new thread
I have always wanted to let my hair grow but for one reason or another I always seemed to get it cut.
now at the age of 40 I have decided to let it grow.
It has been growing for the past 11 months.
although I have colored my hair because I can't stand my dark brown natural color. (I konw big mistake)
Peace
Bruce
With hair like yours you will get over this mistake.
You have three choices:
1, Continue touching up with the color you have now.
2. Go to a professional colorist and take their advice.
3. And my preference would be to to to a professional colorist and ask him or her to tint your hair back to it's original color -- it will not be perfect -- and continue letting it grow, so it will match your facial hair, which might be a little longer, and you will have achieved a bold look.
minus 4. One option you would regret would be to cut it and start all over.
Thought for the day from a psychologist. Could it be that you hated your dark brown hair because it was not long, but now that you have given yourself permission to be yourself as a long hair you will like your dark brown hair, and still like it when you get strands of silver?
James
Welcome aboard Bruce!
And welcome to the 40s club.
Would love to see the return of that natural dark brown color - keep us posted.
- Oren
That's a very good length for 11 months growth.
The color looks unnatural , IMO. I believe if you just let the color fade out and embrace your natural color it would look better, and less damaging for your follicies.
A full beard might go well too.
Keep growing, and you will find many 40 yr olds + around here.
That hair looks fabulous mate. A lot of people would kill to have your hair,(I would, lol). The colour looks ok on you, although i prefer natural colour. Considerable growth for 11 months. Cheers and Good luck!
Kumar
Hey, don't stress about colouring your hair...unless there is a physiological difference that I don't know about between men's and women's scalps it shouldn't do you any major harm - think of all the females out there that dye their hair almost all their lives. If you use off-the-shelf chemical dyes you run the risk of developing an allergic reaction which can result in major hair fall out (shock! horror!) and reactions can come at any time regardless of whether you've used the product before and been fine. Apparently if you have tattoos you are more at risk. Always do the skin test carefully every single time to reduce the chances (slim as they are) of having a very bad hair day in the form of a no hair day! Buy a tinting brush to apply more accurately at the roots and avoid getting the product on your actual scalp too much and never ever rub in dye.
Personally, I find the main problem with colouring is that you get fed up with the hassle of maintaining it (I speak from experience - been colouring my hair one way or another for roughly 30 years!) If you want to return to your natural colour you could, as suggested, get a hairdresser to dye it back for you or simply enlist a friend to help you choose a shade close to your natural colour and do it yourself. If you really don't like your own colour, though, why not experiment and enjoy it? You could do what I've done in the past and as your roots grow out only touch up random sections of the hair. With each regrowth you can do sections in darker shades and you will end up with a mixture of various shades - progressively switch to darker shades and when you hit on one that matches your natural colour well you can go for it all over or carry on adding some different tones in sections if you still don't fancy your natural colour. Alternatively, you could start only colouring the top layer - section your hair as you would for a half pony tail and only apply colour to the top half. The lower layer can grow out at leisure but the overall appearance will be of the lighter, warmer shade above. The dark will show through the light as your hair moves and give a two-tone or sunkissed effect and if you tie your hair back it will look cool with the two colours.
Why not view it as an ongoing long term hobby!! You'd only be embarking on a colouring adventure every two or three months after all (or more, if you're okay with the dark roots look).
With your wavy hair I think lots of colours would look great. Straight hair is a bit more difficult to be creative with because the regrowth appears to be more uniform and noticable.
If you don't mind spending time on colouring your hair and want to stop using chemical dyes you could look for natural henna powder - it comes in different shades of brown as well as red. Mix the powder to a thick paste with a good dollop of conditioner and add some very hot water (boil it and let it cool for a little while) and stir it in little by little until you have a treacly bowl of sludge. Whack it on your hair, wrap it all up in plastic bags and chill out for at least an hour - the longer the better, really. Rinse it out with plenty of water - I found it best to use the head in the sink method, changing the water several times or even actually doing it in the bath but I have much longer hair than yours is at the moment. Anyway, using a small amount of shampoo on soaking wet hair will help get the "bits" out, then condition as usual. The henna will fade gradually as you wash your hair over time but it will settle to a permanent residual shade over time. It won't lighten your hair but you can achieve tones of brown, and dramatic reds, if you feel brave enough.
If you do decide to continue with colouring your hair do try to let it grow out as much as possible before doing a retouch. Don't wash your hair too much, condition well at all times, treat it gently and IMHO I don't see why you should stick with a colour you don't like. FWIW I think the colour is nice and it's what YOU like that's important.
Hey bdt, welcome to the board! And as Oren said to the 40s club too :)
Great that you made the choice to grow long even now. I learned a bit later than you that its a once in a lifetime opportunity to grow your hair out (or at least better late than never). I'm 43 and at 11 months of growth too.
I also think dark brown is a fine color for hair :) But if I did color I think red would be cool!
looks good man. You look young for 40. keep growing.
Tune
Great progress for 11 months! Doesn't look like you are experiencing an 'awkward phase.' Looks natural. Good color.
Congratulations
Thank yall for the kind words and encouragement.
Actually I am , I was just having a great hair day LOL.
Peace
Bruce
