Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can dye your hair your natural color to hid grays as well. It isn’t necessary to go lighter.

This gets harder and harder, more expensive and time consuming, the more grey you get. That’s why most people realize, as OP has, that it’s easier to go lighter.

OP here. Yes, I agree with PP's statement. That said the other important factor is that as we age those of us with fair skin and dark hair start to look like the walking dead, crypt-keeper with that pasty skin and "old face, young hair" look. Every time I see a woman or man (who has fair skin) with dark hair and they're 70+, it reminds me to be aware of my own hair color as I get older. Right now I'm mid-50's and need to go to the salon for root touch up every 3 weeks - so the grey is creeping in fast! Each salon visit is $90.

Going grey is not an option for me personally. Not everyone looks good grey, and I'm one of those.

thanks again!

I so disagree.

Look at Sandra Bullock with blonde hair: barf. Courtney Cox blonde: barf. Erin Burnett with blonde/lighter hair: barf. Selma Hayak blonde: barf. Kristen Stewart blonde: barf. Cindy Crawford blonde: barf. Meghan Fox blonde: barf. Jennifer Connelly blonde: barf.

So many natural dark haired women look awful with any shade of blonde, even as they age.

I look so much more youthful and refreshed when my hair is dark (I am blue-eyed, light-medium skin). If the highlights are overdone and my hair starts veering to the blondish side I look older and washed out, and my skin looks sickly. A shiny silky dark color is so much better on me. Obviously, not 'shoe polish black'--that is not a good look.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can dye your hair your natural color to hid grays as well. It isn’t necessary to go lighter.

This gets harder and harder, more expensive and time consuming, the more grey you get. That’s why most people realize, as OP has, that it’s easier to go lighter.

OP here. Yes, I agree with PP's statement. That said the other important factor is that as we age those of us with fair skin and dark hair start to look like the walking dead, crypt-keeper with that pasty skin and "old face, young hair" look. Every time I see a woman or man (who has fair skin) with dark hair and they're 70+, it reminds me to be aware of my own hair color as I get older. Right now I'm mid-50's and need to go to the salon for root touch up every 3 weeks - so the grey is creeping in fast! Each salon visit is $90.

Going grey is not an option for me personally. Not everyone looks good grey, and I'm one of those.

thanks again!

I get you. I’m a medium brunette, 38. I get a demi gloss every 6 weeks to blend grays to my natural color. For now it works fine and is very natural looking. But I’m also <5% gray. As more and more gray comes in and I age, this will no longer look look good. I plan to go lighter then too.

From what I know based on salon chit chat, to go more than a shade or two lighter, you need time. It takes multiple visits over several months to lighten hair in a way what will keep it as healthy as possible.

Yes! I'm dark brunette and my hair is similar to this one below. I have ZERO damage. For the record, I also have maybe 3 white hairs.

Some tips:

1) go to a expert colorist who uses olaplex. (S)he'll use olaplex 1 and it reduces the damage to almost none
2) get olaplex 2 for home use and also k18 hair mask
3) use really good shampoo and conditioner. Use leave in
4) no blow drying. Only air dry

It will be $$$$$, so budget around $150/month on average.

Anonymous wrote:Henna works well and doesn’t ruin my hair. I use one that is mixed with indigo. It covers my grays well. But it is a process and there’s upkeep.

It is also nearly impossible to remove, so if the results are good, that's wonderful. But if you hate it, you're SOL. A lot of colorists won't touch hair that has henna in it.

Henna works well and doesn’t ruin my hair. I use one that is mixed with indigo. It covers my grays well. But it is a process and there’s upkeep.

Anonymous wrote:Yes! A combo of highlights and lowlights over time will get you there.

Thanks for the suggestion. I think this is the overall look I'm actually striving for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can dye your hair your natural color to hid grays as well. It isn’t necessary to go lighter.

This gets harder and harder, more expensive and time consuming, the more grey you get. That’s why most people realize, as OP has, that it’s easier to go lighter.

OP here. Yes, I agree with PP's statement. That said the other important factor is that as we age those of us with fair skin and dark hair start to look like the walking dead, crypt-keeper with that pasty skin and "old face, young hair" look. Every time I see a woman or man (who has fair skin) with dark hair and they're 70+, it reminds me to be aware of my own hair color as I get older. Right now I'm mid-50's and need to go to the salon for root touch up every 3 weeks - so the grey is creeping in fast! Each salon visit is $90.

Going grey is not an option for me personally. Not everyone looks good grey, and I'm one of those.

thanks again!

A few high lights and low lights would be easier and will look great!

Anonymous wrote:It's definitely possible but every time I do it I regret it and then it takes forever for the highlights to grow out.

Why do you regret it?

Anonymous wrote:You can dye your hair your natural color to hid grays as well. It isn’t necessary to go lighter.

This gets harder and harder, more expensive and time consuming, the more grey you get. That’s why most people realize, as OP has, that it’s easier to go lighter.

You can dye your hair your natural color to hid grays as well. It isn’t necessary to go lighter.

It's definitely possible but every time I do it I regret it and then it takes forever for the highlights to grow out.

It’s possible but any lightening damages hair.

Yes! A combo of highlights and lowlights over time will get you there.

Can this be done, successfully, without damaging hair or looking "out of place"? Obviously I would go to an expert colorist to do this.

As I get more and more grey it's become clear to me that eventually I will either need to go completely grey OR lighten my hair significantly. I prefer the latter. Also, I know I won't look like a natural blonde - that's not my goal. But I do want it to look tasteful and appropriate for my skin tone.

My skin tone is medium, leaning cool.

Thanks!