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Grey hair

(129 Posts)
Luckylegs9 Sat 06-Feb-16 06:47:50

I have been growing my hair and it has started to go grey. I used a semi permanent colour on it and everyone said it took years off me. However, the colour really irritated my face and neck, so I have booked into a salon for highlights. Don't know whether I am doing the right thing, is it just better to go grey gracefully it's just that my friends tell me I look better with it coloured.

nanaGill Sun 21-Feb-16 10:23:46

I, too, don't colour my lovely silver hair! Any colouring product irritates my scalp and neck. I don't think I could be described as a glamorous granny, but I am happy in my skin. Just wish I had more hair - it is very thin on top. I will have to resort to wearing hats in the cold weather it gets so cold!

newnana Sun 21-Feb-16 10:41:56

Last time I had my hair highlighted about 10 years ago it cot me £95 including the cut and blow dry. Even my hairdresser agreed the highlights only really showed at the back as the front was white/blond. I did a cost v benefit case - cost £95 benefit to me £0! The only people to benefit were people behind me! So I decided to stop. I use the Aussie shampoo and conditioner plus the 3 minute miracle one most weeks. I buy it when it's on offer! I still hanker after having my hair all one colour as the back's still much darker than the front but not £95 worth of hanker!

wot Sun 21-Feb-16 10:51:12

Can anyone suggest a good (but not hideously expensive) shampoo for white/yellow hair please? I don't want to end up with a " blue rinse" effect!

westieyaya Sun 21-Feb-16 10:58:54

I used to use semi permanent colour on my greying hair until I saw in a photo how much my skin colour had changed with age. The next week all the colour was bleached out, my hair was cut very short and the bleached bits trimmed as the natural hair came through. Twenty years later I have lovely grey hair, my skin tones don't look odd and I occasionally jazz things up with a purple conditioner. I think the worst effect is darkened hair with grey or white roots.

Funnygran Sun 21-Feb-16 11:05:20

I have highlights about every 6 months - £40 at my local salon which includes the cut and blow dry. If my hair had gone all white or grey I wouldn't bother but it has just faded and makes my skin colour look drab. Vanity I know but these days every little helps!

Caroline123 Sun 21-Feb-16 11:15:22

I decided to go grey last year. I had it cut very short( for me anyway) from a long bob. I was fed up with having to have it coloured and doing root touch ups every Two weeks.
I can now shower and just leave my hair to dry naturally,which saves no end of time and arm ache!
I think it makes me look older,but others including my hairdresser think it suits me.Ill go with it at the moment.may decide at some point to try a colour again but not right now.

Babyboomer Sun 21-Feb-16 11:15:36

It's encouraging to hear from so many people who are positive about going grey. I decided to stop colouring mine a few years ago, and I actually rather like my grey hair. But I do meet women even older than me, even in their 80s, who shudder at the thought of letting the grey show. I suppose it's all about how it makes you feel. If you are comfortable with your hair, whether grey or coloured, that's all that matters. It doesn't really matter what other people think.

winifred01 Sun 21-Feb-16 11:16:06

Just coming up to 80!Decided to stop colouring hair, my hair dresser suggested letting color grow out and has now put in some highlights.Now have sort of ash blonde, so no nasty dark parting I hope- looks good at the moment. Trust your hairdresser.

BRedhead59 Sun 21-Feb-16 11:28:36

I had red hair and when it dulled a bit around 45 ish I started using colour enhancing shampoo - still using it from time to time now and I seem to be getting away with it at 62.

Nelliemoser Sun 21-Feb-16 11:38:55

PPP * Alea That looks fine to me.

Mine is short and is black and white rather than grey. I think the black still wins out.

grandmalucy Sun 21-Feb-16 11:48:47

I had highlights until my blond colour grew out and quite liked the effect of a short grey bob. Due to alopecia I lost all my hair (no reason found) and had to wear a wig for about 6 months. I chose the nearest I could to how my own hair had been. As my hair grew back I had it styled into a really funky pixie style and have had more complements than ever before. It has also encouraged me to experiment with clothes that I would never before have worn, the latest being good leggings with long tunic and I am LOVING it! To anyone dithering about going grey I say just go for it.

harrysgran Sun 21-Feb-16 12:08:56

I have coloured my hair since my teens I've been blonde brunette and at the minute auburn it's such a pain and expense but I do have a lot of white hair regrowth and if I were ever brave enough I don't think it would take long to grow out but I hate that salt and pepper look (my mother's phrase) you get plus I'm yet to see anyone looking more youthful with grey hair.

