topic Re: Letting it Go Gray in Beauty

Letting it Go Gray

Suzy Q from PA — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 23:19:01 GMT

Anyone else tired of coloring gray hair? I swim everyday in a chlorine pool and it quickly takes out the color. I have been toying with letting it go gray. Thoughts??

Re: Letting it Go Gray

blackhole99 — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 23:22:42 GMT

I have not colored by dark hair for maybe 15 years and although I don't have a lot of gray hair ,I would not go to the trouble of coloring it.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

virgosun — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 23:42:42 GMT

if you look under search for graying hair you will find a lot of threads here that have discussed this numerous times.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

beautybee — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 00:04:40 GMT

I'd wear a swim cap. Besides even if you let it go gray, the chlorine still may harm your hair.

I tried going gray and it looked very patchy. Not a good look for me at all. I may revisit it later on, but for now I think I need to keep coloring.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

JANinNY — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 00:27:26 GMT

I'm in a quandary myself. Have colored my natural ash brown hair blond since I was a teen, all types, even double processed. Been letting the style and color grow out since November and am not liking it. The front is almost white, but the back is very dark. I honestly don't know what to do. As an ex-hairdresser, I can tell you that coloring is a science and very tricky to say the least. I gave up coloring my own hair about 15 years ago, but now I'm at the point where it has gotten too expensive and my hair grows like a weed. If I had all the money I've spent on my hair, I could retire.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

Kathlen — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 00:28:58 GMT

I tried it ... and by the time my hair was all grown out, I hated it and went back to coloring.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

YorkieonmyPillow — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 00:28:59 GMT

Have you thought about wearing a swim cap in the pool, or do they still make those?

Re: Letting it Go Gray

NYwoman — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 00:40:29 GMT

Wear a swim cap or a wig.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

NC Bandwagon — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 00:46:16 GMT

Hello, Diane1317.

Since you said that you swim and the color gets stripped really fast, maybe let it go silver. I'm sure it'll look just as nice. There's a brand called Nexxus that makes a product called Simply Silver Color Toning Shampoo, if that helps.

Or, like the other ladies suggested, try wearing a swim cap.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

juperier — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 00:46:41 GMT

The only time I dyed my hair consistently was while it grew out after a failed attempt to change colors while in college. It didn't even occur to me that I wanted to be locked into that whole process again when my hair later began to grey. My hair has now been grey for many years and I've received many, many complements on it during that time.

I say it depends on how you feel about grey hair and how the grey grows in. You won't know what color grey your hair will end up until you let it grow in. Assuming you don't have negative associations to grey hair, the worst part will be the "in-between" while it's growing in. I'm really glad that I let mine just change naturally.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

ritasNo1Fan — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 00:50:46 GMT

I let mine go natural after 30+ years. Doesn't look as dull gray and "old" as I expected. Turns out that the undyed color now is similar to what I was trying to get with the light ash blond Clairol. Surprise! No more extra expense and scalp irritation. I still use salon shampoo and conditioner. My hair was getting very resistant to any tints, even "permanent" colors.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

MomCat — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 01:03:39 GMT

I wear a swim cap. There are nice ones these days. I would never consider not coloring my hair. Not an option for me.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

kcladyz — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 01:09:14 GMT

Anyone know a good way to go natural and not cave and dye again? I want to grow out my natural color and the stray grays eventually have me cave in and i do a root touch up I started getting white hairs at age 26. I am 45 now

Re: Letting it Go Gray

ritasNo1Fan — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 02:16:48 GMT

It's takes awhile to get rid of tinted hair. Frequent cuts help. Good luck. :-)

Re: Letting it Go Gray

NC Bandwagon — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 02:23:17 GMT

On 3/30/2015 kcladyz said:
Anyone know a good way to go natural and not cave and dye again? I want to grow out my natural color and the stray grays eventually have me cave in and i do a root touch up I started getting white hairs at age 26. I am 45 now

In my opinion, let your hair grow out and let the grey strands be. No one will think they look bad. And if they do, then don't pay attention to them.

They say that grey hair is a sign of wisdom. You can always tell people that you're wise beyond your years and that's why your grey hair came so early.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

phoenixbrd — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 02:29:28 GMT

I swim regularly and have found that if I generously apply conditioner (buy a large size inexpensive brand) then put on a competitive swim cap. I rinse the conditioner out and shampoo as usual after swimming. The conditioner acts as a buffer and has greatly helped reduce any damage from the chorine.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

Katcat1 — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 02:34:34 GMT

I did over 6 years ago and never look back. My gray is salt & pepper but more salt definitely and I love it. I receive many compliments from the hair stylists on the color of my hair. I use Shakai Platinum shampoo for blondes & gray hair to remove the yellow. I was using Aveda's blue malva shampoo but I decided to try the Shakai and like it more and it's under $10 plus Shakai has the blue malva in it but is more conditioning than Aveda. Good luck to you. I had my hair cut short and in no time all the brown color was gone.

Re: Letting it Go Gray

LuLuBelle — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 03:55:23 GMT

Dianne, I can honestly say, it was tough growing out the color, but I kept it short, and I can tell you I'm not one to say "never." But I will say, I will NEVER again color my hair. I've not only come to peace with my grey, but I've come to love it! I get so many compliments on my salt and pepper - men love it, women love it and I love it. Good luck with whatever you decide - but with that said, if you don't try it, you'll never know! LuLu

Re: Letting it Go Gray

goodstuff — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 04:07:08 GMT

I was just talking with a woman I often see swimming at my community pool. She has the most beautiful silver-white hair in a stylish, youthful short cut and looks fantastic. She talked about the untidy process of letting her natural silver grow out after coloring for years and how "worth it" the trouble was. She says she loves her natural color and finds her hair is thicker and in much better condition now. I know other women who look great with natural silver/white hair, also. Wonder if I can ever get up the nerve?

Re: Letting it Go Gray

bonnielu — Tue, 31 Mar 2015 04:29:20 GMT

Like anything it is a personal thing. I am very happy I let mine go. I had died my hair from a young age... a sort of hobby. Loved to change my hair color. However my hair became resistant and the color would not take. I went to a professional who took over the task. I was happy for awhile and then I came down with vertigo. No more going backwards in a sink and I just stopped. To my surprise my hair grew out silver and shiny and with natural curl. For me my hair is perfect. My vertigo is gone but I am not going back to the hair color regiment. And I really don't look old. At least those who compliment me always remark just the opposite.