Is it time to go grey?

Sorry about typos my phone changes the texts before I realise. Corrections.... My mother has left her hair white and it looks OK. My grandmother used to have violet ' pink and blue rinses.... I think that's the typos sorted. Sorry about that...

My hair started going grey at 24, I'm now 60 and it's really grey now with salt n peppery high lights . I really don't like it. My grandparents went completely white and both my parents are now completely white and I love that colour. My grandmother used have pink, violet and blue rinses on her hair and that looked really nice too. My own mother has left her home hire and it looks OK too. But I'm still grey, I was hoping I'd go white, but I don't think I ever will because my original hair colour was really dark brown looking almost black when I was young. So I colour it myself, and have done for years. I just wish I had the courage to grow it out to check if there is a chance that it might go completely white, but I dared'nt. At the moment it's still grey and I think grey looks "witchy".

rowsie love your hair it looks fab and yours too geeb. My dear mother in law had that lovely silvery grey colour and she always looked amazing.

This is a photo of my hair when it had its first cut after no dye left!

I started to go grey at 16! My fathers hair was white at 26, so obviously in the family.
I coloured my hair for years then 3 yrs ago decided to colour it very light blond and let it grow out gently with no harsh lines. I’m lucky that it’s a good silver tone, which I keep looking bright with a good silver shampoo. The secret is to have a good cut. I keep it shoulder length in a choppy style which gives it a bit of body. Also re-think about the shades of makeup you need to wear when having silver/ grey hair. I wear brighter colours nearer to my face now too- turquoise sharp pinks etc no drab colours near the neckline as it can make you looked washed out. I’d say go for it, but remember it’s not just about the hair colour, you need to change your whole look to accommodate it you want to look good!

Grey hair can look lovely but sadly not on me, it just doesn't suit my skin colour. Dying my hair is a pain so I'm quite envious of those of you who look good with grey hair, some of my friends look wonderful! I am all for doing what makes you feel good, I may be 72 but I still like to mess around with make up etc. My MIL died at the end of 2019 aged 101, she always greeted the day with tidy hair, a little makeup on her face and a huge smile topped up with some lipstick!

I think that the cut is equally as important as the colour. What i dislike intensely is long grey hair. I have a friend whose hair is shoulder length and vari0us shade of grey and it looks horrible. A bit like my new dog's hair but he has black and white too, which livens it up.

I meant the blue of your clothes not that I thought your hair looks blue,sorry!

Rowsie, your hair is beautiful and that colour blue is perfect for you and your hair.

I went grey/white after a bout of chemotherapy 16 years ago and never bothered to colour my hair again! I love the colour but I do think when people first see me they immediately think "old lady" just because of the colour of my hair. But to be honest I am 71 now so I guess I am an old lady and I wear my white hair with pride!

I let my hair go from mousy brown to silver some years ago and I love my short silver look! Especially when I can get to a hairdresser... It has saved me time and money in regular colouring and I like to think that it makes a bold statement. I always use lipstick and eye make-up though. Without it I just look totally a drab and washed-
out pensioner...

It was around 5 years ago. I decided my body wasn't keeping up with my hair!! I got my hairdresser to just put highlights in my hair until you couldn't see the difference. If I see grey hair in the mirror, I don't believe it's me!!

Thank you everyone who has commented. Its interesting that some of you say how your hair is in better condition, as that is my experience too. In lockdown nobody has perfect hair so having gone for what will be 4 months by the time my hairdresser opens I have decided to go gray and maybe have some highlights. As some of you said, can always have it dyed again if I dont like it!

I have let mine go grey after many years of colouring. It is quite a nice colour but I may well try some low lights or perhaps a semi-permanent colour when hairdressers are open again.

I pestered my hairdresser for about 18 months, after always having had it coloured since my twenties. I used to colour it myself when my family were small ( too expensive at a salon). Just before the first lockdown I did it, at the hairdressers. Four hours of my life I will never get back! To get my colour stripped off, but boy was I glad when COVID-19 struck, and we were in lockdown. It is now a lovely white/salt and pepper grey, I get loads of compliments, and all I need , when I get back to the hairdressers, is a toner, to brighten up the grey. Win win
I can wear lovely bright colours, new lip colour, if it’s good enough for Helen Mirren and Judy Dench it’s good enough for me!

