Grey Hair in Men: Embrace It or Dye It?

Ageing is a contentious matter among both men and women – but no topic sparks as much debate and discussion as the choice between going grey naturally and continuing to colour your hair to preserve a sense of youth and vitality.

But while grey has previously been considered a sign of ageing, today attitudes have changed – with more men than ever striving to achieve the “silver fox” aesthetic which embraces rather than shies away from grey.

Here at Boilerhouse Gentleman, we offer hair services for men from all walks of life and with all preferences. These range from haircuts which really maximise your style as you age, to colouring services which ensure that even dyed hair looks naturally seamless all year round.

So, which is right for you? Let’s take a look at what causes grey hair, why different men experience ageing at such varying rates, and which option is best suited to your own personal style.

The causes of grey hair in men

The colour of your hair is determined by a pigment which is produced by your hair follicles, called melanin. As you get older, these hair follicles produce less melanin, which in turn starts to see the colour of your hair full as the roots grow out.

You will have noticed that hair which lightens in the sun has darker roots come winter, and that coloured hair is balanced by the natural roots as the hair grows. The same happens when you go grey, as the greys start to out-balance the former and more vibrant colour.

Now, this is something that occurs at different ages and life stages for everyone; however, it is very much considered a sign of ageing. For some, it is impacted by genetics – for others, lifestyle factors play a role in h ow and when they go grey. The point is, it’s not really something that you can control; though it is possible to manage in terms of the way you style it out and embrace or conceal it.

With that said, how do you go grey gracefully and ensure that your hair boasts that stylish salt and pepper aesthetic as opposed to a flat shade of muted grey – and is it better to reach for the artificial colours instead?

The benefits of greying naturally

The way that men can embrace grey hair as it occurs is to indulge in a cut and style which truly highlights their natural features – with professional mens hairdressers, like our team at Boilerhouse Gentleman, working with you to ascertain your most prominent facial features, identify your lifestyle needs, and create a cut which is easy to maintain, and which matches the stage of life that you are at.

Going grey naturally and allowing your hair to grow out is of course a much lower maintenance option than colouring and dying it, and in many cases will keep your hair in better condition for longer. Another benefit of embracing grey hair is that it will compliment your overall look, as other facial hair follows a similar pattern. Dying your hair can sometimes mean more maintenance is required across your facial hair, beard, eyebrows, and moustache hair. And that’s before we consider the fact that grey is pretty on-trend right now and has never been so stylish.

The benefits of choosing to colour and dye your hair

There’s no doubt that colouring your hair can preserve a sense of youth for longer and can help you to achieve a specific style that you continue to covet as part of your overall presentation and look.

With the world an increasingly fast moving place, men can often feel like grey hair slots them into an outdated category that they don’t necessarily belong to – and so colouring your hair means delaying those slights and staying ahead of the game. Yes, it’s more maintenance and can be a lot of work to keep on top of. But with the right support and professional guidance, colouring your hair can be a way of bringing in the next chapter of your life with confidence and a look of youth which rubs off on you as a person.

Which option is right for you?

So, which option is right for you?

Well, that’s where our team comes in. Here at Boilerhouse Gentleman, we offer services to men of all ages and can help them to work with or conceal any greys as they occur – with haircuts, colouring treatments, and more to really retain that feeling of youth and energy.

Regardless of your style right now, Boilerhouse Gentleman can help see in the next stage of your life with your best hairdo yet. Get in touch with us to book an appointment.