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Hair advice for the partially grey who like to swim?

(12 Posts)
OnwardandUpward Fri 01-Apr-22 14:52:49

I have quite long hair which I usually get highlighted, but I have some roots which I left to grow out of curiosity and a desire for more healthy hair. You see, my hairdresser usually uses a lot of bleach which dries my hair out AND I swim a lot.
The thing is, I have silver framing my face now. Most days I use a blonde spray to cover this and I'm wondering if anyone can offer any good ideas? I'm thinking perhaps I don't need to have highlights done at all if I either continue to use a blonde spray on top or use a wash in dye. Can anyone shed some light on hair colours for the partially grey?

The one thing I will never do is cut my hair short. I can't understand the thinking that once you get past 50 you must have short hair. I intend to have flowing locks for the foreseeable future! grin

tanith Fri 01-Apr-22 14:59:11

Just let your grey come in naturally. So many people are now transitioning to their natural grey hair and it can look stunning. Both my daughters are doing this although they are only early 50s.

OnwardandUpward Fri 01-Apr-22 15:07:03

Yes I've seen many people do this because of lockdown. It feels very freeing, but I am not ready yet. I have a job in the public eye , need to look groomed and don't feel ready to appear grey there , which is why I am looking for blonde sprays/semi permanent dyes.

I was thinking if I continue to use sprays or wash in dyes, then the grey won't be permanently covered and can continue to swim lots without worrying about ruining the colour.

OnwardandUpward Fri 01-Apr-22 15:15:52

Has anyone tried this type of thing? www.superdrug.com/Hair/Hair-Colourants/Wash-In-Wash-Out/Superdrug-Colour-Effects-Wash-In-Hair-Dye-Honey-Blonde/p/751849#pdp__details

The reviews are good, but some say it's a bit drying. Apart from that has anyone tried any blonde sprays they can recommend? I am not ready for full on silver at this time, though by using a semi permanent dye I still have the option.

Allsorts Mon 11-Apr-22 07:42:01

I love my silver streaked hair, but some times I feel like a change. I didn't know you could used colour spray to change colour, does it leave residue colour or does it all wash out. Also which semi would cover grey and wash out completely, I thought grey hair leached the colour making it looking orange. My fine hair is thick and I don't want it short but a minute after walking through the door I look like I've a grey haystack on my head. In the winter I can wear a hat and tame it.

seacliff Mon 11-Apr-22 07:46:51

Could you try a wide stretchy material headband, and have your hair partly up, to hide the grey?

Grannmarie Mon 11-Apr-22 07:53:21

My sister uses L'Oréal root spray between her colour treatments, it's available in Asda, several shades to choose from.
We go to Aquafit classes.

Nannarose Mon 11-Apr-22 09:47:12

Not sure if this is helpful - but this is me:
A swimmer all of my life
Sensitive to many cosmetics and products, can't have my hair coloured
Went 'grey' early, also had silver (luckily) framing my face from mid-30s on
Although my style is 'individual' I am style conscious!

So I adapted my make-up, and (gradually) my clothes to accentuate and celebrate the silver. Of course my style might not be yours, but just thought I'd share.

Coastpath Mon 11-Apr-22 10:36:57

I was naturally blonde but have always had highlights/colours to make myself more blonde. I got fed up with having my hair coloured and during lockdown decided to let it do its own thing and go natural. What a revelation!! It's silver streaked with white and I now look more highlighted and blonder than I did spending all that time and money at the hairdresser. Might be worth giving it a while to see what it does. You could do as Seacliff suggests in the meanwhile to keep yourself looking groomed.

I'm a regular swimmer. I swim in the sea and the seasalt seems to improve my fine hair making it thicker and more textured. Do you swim in a pool or the sea? Could you wear a swimming hat? Many people in our swimming group do and it stops all the dripping/condition issues.

jaylucy Mon 11-Apr-22 10:45:02

Rather than go the whole hog, have highlights put in and always use conditioners for dry hair and especially a hair mask from time to time.
Think of the grey around your face as "Ash blonde" !

vegansrock Mon 11-Apr-22 12:42:51

Spray a leave in conditioner over your hair before your swim and wear a swimming hat, you can get hats for long hair. I’d avoid the bleach , as not only is it drying, but can go brassy on top of the silver. Superdrug do a toner called Colour Freedom in lots of shades including Silver blonde, that might be worth a try for you.

OnwardandUpward Mon 11-Apr-22 15:19:23

Thanks everyone! My hair was getting me down, but I wasn't ready to make a decision about colour at the hairdresser yet, so I bought a L'oreal spray that's golden blonde.

It's made my hair a rich/light brown, which has blended in and looks ok, but I am going to see if I can find a lighter one and see if that looks better. Also I haven't washed it yet, so I don't know how much will wash out or how porous my hair is now bits of it are white/grey.

If I go to the hairdresser, I normally have it bleached and toned, so I am holding off for a while. It looked better when I had darker roots but I now have greyer roots and have noticed that the tint that the hairdresser uses doesn't stay put on the white bits long. I will need it cut soon though.