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Silver hair: How did your style change?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Last summer I missed Una's great thread on transitioning to grey because it occurred during the time I was dealing with my mother's sudden fall. Luckily I found it again in connection with Angie's post on hair changes. Thanks to all who shared! It was inspiring.

Now I'm eager to hear: If you've elected to go grey, how has your style changed...or has it? And in what respects?

Having taken the plunge and made a few preliminary discoveries, I am curious to hear others' experiences.

Tell me anything. Did your wardrobe change in colour? Did your pattern preferences change? How about about preferred kinds of outfits? Makeup changes? Jewellery? What surprised, delighted, frustrated, or bolstered you?

50 replies

Latest reply was from crazyone

Sheila

Veteran

When I took the plunge to go silver I became more conscious of my wardrobe. I also invested in color analysis which I had not had before. That was very useful to me- especially make up wise.

Some things that happened :

1. I had always been a gold jewellery girl - and made a switch to silver - quickly ! and the bigger the better... especially earrings...

2. Completely withdrew from brown, beige, camel, rust , mustard.

3. Started using much more contrast in outfits and prints in general.

4. I was already half way out of black... but I can use black with the white pattern, or maybe in small doses and if shiny.

5. Began wearing more gray footwear, high boots, ankle stray shoes, sandals... Also became more adventurous with colors in footwear in general.

6. Brows, brows, brows... hard to find the right color- with zero warmth for brows... out their but rare.

7. I started exercising and walking- fast, racing my dog, bought a trampoline.

8. No shampooing- maybe once every six weeks. Don't strip those rare oils.

9. Shine sprays, argan oil... aim for max volume and shine.

10. Played up my height... I am 5'7"... but I regularly wear 3" heels and try to stand as tall as I can to show that silver shiny head.

11. Swim - I used to avoid salt water as my hair would fade to red after two swims ... then I would hate it... then I would wear a god awful bathing cap. Now... no problem

12. Even though I am still conscious of it... I pretend I absolutely ROCK IT... all the time. I love that it is different... especially at work.. where at first I felt self conscious that I was the only gray haired woman there... but now I am the only FABULOUS gray haired woman there. Yes... FABULOUS... it is all in the attitude !

Lana

(website)

Veteran

I started getting prematurely gray at 21, at 25 started dying my hair to its original dark brown. A couple of years ago, at age 52, I got remarried and on my honeymoon realized I was fighting to keep the roots away in a foreign country and it was a pain! I decided when I got back I was done with coloring my hair.

So now fully transitioned to pure silver almost white hair, I find that black no longer suits me and have changed to charcoal and navy for my dark neutrals. If I wear black I need to wear a color or a lighter neutral near my face. My other neutrals are white and gray which look amazing with cool silver hair. I do find that when wearing dark colors it is necessary to wear a strong lipstick and in reality I wear a strong pink or plum lip stain all the time. I need some brightness near my face. In general, lighter or brighter colors work better for me. It is definitely an adjustment.

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catgirl

Veteran

You know what? My style has not changed, and I expected it to change more. I have gotten more compliments and requests for my stylist since growing out the grey than in my entire life, and that has made me confident that I can continue to wear what I have always worn. I do look a bit better in light colors now but still not drawn to them.

My style has changed for other reasons though - work, medical, trends. Look forward to this thread!

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Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

One change that occurs to me is that pre-gray, I had my colors done under the "Color Me Beautiful" system, and I was deemed a "winter." I dutifully bought and wore the vivid jewel tones and cool pastels for a little while, maybe a month or two, before sneaking the softer "summer" colors back into my wardrobe. I continued to wear a lot of the "winter" colors, and also cool but often muted colors, feeling sort of guilty about it. Since my hair has gone fairly gray, I've had my colors done, and the palette is quite different from the old Color Me Beautiful winter one. It is a bit like the old summer palette, but it has some oddly warmish tones in it, too. But the upshot of my perceived change is that I no longer feel guilty about wearing the more muted colors that I've always been drawn to. Maybe I was always a gray-haired woman at heart.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

Lana, can I just observe that you remind me a lot of Natalie Wood in your dark-haired photo. Now I can envision what she would have looked like with gray hair!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Una, your silvers are so beautiful on you! And I think maybe you were already wearing colours that work well with grey.

