At 50, she stopped dyeing her hair and let it go naturally grey – seven years on, she has no regrets
What if ditching hair dye completely transformed your relationship with your hair? That’s exactly what happened to Katie Emery, founder of Katie Goes Platinum, who decided at 50 to let her natural grey hair grow in. Seven years on, her verdict is unequivocal.
A once exhausting routine, now effortless
Before making the leap, Katie spent a considerable amount of time maintaining her coloured hair. Salon appointments came around constantly, root touch-ups were non-negotiable, and anti-frizz products were a daily staple. Blow-drying and straightening rounded out a routine that had become genuinely burdensome.
Since embracing her natural grey hair, that picture has changed dramatically. She now washes her hair once or twice a week, using products specifically formulated for silver hair. She also reaches, occasionally, for a clarifying treatment and a purple toning product to keep her strands looking bright.
Styling, in particular, has undergone a notable shift. Katie can let her hair air-dry and only brings out the blow-dryer when she actually feels like it, not because she has to. That distinction matters to her: doing things by choice, not by obligation.
Salon visits: fewer, and more focused
Another tangible change is how often she visits the salon. Where colouring once demanded frequent appointments, Katie now goes back only every three to four months. Those sessions are mainly about maintaining her cut, with no pressure to hide regrowth.
That time saved also translates into mental freedom. She sums up the shift herself by explaining that she now acts because she wants to, not because she has to. For natural grey hair, that phrase captures the change in attitude toward hair care perfectly.
What the community says: the numbers speak for themselves
Katie Emery doesn’t rely solely on her own experience. She surveyed her community on the subject, and the results are striking. 85% of women with grey hair surveyed said that maintaining it takes less time, less money, and less effort than when they were colouring.
- Washing reduced to once or twice a week
- Occasional use of a clarifying treatment
- A toning product used to maintain brightness
- Blow-drying reserved for chosen occasions
- Salon appointments spaced three to four months apart
These figures, drawn from her own community, give a collective dimension to what Katie first experienced personally. They show that her experience is far from unique.
Embracing natural grey hair after 50
At 50, Katie made a decision that many women hesitate to take. Seven years later, she has no regrets. For her, choosing natural grey hair doesn’t mean giving up on hair care altogether – it means adopting a lighter, more intentional routine that actually reflects what she wants.
Because the fundamental difference isn’t the absence of upkeep, but its nature. The gestures are still there, the products too. What has largely disappeared, however, is the sense of obligation. That is precisely what Katie takes away from these seven years: a freedom she has no intention of giving up.
For women wondering whether to make the transition to natural grey hair, her journey offers a concrete, data-backed, everyday account. A lighter routine, more widely spaced salon visits, and above all, the satisfaction of acting on your own terms rather than on a schedule dictated by dye.
