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lockdown hair

Sally

Veteran

After our lockdown people have been madly running to the hairdressers for cuts or they were touching up their regrowths. I haven't been to a hairdresser for 8 months so my natural grey and white is coming through. My sister said grey is aging. Half of me thinks good point...try to look as young as possible and the other half thinks ...why am I trying to look young? I think I come across as quite young by the way I act so I wouldn't mind looking my age. I guess there are pros to keeping your hair coloured as it does look young and fresh. I do have concerns about the health of my hair and more importantly the danger of dyes and I would save a lot of money not going to a hair dresser. anyway this is my hair after 8 months of no colour and I cut it myself during lockdown with the old pony tail trick. Shall I leave it or go back for the blonde streaks?

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53 replies

Latest reply was from slim cat

RoseandJoan

Veteran

I think your hair looks lovely with the re-growth, if you don't mind your natural colour and grey highlights why not put off colouring your hair until the spring and see how you feel then?

Bijou

Veteran

Sally, you look lovely with your hair just as it is and you have a very youthful style and attitude. Whether you dye your hair should be a matter of personal preference.

You need to decide what makes you feel best and run with that. Do you feel inauthentic with dyed hair, if so natural is the way to go. Conversely, do you feel brighter and happier with dyed hair - then that may be the right choice for you.

My choice (for me) is to dye my hair and has been since the age of 15. For me, dyed hair does not feel inauthentic and is just like my make-up, something that I wear for me.

lozz_oz

Veteran

I vote leave it as is - looks fab to me!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

You look really young and playful in your photos, so I can imagine you might “project” a fun attitude in real life. These days hair can be dyed in so many different ways— just the roots, just the ends, just the front…… so you have lots of options!

I just noticed this morning that Santa has given me a big gray streak for Xmas. Undeniable white. Sigh.

Star

Veteran

You always come across as youthful in your pics. I have not dyed my hair for one year. My hair is now a bright silver (from dark brunette). My silver hair is softer and in way better condition than my dyed hair ever was. Sure I now look my age (55). I don't find that a bad thing. My DH who was initially against me going natural and is now fully supportive commented recently that the hair colour is not important if the face is cute. Bless him! You have a cute face

gryffin

Veteran

Sally - may I just say I like your natural color so much better than the blond. It’s not just a very pretty color but it looks like fantastic highlights. It has so much more depth and drama. That being said, you should do what makes you happy. I’m 62 and stopped coloring my hair with the pandemic. I don’t have a lot of Gray. More silver highlights. My husband loves it. I’ve had a number of compliments on it. But it did take readjustment to my eye. I think you need to listen to your inner voice. But from an aesthetic POV it looks fabulous!!!

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

You’ve got natural highlights already. I really don’t think the distinction between them being natural, aka grey, and coming from a bottle matters, and that’s not just because I have them myself. If anything, I like mine, because I think I also act young, so if I were too dye my hair, I’d perhaps come off as trying to cling to youth, instead of just having a playful personality. Not that you have to be like me, obviously. That’s just how I see it.

Anonymous

I don't fight myself if I have misgivings about the safety of a beauty treatment so if it were me, I could stop there.

Either way, I think hair style is more impactful than hair color, especially on older women.

Anonymous

I don't think your hair color looks bad, but if you do decide to color again, some options are better than others. I use Naturtint, but there are other brands too.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree with Bijou that this is such a personal decision and there is nothing wrong with a decision to dye or not to dye.

That said, it’s obvious that I (reluctantly) took the pandemic as the opportunity to grow out my natural undyed color. I had no plans to grow my hair out, but before I knew it I had six months of growth and felt like I didn’t want to go through that all over again someday when I had even more grey!

Do I love my grey hair? Not really. But I’m accepting it, and I like it more than I did a year ago. I get compliments on it, which surprises me, but I accept them with gratitude. I’m aware that it does very likely make me look “older” but I’m trying not to cling to preconceived notions of what is aging and what aging should or shouldn’t look like. I’m 56 and am not ever going to be mistaken for 40 again.

On a solemn note, I will offer one bit of info that my BFF gave me, which helped nudge me away from coloring my hair. She is a surgeon currently specializing in breast cancer surgery. There is recent data linking certain permanent hair dye and straightener chemicals to breast cancer rates. Having lost another BFF to breast cancer, that news was sobering.

I think that transitioning to grey hair does take some time emotionally as well as physically. It’s an adjustment to see yourself with a different color, but I think it’s also much more jarring if you’ve always had dark hair. I think blondes have an easier time of it because the contrast level stays the same. However, I know the shift from warm to cool tones is a whole other adjustment!

For me, it’s important to find a modern, intentional style for my newly grey hair. The greys have a different texture from my colored hair and can look dull and frizzy, so extra care is necessary too.

I do think you look great with the growout, and you have a terrific youthful energy, no matter what color your hair! I’ll be curious to see what you choose.

