Shall I stop dyeing...what to do

I had very dark hair and very pale skin. It started to go grey rather patchily, which I didn’t much like, so had different colours of highlights to blend the grey growth in. It hasn’t been cut or coloured for a year now and it looks good, it’s in wonderful condition. I am looking forward to having it cut though, I mostly pin it up at the moment. A chin length layered bob is flattering to most faces and more importantly (from my point of view) is very easy to look after.

I have dark brown hair and I wouldn't say it's too dark and makes me look older (even though dark colors really can have this effect). You can stop dyeing if you feel like doing so, or maybe change the color and go for something lighter. When I was looking for a new color, I recolored my hair in photos via Photodiva to see what will suit me, you can try it, too.

If you are in the UK by a hair dye remover one such as Provoke. B&M sell it it’s not expensive and it’s gentle but always do a skin test. Follow the instructions you will notice the colour reducing straight away it depends on how porous you hair is. It won’t completely take the colour out as it’s not a harsh product. As they were years ago in the hairdressers but it’s worth a try.

Started going grey in my late 20s and spent a fortune dyeing it professionally. When I was 50 It was every few weeks it needed colouring so just decided to bite the bullet and go grey. Hairdressing costs nowadays are cut and blow dry only. Hairdresser said my natural grey colour is lovely - it saves loads that is for sure.

I should have added that naturally, I was once a brunette.

Like some other GNs here, I gave up dyeing a few years ago. I hadn't seen my natural hair colour for years, and thus was pleasantly surprised to find it to be a light "honeyed" grey colour. (My roots didn't indicate the "true" colour.) Since it grew out, I've had lots of compliments on my new shade!

Framilode I hunted high and low looking fir semi permanent colour. Clairol do a limited colour range which wash out gradually over 28 washes. I have grey/white hair/ light blond and was having it highlighted / coloured regularly.
The Clairol semipermanent range is limited. I decided against the 9 blond,( the higher the number the lighter the colour and this is used on all brands so makes choosing easier). I got the next lightest colour which is medium blond which I have now used twice, it covered my grey, and gradually washes out. It’s been a couple of months and it’s fading but no lines of regrowth.

I became allergic to hair dye so had to move to highlights where the dye doesn't touch the scalp. I am now a salt and pepper grey which I dont like.

I was wondering if anyone with grey hair had used semi-permanent colouring, and if this works on grey hair. I don't want to end up orange. Also I usually wash my hair every day so how long would it last?

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have hazel eyes and a fairly warm skin colour, my hair did have warm tints with the sun which suited me. Awful photo attached.

The trouble is my hair is now dyed darkish brown, and I do not want to cut it all off. Recently I did the roots with a permanent Nice N Easy light caramel brown shade 6W, which on the grey has come out a lightish warm brown. After doing roots I applied to rest of head a bit later.

I believe I cannot lighten my hair now unless I use bleach or a hair colour remover, neither of which I fancy trying.

I think I will just keep touching up the roots with a light brown or even dark blond. Susy thanks I will try the semi next time.

I think honey blond highlights might look nice, but I do not want the expense of maintenance.

Hair... I'm someone that if my hairs a mess it makes me miserable ( I know how shallow am I) but like most of you, it drives me mad not going to the hairdressers. I was always told you go lighter as you get older. A good hairdresser can high and low light your hair, to match your skin tone. But meanwhile have a look at Joss Wood colour on line. The gloss application, give shine and a subtle colour for about 6 weeks. From greys to browns. they have other products, that can help with lockdown. Apparently Joss Wood was the main colourist at Wella .
I find it's keeping my highlights /colour fresh and it should help the condition of your hair..
It's a minefield! Best of luck

seacliff, please see my message above to Gingster. I also have a fat face which I feel doesn't look good with really short hair. I am also naturally curly, so the shorter it goes, the more it curls, and the more I look like my mums' generation who used to have permed grey hair put in rollers every week at the hairdressers to keep the curls tight, so all her age group looked exactly that same! Scarey!
The colour by Clairol is just a wash in type and really easy to use. I usually buy 2 or 3 when I see them on special offer! Perhaps you could start with the palest blonde and work your way up until you get to the shade you like? Good luck!

