topic Re: Going gray — at 34 in Beauty

Going gray — at 34

Smc09 — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 11:43:31 GMT

Happy Tuesday all!
After much deliberation over the past 2 years, I have decided to finally let my natural gray/silver go natural. I started getting gray hair around the age of 23, my hair is naturally very dark brown. It wasn’t too bad at first, just a couple of strands here and there.
But around the age of 29, it was all throughout. I was having to get my hair dyed every 4 weeks.
My hair grows very quickly, so because of this, my new gray growth starts showing by day 10 after it is dyed.
Plus, my scalp has never done well with hair color, no matter what the brand. It would itch for right around a week after it was done.

So here I am, 34 years old, and letting the gray/silver do what it will!
My hairstylist is not thrilled with my decision, says I am way too young to let it go 🙄 but I’m happy with my decision and funny enough my husband told me last night he is happy with my decision, he thinks the gray/silver strands through my hair make it look unique and like glitter!

If any one has any advice on this process, I appreciate it!

Re: Going gray — at 34

RetRN — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 11:46:18 GMT

You are a wise young lady. Be yourself and you will be happy. Your hair and scalp will be happier too.

Re: Going gray — at 34

Miss Pepsi — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 11:54:39 GMT

Your hairstylist is not happy because it is money out of her pocket. Sorry but that is my honest opinion. I was older before I decided to just let mine be gray, I wish I would have done it much younger and not spent what turns out to be thousands of dollars over the course of many years coloring my hair. Wasted money and wasted time sitting in that chair. If I had to do it over again I would not.

You do what is right for you and don't worry about what your stylist says.

Re: Going gray — at 34

demanda — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 12:20:10 GMT

MissPepsi took the words right out of my mouth! Your stylist isn't happy because that is less money for her. You do what is best for you. I, too, started coloring my hair in my mid-20s. Since the start of COVID, I decided I would try to let mine go natural and see what it looks like. I am loving it! It is going to be a big change, but I like it. Wish I had never started coloring my hair to begin with. All the best to you and embrace the new you!!!

Re: Going gray — at 34

Somertime — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 12:33:13 GMT

Good for you! We are programmed to believe gray or silver hair is ageing and for old people. I think a silvery gray looks wonderful on someone who is young. It's starting to be popular among young people but they are paying to have their hair dyed that color!

You are fortunate to have those silver strands that sparkle, naturally, among the gray. It does shimmer and like your husband says...............glitter! Adjust your makeup since you are now a lighter color around your face.

Enjoy it!!!!! Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle!

Re: Going gray — at 34

millieshops — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 12:36:45 GMT

In the long run I’d say whether you’ll be happy gray at your age depends upon the texture of your hair and the color of it as it grays more plus your skin color.

My family pretty much all gray early. Some do really well and some just look old and worn before their time. You’ll know which you are.

i do not buy into the idea that natural is always best. Hurricanes and earthquakes and diseases are natural,too.

Re: Going gray — at 34

itsmagic — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 12:40:59 GMT

I commend you! I let my hair go gray/silver much later than you and I too wish I had done it sooner. I also had the itchy scalp thing after dyeing my hair no matter what brand. So now I like keeping my hair in its best condition (using hair masks, hydrating shampoo, a nice cut, a glossy spray to make it sparkle! 😁)

Re: Going gray — at 34

Vivian — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 12:43:11 GMT

My maternal grandparents were a study in hair contrasts. My grandmother and her siblings were all grey by 30. My grandfather had very little grey hair up until his dying day. At 73, I have been fortunate in inheriting Grandpa's hair. I was curious to see how my hair would grow out during quarantine and I had some grey at the temples. I colored it yesterday morning.

Re: Going gray — at 34

Imaoldhippie — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 12:52:57 GMT

I too had strands of gray hair in my 30's and I had it colored for years. In my 50's I thought about letting it go gray. I let it grow for about 6 weeks but it was a horrible battleship gray color, not at all attractive. So I waited about 10 years and somewhere in my early to middle 60's my gray turned white. I then got it cut short and had it bleached while growing out. Its now a very pretty white and I like it.

Re: Going gray — at 34

Dusty1 — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:00:14 GMT

I don't think your stylist is discouraging you because of loss of income. A lot of people are totally against letting your natural color, if that natural color is grey, grow out. It's just their conditioning or opinion.

I am sorry that your stylist didn't jump in & offer to help make that process easier for you. That makes a huge difference. I mentioned it to my stylist years ago. She agreed, said it would be a slow process, but every visit my hair looked the same.

I went to a different stylist & wasn't encouraged, so I kept going with a deep reddish brown color. I felt like they knew better. I wasn't happy with that stylist for various reasons & I started going to a different stylist.

I love her! She is so enthusiastic about anything that I suggest. At first I still went with the brown/red, but I went in one day & made a comment about wanting to let my hair go natural & she was all "You want to?! We can do that!"

That was in January. I am very happy with my hair. And, I went from spending $120 every 5 weeks to my last appointment (May 26) which cost $26.

On a different note, for those of you that get the itchy scalp when you color your hair I did get this great tip from a stylist.

She would add a packet of Sweet N Low in my color & my scalp never itched, again. I don't know the chemistry, but it worked!

Re: Going gray — at 34

Still Raining — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:06:18 GMT

It will be a lovely, unique look for you with much less maintenance. Enjoy!

