Sly Bald Guys Forum

Head Shaving, Grooming & Care => Beards => Topic started by: kenny57028 on July 18, 2010, 01:53:07 PM

Title: Dyeing your beard
Post by: kenny57028 on July 18, 2010, 01:53:07 PM
So a kind of a different subject. I really wanna dye my beard, I kind of don't like my hair color because it goes like this. Brown hair on head, blonde eyebrows and red facial hair. So I'm really just a mix of colors that never made up there mind on what they wanted to be. Anyone know anything about doin this?
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Razor X on July 18, 2010, 01:56:25 PM
If your head is shaved then it doesn't matter that your beard is a different color.  So why bother dying it?

I'm not sure that this can even be done without using a harsh peroxide to bleach out all the color so you can dye it a new color.  The end result is bound to look odd, and what's worse, you'll have to do it again in a week or two when your beard starts to grow out.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: kenny57028 on July 18, 2010, 02:14:18 PM
Ya I spose thats true just pale skin/red facial hair i feel doesnt look the greatest. I like the way I look in those bathroom lights where facial hair looks brown with darker skin, but eh thats not how I really look so I shud just accept the way I look.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Mikekoz13 on July 18, 2010, 02:19:06 PM
Dude.... the only thing I know about this is that I can ALWAYS tell when a guy dies his beard. It never looks natural...
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: BaldWriterBob on August 27, 2010, 02:00:55 PM
If you decide to try this, your bald head is already taken care of. Don't go near your eyebrows with dye. Seems to me it would be dangerous.
You might want to experiment with one of those beard and moustache color treatments from the drug store.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Timmer on August 27, 2010, 02:07:22 PM
I'm with mikekoz, I've never seen a guy with a died beard that didn't look wrong somehow.  Just my opinion, I could be wrong...which I only say when I KNOW I'm right.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: ozzie on August 27, 2010, 02:24:11 PM
The brothers have it right, Kenny. A dyed beard will look totally lame. I have the same issue as yourself, except now there's some gray in the mix as well. I accepted the fact that I'm a bitsa (bitsa this, bitsa that) a long time ago. Be variegated, be proud my son!   8)
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: D.A.L.U.I. on August 27, 2010, 03:09:25 PM
Brown hair on head,

Say what? :/O :/O :/O
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: xnewyawka on August 28, 2010, 09:15:08 AM
Dyed anything on men looks lame and very, very fake. Like Mike K said; It never looks natural.
Don't do it.    :D
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Nonick on September 11, 2010, 10:35:36 PM
Yeah, I just started the goat look and it's coming in mostly white (grey?).  I've talked to a number of guys at work and most of them say it looks cool and to leave it the way it is.  One guy suggested "A touch of Grey" so it would look more "natural".  ;D
I think I'll just leave it as it is.  This is my first facial hair thing since my single days a long time ago. It's also the first chin wiskers that I've grown in my adult life (military didn't allow it). :x!
So, now I'm living the dream!! :@`
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Z CRUZN on September 25, 2010, 07:32:02 PM
Goat started going gray 6 years ago (I'm 57 now) - have used Just For Men ever since.....I'll go billy-goat at 60 - I might be able to live with it then - hahaha!
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Arnie on September 25, 2010, 08:15:15 PM
Goat started going gray 6 years ago (I'm 57 now) - have used Just For Men ever since.....I'll go billy-goat at 60 - I might be able to live with it then - hahaha!
That's what I'm looking for, as I pluck a few here or there...10 more come back!!!
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Sgt. Pate on September 25, 2010, 10:29:52 PM
My hair, if I were to let it grow, in brown and my facial hair is gray.