Lana, what a pleasure to "meet" you. And thank you for posting. You look amazing in those burgundies and reds. I've noticed that red is really fabulous with grey. It was always a good colour for me (at least in most variations) but I think it may be even better now.

Sheila, thank you so much for sharing, and what great discoveries. I have a friend who's grey who shampoos as little as possible. I have not found it makes any difference for me, at least not so far.

I was especially interested in how you seemed to become more active after going grey. What a fascinating detail!

Re brows: I'm considering the brow tattoo route. So far I like the pencil put out by Mac - -Fling I think it is called. Very ash.

ClaraB

My hair came back grey after chemotherapy and I decided to keep it that way, rocking an edgy pixie, after being a dark chocolate brown. I've found a few changes were necessary in my style.
First was (of course) losing the browns in my wardrobe. I'm still holding onto a pair of brown Paris brogues (just in case) but I doubt I'll be using them. Similarly khaki has been given the flick.
I've found that more than ever winter colors are right for me. Black is still fine (I have some steel in my hair), while greys have come into their own. Ink blue, burgundy, deep reds are all perfect. White is good, but tends to be a little meh without some contrast.
Ah yes, contrast, that seems to be really important. Getting some contrast between my very fair skin, fairer hair, clothes and features seems to make things hum a bit more. So lipstick is very important, and I'm wearing more present shades (red, fuchsia) than I ever have before. Like Sheila, brows in a really non-warm shade are important (I like Japanese brand SUQQU for their powder and pen in moss green--sounds bizarre, I know, but it's a cool ashy brown when on).
Finally, earrings or a fab necklace add some zing.
Good luck on your style journey! Looking forward to seeing how it evolves.

Vicki

(website)

Veteran

Suz, thanks for posting this and I'm really curious to read the responses as they flow in and to also learn about your recent preliminary discoveries that came to you. More and more, I keep considering it.

Lyn D.

Veteran

I am half and half Suz- grey on top and brown at the back, so it hasn't been a big change so far as my colour-palette goes.
I have noticed that my lips are better with deeper shades now though, and I think I am wearing black better than before.
Deeper greys are more flattering too, and white rather than cream.
I still shampoo twice a week even though my hair is wavy, and I use oil to tame and de-frizz.

DonnaF

Veteran

My hair went from soft (vs deep) brownish black to a more charcoal gray, so I'd say the change wasn't as dramatic as going from brown hair.

Going from monochrome hair to variegated color means going from solid to pattern so I have to be careful about Too Much Going On. I also feel that wearing black and white patterns look almost magical on me, same with charcoal gray. Some patterns on top can look too busy; I don't ever remember that being an issue in the past.

Actually, I wear a lot more gray and black'n'white vs. color, but I don't know if that is just my mood these days.

I still get shocked when I spot the occasional gray eyelash or gray eyebrow hair. I've never been a mascara person due to super straight and previously thick eyelashes, but I suppose once the lashes get grayer I will mascara them.

Lighter lip colors wash me out the more I age. I prefer deep/dark to bright, but that may be a personality thing.

I am wondering if I will go all silver in my mid-70s like my dad's sisters. My dad never got there, but his hair was different than theirs and mine.

Linda

Love this thread! I probably take after Mom so I'll never go entirely silver (somewhat sadly said). I do though, have a couple of quite light strands that frame my face -- I like how they look a lot, the rest of my head is salt and pepper ash brown and silver.

I made a point of looking for white gold and silver jewelry especially, or pieces with mixed metals. I think that's the main change I have made. (I colored my hair when I was working, but stopped around the time I retired from that job and began volunteer work).

For the most part I haven't changed my style. Makeup COLORS, and application yes, and some clothing colors. But my style has been maturing and evolving as I have aged, I think (hope)!

