I've been thinking about gray hair lately too. My parents both went gray in their late 30s and I am 34. I've been getting a ton of new gray hairs and while I can probably last a few years I would like to have a plan. I am not sure I would be able to go without coloring, but ideally I would like to.

Shiny, I read somewhere that you can indeed color your gray hair a more attractive shade of gray - but I think it was in one of the fashion magazines I read at the hair salon, so not sure if it's a trusted source

I have let my hair go grey and get lots of compliments on it, although I think I'd look younger with it dyed. From the front it is pretty much entirely grey. The color is not silver or white but sort of a champagne or light taupe. I don't think I could change it to a different grey except to put more dark streaks in it.

I've talked to my stylist about doing a reverse highlighting to put dark streaks in. She talked me out of it. Sometimes I do some myself using a wash out color product called Fanciful.

Whatever you do, don't pluck out those white eyebrow hairs! I did some of that and am so sorry now. Those hairs grow obnoxiously long and mine are also stiff. Now I trim them shorter, but at least there's some hair. Some areas of my eyebrows are very sparse so that eyebrow pencil has become the cosmetic I can't live without..a big change from 30 years ago when my brows were too heavy. I've seen women with eyebrow tattoos, but that looks very weird.
Ah, the joys of growing older.

As you age you normally have to soften your colours - so stick with similar colours but choose the colours that have a more smokey appearance, rather than brights which will overwhelm your appearance.

I'm not a hairdresser, but there are all sorts of colours that could probably be used to liven up your grey hair without changing it to a non-grey colour.

I love short well cut grey hair. I hate long stragley grey hair. It can look stunning on a person.

They grey your hair goes will work with your complexion because your skin also loses pigment (which is why you can no longer wear such dark hair colours as you age), you will need to lighten up, but stick more with Ash shades if your skin is cool.

You can dye your eyebrows too, and keep those long white hairs trimmed.

I started going grey at 15 (though I do dye my hair), and for a long time had black hair, but it's too stark now, and even the really dark shades of brown no longer work, so I'm moving to mid browns now to keep my hair flattering my skin.

I forgot to add that I noticed that my grey hair looks best when my skin is darker, so I use a facial self tanner daily. That also helps make it possible to wear brighter colors. As Imogen says, colors that are too saturated wash you out.
A neighbor with totally white shiny hair in her 20's looks absolutely stunning. She doesn't color it although occasionally someone looking only at her hair color thinks she's the grandmother of her small children rather than their mother.

Joy - that's why I colour my hair, otherwise my young kids might always get asked about their granny - and I'm no nanna yet!

I was browsing through The Sartorialist site and found this picture of a woman with my color of grey hair. In fact I'm probably about her age and wear my hair right now at the same length (overdue for a cut because my stylist is in Italy on vacation), but of course don't look so cool and sophisitcated. That's my goal! My hair has greyed to this color from a dark brown and is not layered.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qjpw.....crmWeb.jpg

Notice the white watch. This is also how I might layer chains and beads. but her bracelet and big ring and signature belt all make it a bit much.

What do you think? Would you color your hair if you were me?

I like her hair color. It looks soft and natural. Mostly I do not like salt and pepper hair, which is what I would have if I did not color it. If you have hair the color as in the picture I think you should thank your lucky stars and enjoy it.

If your hair is this color, I absolutely would let it be natural. It's gorgeous!

My mom is in her mid 60s and still has no grey. It doesn't happen to us. But I have huge hair envy of people whose hair turns that beautiful silvery white color. It seems that often they are of Irish descent, and have bright blue eyes. On both men and women it is striking!

Well, I couldn't do it! I colored my hair today. (I do it at home - it's way too expensive to go to the salon every few weeks!) I guess I'm just not ready to be a fab silver fox. I think it's psychological. I have a fairly young face, although my body is definitely middle-aged! (I'm 51.)

I feel like I've failed somehow, because I'm not ready to "go natural." But I'm just not! Maybe in a few months ... I'll have to see.

I used a golden medium brown, and I think it might be a tad too light. I'll give it a day or so before I make any more drastic changes. I'm in one of those moods where I want to find a new image, a new "me," but I guess letting my silver/white/grey/whatever grow in is not going to happen just yet.

You haven't failed by any means. I hope you like your new hair color. Maybe you will get used to it being lighter and you will want to let it be natural later. I think if you have a young looking face and a pretty color of grey hair, that is a good combination.
Emmy Lou Harris looks awesome with her grey curly hair.

If your grey hair suits keep it, but if it makes you feel old then colour.

If you're cooler look for more Ash shades and use a purple shampoo to keep the brass out of your hair.

Grey hair tends to need a fabulous cut, don't let it get stragley. There is a pic on this blog http://betweenmypeers.com/2008.....ing-shoes/ that has a women with gorgeous looking grey/white hair - and it doesn't age.

Coloring your hair is not failure! What is important is that you have a color that you are comfortable with and that looks god with your coloring. I don't think women have to go gray when nature starts the process -- after all we have the technology!