I feel just the same, Gingster! My natural hair is now white not grey and although I had many positive comments when I had it cut short between lockdowns, I couldn't help wondering who that old woman was when I saw my reflection anywhere. At best, I saw my mother, at worst, I thought I looked 10 years older!!!
I've now gone back to colouring it. I use either Nutrisse or Nice & Easy, both by Clairol. I first used Nice &Easy about 50(!) years ago and it's great. It does come out darker than the colour on the box ( perhaps I leave it on too long) but it's more normal by the first or second wash. It also lasts well & I find that keeping to blonde shades, it gradually keeps lightening, although it still looks blonde, but you can barely see the grey root growth coming back. I'm not being paid by them, by the way! ? I am, in fact, sat here whilst writing this and waiting to see what the new colour will look like when I wash it out in 5mins time!

I started to dye my hair in mid my mid 30's when I started to go grey. At the age of 60 I'd been doing the roots every 3 weeks at the hairdressers. I'd been dark auburn and doing the roots thoroughly wasn't easy.
I agree with MrsA. Skin tone matters. It changes as we get older. My dyed auburn colour was making my skin look paler than it was. I was told I looked ill.

Decided when I retired to grow it out. What I did, needs a hairdressers help. Chin length with layers. Lots of highlights. I had those done about six more times with less each time.

I'm now a mixture of white and many shades of grey and love it.

I vividly remember my mother having jet black hair and eventually letting it grow out. It was horrendous! I do not dye my hair and have black hair with grey highlights! I'm happy with it.

When I turned 70 I decided my body wan't keeping up with my mid brown hair, so got my hairdresser to put in highlights until you couldn't see the difference - no probs. I now embrace my grey hair!

Highlights can be very helpful if you don’t fancy just leaving it. I did it for a while and I felt better. It also looks more natural than an overall block colour.

A trip to a good hairdresser after lockdown may give you a bit of a lift. I fancy the E-Salon, so thank you Tillythegardener

I still do a little hairdressing from home for friends, and I’ve recommended this service to them until I’m able to see them again.

Can I recommend getting a virtual consult with E Salon? They will create a dye especially designed for you, so no one fits all colour, and then it will be on file when you need to buy top ups. www.esalon.co.uk/personal-colorist-online-offer?otm_ld=www.esalon.co.uk&nogeoip=1&otm_lp=SN-NBHCCUSTOM_S-557_PR-1&otm_pb=CA-GG&otm_ad=AD-ES_RG-8_LG-3_PD-1_PF-M&gclid=CjwKCAiA65iBBhB-EiwAW253W0sxVR-GNCwjUPEmXeOh9EzTc6oYhvGpooqQKwAxVZTjCSh5HB2osRoCNLQQAvD_BwE

Yes seacliff, I do agree that grey doesn't suit everyone, it very much depends on your skin tone. Having blue/grey eyes will help but skin tone is the most important thing. Highlights in a skin flattering colour is probably the best bet but unfortunately that's not an option at the moment ☹️.

I stopped having highlights just before first lockdown so it has totally grown out now. I don't know what you would call it now. Half and half? I think that it's ok. I wonder if you try using a grey shampoo - they are supposed to give more shine. Using a good shampoo makes all the difference, for me at any rate, I'm currently using Ouai which is £20ish. I'm saving a fortune on highlights -£70 every 3 months, and that's with a discount. Plus I don't have to make endless small talk. Also so much quicker, just having a trim every 6 weeks - those were the days!

I have decided the golden blonde from my early 20s still suits me best and everyone I have asked agrees. I use a 9.3 which gives me strands of gold in the sunlight. Never go for an ash blonde, that is so drab and unnatural looking.
I am getting two boxes for £12 at the moment and that does me for 4 colouring sessions.

I like grey or silver hair on many people, but it seems to drain me and make me look older.

Thanks Holly, I have only had highlights once and that wasn't very successful, depends on the skill of the hairdresser I guess. Normally the cost would put me off, but I might go mad after lockdown and treat myself to try it one more time.

I was a dark brown, and dyed my hair for years. I gradually lightened it to a golden brown, but I found it faded in the summer sunlight to almost blonde and I wasn't comfortable with it. I went with an ashy light brown and that seemed to suit me better. I do think our complexion changes as we age, and we just cannot be that same dark brown colour we we were when we were 25!

Last year I let mine go grey, and went from March to June without any colour. Then we had a bit of easing of restrictions and were allowed to go to the hairdressers again, and my hairdresser gave me a good cut, some blonder streaks to ease the transition. It looked quite nice, and now I have just the slightest colour at the ends. I am at ease with my steely grey shorter cut.

I have grown my colour out and I gets lots of comments saying how nice it looks. I can’t get used to it being white. Originally a red head and then always had honey blonde colour put on. It just makes me feel old. I spoke to my hairdresser about colouring and she said ‘if we keep having lockdowns, the roots will keep coming through and you’ll be back to square one. I should leave it’.