But, to each their own... I've earned every gray hair on my chin and I'm wearing them proudly!  :*))
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: TheSlyBear on September 26, 2010, 12:27:10 PM
I'm with Sarge. And that's a lot of earning!  8)
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Sgt. Pate on September 26, 2010, 02:01:23 PM
And that's a lot of earning!  8)

Preach it BootedBear!  :*))
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Rob on September 26, 2010, 02:54:52 PM
How about dying it some wierd colour like blue or red? 8)

I have dyed my beard and moustashe at various times in the past, with 'Just For men' - probably the best one.  I know what they mean by dyed beards never looking natural, but if you don't leave the dye on too long it won't look so dark, and actually can look quite good. O0
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: D.A.L.U.I. on September 26, 2010, 02:57:19 PM
I would dye it if I didn't get a bad reaction, but that's not my world so I live w/ gray.  Gray, like a lot of other things reminds us that time stops for no one, except once--and we don't want to do that too soon do we? 
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: The Noggin on September 26, 2010, 03:38:31 PM
I have dyed my beard and moustashe at various times in the past, with 'Just For men' - probably the best one.  I know what they mean by dyed beards never looking natural, but if you don't leave the dye on too long it won't look so dark, and actually can look quite good. O0
I agree, Rob, looking natural isn't the most important factor. When I tried it, the result was good IMO. But I found it isn't worth the hassle, and after some time without a beard, I've made peace with my natural colour.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: TheSlyBear on September 26, 2010, 03:49:06 PM
but if you don't leave the dye on too long it won't look so dark, and actually can look quite good. O0
My partner uses JFM because his salt-and-pepper is coming in unevenly and he doesn't like that look. (Once it evens out across his face, he intends to let it go natural.)

We've also found that what Rob posted is accurate. It makes sense if you think about it. The reason dyed hair/beards look so fake generally is that the hairs are all the same color. And if you look at natural hair, it never is -- it's a combination of lots of shades.

So by leaving the dye in only long enough to even out the color, without letting it color every single hair the exact same shade, the results look more natural.

Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Razor X on September 26, 2010, 06:47:46 PM
but if you don't leave the dye on too long it won't look so dark, and actually can look quite good. O0
My partner uses JFM because his salt-and-pepper is coming in unevenly and he doesn't like that look. (Once it evens out across his face, he intends to let it go natural.)

We've also found that what Rob posted is accurate. It makes sense if you think about it. The reason dyed hair/beards look so fake generally is that the hairs are all the same color. And if you look at natural hair, it never is -- it's a combination of lots of shades.

So by leaving the dye in only long enough to even out the color, without letting it color every single hair the exact same shade, the results look more natural.




I had mine trimmed at the barbershop on Friday.  The barber had a salt-and-pepper goat.  Didn't look bad at all because it was coming in evenly (I'm with your partner on this one Booted; patchy, assymetrical greying doesn't look very good).  He told me that it was dyed and that he used the blond Just For Men, even though his hair is dark brown -- because the darker shades of JFM are too dark.  He said he just leaves the blond on for a little over the prescribed 5 minutes.  It doesn't eliminate the grey but it does tone it down some.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Z CRUZN on September 26, 2010, 07:17:30 PM
Earlier I mentioned I've used JFM for the past 6 years or so.....my hair is natural jet black & had the same color goat for years. After my hair started thinning out, I went sly (6 years ago - off & on for 3 yrs, sly for last 3 yrs or so) & wanted to keep the dark goat. As it began to turn gray about the time I went sly, I started the JFM...but used the dark brown color due to the darkness of the dye results. I also only leave it in about 3-4 minutes before rinsing & do this about twice a month. So to me and friends, it's a natural look.

I respect all who show with pride their gray goat, painted goat, trimmed goat, bushy goat....just a preference thang here!!
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: BuzzKC on October 05, 2010, 10:38:53 AM
I tried just for men and it looked so fake I shaved.  I'm not bothered by gray, it's just lopsided and splotchy at this point.  I got some new stuff called Redken color camo, it doesn't look fake at all as it doesn't cover it completely.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: TGB1 on October 05, 2010, 07:39:30 PM
No dyes at all....ever. I am what I am and that's what I am.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: MarkMusicNYC on November 10, 2010, 02:25:06 PM
I'm a licensed barber that's been dyeing my beard for years now. It can actually look great. Here are the secrets to doing it right:

1) Skip "Just For Men" and anything you can buy in a drugstore--all of that is crap. Get your hands on professional products from a beauty supply store. You're looking for demi-permanent color. Ala Just for Men, there's two parts: the color which comes in a tube and a liquid developer. This has very low peroxide and no ammonia and won't harm your skin. This will set you back 6-8 bucks and last you for months and months, since you're only mixing up a tiny amount at a time.

