To Dye or Not To Dye?
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free skin care · Wed Jan 16, 2008 12:53 am

I can't decide. To Dye my hair or let it go white. I'm 50 years old. Which means I'm not fooling anyone with my "youthful appearance". Laughing

I really am tired of getting bad dye jobs, roots and dry hair. My girlfriends all say "don't do it" like I'd be betraying the sisterhood of secret hair dying or something! My husband says I'd look older but it's up to me and it wouldn't bother him.(Now that sounds passive aggressive). Is anyone out there taking the plunge? My one fear is that I'd look really washed out.

free skin care · Wed Jan 16, 2008 3:01 am

My mom is in her sixties and she's starting to go white, and for the past few years I've kept encouraging her to let her natural color grow in. She kept dyeing it, but the dye color wasn't really what her natural pre-graying color would be, and I just thought it looked a bit off. But I tend to be of the opinion that everyone looks better with their natural color.

Anyway, she finally started leaving it alone and letting the white grow in, and I personally think it looks really nice. But then again, I agree that it could "age" you appearance-wise, if you go from being 100% non-white to 100% white rapidly -- mostly because of the stark difference. Because of her coloring, it looks sort of like blondish highlights until you look really close, but that's not the case for everyone, I know.

Personally, I think silvery-white hair and salt-and-pepper hair is just so beautiful. But then, gray is one of my favorite colors, and I just think it looks very regal and ethereal and lovely to have gray hair -- like you're wise and command a certain authority that you can't get away with when you're a young'in. I realize that may not help much coming from a 26-year-old, but I truly think white and gray hair can look exceptionally beautiful, regardless of whether or not it "ages" you.

I also think it can sometimes be the most flattering thing to just not worry about fighting your age. (For example, I have some pals in their 30s and 40s who try to pull of outfits that I feel I'M too old for at 26 -- super-short skirts and glitzy young girl trends -- I just think it's more flattering to resign yourself to aging naturally, within reason. I know there's a whole range of opinions on what's age-appropriate for every given age range, but I guess I feel like I'm kidding myself if I try to don the kinds of outfits (super short/tight/glitzy clubbing tops, etc.) that I wore when I was 18 and whatnot.

K, this got WAY longer and more philosophical than I meant, hahaha. I bet you look stunning with white hair, but if you're not ready for the plunge, maybe you could try doing semi-permanent color that fades, and letting it fade out slowly? That might minimize the obvious roots and make the transition less difficult for you. Good luck and be proud of the look you decide on no matter what it is!

free skin care · Thu Jan 17, 2008 11:56 pm

Thank you ginnieliz. Your perspective helps. My Mom had beautiful white hair and she always looked great. I like the idea of a semi permanent dye. I guess I'll try it. I can always colour it if I change my mind.

free skin care · Fri Jan 18, 2008 4:00 am

Go with a semi permanent in order to let it grow out without looking to stark a contrast. Alternatively you could try a couple of herbal ways of darkening your hair, namely using either strong rosemary or sage (or both) tea as a hair rinse after washing. These only work with brown hair.

free skin care · Fri Jan 18, 2008 9:38 am

Glad I could help! I'm sort of eagerly looking forward to having white hair someday. And I will never, EVER cut it short and do the old-lady-rollers style. White/gray hair is WAY too chic to waste on such an overdone look! I'll be sporting sharp angled bobs and fun layers and updos until I leave this world.

Mon Jan 21, 2008 4:19 am

What colour is your hair if youdon't dye it? White, dark grey or light grey it makes a difference.
White is quite a cool colour or silver. What's the point in all those great products out there if you don't use them. Go for a natural colour with lots of lights in it to make it look interesting. Also find a great colourist they are out there ask around.

Mine would be dark grey and would look awful I'm 45 next week. I would never go grey I'll keep dying it till I die! Very Happy

Sorry if that's not the answer you want.
Karen

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