Haircolor

[Freedom]

From my Mum's side of the family, we are all gray by the mid - 20's. Thanks, Mum.

I was working initially, and went to a salon. Once I stopped working to care for Dad, couldn't really afford that. I like Clairol's Natural Instinct and use that. It comes with a tube of conditioner which leaves the hair so soft!

With both the salon and on my own I tried to stick to my natural color for many years, a dark brown with some auburn. Then earlier this year the receptionist at the vet suggested I try Egyptian Plum. What a great color for those of us with olive skin tones! I buy it at CVS for $6.99, and don't have to spend 2 hours plus at a salon.

[Grace]

I'm a few years older than pomtzu, and I have very little gray - scattered through my hair - which is medium brown. Once upon a time I had highlights, done at a salon, and really liked the effect.

I used to envy my brother - he got the blond hair that got lighter every summer when he was out on Narragansett Bay. Now I don't envy him - he's got more gray than I do, and lots less hair

[Queen of Poop]

Grey hair is less porous, thus won't grab and hold any color for any length of time.

I've gone a few shades lighter with some much lighter hilights and I can't see the grey at all. But my hair grows really fast and I have roots showing around 3 weeks so I see my stylist every 5 weeks.

A good shampoo that won't strip the color will help extend your color. There are many out there made specifically for colored red, brown, blonde, etc. hair. Condition the heck out of it too so it doesn't get dryed out.

I found my first greys at 17 and have been coloring ever since. I did have the good fortune of working in a hair salon many years ago and learned some good tricks as well as all the fabulous things they can do with color.

[Taz_Zoee]

I do not have grey hair......at least that's my story. My hair is so many colors of blonde and brown that you wouldn't see one or two grey strands anyway.
But I go to the salon for my hair color (had a horrible home experience and swore I'd never do it myself again...I looked like Tony the Tiger). I have not figured out the correct way to state exactly what I want to my stylist. But I think I have it now. So next time hopefully I will get the color how I want it.

My mom has super thick dark brown hair. When she finally started going grey (in her late 40's early 50's) she started using box color (what ever brand is cheapest at the time, usually Clariol I think). So with her natural dark color and then the reddish/auburn color she adds it just looks like she has natural red highlights in her hair. She didn't go mostly grey in the front like most people do. She had speckles throughout her hair so it looks nice. I'm hoping to take after her in the grey hair department. My dad is basically all grey now and he is in his mid 60's.

[neko1]

I go to a salon, it's expensive but I love the results.

My hair color is the brightest, reddest red they have at the salon. I'm the only client that uses it!

My red used to fade very fast, but now that I've been coloring red for awhile, it lasts a little longer.

[chocolatepuppy]

I'm a natural blonde, but my hair is getting darker and darker. So a few years ago I started using Sun In spray and my blow dryer. Just enough to still look blonde and have highlights. I haven't went gray 'yet' at 54.

[sparks19]

My color comes from a box lol

It's permanent color but it's red so it fades badly. Now that I've been doing the same color for a year now it doesn't fade as badly as it used to and it doesn't stain the towels like it used to when I first started.

[dab_20]

I don't color, but very soon I will need to. My dad had premature gray. I have a lot of gray hairs around my face... I'm only 19! I found my first gray hairs at 14 years old! I just don't want to because I have very course/curly hair and I don't need something to make it more frizzy than it already is.

[pomtzu]

Another VERY important issue to be considered before you do anything to your hair, whether it be in a salon or at home ~~ medications and health issues. I'm not an expert on the subject, but my beautician is, therefore I listen to what she says.

If you have had recent surgery with anesthesia, certain medications that you might be taking, and even certain health conditions, can all effect the way your hair reacts to any chemical treatment, be it coloring, a perm, straightening, etc. This should be brought up with the salon, or asked of someone in the know if you are doing it yourself at home.

If in doubt - check it out - and don't assume that just because you haven't had a problem in the past - that you won't ever have any.

Just sayin'.........

[finn's mom]

I saw my first grey at 15, my mother was 100% silver by the time she was 40. I waited til I was nearly 30 and then couldn't put it off any longer. I'm 35 and spent the first few years getting my hair done by an amazing colorist friend of mine. I haven't been able to afford him since Clara was born, so I just rely on box color, which I have to apply every 3-4 weeks, because my greys are really resistant!

[Suki Wingy]

I do it myself. I used to do it quite frequently as I used semi permanent colors that I had to keep touching up. Lately though my job has not allowed me to have any colors at all so I've been stuck going between an almost red auburn brown and a darker, closer to my natural color brown.

The unfortunate thing is I feel like my creativity has been drained greatly ever since I've been forced to stay with shades naturally occurring.

[Karen]

The unfortunate thing is I feel like my creativity has been drained greatly ever since I've been forced to stay with shades naturally occurring.

You could always clip in colorful bits when you leave work!

I once thought of just coloring the "underneath" hair - I guess level with the middle of the ears and down - a nice green, so it'd be there when I move my head, but could also be stealthy - unless I stuck my hair in a ponytail!

I never did it mainly because I have such sensitive skin, I'd probably have a violent reaction to the dye, so it's not worth taking the chance. And green would be a hard color to get and maintain, I know, particularly since my hair is a dark brown with reddish streaks naturally, the opposite side of the color spectrum. I went to college with a girl who changed her name to Tineuvial and colored her hair green, but she stopped the green when she realized it was staining her pillowcase!

[mrspunkysmom]

I'm a natural blonde, but my hair is getting darker and darker. So a few years ago I started using Sun In spray and my blow dryer. Just enough to still look blonde and have highlights. I haven't went gray 'yet' at 54.

Same here. Natural Blonde for most of my life. The last 10 years or so it started getting much darker and didn't lighten as easy. My skin tones are those of a natural redhead and I have always worn clothing to reflect this.

About 4 years ago, I decided to clean up the now dishwater blonde. I had a choice of using Summer Blonde or dyeing it another color. I decided a change was needed.

In the past, bottled color didn't stick and left me a nice golden blonde. So I found a stylist that colored (not all do) and now it stays red. We start with something akin to Malaysian Cherry and let a fade over several weeks. She mixes the color herself, the color comes from a tube, not the bottle, and she uses additives to strengthen it and modify the tones.

It's worth the 60 bucks every 9 to 12 weeks.

I do have greys but I have a STRESSFUL job and I am sure that has added to them. to my bosses

You gotta do what you gotta do.

[happylabs]

If I were younger I would go blonde with pink highlights! Maybe when I go gray I'll put in light pink highlights.

[Suki Wingy]

happylabs the grandma at the house I live in (I rent part out) had some hot pink highlights a few years ago.