L'Abeille

Veteran

The more silvers I have, the more I need contrast near my face to make me come alive. This was always so, and now it's more so. Dark bold eyeglass frames. A contrasting scarf or collar at the neck. And the biggest change, eyebrow pencil.

Otherwise, my colours haven't changed. Black and white are best along with deep reds and blues. I can't wear grey alone or as a neutral, but it works as a colour with black or white for contrast.

The biggest difference though has been in the texture of my hair. It was always super fine and thin. It is still stick straight. But the white hairs are coarser, and the end result is that my hair has body for the first time in my life. Styling it is easy, just run my fingers through it; occasionally some product if it's too flyaway. At my last visit, the stylist even chopped some layers into it -- I still think it was a mistake, but it wasn't the disaster it would have been before.

sylvie55

(website)

Cool colors seem to go better with my salt-and-pepper shade. I got rid of all my brown and yellow tops. Purple, all shades of blue, blue-toned reds and pure white are my friends. Pastels and ditsy prints can get too old-lady in a hurry. And too-big prints wear me.

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Barbara Diane

Veteran

My hair didn't turn the gray I was expecting, and I wouldn't call my hair silver, and I am thinking of coloring it again. But, here's what I've been doing:
1. Bolder lipstick
2. Eliminating some of the most intense shades of colors, particularly some reds.
3. Eyebrow pencil for the first time. Not sure I would need it if my brows weren't thinner than they used to be.
4. I never wore much gold jewelry, but I like it on me even less now.
5. My dark gray shoes look better now.

Runcarla

Veteran

Not silver, but apricot, and some have said blonde. My hairs are either the same red they have always been, or white (40/60 according to the hairdresser) and this gives an overall impression of 'too much highlighting' or faded colour, though it is my natural hair.

White and navy are really working for me. Though navy has always been good, it is actually GREAT right now. Black is okay, but not as great as before. Cognac is still a super bookend or accessory colour. Orange used to be signiture for me, but mustard works better. I'm wondering if I should experiment with camel?

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Oh great thread Suz! At first I also gave up the browns and golds in my wardrobe but lately I have been bringing them back. What I am getting rid of is black near my face - whether it is my hair color or just aging face, black is not my friend. White is good, but it always had been, and light grey and silver work well, but darker grey not so much. Blues are still good. I have some natural contrast - my eyebrows are still naturally dark and I think I will keep them that way even when they attempt to match my hair. I do play around with lipstick much more than I ever did before too!
Looking forward to your thoughts!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Thank you so much for your generous replies!

What I'm taking from all this is that the changes (if any) vary a lot depending on one's previous colouring (and favoured colours), as well as on one's age (perhaps) of going grey and how quick the transition is.

Carla, one of my close friends has hair so similar to yours and it is "fading" in the same way. She looks amazing in a vivid but not too intense French blue. It's not always easy to find that colour but WOW. I think camel would definitely be worth a try for you.

Barbara Diane (and others) I think I need to experiment with some bolder lipsticks, too. Dark grey has always been a superb colour on me but it looks even better now.

Sylvie, you are so pretty! Thank you for posting a pic. You seem hardly grey at all here, but I know it is relative to the "before." I already wore cool colours exclusively and I really hear you on the ditsy prints. Not as easy to pull off.

L'Abeille, sounds as if you were a "winter" in the old seasonal categories and still are. Silver hair looks amazing on people with your colouring and it seems as if you have learned to make it work for you really well. Very interesting about the textural changes to your hair. Unlike most people, I have not noticed any difference -- so far. My hair was always fine but super thick, mostly straight but with a slight wave. And it still is.

Linda, I mostly wore silver or white gold already but I miss my regular golds a bit, too. Interesting that you changed your makeup; that seems common. I am not sure whether I will except for lipstick. I always wore really cool colours.

DonnaF, I love your hair. And fantastic observation about the patterns and variegation. I have been noticing a big change in what i like on myself, too -- I hope to post about it once I get some photos. I've had the same revelation with black and white patterns, as long as they are not large or too intense -- mine need to be softened a bit or the contrast is too high. But no contrast is much worse.

