To dye or not to dye?

Leah11 I am 67 and stopped hi-lighting my hair a while ago and love my silver hair.. what a shame you are being made to feel uncomfortable with your silver hair. Sorry I don't have any info on a safe dye I just think its a shame to go back to having to dye it . I have got to the stage where I don't give a stuff if people think its aging , I love it and as long as it looks shiny and healthy I don't think its aging and never intend on changing my colour again.

I only know of Natur Vital, but haven't tried it myself. My sister swears by Naturtint, which contains the minimum amount of PPD that will still give a reasonable grey coverage. She says she has to leave it on for a longer time, but then her hair is quite coarse. She doesn't get the reaction from it that she had from garnier Nutrisse for example, of burning itching sensation.

My MiL looks 20 years younger when she puts a colour rinse on her hair, just a temporary one. Casting? But says she can't be faffed.

Thank you for the reply Tanith. It is how I originally thought. However, my Aunt has just had her 80th Birthday, dancing away, and her hair is naturally still dark. My friends and adult children think I have a youngish face, and that my hair is aging. Having a "blip"

Maybe you need it re-styling Leah - google grey-haired celebrities and see if there's something you like!

Don't colour if you're allergic to the chemicals.

Thank you for your reply Riverwalk. I go to the Hairdressers regularly and am told that I dress elegantly. It is always good to have a new style, and I shall probably do this. There is a freedom in not colouring your hair, and I am lucky in the fact that it is all one colour. However, it is aging.

Maybe you just need some colour on your face, as many women, to me, looked washed out. The ones who seem to carry it off successfully have a bit of colour to their skin, whether applied or natural. A head of silver can be beautiful, though. I have several friends with the most beautiful silver or white hair.

I saw some pics of Julie Walters recently - can't remember where.

She looked lovely with grey, pixie/spikey hair .... not too pixie/spikey but fresh and lively looking, if you get my drift!

Perhaps I should qualify my remarks, the criticism, if that is what it is, although kindly meant, is coming from people much younger than me.

Young uns can be brutally honest

Well - I think this is an issue of self-confidence, and you should not let anyone tell you how you should look. Hold your head high and enjoy your lovely silver hair!

Try telling Judi Dench that grey hair is ageing!

And that is where you are right, Mishap. I think my confidence has been zapped. My husband always said I had a young face and liked my silver hair. We had a lovely relationship and he was everything to me. I was widowed, what a horrible word, five years ago. He was only 58.

If your hair is uniformly silver I would not be worried about colouring it. My hair, if untreated, is a horrible pepper and salt so I have mine dyed every few weeks. I started colouring it after a man insulted me in a bar, he was talking to my friend and referred to me as her mother ( she is 3 years younger than me ) when informed I was not her mother he said 'well you look old enough to be'

There are some very glamorous GNers with silver hair. You know who you are!

My hairdressers has several employees in their twenties who dye their hair white with a blueish tint. It is very fashionable at the moment!! Have you tried a brightening shampoo for grey hair or do they have nasty ingredients too?

Hi Pittcity. I have noticed, try to keep up with trends. I do use a brightening shampoo, my hair is a lovely colour, it just makes me look older than my counterparts, as they all dye their hair ;o)

If I were you Leah I would take the advice of your husband - he knew and loved you just as you were and still are.

I have mine professionally coloured, but that's because it's white at the front and edges and brown on the top, and I don't like the bi-colour look.
I'd be quite happy if it was silver!
Three things Leah.
One, you're not in competition with the other grandmother. Just be happy being yourself.
Two, go and get a make up lesson! Bobbie Brown do them free in John Lewis.
Three, treat yourself to some new clothes - take one of your young critics with you if necessary! Buy something that will make you feel like a new woman.
It's your business what you look like - just please yourself

Surely a good hairdresser can tell you what chemicals are in their own hair dyes? Rather than an all over look [which results in awful roots] have some [safe] brown lights put in your hair rather than blonde, which won't look right with silver.If you don't think it's enough, have the hairdresser put in more, until you are happy with it.

my pink is going on again this week. I feel 'safe' with my pink stripes.

Hi Leah - my hair is fairly white (grey) and I'm very happy with it since I no longer colour it. But when I feel like "jazzing it up" a bit, I either use "A Touch of Silver" shampoo (which is sort of the modern equivalent of the 'blue rinse' and I leave it in for a while). Makes my hair a deeper grey, takes the dull whiteness away. Or, I buy "Milkshake" (conditioner with a toner in it) in either Powder or Gray and pop that on. It washes out. It seems expensive but a bottle lasts me for about a year:

www.milkshakehaircare.co.uk/milk-shakedirect-colour-cipria-powder.html

Ask your hairdresser's advice, I wouldn't like to be responsible in case you try it and it "takes" differently on your hair.

Oops not sure about the PPD content in the above products!

Mishap. Thank you for your lovely comment. I think what you said is so true, and wise.

I think, because of the time of year, I am feeling a bit low. I have lovely clothes, my hair is the colour of Judy Dench's, and I have always been good with makeup etc. Perhaps a holiday is called for, nothing like a touch of sun to cheer you up! lol!

Thank you for all your comments. Appreciated.

I have my hair dyed and it really is an on going event every few weeks plus it costs money.
My mother had silver hair and it was beautiful, stay with your hair colour.
You could have a restyle and also have a re think perhaps about your clothes and make up.
Take up a hobby do something you have always wanted to do get out there and live life.