GrammaH Sun 21-Feb-16 12:41:14

After colouring my hair red for more than 10 years &:vowing I'd be like Cilla & stay a redhead forever, 3 years ago when I was 54, I decided to stop & grow my hair out & see what lurked beneath the dye. How glad I was! My hair is silver grey at the front, graduating to a darker grey at the back. I have it cut every 4 weeks in a short, choppy, funky modern style & I've had a lot of favourable comments. My advice to lucklylegs9 is to just go for it - how do your friends know you look better with it coloured if they've never seen you grey? I think a good cut is crucial. Be brave & have a go - you can always colour it back if you don't like it!

Mamar2 Sun 21-Feb-16 13:04:50

On my last visit to the hairdresser (Tuesday) I asked if there was more salt than pepper in my hair yet. Mum & nan were both a lovely white. She said she thought there was more grey now so we're working to a plan of growing out my colour. I have short hair & she's going to put in highlights til the colour grows out. It will look a bit odd at the back as it's too short to use foils. 'A good soldier' & all that. I love silver/grey/white hair & can't wait til I don't have to pay all that expense. My poor hair needs a rest I think.After all. Beautie's on the inside.

jan727 Sun 21-Feb-16 14:00:08

Don't know what colour my hair is now. I used to be a model for hairdressers to colour hair while I lived in France. Now in England have found an amazing hairdresser who, for the last two years has my hair red with black streaks. She is now suggesting I go orange! I have bought some permanent magenta red colour. My 3 Granddaughters love it but my daughter ignores it and just let's me do my own thing and I'm 66years old. Can't see me going grey yet!

HannahLoisLuke Sun 21-Feb-16 14:05:29

I'm naturally dark blonde and have light blonde highlights. For several years I've had a broad silver streak which is just the colour I'd like to have all over. It's taking ages to turn though so will continue with the highlights for now. My natural colour isn't a good enough blonde to leave it untouched.

mrsmopp Sun 21-Feb-16 14:28:30

I like the look of short grey hair, such as Judi Dench has and it looks great on her. Only thing bothering me is how to avoid the 'butch' look?
I expect it will mean more make up, which I don't wear at present, and pretty floaty scarfs etc. Any tips on that?

moira13 Sun 21-Feb-16 14:57:01

Proud to be grey! I don't want to be a glamorous granny. I want to be like my own grannies both of whom were white haired and still full of life.

shelana Sun 21-Feb-16 15:10:32

What a lot of helpful advice here.I let my hair go grey--having blonde highlights so as to soften the effect when the red and brown colours were growing out.I quite like the grey effect-so did my husband,but find the hairline at the back is still quite dark.My hairdresser says I could be all over silver if I first had the hair bleached and then coloured.I think I will stay as I am.When the hair is cut the hairdresser chops into it and also adds a bit of texturing.This feels quite mod.

Brupen Sun 21-Feb-16 15:32:44

How I wish my hair would go grey ! I've done the years (70)so am entitled to grey or even white hair! However I am still almost black and spend a fortune having it bleached and toned to silvery colour!

gulligranny Sun 21-Feb-16 15:50:42

I stopped colouring when I realised that the silvery ashy colour I am now ( it's sort of glittery too) is what I used to pay a fortune to get years ago! I have it cut short and spiky and I don't miss the colour.

pollyparrot Sun 21-Feb-16 15:57:29

I honestly think it depends on your hair. Mine is only grey in bits and bobs, mostly at the front. It looks scruffy if I don't colour it. Or should I say, if my hair dresser doesn't colour it.

Make sure you have a colour test first OP, sorry if this has been mentioned.

juani56 Sun 21-Feb-16 16:57:38

I let mine go silver from very dark a few years ago, and I regularly get asked how I manage to keep my roots so clear of regrowth, people are always shocked when I reveal that this is my natural colour! The whole experience is very liberating and though I loved my dark hair, silver is the real me, and I save a fortune at the hairdressers.

ginny Sun 21-Feb-16 16:57:54

WOT. Try Provoke , Touch of Silver shampoo.

chrissyh Sun 21-Feb-16 17:06:52

I'm not going grey gracefully, in fact I'm not doing anything gracefully in my old age. I want my kids saying, oh no, what's she doing now!