Coloring gray again - Page 2

september · ‎03-09-2010

@suzyQ3wrote:
Uh-oh.

lol! A hot topic here.

Ive never stopped coloring my hair, but it is always thicker after I have my roots colored. The dye adds some extra thickness and body. I’ve seen what my hair will look like if I stop using color...I just have to look at my mom. Her hair is now very fine and straight. She is okay with it, and that’s what counts. I’m not in my 80’s and don’t want to have that look.

phoenixbrd · ‎03-27-2010

@mac116 You answered my question. What if a person found out their hair was growing in white and not grey? I think grey can look stunning....might have an issue with the white. However, I truly respect those who buck the storm and have the confidence to go "natural".

@mac116wrote:
I am so confused about what to do about my hair. I color it myself, a "natural" color of reddish blonde (ginger?). I was thinking about letting it go gray , so I let the roots grow out a bit to ask my stylist about having her do highlights of the gray to aid the growing out. It would be extra $$$ for her, since she only cuts my hair and I color at home. She told me that my "gray" was mostly WHITE! So now I'm back to coloring...

Shanus · ‎05-17-2010

@Elomwrote:
Has anyone let their hair grow in Gray and then 2 years later coloring again? I am really on the fence this gray hair seems to wash my complexion out and I think makes it look thinner as I have always had fine flat hair. Anyone?

@Elom I won’t try to talk you back from the ledge, but....I’m going on my second yr. after going through h*ll letting all the dark dye grow off my naturally white hair...been coloring it the dark brown it was when I was growing up. I was all grey by 30 and had been coloring every 3 weeks for almost 4 decades!

Few women are as fair as I am...porcelain, white china fair w/ white hair....some grey towards the back....I cried & thought it was a big mistake for months. I have let it continue to be natural, use a purple shampoo that makes it bright and shiny, no yellow.

Dragged my butt to Nordstrom to get my makeup done and told them I’d been a brunette (dyed) my whole life & now w/ white hair felt pale, old and washed out....One hour later I left the store $250 poorer, but felt like a million dollars!! New blush, bronzer, a pink/rosy tone lipstick, less foundation, eyebrows filled in w/ taupe pencil....a new me!

Please don’t give up until you give different makeup a try. BTW, if your hair is thinning, coloring it and adding more damage will make that situation worse. Lighter hair shows less scalp through it than darker hair. Maybe try a different hairstyle, etc.

Just try anything and everything before you give up and go back to color. It’s so very difficult to grow it all out again to grey. You can always start coloring again if all else fails.

bonnielu · ‎03-11-2010

My hair is silver. I had colored my hair since I was 12 years old (for fun). I had no idea that in my 20's I was actually getting gray, not just any gray burt white. My hair became color resistant and I quit trying. I am so happy with just being ME and I do get compliments.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@ElomWhat color was your hair before you turned gray? If it was black or dark brown, gray hair will usually come in silver and may or may not turn white as you get older. If you had red or natural blonde, it will probably come in white instead of gray.

Those people who had light to medium brown hair with natural blonde highlights from being in the sun, usually do not gray gracefully. Their hair looks mousy and is not an attractive color mixes with gray. Most of these ladies will prefer to color their hair a blond shade in lieu of going gray or white.

It is these women who usually try growing out their gray hair and give up and start coloring again.

What ever you feel comfortable with is okay. I wouldn’t advise anyone to color their hair black or very dark brown if they are older. A shade or two lighter is much more attractive with older skin.

Shanus · ‎05-17-2010

@Carmiewrote:
@ElomWhat color was your hair before you turned gray? If it was black or dark brown, gray hair will usually come in silver and may or may not turn white as you get older. If you had red or natural blonde, it will probably come in white instead of gray.

Those people who had light to medium brown hair with natural blonde highlights from being in the sun, usually do not gray gracefully. Their hair looks mousy and is not an attractive color mixes with gray. Most of these ladies will prefer to color their hair a blond shade in lieu of going gray or white.

It is these women who usually try growing out their gray hair and give up and start coloring again.

What ever you feel comfortable with is okay. I wouldn’t advise anyone to color their hair black or very dark brown if they are older. A shade or two lighter is much more attractive with older skin.

