Dear gransnet

I colour my hair sort of a similar colour to what I had before I went grey. Now here's the thing I haven't a clue what my natural hair colour is so it might be a horrible pepper and salt but how do you grow your hair out without it looking dreadful as it grows out? Mind you friends I consult say I would be better keeping the colour for the time but have wondered as it would make life a lot easier.

Go for it etheltbags we've missed your pithy contributions, while some have merely been taking the pith

I have one daughter who has blonde hair and one who has blonde highlights and one whose hair frightens me to death mostly!!

I dyed my hair just before going into hospital, a nice red, dark and purple, everyone seems to like it. I didn't want to go around half grey half brown but I really wanted pink, maybe next time.

Go for it ethel!

Let's hope there isn't a next time! (hospital stay, I mean )

envious not sure what you mean by 'frosting' - perhaps it's what we call highlights?
For a while I had lowlights and never really understood the difference
I think successful hair colouring is quite technical and it's worth going to a professional who knows what they're doing, as hair varies so much.

My natural hair colour was dark mouse. When I decided the salt and pepper look was not for me I had cap highlights, gradually getting lighter and lighter and increasing the amount pulled through until that wonderful day when my hairdresser said I could stop as the grey had taken over.

I kept it short and layered so any dark grey could be cut out but now it's a layered bob.

That's strange ethelb. Was only just talking to DD about hair dying. She suggested purple but I said I would like it bleached, and then a pale shade of pink applied. Like the geranium I bought from the nursery this afternoon.

Do you remember seeing all those older women around years ago with lilac coloured permed hair?A bit Mrs Slocombe.

We were debating whether the queen has ever had a blue rinse.

No, she wouldn't dare! The press would be on it like pirhanas 'Queen goes Blue'! She'd have to have a red rinse the next week to pacify the other side...

I wonder if she ever wishes she could though? As a young girl, she and Princess Margaret did go out, incognito, to celebrate with the crowds the end of WW2.

I doubt she's ever wanted to have a blue rinse, really. She could have changed her hairstyle over the years but never has (and of course her daughter takes after her! )

As does Rod Stewart

Well, he's lucky to have any left at his age!

Is this the thread that has "labyrinthined" itself furthest from the OP in the shortest time? If so, we deserve a collective pat on the back.

Triumph of creativity. Or something

Prince William is losing his hair I noticed.

So is one of my DSs much to my DGS's amusement. I dyed my hair red a few years ago for around 18 months, then I got fed up of the upkeep and went back to my usual blonde/grey. When it was red people kept saying they liked it, but when it was back to blonde same people said "Oh you look better!" Mixed messages or what?

DH in his 60's still has full head of hair as does fil at 87. DH is envy of lot of younger chaps in work who are almost totally bald. It does make a difference to how he's perceived as he's often taken as 10 years younger.

Actually, looking at it today, it's maroon rather than purple.

My youngest son is home from university for the summer and I noticed yesterday that he has a LOT of grey in his very dark hair. He's only twenty three.

Well…. I've had a traumatic couple of weeks because the person who has been cutting and colouring my hair for almost 30 years retired, unexpectedly early. I've had to find a new hair cutter who can also colour hair without it looking as though someone coloured it. Trauma doesn't go anywhere near describing how tough it's been

I must admit my DH and DS both have much better heads of hair than I do.