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Gray haired guys: Hair dye? Really?

Dye or no dye?

  • Gray and proud, not gonna fake it

    Votes: 125 70.2%

  • Dyed and proud, chicks dig it

    Votes: 22 12.4%

  • Temporarily change hair color for a gig

    Votes: 3 1.7%

  • Carrots

    Votes: 28 15.7%
  • Total voters
    178
#41
I'm 57 with grey hair, a grey mustache and a white goatee. I view it all as a badge of honor! I've earned it all too! I've still got about 95% of my hair as well.

No color in a box for me, thank you. I'm sorry, but nothing looks sillier than seeing a man whos face shows the lines of time and he's got the hair color of a 20 year old. You can spot those guys with dyed hair a mile away.
 
#42
I'm 39, started going grey in my late 20's, currently about 50-50 grey hair mixed with brown, plus a receding hairline (thanks Dad). Will definitely never dye - my wife still likes me, so I don't give a damn.
 
#43
ChrisB2 said:
How are all you gray-haired dudes getting by? What's your position on this issue? GRAY GUYS ONLY, please vote and also comment...
Click to expand...

Been doing color for about 7 or so years. No problem. The real trick is to start doing it BEFORE you go totally gray (or especially white) and to leave a bit of gray still in. That way it doesn't seem so drastic, noticeable or dramatic. Makes a major difference in appearance in my case. And if you do it don't skimp. Get it done professionally every 8 weeks or so. If it's done right it will look natural, you will still have "some" gray and it won't look phony or if you used shoe polish. Quite honestly, I'm at that point in life where I have no need to look older. The gray issue may be more profound and noticeable for those with very brown or black hair vs. those with blond, red or light brown hair. And this is especially profound for those like me who went right to white - no salt and pepper first - just very pure salt. This isn't a right or wrong thing. Whatever works for you is the right answer. YMMV.
 
#45
ChrisB2 said:
I'm following the "over 50" thread, and while I'm not a member of that group yet the time is coming fast...

It seems that there are more than a few of us gray-haired guys who are going the hair-dye route. I've considered this but I'm not the type to normally do it, I'm only interested in it because of playing live music.

Thing is, I don't want to go around in my everyday life with colored hair... but I also don't like being on stage with the gray. I'm not white-all-over like Jay Leno... yet... but it seems to be working for him... he seems relevant to all ages, even with the whiteness...

(Is there such a thing as temporary dye?)

How are all you gray-haired dudes getting by? What's your position on this issue? GRAY GUYS ONLY, please vote and also comment...
Click to expand...
I don't think it's as big a deal as you might be feeling it is. I started getting greys when I was 18. It's the curse of Latin blood.

There are 20-somethings without a single grey hair on their bodies who dye their hair. It's not an age thing and I don't think it's a faker or poser thing. I think it's just like any other grooming thing. It's no different to me than shaving. Alot of guys will spend a WAY more time trimming their facial hair than it takes to dye their mop once every couple weeks or so.

Like I said, it's not an age thing. My wife is in her 20's and she totally digs the salt 'n' pepper look. She won't let me dye mine and even get a little ticked off if I start talking about it. I have dyed it and I've left it all S&P. Depends on how I feel at the time. I keep my hair short so it never has that crazy "roots growing out" look anyway.

There are temporary colorings or you could just tone it down rather than completely erase it.
If you do it right, no one will even be able to tell you've dyed it at all. This product seems to work pretty well from what I've been told:

touchofgrey.jpg


In any case, I don't think it matters. Everybody colors their hair these days. All the brunettes want to be blondes, some people are even going blue, red, or green. Men and women both routinely dye out their grey. I'd say probably 7 out of 10 people you see in public anymore have dyed hair.

Silver hair doesn't automatically make a man look wise or experienced or seasoned...but it does make you look "old". Looking wise and experienced requires more than grey hair; it takes the right body language and the right wardobe helps too. I say dye it! You won't know if you like it or not until you try it yourself. Remember, it's just hair...it'll grow back. It's really just not a big deal, man. Just be thankful that you have a head of hair to worry about. At least your not facing the question of whether or not to wear a tupe on stage!
 
#53
I'm 47 with a salt & pepper reddish beard and long brown hair with long grey streeks from my temples the full length.(picture bride of frankenstien!) I'm not dyeing it. I'm the 2nd oldest in the band with the other two being in their 20's. our crowds are mixed but mostly younger. nobody seems to mind the grey. My drummer shaved off his goatee because it was white.
 
#55
I've been dying mine for awhile. Part of it is that salt & pepper does nothing for me, part of it is between oily skin and being heavy my face does not look old, so it works.

Do you wear your hair short, medium, or long? The shorter you wear your hair the more upkeep is needed to have it look right. Also are/were you dark, medium or light haired? The trick with dying is that you want to minimize contrast while having it look natural. My natural hair color is off black. I use a medium brown dye probably 3 shades lighter then my natural. This way there is a slight contrast difference between the hair that has and hasn't gone gray, but the whole thing doesn't look too dark. The #1 problem with men dying their hair is going too dark, then it doesn't look natural.

I'm 59 and on a good day can probably pass for 45.
 
#56
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It really only matters what you think looks good. I've had my hair like this for the past two years (the mohawk is quite a bit longer now).

Me and my fiance' are at a tiff because I'm getting ready to shave the hawk off and go entirely blue.

Don't worry what others think about it. If you like it then go for it, and if you're curious about it then definatly try it. It's always better to say "meh not my thing" then to keep asking "what if?"

edit: had to steal the images from my DS account because I have no pix on this comp.
 
#58
Take it from someone who is losing his hair by the day:crying:: If your hair has decided to stick around with you, leave it alone! If it is gray, then let it be gray. A lot of people who color their hair look like they color their hair, and that looks a lot worse than just having gray hair.

I would have been happy to have purple hair, if only it would have decided to stick around. :hmm:
 

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