Going grey at 38...I'm taking the plunge! - YouLookFab Forum

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Going grey at 38...I'm taking the plunge!

Roxanna

Veteran

So Inspired by all of you and by Una in particular, I've decided to grow out my grey. There are several reasons I should not do this :
1) brown skin = high contrast with grey hair
2) Curly hair means no sleek shiny Bob, like beautiful Una has - instead frizz
3) from what I've seen, I'm relatively young to be going grey
4) warm skin tone doesn't work with grey.

But I'm doing it anyway.

Frankly, I'm sick of colouring my hair every 6 weeks, and with two young kids and a demanding job, I may don't have the time. Also, I've been wanting a signature look, so my plan is to dye the grey purple ombre and let it grow out to lilac/white and see how I like it.

Will keep you posted!

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32 replies

Latest reply was from Jeweled

Joy

Veteran

That sounds like a workable plan. Please show us photos when you do it

Anonymous

Nice plan!
You're going to look gorgeous

Anonymous

You're pretty gorgeous so it can hardly go too badly!
I'd try not to have too many preconceived ideas about how it's going to look, or what impact it's going to have on your style.

Personally, I'm totally confident that it's going to look great, I think women with your coloring have a real advantage. I like the drama and electricity of the grey with darker hair, skin and eyes.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

You don't need straight hair to go grey! The more gorgeous younger women that do it, the better I say. Actually your skin tone will look stunning with grey in my biased opinion. And you can always go back. (I am all for grey hair but not for elevating it into an ideology if you know what I mean.)

Echo

Veteran

I agree completely with shevia. Curly hair is gorgeous grey, and you don't need any particular texture of hair for it to look good grey. And I don't believe you need a particular skin tone, either, as there are plenty of light skinned people and dark skinned people and warm skin tones and cool skin tones who ALL look great grey.

Roxanna

Veteran

Wow - what am amazing group of women you are! I have always been particularly hard on myself when those greys started peeking out as I thought it was bad with my skin tone...so interesting to hear that some of you prefer it!

Isabel and smittie - you for the very sweet ego boosters...I still sometimes struggle when I look in the mirror every day and you don't know how much those comments mean to me (and frankly how much they surprise me!)

Shevia - so hear you on not making it an ideology; I'm completely willing to go back or do something different if it doesn't work. We'll see.

catgirl

Veteran

Are you kidding? You will look amazing! Shevia is perfect example. It's really so much easier once you get over the mental hurdle. I am humbled to have inspired anyone - there are days when I wonder if it's the right decision but mostly it's all good!

rachylou

Veteran

I love this picture of you! You look so alive and the necklace with the top is fantastic.

Ankita

(website)

Roxanna you are STUNNING!
I say go for it! Think you'll look beautiful ☺

deb

Veteran

I had a friend in college at 18 years old that had partially grey hair already. Her sister at 24 was totally grey. Both had olive complexions and were absolutely stunning. You will look as beautiful as you do now, I have no doubts.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

You are going to look stunning with grey hair. I LOVE the texture of your hair....Ive always thought that curly hair has the most spunk! Women with curly hair look younger, bubbly, friendly and the hair gives their personality a certain 'playfullness' that never happens with a sleek bob. Also, curly hair has something so 'naturally sexy' about it

Go for it!

retailgirl

Veteran

Your gray hair will go well with your skin tone. Gray is your natural color and your skin changes as your hair grays, too. Nature knows what shades look good together! As for curly hair meaning no shiny bob, you have the option of sleek or curly, if you want, on occasion, to straighten or iron your hair. It's easier to make curly hair sleek than to make straight hair curly!

Vix

Veteran

Roxanna --

Totally echoing all the above!

Check out the facebook group "going gray looking great" for more inspiration.

I'm 3+ weeks (and 1 inch of roots) into my going grey journey/experiment so we can twiddle our thumbs til we get to the GOOD part together.

Deborah

Veteran

I think you will look gorgeous! Have a look at some of these, they are stunning! https://www.pinterest.com/sear.....ed&te...

Summer

Veteran

I, too, think you will look stunning with grey locks. Your curly hair is beautifully cut and styled and will look equally good in your natural colour, plus, you have lovely features and skin tone to set off the grey - you'll look fabulous.

