This is my hair:
It’s a little harder to tell in this picture than it seems in real life, but I have a fair schwack of greys coming in. Ever since the number of greys I could count reached double digits, I have been colouring my hair. I usually colour it brown, as close of a match to my natural colour as I can. But lately, I’ve been thinking about a change. It’s actually been a very long time since I got my hair professionally cut and coloured (ahem…the last time I was at the hairdresser was late August of 2009…yikes!)
So. Clearly I need to get a haircut, but what to do about the colour and the matter of the grey hair? I’ve been pondering a few options, and I’d love your suggestions.
1. Let the grey grow in. Why not? I’m 40 after all, it’s not that outrageous to think I’d be going a little grey. I don’t remember my mom running off to colour her hair every six weeks when I was growing up, but I do remember her having the nicest salt and pepper hair.
2. Radical change. I’ve gone dark brown before, but with my pinkish, freckly complexion it’s honestly not the best colour on me. Plus, my current hair colour is brown already (albeit a bit auburn-ish) so it’s not that big of a change. But what about blonde? Or red? Keep in mind, I’m not the best at keeping it up once I get started (to wit: my 7-month gap between haircuts).
3. Keep the status quo. I could always just keep touching up my roots with the colour I have. It’s easy and familiar.
And now for the style. Because it’s been so long since my last haircut, I’m currently sporting a bit of an overgrown bob. The bangs have grown out, but with my MASSIVE forehead, I’m not sure that’s my favourite look. Here’s about what my hairstyle looks like now:
Soooo…what should I do about the hairstyle? Go short? Keep it longer (with a trim, of course)? Middle of the road? And bangs? Leave them longer or bring them back?
Okay, so? What should I do? Give me your feedback in the comments. I promise to take your advice to heart when I go to the hairstylist.
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You could do a side-swept bang! Also I like your current colour – nice pic.
Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I think I will go dramatic with the colour (can always dye it back if I hate it, right?)
One question to everyone though: what about the BANGS?
I have a friend who stopped colouring her hair and she loves the easy upkeep of it. I personally will fight looking my age for as long as possible. I try to stay as close to my natural colour as possible as well so that it’s not as critical if I’m late colouring. If you’re looking for a change, I think you should do something different with the commitment that you’ll keep it up at least for the summer. You can go back to at home colourings for the winter.
Re:the grey…I think colouring depends on how the grey is growing in. My grey was all in one splotch just off-centre above my right eye. I started noticing that, as people talked to me, they frequently glanced up to that big grey splotch…I used to count how many times they’d glance up at the SPOT during a conversation. So colouring was my choice and likely will continue for some time. If my grey was coming in evenly throughout my head, I might let it go back to natural. But still, after about 10 years, I still have lop-sided grey and the colouring continues. Besides, I’m not ready to think of myself as “old” and the wrinkles aren’t too bad yet, so colouring keeps me feeling youthful. Good luck!
Oooh Kath! FUN! Do you have a stylist that you trust because it’s always fun to just let them have free reign if you’re open to it and honest with them about how often you’re able to upkeep. I went from my blonde to red a few years ago – nightmare…wouldn’t stick. So I ended up black – yup black and while it was fun for a bit, I never felt pretty. Ever. I waited a few years and went back to blonde. Just remember it’s only hair and it grows back!