone else to make me a cup of tea, and a good catch up my jolly hair stylist. grin

shabby Mon 15-Sept-14 08:09:04

I wish my hair would go silver! I have dark brown hair with some grey at the front. I have tried going a lighter brown, coloured by the hairdresser, but after a couple of weeks it goes ginger on top and the rest stays brown which the hairdresser has been unable to explain. So I am currently using a semi permanent DB colour at home. I think it needs livening up so might try some lowlights and also a new hairdresser.

Bez Mon 15-Sept-14 07:58:33

I used to have low lights where my hair was more grey/silver and high lights where it was still darker but gradually I let it all grow out as it was becoming a losing battle with it all becoming grey. I am now very careful about the shampoo I use as anything coloured will also colour the hair - so I use a clear/white/blue shampoo and I also a purple one a couple of times a week as this gives it a nice shine and keeps the colour good. Aveeno do a very good one - blue Malva - but it only comes in a litre size which is a bit big to use. I have since found one that Boots sell in small bottles. I also found this shampoo in one of the bargain shops the last time I was in UK. My DGD also uses the purple one to prevent her highlights becoming brassy looking. grin

Iam64 Mon 15-Sept-14 07:57:27

I was dark brown, but the grey is taking over. I don't like the way it's v dark at the back and silver at the front, so currently have blond highlights. It's working well, no hard line as the hair grows. In my youth, I always imaged growing grey happily, but it just hasn't happened - yet grin

Brendawymms Mon 15-Sept-14 07:46:21

My hair is also shoulder length and is doing its own thing colour wise so is mostly grey on top and darker at the back. I use a shampoo for grey hair to try to make it look interesting grin

absent Mon 15-Sept-14 06:45:46

I think that most of my hair is naturally white with an area of light brown at the back. However, as it is lightly coloured with a blonde shade every six weeks or so, I can't remember. grin

Coolgran65 Mon 15-Sept-14 03:33:42

I have longish layers, razor cut.
And have no idea what the real colour of my hair might be.
When needing coloured goes silver at the sides but appears quite dark salt 'n pepper elsewhere.

I coloured it at home using Honey Beige.
Recently I changed colour to Nice 'n Easy, Champagne Blonde Ash.
This is perfect, the silvery bits blend in, and it still looks blonde-ish. A couple of steps up from grey but the tones are heading that way. I'm hoping that I will be able to transfer gradually towards my grey, though always having a colour that will gently lift the grey.
I colour it myself about every 6 or 8 weeks. It's very easy, leave it on, no dripping, for 45 minutes and rinse off. Pack is £5. And it gives tones, it's not a flat block of colour.

Nanabelle Sun 14-Sept-14 23:51:58

My hair has grow to shoulder length (which hides the grey underneath) but I fancy a change, so will probably go for layers, but keeping the length (for now). I used to have it coloured with foils, (done at local college training salon) but a few years ago there was a "mishap" and it just turned out brown! I decided to leave it for a while and let this colour grow out. Now I have lots of grey and what isn't grey doesn't really have any colour. I wish it would all go white/silver, as I think that is a lovely look. Wonder whether to go back to highlights again.

What do you do? And if you go for disguising the grey, how often do you get it done?