I suspect Happily that if you need to ask complete strangers who’ll never see you whether or not to go grey, you’re nowhere near ready to do so!

The only person I checked with was DH and he wasn’t bothered even though I was only mid forties (recent grandmother). Friends were mixed but so many followed me when they saw my results, however others, mostly single, have declared they’ll go to their graves with a Clairol box ?

DD was appalled that I was ageing disgracefully but she acknowledges now that my hair has naturally gone the loveliest gunmetal shade with lighter tones around my face.

With makeup I do take care to define lashes, brows and lips as I’d look washed out otherwise and clothes wise, the only colour I can’t wear is pale grey! I also sleep on a silk pillowslip which gives a lovely sheen and use the occasional silvering hair products to stop any yellowing.

Only you’ll know when you’re ready and as people have said, you can always dye it if you get fed up!

My hair was silver at the front and sides, but still very dark at the back. For years I wished it was silver all over, then it started to thin out and my scalp was showing. I now use a caffeine shampoo, my hair is thickening, but the new growth is almost black. Very weird. And because of the lockdown and not being able get it cut, I have now got a wild mane of steel grey hair which is curly and totally messy. I try straightening it, but after half an hour it's curly again. I loved my hair, now I hate it.

Stopped having colour highlights of any sort coming up for two years ago and I do not regret it for a second. Fed up with grey root growth I decided when on holiday (think sun must have affected me) to go and have whole head done in the silver/platinum colour that had come into fashion. It's one if the best things I've done in later life. Colours of clothing much easier to figure out what suits me, no what I thought was blonde but turned brassy highlights and hair in much better condition. So glad I made the choice I did.

Had the same dilemma but noticed when due for a dye that front looked quite white/blonde.DD was against me going grey . However.... Bravely! I stopped dyeing and am pleased I did. Hair in better condition than for years and white/silver which I like. And no problems in lockdown either. As others have said, look at the colours and makeup you wear too.
For me it feels more authentic and I look at blonde photos from a few years ago and prefer the colour now. However, had I been anthracite I might not have kept it.
PS DD likes it now. Phew! ?

I had dark brown hair that started going grey in my thirties. I went gradually lighter with careful salon colouring. Three years ago I had it cut very short and went natural grey. Initially I loved it. Then I began to see this washed out grey woman in mirrors at home, worse in shop windows. I’m blond again (apart from the silver crown growth). I’m waiting for the salon to open again - looking forward to it. I’ve reached the conclusion, my mother was right again. Don’t go grey she said, there’s no longer any need to. I love grey hair on others, it’s so stylish but, not on me

I sympathise! Up until the first lockdown my hair was a short layered style with what I used to call my Mars Bar highlights! They were lovely a mix of blonde and caramel. During first lockdown it was horrid as the roots grew out and looked a real mess. Last August I braved a cut but not colour as didnt want to be in salon to long! When short my hair kept taking me by surprise as felt so dark,the grey however didnt show.
Not had it cut since August and I must admit it's making me feel quite glum! The colour is a mousey brown with some light grey streaks. Its chin length but like a badly shaped bob. I'm 59 but feel 10 years older!
On the plus side my hair is in good condition. That said it was when dyed but only because used top quality products. I've also saved hundreds of pounds!
Thank goodness I'm WFH! I have an appointment booked on 24tg April. Its just for a cut and that will make a massive difference to how I feel. My hairdresser is a brilliant colourist and tbh I can see myself having it done again. My daughter posted some photos on FB today and I must admit those subtle highlights really gave a lift. I have a friend a few years older whose hair is pure white and looks lovely. I just look drab?

I allowed all my dye to grow out during the first lockdown, and had it cut shorter to remove the dyed ends before I returned to work in September. It looks WAY better than it did. I have streaks of all shades of grey naturally, and not using any chemicals means that my hair is in better condition than it has been for years. Go for it!

I used to have highlights then got to the stage where there was more grey than highlights, so decided to go grey. So pleased I did. I have a short style and have had several compliments as I'm lucky enough to be almost white rather than grey. Has saved a fortune too! I think it works because I have a tidy short style.

Is it time to go grey?

No!

My hair is darkish brown, would like to know how others with similar and longer hair, have gone grey. Don't want to cut it really short. The contrast is so obvious for such a long time..