Going grey - new here

It's a hard decision but after dyeing my hair since 11yo - I was a punk and had lots of colours over the years but mostly black until my mid 40s. I have now grown it out at 56.

It has been so hard and I've felt so old and drab, and almost ashamed of my appearance but now I'm coming out the other side I feel younger. It's everyone's choice, however I think dyed hair works against you eventually and having healthy natural hair looks better ... Again, eventually.

Some people I know took advantage of lockdown and grew the worst out during 2020. My daughter's a hairdresser and she's said she will grow hers out when the time comes because the grey blends cost a fortune and fade to yellow quickly. Instagram is not a true representation of how it is once you wash it yourself.

But it's hard, and everyone's choice of course.

But not everyone progresses to a full head of silvery hair. I am in my 80s. All the toplayer of my hair is still dark brown, while underneath is various shades of grey in patches.

It is a family trait and I see it on other family members and it really isn't attractive. I have been dyless for the past year, but, as I said, it doesn't become me, so I think I will start colouring my hair again.

Just a packet from Superdrug, the same colour as my brown hair, every 4 months or so. What difference does it make whether my brown hair is natural or enhanced. everyone assumes I colour my hair even when I don't.

I've been dyeing my hair since the grey started showing, I find that the home dyes leave my hair in poor condition - my hairdresser comes to the house and does it every 8 weeks or so, leaving me with enough professional dye products to do my roots between her visits.
My mother was a redhead and used one of those wash out colours which really worked very well, she was a pale strawberry blond for years. I think that might be the best solution for you as you don't get any build-up. It wouldn't work for my hair I'm afraid as it doesn't take colour very easily.

Norah

Perhaps blonde balayage. My hair is silver, blonde foils are added.

Your hair looks lovely Norah, sadly my grey isn't nearly so attractive and is patchy,

Bumble3, I can imagine that losing that glorious colour must be hard to accept. But, looking at a friend who has obviously had wonderful red hair, the dye combined with the grey roots really doesn't work so well.
At 80, I'm longing for my hair to go white but it persists in staying pepper and salt. I'm like you, Magenta. However, there's plenty of it and if it's well-cut and well-conditioned, it looks okay.

Natural ginger hair is very hard to emulate with a dye and always looks odd on an older woman, I see that colour quite regularly 😬
A shade of light brown would look better and even better with some hi lights worked in to help hide roots.

I have my hair coloured as my hair is awful - unruly and wavy. If I went grey I would look 20 years older as I have pale skin and grey hair drains the face. With unruly wiry hair I would look absolutely dreadful. I would love to go grey if my hair was thick and straight.

i was at the hairdresser last week, he said you have some grey, would you like to think about getting it coloured, he seemed a bit shocked when i said no, i have never dyed my hair, now and again i used harmony wash in wash out as it gave my hair a really good condition, i am happy to go grey, i am 62 and still have plenty of colour in my hair but i like it with the touches of grey.

Henna cream in copper. Literally 1 minute whilst in shower then rinse off. Cut off a bit of hair and do a test on a bit of grey and coloured hair first to check. Uou might need only 30 seconds. Turns greying hair blinde red if not over done by too long

I was a very red redhead and started having it coloured as I went grey for a few years.
During lockdown I went white and have kept it that way. Being red haired, it usually turns a nice creamy white and I do have lots of compliments on the colour.
I just have a dry cut every few weeks, so no expensive colours or blow dries.