Re: Going gray — at 34

fancy pantsy — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:08:04 GMT

good for you! i was only a little older than you when i gave up the color. i have never once regretted it. you sound comfortable with your decision, and i think you'll be very happy.

i am now 71 and i try to keep my hair cuts looking stylish and current.

it always kills me when people say (to my face) that they would NEVER let their hair go grey because it makes them look like an old lady. (so let me get this straight .... you think that if my hair was brown that i would look 45 again? LOL) i am 71 and i am comfortable being 71.

i had someone over doing some handyman jobs around here and happened to mention to him that i don't do ladders any more ... he asked why not? ... and he was stunned when i told him my age. so i guess i don't look too 'old lady'.

Re: Going gray — at 34

mom2four0418 — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:10:02 GMT

Only you know what your stylist's motives are for disagreeing with your decision. Color, not color, it is up to you and either way, you are still being yourself.

Re: Going gray — at 34

tototwo — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 14:03:11 GMT

Great decision!! You will look fabulous!

My hair gradually turned gray in my early 60's. At first, it looked like I had "frosted" my blonde hair - it was a very slow process. Because of my gray, I needed to tweak some of the makeup colors I use. That was fun! The way you apply makeup, and colors you wear, may need to change as your hair gets more gray.

Re: Going gray — at 34

ALRATIBA — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:58:07 GMT

No words of advice - just my best wishes!

It's been a year since I stopped coloring - so happy with my decision. I'm actually surprised at how nice my hair looks!

Re: Going gray — at 34

marmarbrooklyn — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 14:57:29 GMT

@Smc09

Congratualtions are making that decision ! I will soon be 57 and love my slver . I started showing a few grays in my early 40's . Mom went gray in her 20's , when my dad passed away at 65 he hardly had any . I used to highlight my fine dark brown hair for body . Then when my hairstylist went on maternity leave , my silver was coming through on the crown and sides like highlights . everyone started complimenting me saying these highlights are much prettier than your old ones .Even my stylist agreed they looked better . My advice would be number 1. is too look at your hair and skintone to see if you need to adjust makeup clothes. Depending on your skintone and gray color , sometimes if you wore lots of nude makeup colors or brown/ beige clothes they may drain your color a bit . I now wear colors i never wore before . 2. You can get a ton of inspirations , looks and tips form PIntrest plus I follow a few Youtube Channels and INSTAGRAM channels for silver hair . Some of my favs are : Naturally Graysful, Nikol johnson Beauty Beinvented , The gray book , Cindy Joseph Boom Cosmetics . There are several more you can search . My best advice is to have fun with it and experiment with styles ,clothes makeup !

Re: Going gray — at 34

Quse — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 15:03:33 GMT

@Smc09 wrote:
Happy Tuesday all!
After much deliberation over the past 2 years, I have decided to finally let my natural gray/silver go natural. I started getting gray hair around the age of 23, my hair is naturally very dark brown. It wasn’t too bad at first, just a couple of strands here and there.
But around the age of 29, it was all throughout. I was having to get my hair dyed every 4 weeks.
My hair grows very quickly, so because of this, my new gray growth starts showing by day 10 after it is dyed.
Plus, my scalp has never done well with hair color, no matter what the brand. It would itch for right around a week after it was done.

So here I am, 34 years old, and letting the gray/silver do what it will!
My hairstylist is not thrilled with my decision, says I am way too young to let it go 🙄 but I’m happy with my decision and funny enough my husband told me last night he is happy with my decision, he thinks the gray/silver strands through my hair make it look unique and like glitter!

If any one has any advice on this process, I appreciate it!

I let my hair go gray a number of years back, as keeping up with "blonde" was getting annoying. I LOVE my hair now. I can pull it back without "Oh no, roots, I have to touch them up".
Funny thing is, I had someone ask me if I dyed it this color and I laughed, "Who would dye their hair gray?". She replied "Oh it's all the rage with teens now, they are streaking theor hair...it's called silver something". I just laughed.
Then I went to a hairstylist in town that I go to when my guy isn't available and she said the same thing: people want the look, but it's really difficult to do.
Also, during the covid shut down, I noticed a significant lack of "selfies" from my high school friends, bcz they hadn't been to a hairstylist in months...lol
Not one for "selfies" but I really wanted to post a bunch (I didn't) bcz it's liberating to not have the cost/time/upkeep of hair color that isn't natural.
Do your own thing, if you like it, go with it...

Re: Going gray — at 34

IMW — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 15:15:41 GMT

Good for you! Consider changing hair stylist. Wear flattering colors and makeup. White gold or silver looks great.

Rejoice in your natural beauty, ignore naysayers. Let them be a slave to chemicals, expense and appointments.

Don't ask stylist opinion, tell them this is what you've

decided.

Re: Going gray — at 34

bargainsgirl — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 15:26:10 GMT

How timely is this! I will be 67 in a few weeks. I have dark brown chin length hair. I have been debating what to do about going gray for a few years. Since the virus hit, I have not colored at all since end of Feb.! It is mostly silvery around my face/hairline and very little gray throughout. Some days I like it some I don't. Still not sure what to do. I have a box of Madison Reed here just in case!! Wish they had grey dye so one can see a total affect!!

Good luck to you and I commend you on your decision!!

Re: Going gray — at 34

CelticCrafter — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 16:09:18 GMT

You can always change your mind if you don't like the final results once it's all grown out.