Helen11

Veteran

I agree, you look terrific in the photo, and I think you wil continue to look fantastic as the grey comes through. Your curls will keep your look lively. Looking forward to your updates : )

Karie

(website)

Veteran

I starting going gray very early (in my 20's). Good for you for stopping the dying cycle. It is bothersome and expensive to have to go every 6 weeks. I think you've got a good plan for growing it out.

lyn67

Veteran

Can't wait to see you silver! BTW your actual coloring is also fab, but I definitely think you do have a good complexion and hair quality for going grey this young and still look extra fabulous!:-)

Roxanna

Veteran

Oh my gosh. I don't know what to say. I honestly posted that last night thinking that the general response would be 'not conventionally flattering, but go for it!' I can't believe the warmth, support and wisdom I received from all of you! Honestly, I'm tearing up a little
Growing up as not conventionally beautiful and having a very hard and very long ugly duckling phase has really shaped my opinions about myself, so I saw going grey this early and with my skin tone as just another way of me doing my own thing, even if it wasn't conventionally flattering. Your boost and your insights about skin tone vs. Hair colour have really changed that (though I don't know why I didn't think of it; I love the combination on Una!)
Maneera, thank you for the sweet words - now that I think about it, you are right! I do have a lively, outgoing personality and I think of my Curly hair as part of that - wouldn't want to change it!

Deborah - I so LOVR that inspiration board! That's going up on my wall

Vix - let's do this together can't wait to see your photos!

Thank you everyone - you made my day!

Runcarla

Veteran

'Conventionally flattering' is overrated, and boring. You are beautiful now, and you will continue to be beautiful as you let you natural hair come in.

I let my curly hair go natural. It has always tended to some frizz (worse when I was colouring to tell the truth), which I don't like as much as when it is styled straight. Recently I was given a sample of a leave in oil product (Aveda) which tames the frizz and adds some sparkle and shine. If the scent of the sample it too strong for my taste, but it has me thinking more about using an oil product to tame the frizz.

...and thanks Deb, for the inspirational link.

Vix

Veteran

Hi again Roxanna --

Now I may chicken out partway through but I'm here to support!

[Wouldn't you know after seeing so many gorgeous greys (pewter, silvers, whites) on YLF and the internets, seemed like every woman I saw IRL last week was a non-inspiration.]

I definitely agree with comments re hair and skin color shifting together. And whatever color you end up with will no doubt look great with YOUR skintone.

Your "enhanced" shade looks great to me as-is, not gonna lie. So you can always go back. Aside from the money, time, and practically immediate regrowth issue I feel my color is just a bit too dark for me right now. We've [hairdresser and I] have tried to go a little lighter but with such a dark natural base and hair that pulls red it's been difficult. I'm sure if I were working with a top colorist ($$$) I could get there -- every 2 weeks!! -- but I'm already spending more than I'd like.

I will say it seems to take some work to keep grey looking its best, but that's where we wavies/curlies who low- or no-poo etc and understand the hair's hydration need have an advantage. Your curls look gorgeous and healthy now, so I'm sure a few tweaks, if any, will keep them that way as your color changes!

Lyn D.

Veteran

I will watch with great interest!
I am much older than you and I am growing out my grey with wavy hair too.
Actually the waves help to break-up the re-growth line and soften a little!

BethT

I love gray hair. And especially when it is in high contrast to hair/skin coloring. So pretty! I think it's going to be beautiful!

Roxanna

Veteran

Thanks everyone! The thoughts you being up about skin colour changing to complement hair colour are intriguing...I never thought about it that way.

Lyn D- you are right, Curly hair sites break up the regrowth line, which is a great bonus!

You ladies are actually making new excited about going grey! Never thought that would happen

Aquamarine

Veteran

You are stunning and I bet you will still be stunning with grey hair. I have been staring at my roots all day, and it's only been 3 weeks since I colored. GRRRR....I wish I had the courage to go grey but I doubt it will happen any time soon.

qfbrenda

Veteran

I think it will look amazing! I went gray a couple of years ago at ~40 and I'm so glad I did. I look forward to update pictures!

JAileen

Veteran

I wish I had gone grey earlier. I love the freedom from tyranny. Good luck, and don't forget if you don't like it you can always go back.

Sheila

Veteran

You are uniquely beautiful Roxanna ! The grey is going to be breathtaking on you... I know it !

It does take a while... there are some rocky days but look at the inspiration boards or do something else... buy a great lipstick... change it up a bit.
I love curly grey... use some oil in it.. keep down the washings and it will stay healthy and shiny.

Good luck as well Vix ! You all have tons of support here !

Elizabeth P

Veteran

You are going to look gorgeous... I think the contrast between your "silvers" and your natural colour will be so striking, esp with the curls.

Good luck, and there is a ton of support to be found! If you haven't already, check out "going grey, looking great" or the "silver sisters cafe grey" (same site, just can't remember the official name). Amazing forum there.

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