For Ladies Only: To Dye or not to Dye?

[frugalone]

I'm considering letting my grey hair grow in. It's about halfway there now (my hair is short and somewhat curly). However, every time I see it in a photo or mirror, little springy gray hairs are sticking up and I think "witch."

I hate the *process* of having it dyed--it is smelly and uncomfortable. But I have a rather youthful face (I am in my late 40s) and I'm afraid the hair would age me quite rapidly. I guess I am youth-centric enough not to want to look "old."

Your take? Do you dye? or not? if not how old were you when you stopped and do you have regrets?

Thanks!

[Tussiemussies]

Hi frugal one, I am going through the same question in my mind. My hair dyed makes me look so much younger, I am 51, but when I don't dye, it really ages me. The reason I don't want to dye is because it's such a messy process thatI always put it off and wind up most of the time with the skunk stripe down the middle. I am also very concerned about the chemicals in the dye and in shampoo/conditioners. In order for me to use a natural castille soap on my hair to wash, first I asked the company and they said that it will lift up the cuticle of the hair, that is why it cleans so thourghly. This was Dr. Bronner's that I had corresponded with. So when you dye your hair it also lifts up the cuticle of your hair that is one reason it won't work and the second reason is because when you use a soap like Dr. Bronner's you need to do a diluted vinegar or lemon juice rinse, which I'm sure with dyed hair would do something to the color.

So we each have our hair delemna, I don't want all those chemicals(I used to dye my hair with permenant henna) which has no chemiclals but takes over 2 hours to process and makes a huge mess. But I still want to look as young as I can. I know I am vain!!! Christine

[bunnys]

I've heard dyeing your hair dark colors is not good (healthy) but going with light or blonde is perfectly fine.

I am 48 and highlight my hair. I have a lot of fine gray in the front and have been putting low and highlights in my hair for awhile. Last time I had it done I had the stylist leave some gray showing so it would blend with the blonde. This was in mid-March. I am a teacher and no one has really seen how bad my hair looks now for 2 months. I'm having it highlighted again on Monday. I am going to have them do a really light ash blonde only (no lowlights this time) and see how that blends with some gray. I don't feel like I have to cover every single gray and that way I can go a little longer between colorings and not have those ugly gray roots looking like a flashing neon sign saying "color time."

Eventually, I am going to let myself go gray. I'm expecting this will be sometime in my mid-50's to 60 when my wrinkles get bad enough to make coloring it preposterous. But not yet.

I hope this new plan works and it looks good. I can't wait until Monday. I'm so in need of a cute cut, too.

[pony mom]

Organic color covers gray well, and no harmfull chemicals.

[Tussiemussies]

I wonder if I go back to using henna, which I know that it coats the hair, if I can use the rinses you need with a natural shampoo? Anyone know?

[Rosemary]

I'm in my early 40s and still just have a few gray hairs - but when it changes, it changes. I won't dye it. I have a general stance against using unnecessary chemicals.

[Zoe Girl]

How timely, I have been growing mine out to gray. I have been waiting 5 years and I am 45. Before this there was not enough white hair to think it would look good. So during that time I had fun dying it, and used some pretty dark colors. Back in march I started going lighter and lighter with my home dye jobs. Then a month or so before school was out I stopped (I work in schools). I did the pony tail thing all summer for camp so it is getting grown out. Then when we went back to training I got a cute shorter cut. I have actually had someone ask about my highlights, and it is just that I stopped dying it. But with going lighter and lighter every month I really do not have any line.

So I think if you have a lot of white up front it looks really nice, and plus it is a trend right now. But here is my secret. I use the manic panic virgin snow toner. It really only works on hair dyed the very lightest blond. Some of my hair is light enough that it is more white now. The manic panic toner makes very light dyed hair go white (not natural light hair). I put it on every 3 weeks and it has faded out that line very well. It is not permanent hair dye either, check out the details on their web site. I also use the white hair shampoo that makes it super shiny. All of these things are at Sally Beauty Supply.

[try2bfrugal]

I dye my hair. I have kept it blonde with light blonde highlights. It probably isn't the most healthy thing to do but I like the way it looks. I did find a much cheaper stylist than I used to go and I only have it done every 2 months or so. The gray roots do not show up very much mixed in with the blonde and the lighter highlights since the contrast isn't that great, so I don't have to have it done very often.

I have thought about trying to color it myself, but I have never done that before. I am not sure how it would turn out or even what product to use.

[lizii]

I had my natural blonde colour until I was 30 years old. It turned into a mousey brown colour, which looked horrible, so I started having it dyed a light blonde.

I did this through my working life to look younger, but once I retired I let it grow out a bit and then had the brown ends cut off until was all gone.

By then the grey hair started growing, and I just let it grow in (my hair grows very quickly), until it was entirely grey, which by then suited my ageing face.

A couple of weeks ago I walked up the street with a picture I'd found to have the same haircut by a lady barber. Now I have a very short and totally flattering haircut, so no more hair falling on my face. This haircut is exactly what I wanted and will keep it like this forever.

[morning girl]

We are almost never happy with our hair. If it's curly we want straight or curly we want straight. My Mother would moan that she never would have pretty gray hair. When she died at 77 her hair was salt and pepper. I lightened my hair for many years. I stopped to save money. I'm 60 and have just a few gray hairs. if my hair goes gray it will be OK. My grand daughter told her mom gray hairs were her magical powers. Attitude is everything!