@Carmie Huh? My hair was dark brown...almost black and at 20 the grey hair started coming in white/silver. It was so noticeabley white at the part, I colored it dark every 3 wks. My hair didn’t turn grey and most of the women in my family went grey (white) by 30 were also brunettes. I gave last year and stopped coloring at 68.

I would think being blonde or any light shade would make the transition to grey/white much easier to get used to since you’ve seen yourself w/ lighter hair around your face all along.

Going from dark hair to white was a shocker. It’s a broad statement to say brunettes turn grey not white, blondes turn mousey, etc. Every head of hair is different.

Sweet_Serenity · ‎01-22-2016

@beautybeewrote:
I tried growing out my hair. It looked like a rat gray tone. Horrible! I love the platinum gray that I see on some ladies. So I am waiting a few years and will try to grow it out again. There is nothing wrong with going gray, but you have to feel good about it.

Well said...What's the point if you feel uncomfortable.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

@Shanuswrote:
@Carmiewrote:
@ElomWhat color was your hair before you turned gray? If it was black or dark brown, gray hair will usually come in silver and may or may not turn white as you get older. If you had red or natural blonde, it will probably come in white instead of gray.

Those people who had light to medium brown hair with natural blonde highlights from being in the sun, usually do not gray gracefully. Their hair looks mousy and is not an attractive color mixes with gray. Most of these ladies will prefer to color their hair a blond shade in lieu of going gray or white.

It is these women who usually try growing out their gray hair and give up and start coloring again.

What ever you feel comfortable with is okay. I wouldn’t advise anyone to color their hair black or very dark brown if they are older. A shade or two lighter is much more attractive with older skin.
@Carmie Huh? My hair was dark brown...almost black and at 20 the grey hair started coming in white/silver. It was so noticeabley white at the part, I colored it dark every 3 wks. My hair didn’t turn grey and most of the women in my family went grey (white) by 30 were also brunettes. I gave last year and stopped coloring at 68.

I would think being blonde or any light shade would make the transition to grey/white much easier to get used to since you’ve seen yourself w/ lighter hair around your face all along.

Going from dark hair to white was a shocker. It’s a broad statement to say brunettes turn grey not white, blondes turn mousey, etc. Every head of hair is different.

I used the words mostly and usually, of course many people are different. I am a hair dresser, so what I am saying is a constant for most people, but not all. I had to study this in order to understand color and what shades work on hair types.

Dark hair usually turns silver first for most people, then white for some. That statement is 100% true. Very few brunettes go right to the white stage without going silver first, but it does happen.

It isn't unusual for 30 year olds or younger to already have gray hair, especially if they are caucasian.

No where did I say that blonds get mousy...they, as well as redheads don’t. The mix of white with blond or red is actually very pretty.

oh, by the way. My hair was naturally black and I have extremely light skin and very light steel blue eyes. I colored my hair until I was 49, then left it grow out. My hair is now salt and pepper....a little black with mostly bright silver.

the growing out transition was very easy for me and I was not shocked at all. People ask me all of the time “ who colors your hair?”

I don’t wear makeup and I do not look washed out.

Shanus · ‎05-17-2010

IMHO, complexion color has more to do w/ how you’ll like yourself in grey/white hair. Complexions with more fair skin tones, although we look more pale, can adjust our makeup to be a bit brighter to pop up our complexions. Olive tones have a more difficult time amping up the lips, blush and eyes.

My Mom’s hair is white, she has light olive skin and has a “time” getting makeup shades that go w/ her hair...a lot of contrast. My friend who stopped coloring her dark brown hair 2 yrs. ago has dark olive skin, her hair turned grey w/ a lot of brunette still in it and she was not thrilled with how it “yellowed” her complexion, but not turning back. We worked to find an olive foundation that was more neutral/less yellow and a tiny drop lighter. Now all’s good.

Everyone is different, reactions to how they look w/ natural hair varies. The amount of time to get to the all natural color with no dye varies. In my case, I always had a short, curly pixie cut, so by frequent cuts, I got there faster. For most it’s a long and stressful experience not to be entered into lightly...not until you’re ready. Of course, you can always go back to coloring, but to me, the damage and timing my life around those 3 wk. appts. made my decision easier.

ALRATIBA · ‎07-15-2016

I did. When I retired in 2010 - I thought I'd go natural. Took months and by the time it was grown out, I hated it. I went back to coloring and plan on continuing it.