Dyeing your beard

[Rob]

How about dying it some wierd colour like blue or red?

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.

[D.A.L.U.I.]

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? 

[The Noggin]

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.

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.

[TheSlyBear]

but if you don't leave the dye on too long it won't look so dark, and actually can look quite good.

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.

[Razor X]

but if you don't leave the dye on too long it won't look so dark, and actually can look quite good.

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.

[Z CRUZN]

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!!

[BuzzKC]

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.

[TGB1]

No dyes at all....ever. I am what I am and that's what I am.

[MarkMusicNYC]

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.

[Nonick]

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? ) 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. 

[marshd1000]

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

[MarkMusicNYC]

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.

[marshd1000]

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!

[whiskerbiscuit]

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.

[Jason66]

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...