colored hair going back to grey
Printed From: HairBoutique.com
Category: Hair Talk
Forum Name: Hair Color
Forum Description: The tricks and tribulations of changing your hair color
URL: https://talk.hairboutique.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=49480
Printed Date: October 04 2025 at 9:38am
Topic: colored hair going back to grey
Posted By: Sharoneliz
Subject: colored hair going back to grey
Date Posted: January 03 2007 at 1:59pm
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How does one easily and without cutting off the long strands....go from colored brown back to grey? (I must admit that I have no idea what my normal color is now. It could be white and it could be grey.
Thanks  ------------- Sharon |
Replies:
Posted By: rk66
Date Posted: January 27 2007 at 10:38am
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I've always wondered about this one myself. I've been coloring my hair due to excessive grey since I was 25...15 years!!! It's so grey now that I've thought seriously about letting it go. My neighbor is 50 and has the most beautiful grey, silver hair. I should probably ask her how she got to that point.
Unfortunately, I think you really have to cut it as it grows out..that's what my hairdresser told me.
Maybe when I get closer to 50 I'll try it, but I'm too vain right now.
Let me know what you find out, please.
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Posted By: txs girl
Date Posted: January 28 2007 at 5:29pm
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the only way is to cut it off....
the only possible alternative is to bleach the tar out of it (by foiling in heavy highlights) and putting a grey toner/color on it.....
i wouldn't reccomend it....and i wouldn't do it on any client...unless they were desperate...cause the outcome would be so unpredictable..
good luck! a ------------- "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord, "plans for good, and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope" Jer 29:11 |
Posted By: nursie
Date Posted: January 28 2007 at 6:01pm
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a lady i work with was sick of having her gray hair colored brown, so she first had it colored to a light brown...then a few months later she had it frosted (yes, that old-timey pull through the cap and bleach)...she got it frosted a little heavier about three times (spaced several weeks apart) and then kept up with trims as her natural gray grew out
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Posted By: Sugarloaf
Date Posted: February 16 2007 at 4:30pm
| I did just this last year. It took 18 months and I got some (not many) funny looks. Now it is lovely and gets more compliments than when I paid a small fortune to keep it dyed. It was definitely worth what I went through. Apart from one set of highlights to soften the growth line, I basically just stopped dying it. I decided that was the quickest way. |
Posted By: rk66
Date Posted: February 16 2007 at 5:19pm
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Do you have any before and after photos you'd be willing to send me?
I'm tired of coloring my hair every 3 weeks to keep my gray out! I'm only 40, but my hair is at least 50 - 75% gray. I'm nervous because I'm starting a new career this year (nursing) and am afraid I'll look older than I am if I let it go, but I REALLY am so tired because it must be done every 3 weeks! I've had to color my hair since I was 25 because of the gray!
Thanks!
Renee
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Posted By: chinastop
Date Posted: February 16 2007 at 6:49pm
| Yes some people who bleach to pale yellow and use Shimmer Lights purple shampoo or ash toners too often will actually "go gray or white" by accident so it is an option! |
Posted By: Sugarloaf
Date Posted: February 17 2007 at 5:54am
| No photos, sorry. I tend to be the person taking them in my family so I'm not in many. I even avoided them at the growing out stage because I won't claim it was pretty. My dyed colour was dark brown and my grey is very light, so you can imagine what it looked like! Now the brown is all gone and I'm left with white, grey and almost black stripes. I actually like it and some people think it was streaked at a hairdressers. I'm not sure whether that is a compliment or not. |
Posted By: sofine
Date Posted: February 17 2007 at 8:33am
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Wow, that's cool! I've also thought about "letting" the grey out. I think I have about 40% grey with a dark blonde to brown base color....but it's hard to tell after coloring since jr. high! God, hard to imagine how much I've spent on my hair all these years. How much grey do you have and what is your base hair color? Do you feel like you look older at all? I'm 38 and don't want to look 15 years older! ------------- SoFine |
Posted By: Sugarloaf
Date Posted: February 18 2007 at 2:21pm
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Oh, sorry I had to laugh...I'm almost the age you don't want to look like!!! HOWEVER...I don't look any older than 38. In fact, I've seen 28 year olds who look 50.. These days, healthy living, lucky genes and a good skin mean you can stay looking young for decades. I don't smoke or sunbathe and walk everywhere. I have a young outlook and mix easily with younger people. People I work with look confused when I mention my age.
My original colour is very dark brown and I now have about 60% white and grey. My skin glows now. When I was using dye I looked washed out. For a short time I was doing a good job with bad pay. I worked out that maintaining my "brown hat" was going to cost a big percentage of my take-home pay. It just wasn't worth it.
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Posted By: sofine
Date Posted: February 21 2007 at 11:29am
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Ooopss! Hope I didn't inadvertantly offend! It's really cool to hear that you're happy with your natural color and that you look terrific. I also feel that my various hair color choices make me looked washed out or just not quite "right". But, I've seen other people in my "age bracket" that have gone grey and they look more "tired" and unfortunately older. Only a few seem to pull it off. Guess I'm still not sure, but I know I'm sick to death of coloring. And as you mentioned, the cost is ridiculous, even when I do it on my own! Oh well, I'm gonna try to grow it out and see how long I last with the transition. Thanks for sharing your experience!
------------- SoFine |
Posted By: Want white
Date Posted: March 05 2007 at 5:33pm
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I said the same thing just weeks ago, "Maybe when I'm older I'll be able to go grey/white." And then I dyed it dark again and to my surprise I wish I hadn't and I hated the darker color on me. I guess people were right. They had said that my silver/white hair was stunning. I thought they were just being nice and ignored their compliments. Now I'm wanting to achieve that nice look of white hair framing my face. It was much more softening to my features and going dark again seemed to have instantly aged me. More and more people are liking the grey/ white hair and I'd say if you like it... go for it. As for just how to do it?... I'm still waiting on that same question. Good Luck.
Want White |
Posted By: Want white
Date Posted: March 05 2007 at 5:39pm
| OOPS!! Just realized how many answers you got and they have been helpful. Forgive me I'm new at forums. |