Growing old gracefully

[SerendipityCrafts]

LOL Ok so I know a lot of you aren't worried about this yet but perhaps you can just think about it for a second. I need opinions.

When do you think you might stop colouring your hair. When you reach a certain age (don't worry, I won't hold you to it) or when you have a certain percentage of grey hair?

My SIL turned grey prematurely. Her face is still youthful so I think it looks lovely on her. My grey is about 50/50 now and I am debating what to do. I don't want to look older before my time but I also don't want to look like I am clinging onto my youth when I am clearly not in my 20's any longer - KWIM?

[WendyNC]

Hm... I have a white stripe in my hair, and I refuse to spend tons of money to cover it when it is the only "gray" I have... so I don't color my hair b/c of that issue... so I am not very informed about hair coloring.

I think what I notice most women doing is switching to lighter shades. Like.. if your hair is naturally a deep brown, keeping it that dark will start to look a bit odd after a certain age.. but if you can go lighter and use highlights/ lowlights/ whatever. That seems to be the more accepted form of coloring for women "of a certain age"

[delilah]

I'm 35 and just starting to get grey at the temples and a bit in my widow's peak. Like you, I'm unsure what to do about it. I haven't colored my hair in about 4 years. My hair is really dark brown, almost black, so the grey is really noticable.

Maybe one of those temporary box color kits would work without having to go through the pains of trying out a new permanant 'do?

[WBandMe]

Well, it's hard to speak for myself because I'm only 21 and the type of person that would be far too lazy to maintain color.

FH's mom is 50 and has left hers gray for a few years now... my mom is almost 57 and she still colors it blond (except she turns white in front and really dark brownish gray in black, so i think she'd look funny if she let it grow out hehe) and my grandma is almost 87 and she STILL colors hers a blondish reddish--so, I really don't know what to tell ya! I think it really depends on what you are most comfortable with. I think any more there is such an updated concept of older women, ie 40 is the new 20, that even if nobody believed that you don't color your hair, they still wouldn't think you were doing it because you wanted to look 29. Does that make sense? I'm rambling--point is, being happy will show more than any dye job out there, so do what makes you happiest and you'll look your best!

[shawnsgirl]

I'm close to 30 but probably have a little ways before the grays really start coming in. I get a few here and there but I guess I doesn't really bother me too much. Plus, You can't tell I have blonde hair. My grandma is almost 80 and still colors her hair blonde...Not kidding. But, it looks good and natural and I don't think it makes her look like she's holding onto her youth. I actually wouldn't like her to show her age with grey hair..It's kind of scary to watch somone you love get up there in age. Anyhow, I guess what I'm saying if the grey hair isn't you and you feel better with color and it's done right it should look natural and you won't look like your holding onto something that isn't there. I think age is beauty, and the most beautiful women I know are well out of their 40's! I think in my wedding photos I have a pic of my gram with her blonde hair, you'll see what I mean!

http://forums.onewed.com/showthread.php?t=12061&page=2

[SerendipityCrafts]

LOL I don't know what would make me happy. I am vain but I am also **** lazy. I have been colouring my hair for about 10 years now and to be honest, it would be so easy to let it go grey but ..... I have already decided that I don't want to be grey for my daughter's wedding (which isn't even an issue since she's only 19). :rofl:

I would also like to know how you go about it when you do decide to go grey. I swear the only thing that keeps me colouring it, is the 50/50 roots! It gets to be about an inch long and I rush back to the hair dresser to colour it again. I couldn't possibly last out a year or more, while the grey/natural all grows in.

Maybe I will have DH photoshop me with grey hair so I can see what it looks like, before I decide.

[shawnsgirl]

I know for one person it was the fact they HAD to stop coloring the greys. The chemicals were causing an allergic reaction!! She didn't have much of a choice.
Ok so I'm on the phone with my other Gram..She stopped coloring about 6 years ago.. She first said when she no longer cared what my PopPop thought about her looks, but then said when she stopped when she got sick of coloring it anymore.

I think the 50/50 roots is what keeps most people going with color but who knows..I'm sure everyone has their reason..

[SerendipityCrafts]

Wondering if they can die my hair grey (or strip it of colour) & salt n pepper it .... when I do decide to take the plunge. If that's possible, then I wouldn't have to do the skunk thang :)

The thing that really gets my goat is that DH is older than me but he only has ONE grey hair!!!! Now, that's just not right.

I am secretly wanting his hair to turn white and not grey LOL

Your grandma sounds like a hoot :)

[ChibiAiChan]

depends... i can't speak for myself but my mommy is 52 and she has gray hair. She colors it a light blonde because she says it comes in too dull... otherwise she would have left it. If it were me I would leave it cuz my lazy.... goodluck on your decision though, sorry I was not more help!

[WebLady]

When do you think you might stop colouring your hair?Never ;)

I used to dye my hair all the time and then decided to let it be natural for a while. That lasted until I started noticing a few grays (at about 30) and then my hair started getting dull looking. So I have been dying it again ever since.

I don't see myself ever stopping, the color may change, but I don't plan to just go gray. I may change my mind one day and say it is too much work, but for now I am fine with it.

DH's grandmother is 76 and still dyes her hair ;)

[bichonlvr]

NEVER!!!!! HA HA maybe when I am like 80ish and still kicking it!!!

I was JUST thinking about this. On Wednesday I was in a meeting with a lady, that had a youthful face, nice skin, pretty...but she had salt and pepper hair and it looked terrible! I mean really bad, she aged herself soo much!!!!

It is one of the first things people see...so it is all about appearance...Some people CAN get away with it, others not so much!

[frenchie]

I'm 20 so it's not an issue for me right now, but I think that when my head is 50/50 I'll probably dye it a prettier shade of silver/grey or something.

[lize566]

In your pictures I've seen, I don't think you would look like you were clingling onto your youth in any way. My mom just turned 50 and she still dyes her hair. She never dyed it until she starting getting grey. She dyes and get highlights, then when her roots start showing she uses a home dye or whatever and does it herself. So, I'm gonna say that you should dye your hair if you want to. Ultimately it's your decision (I guess you could ask you DH what he thought if you want ;)). I honestly have no idea what I would do-I'm only 23 and don't have to worry about that tahnkfully, but I think a lot of it will do with money and the time of getting it done :).