2) Get a color close to your natural color--slightly lighter if you're just looking to cover grey, and slightly darker if you want to enhance your natural color. Keep in mind that you can mix these color like paint to come up with the perfect one. Do NOT buy black, even if your natural hair is black--you'll end up looking like James Lipton. Keep in mind that this color can only make your hair darker, not lighter. So if you get light brown and your beard is dark brown with grey, you won't end up with a light brown beard. The dark brown areas will be unaffected by the light brown color.

3) Don't glop it on. Use a women's mascara brush for application. You want to just color the hair, not the skin underneath and this is one of the few methods that allows you to do just that. Regular tint-brushes, old toothbrushes, etc. pick up too much color and will make the color seem too uniform.

4) If you want it to really look natural and undetectable, put a little dye remover (also available at beauty supply places) on a cotton ball and go over your beard. This won't remove all the color, but it will take out any excess dye that your hair is holding onto. It'll also get rid of any staining on the skin that might result.

5) This color is not permanent. It washes out gradually over a period of days. They say it's 28 days, but for me it's like 7 or 8 when I start to notice grey hairs re-emerging in my beard.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Nonick on November 10, 2010, 10:12:13 PM
I was concerned about my grey goat making me look "too old" for job interviews.  My wife thinks the natural colors (dark brown and grey, and maybe some white? :o) make me look distinguished.  She even refers to me as "professor" on occasion.  Hmmm....!  :*)) 
Anyway, for the jobs I've been looking at, they are looking for experienced people, so not looking young may help.  O0
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: marshd1000 on November 11, 2010, 08:00:32 AM
I used to dye my beard and goatee in the past.  But when the eye brows went grey, I quit as I don't want to go blind for vanity.  But here is what I looked like.  I think I actually looked good.  Maybe I am in denial!  hehehe
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: MarkMusicNYC on November 22, 2010, 04:10:34 PM
I don't know how old those pics are, but you look 20 years younger in them. That tracks with my own experience. I'm not fully grey in the beard yet, but I'm grey enough where if I go "natural," it makes me look a good deal older than I actually am.

If it's any help, you absolutely won't go blind if you dye your eyebrows. Hair color manufacturers put that warning on their label to protect themselves from lawsuits, but the fact is the only way hair color can affect your vision is if it gets into your eyeball. Which won't happen if you apply it carefully. Again, a women's mascara brush is the perfect tool. You really can't load enough color onto that kind of brush to "glop" it and have it drip anywhere. Another thing that will keep your vision safe is avoiding the use of any color that uses ammonia. The demi-permanent color I recommended for beards  has no ammonia and a very low peroxide content, so there are no nasty fumes.

If you do it, make sure you choose a color that's lighter than your natural hair color. Most especially if you're totally grey.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: marshd1000 on November 22, 2010, 10:55:32 PM
The pics were taken about 4 yrs ago.  I am 49 right now but feel I look 55.  But with the brown goatee, I feel that I could have passed for 35.  I still am probably going to pass on dyeing the brows!
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: whiskerbiscuit on December 03, 2010, 12:30:14 PM
So a kind of a different subject. I really wanna dye my beard, I kind of don't like my hair color because it goes like this. Brown hair on head, blonde eyebrows and red facial hair. So I'm really just a mix of colors that never made up there mind on what they wanted to be. Anyone know anything about doin this?

I use just for men on my goat, it makes it look more full.  Way better than what it does in my avatard.