Lyn, since we are both Queen Blue (North America and Oz Editions), I'll bet grey looks amazing on you and I expect you haven't had to make too many wardrobe changes. You're another voting for more intense lippie.

Vicki, thanks, and more to come for sure! You'd look beautiful as a grey, but I also get wanting to stay blonde. Both are great! In California the sunny skies make blonde feel more natural, paradoxically. I live in a limestone city....

ClaraB, thanks for chiming in. I think I agree with you about contrast (needing or liking a bit more) and also about your overall colour palette, which was the one I mainly used already. (Whew!! What a relief!!)

Sharan, so true about Natalie Wood!! I was wondering where I'd seen that face before! And, super interesting about your own colours. I wonder if they just made a mistake. I think you pick colours for yourself unerringly. You also have a real gift for exactly the right pattern to highlight your hair and features. So I suspect whoever typed you at first was wrong!! Glad you feel more comfortable with your own choices these days.

Thanks again, all. This is helpful.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Jaime, so interesting!! I am actually finding that black is better than it was -- it was never horrid on me (although theoretically it was "supposed" to be) but I do like it best with some contrast -- which again, was always true. I like black best on me with some skin showing or with some soft white.

We have very different skin tones and eye colours, though. What's fascinating is that blue is such a key colour for us both despite that! But it may be that we do better in different tones of blue; I'm not sure.

I am obviously going to have to make a trip to the lipstick counter. I tend to wear the same two "almost my inner lip colour" shades, but maybe I will get more experimental!

JAileen

Veteran

I changed everything. My hair is very silver. My haircut is much shorter and more modern. It had been an inverted bob (Mom hair?) I gave up beiges and tans. I changed my makeup, emphasizing my eyes and brows. I bought a lot of grey shoes and boots. I wear silver jewelry now. I have been trying to limit the colors to my best - grey, blue and olive. Mainly I'm trying to look more current. That's when I found YLF. It's helped me so much. Thank you Angie!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I saw that photo of your hair in Una's thread, JAileen! You are beautiful and so is your hair. I wish we saw it here more often! I think your decision to stick with a limited palette has been a wise one for you.

Runcarla

Veteran

I agree with Shevia about shades of grey. Silver and light grey = fab, charcoal and dark grey = not so fab.

This the (French) blue you mean, Suz? (I'm wearing the heck out of my new shirt-dress/tunics.)

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Irina

Veteran

Suz, like other ladies here, I did some changes to my make up - stronger eye make up and deeper lip. I started to curl my eyelashes and it made a difference. Black color became my friend together with ink. But I also started albeit slowly, make adjustments to my style. Somehow, some surely classical pieces no longer work. I put on true and trusted crew neck cardigan with a pair of straight pant and doesn't look "timeless" but rather hmm... old. I look now for different shapes, this is how COS became my favorite store. I appreciate more simple but slightly oversized tops and less to no print. I feel I need more contemporary items but must be careful not to get overwhelmed by them. So, yes, my grey hair is changing my style. Hopefully for the best

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Carla, that dress looks amazing on you, I love it. But I was thinking of a colour closer to this...maybe a bit lighter/ brighter but not necessarily. There is lots of confusion about what French blue actually is. I think I'm actually remembering an old Land's End shirt of my mother's that was called that!

Irina, that is interesting about your lashes! Mine don't have enough length, I think, to curl. Your style changes resonate with me. I am finding that purely classic items work less well. There needs to be some currency to the look. Caro in Oz has said much the same.

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Joy

Veteran

Suz, I've been on this journey a long time. I did not dye my hair except for "streaking" or subtle highlights as it was turning grey. I was very taupey grey before 50. The colors I wore were the biggest style change. For the first time, black looked pretty good on me but the red jewel tones that I'd liked did not. For awhile I favored colors that were greyed or murky and cream for white. My hair color kept changing to a more silver shade and clear colors started looking better. It is still changing. I am more grey than my mother ever was.

