Going Grey: Visibility, Ageing, and Choosing for Yourself | Unstuck

Two psychologist best friends open their podcast Unstuck by discussing one host’s recent decision to stop dyeing her hair and go grey at 48, and how it has become emotionally loaded with questions of identity, visibility, and ageing. She describes mixed reactions—support from close friends and family, but also comments from men and strangers assuming she is much older, including being mistaken for her friend’s mother and being offered a seat. They explore the cultural double standard where grey hair can make men seem “distinguished” while women can be judged as less attractive or relevant, and frame the issue as a choice rather than a rule. They suggest noticing fear- or shame-based decisions, examining the inner critic versus societal expectations, and practising self-compassion by asking what you’d say to a loved one going through the same transition.