Skol Vikings!  What a dreadful year.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Jason66 on December 03, 2010, 04:39:33 PM
I've done as MarkMusicNYC stated and it has worked .... I use to use JFM and then noticed I can get 10 times as much for the same price if I got the one at the womens shop. I have very bark brown w/mix gray, and use the light to med brown leaving it only a few min. The results are act pretty good leaving just the right amount of gray mixed in with the browns. From what I was told, ones hair is actually different shades so the mixed color looks more natural.... I guess.  As for W/B, you don't look like grays are going to be an issues for a while.... But why not dye it anyway ... if you don't like it, shave it off and regrow it... have fun with it...
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: ShadeSocks on December 20, 2010, 02:40:41 AM
I'd totally go for dyeing my beard some unnatural color.

since my facial hair is black I'd try dyeing the tips like green or teal. Idk. Something cool like that.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: Nonick on December 20, 2010, 08:33:14 PM
Well, ShadeSocks, for some of us, dark brown on a white/grey beard is an "unnatural" color   :*))
After looking at Marsh's pics, I'm convinced, I need to get me some color"!  :*)) O0
My wife is already calling me "professor" because I look so old (no disrespect meant to those of you who are actual professors  ;)).  I think she gets a kick out of me looking older than her, since she IS the older one.  :Xo!
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: MarkMusicNYC on December 22, 2010, 04:18:52 PM
I've done as MarkMusicNYC stated and it has worked .... I use to use JFM and then noticed I can get 10 times as much for the same price if I got the one at the womens shop. I have very bark brown w/mix gray, and use the light to med brown leaving it only a few min. The results are act pretty good leaving just the right amount of gray mixed in with the browns. From what I was told, ones hair is actually different shades so the mixed color looks more natural.... I guess. 

That's absolutely right. Most guys that buy JFM (and there are lots) seem to end up buying a darker shade than they need, which colors all the hair to one uniform color. That's what makes it look so fake--that, and the fact that the darker color doesn't match their eyebrow hair or skin tone. Plus JFM is fairly harsh compared to pro color--it has to be because it needs to work in 5-10 minutes, which is all the time the manufacturer believes a guy will want to leave it in.

Jason, if you want to get rid of all the grey, you can leave the color you're using on longer than the recommended time. That time (15-20 minutes on the demi-perm color I recommended) is designed for head hair, which is much less course and resistant to color than beard hair. Don't be afraid to do that if you want to--the peroxide content is so low, there's no real risk of doing any damage.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: lonestaral on February 01, 2011, 11:13:46 PM
I put some light brown dye on to change the white in my goatee.
I have mixed feelings about the result.
Each to their own.
If you do not do it you will never know.
It will return to its natural colour with time.
If it looks that bad you can always shave it off and start again.

My wife will be back in under 3 weeks time so i suppose the final decision about the colour will be hers.
She has not seen me with a beard yet so I hope she will like it as I would like to keep it.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: lonestaral on February 02, 2011, 12:38:41 AM
Just been having a look at the beard styles available.
It was on the link in the "No shave November" post.

The correct term for my growth is a Van Dyke not a Goatee.
My apologies. I have a lot to learn.

My housekeeper was passing by at the time.
I asked her which one she preferred.
She had a good look and plumped for the Van Dyke.
Might try the Van Dyke with Handlebar.
Looks as if a purchase of mustache wax is on the cards.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: whatsup on June 10, 2011, 07:58:44 PM
I'm a licensed barber that's been dyeing my beard for years now. It can actually look great. Here are the secrets to doing it right:



Realize that this is an old thread, but I wanted to say thanks for your recommendation. Part of my goatee was coming in gray so when I shaved my head, my wife thought it made me look older. She suggested I get rid of the gray in the goatee to make me look a bit younger. I had tried JFM but it caused a lot of irritation for the next several days. I ordered some L'oreal color gel on line and it really tones down the gray without looking overdone.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: slybronco on July 21, 2011, 11:34:29 PM
I say this you are young go with a wild fun color have fun with it. You have the look for it. Besides you don't like it shave it grow it, try it again. Or not.
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: MikeStern on August 15, 2011, 06:30:48 PM
I'm not so sure that dyed beards always look fake.  I dont do iot myself,  but a couple of friends of mine do & i think it looks pretty natural.   so why not try it with one of the beard dyes now on the market.   and hey,  if you dont like it, shave it off!
Title: Re: Dyeing your beard
Post by: mrzed on August 15, 2011, 07:53:02 PM
For April 1 a few years ago, the guys in the office colored their hair. Green. Blue, Pink, ORANGE, Fire engine RED.  What fun.  (it was the wash out type).  We have a fun picture of the guys with all the different hair colors.  Mine was the bright red!