CarolS

Veteran

I agree that it takes some adjustment, but I am not sorry I gave up highlighting a few years ago. Yes, there are times I just want my 'natural' colour back. But then I figure, this IS my natural colour now. This is me. And I feel like being ok with that.

Your hair looks great and , as everyone else has said, it is really now a matter of choice!

Irina

Veteran

I think your natural color is great and I don’t find it aging. But I went grey years ago before it became common due to pandemic. So, I’m biased. I suggest you keep it natural for now and reevaluate how you feel about it some time later.

NancyW

Veteran

Highlights, lowlights, peekaboo color: there are so many ways to play with hair color so your choice is more complicated (and fun) than color or no color. Janet and Bijou have really articulated the emotional aspect so well - don't be surprised to have strong and sometimes contradicting feelings. Your approach to life (and a good haircut) come first - then follow your emotions.

Runcarla

Veteran

It looks like you are going to be another who ends up with really great natural hair, and it doesn’t look like the grow-out is going to be painful. I support letting nature take it’s course and ditching the dye.

RobinF

Veteran

I think your hair looks good but agree that you have to be ready to give up color. I am biased of course, since I stopped coloring a few years ago. Most of the time I like it but I still sometimes wish I had my brown hair back. I used to be told I looked younger than my age but I don't hear that any more. But it sure is freeing to not have to plan that monthly maintenance.

Echo

Veteran

It very much depends on how you feel best. There are lots of people who color their hair out of habit; they have no idea what their natural color even looks like. But sometimes the color is actually more aging than natural would be.

You have the advantage of being able to actually see both now and know whether you like the natural color. I think it looks great, with more depth, but it is you who need to feel good about.

Cee

Veteran

The evil cowlneck suggested you try a side mullet poodle perm.

...and that's why it's evil.

cat2

Veteran

I also inadvertently grew out my color during lockdown. My hair came in almost entirely light silver and in much better condition than my colored hair, so I decided to keep it. I don’t think it’s more aging than having straw-draw colored hair.

cat2

Veteran

Straw-dry, thanks Siri.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

Aaaaack! The evil cowlnecks are back. Run away! Run away!

Cat2, if you click the little box & pencil to the bottom right of your comment after you post it, you can edit it for a couple days.

bella

(website)

Veteran

I am just going to reiterate what has already been said. Regardless of how your hair looks, going grey is a very very personal and emotional experience. You have to be in the right place mentally to accept and embrace it.

I am speaking from personal experience as I've been through the process twice. The first time was about 7 years ago. I had no support from family and friends, no internet community, no mental preparation, and I couldn't stick with it. I died my hair again.

The second time I was much more prepared and eager to embrace the ups and lows, and most importantly I was looking forward to seeing my natural hair. It took me about 20 months, and the result was completely worth it. I love my hair and get compliments on it from time to time. I am 42, and I even get comments along the lines that I look younger.

I was coloring my hair at home, so it wasn't about the expense for me, but time commitment. I do not miss one bit of the time I used to regularly waste on coloring and the mental energy to calculate the best timing so my hair would be in the best shape for upcoming events with photo ops.

That said, I agree that your hair looks very pretty now, and if you decide to keep going, it looks like you will have an easy time of it and get great results.

Jules

Veteran

No real opinion on going grey or not, just popping in to say I like your soft, pretty hair and the way it contrasts with your frames.

JAileen

Veteran

Your new natural color looks lovely on you.

rachylou

Veteran

For various reasons, I think it’s helpful to look like one is NOT rusting out. A person can do it with hair or something else. But everyone needs to be in control of their smartphone (!)

Sal

Veteran

Your colour is really lovely Sally. I don’t see it as aging - you have great brows too.

In saying that my hair is highlighted and I plan to keep doing that. Naturally it’s dark and I like it lighter. I have hardly any grey - suspect I will like grey more than my natural colour.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

I do like how it looks on you and it will save you money and effort to let it continue to go grey. I feel more authentic allowing mine to be its natural colour but realise all do not feel that way. To me it starts looking silly eventually when you have women in their 70s with obviously dyed hair, with their husbands next to them who mostly have undyed hair, just my opinion, I don’t say anything to them. And you are certainly able to go either way. It does look more ageing for a while I think for it to be grey and that has required mental adjustment from me. Especially the first time I was asked “Do you have a Gold Card?” at age 57!- I was like “I’m not old enough!”
I have been asked again 2-3 times and now just smile and say “Not yet”. At least at 60 now 65 is a bit closer, feels in reach.
Don’t let your sister decide for you! If you choose not to go grey now, you may feel more like it in a few more years.

Jenni NZ

Veteran

PS I went for a cut on Sunday!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Exactly what RoseandJoan said!

I think your grey hair is gorgeous Sally, and am excited to see you grow it out. Great with your eyes and brows

Having a cut in the meantime will make you feel better though, and keep your hair in good condition as you grow it out.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

One other thought—having someone who knows how to cut your hair, taking the multiple colors into account, is so important! I’ve had cuts that let the streaks of various colors shine and I’ve had cuts where I just look like a sad, grey old lady. Price doesn’t predict this.

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