As for style, this was before YLF. I had gained menopause weight and needed size 10s or mediums with even an occasional size large. I was a frumpy dresser but didn't know how to change that. I did not wear jeans and wore loose oversized clothing. However this was the time when oversized was the style. Earrings, big ones, were part of my style. My hair was several inches below my shoulders and I usually wore it up in a French roll or loose bun or pulled back low and tied with a black ribbon. I got lots of compliments on it but needed a change eventually and went for an angled bob, shorter in back. Someday when I need to have very easy hair, I will grow it out again and put it up.

YLF has rocked my style world. My outfits are much more interesting now and I am more adventurous.

Irina

Veteran

Suz, I don't have long lashes either, kind of average. I bought a curler and watched YouTube videos. A lot of good it did to me I am a slow learner
I finally ask my neighbor to show me. He is a friend and a make up artist (not the department counter type, he works mostly for advertising) and private clients). Although I can not exactly replicate what he did, I curl the best I can
Also, I noticed that some accessories no longer work for me. Now, it's either go bold or go almost without. I don't have bold yet, so I use minimal- a delicate gold chain or a single row of tiny beads.

catgirl

Veteran

Oh, I have changed my makeup! But that may have to do with getting older and not hair. Filling in brows, highlighter, and recently I'm using this crazy electric blue eyeliner - just a thin line over a black cateye that seems to brighten my face.

I can see how black would suit you well now, Suz. Going from blonde to grey is a lot different than going from black to grey. I was always in the black-grey-white palette, whereas you are changing from color to neutral hairwise. If you think of your hair the way you would a scarf or hat, it makes sense, right? Kind of like reverse bookending.

Staysfit

Veteran

So far I have mostly changed my make-up because my transition to grey was relatively recent. Going grey was a fortuitous accident for me. I was in the hospital and missed a hair appointment. I went eight weeks without, when I normally went every three. It allowed me to glimpse more of the grey and decide it was time. The full transition took around four months so it was quick. I have received nothing but complements from friends and strangers alike, and it has saved me time and money. I miss spending long hours with my hairdresser who is my friend after 20 years, but it's still good. Oh, and I didn't really change my hairstyle either. It gets tweaked a tiny bit here and there, but I like it short and pixie like.

I haven't changed what I chose to purchase in terms of clothing. I still pick according to my style moniker, Serene Elegance. I am not more classic or edgy, etc. my color palette and contrast level hasn't changed although I have tried hard to wear and purchase as little black as possible.

Here are the things I have changed:
1. I always wear a lip color, either bold or light.
2. I always wear eye liner, usually a grey blue, or a bold light green, or teal
3. I changed my mascara to navy instead of brown
4. I have an array of Blush colors depending on what lip or eye liner I use
5. I wear more silver jewelry, or I mix metals, but I am not wearing darker gold alone
6. I am slowly purchasing more mid tone grey as a primary neutral base for my wardrobe, no camel, brown, or tan, but I do wear cool taupe
7. I am planning to stay away from dark indigo denim
8. I look better in white now so l am slowly adding more to my wardrobe

retailgirl

Veteran

I never colored my hair. My dark brown, almost black hair started to go gray in my thirties. I'm 66 now and it's salt and pepper, you can tell it was dark once. I'm a winter and always held to wearing " winter" colors, but there were a few exceptions, that, now that I'm grayer, I no longer wear. Camel, yellow. Black looks good on me, and I love to wear almost any shade of gray. Red was and is a fave, but I'm leaning more towards blues, esp. Periwinkles and purple-y Blues. I find silver jewelry and pearls look good, but I have a lot of gold jewelry and I continue to wear it.

skylurker

Veteran

Well, no words of wisdom from me because I didn't "transition" to grey hair, I never covered them.
(I'm the last person you want to ask about hair and make-up anyway

Recently I fell out of love with light grey and now I don't like pale blue as much as I used to, but I don't know if it has anything to do with my hair.

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