# Anyone here use Grecian Formula? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 11, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683 "2009-07-11T15:24:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/1 "2009-07-11T15:24:35Z")
Has anyone tried Grecian Formula? How long did it take for it to work for you? I’ve been using it daily as directed, for almost exactly a month and I gotta say, there is no appreciable difference. What was your experience? ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2009, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/2 "2009-07-12T08:01:10Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Has anyone tried Grecian Formula? How long did it take for it to work for you? I’ve been using it daily as directed, for almost exactly a month and I gotta say, there is no appreciable difference. > > What was your experience? I used it about 15 years ago, with similar results. It smelled like I fell into a sulphur pit. There were also some weird restrictions, like, you can’t use conditioner, or something like that. Pretty lame results for all of the grief. I switched to Clairol Natural or something like that, with great results, cheaper, and I didn’t smell like I’d just given my car an overhaul. Grecian Formula = Bad. hh ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/3 "2009-07-13T11:59:16Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > I used it about 15 years ago, with similar results. It smelled like I fell into a sulphur pit. There were also some weird restrictions, like, you can’t use conditioner, or something like that. Pretty lame results for all of the grief. I switched to Clairol Natural or something like that, with great results, cheaper, and I didn’t smell like I’d just given my car an overhaul. > Grecian Formula = Bad. > > hh Thanks for the response. I was hoping for the gradual change as it was promised, which is why I didn’t use a different hair color. I think that soon I’ll switch though. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/4 "2009-07-13T13:40:57Z")
Back in the 70’s I had a coach who had white (not grey, white!) hair. He tired the Grecian formula and it started turning a vivid shade of orange. Never heard of anyone else trying it, but that’s kind of the point. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2009, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/5 "2009-07-13T18:13:22Z")
I didn’t try it after reading the label. Too difficult and too dangerous sounding to me. I’d rather have the gray hair than go through all that rigmarole. ---
**Author:** ![Never\_Say\_Dice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ee59a6/32.png) [@Never\_Say\_Dice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Never_Say_Dice)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/6 "2009-07-14T20:55:36Z")
I use Just For Men. I buy the palest shade I can and then leave it on longer than they say until the shade looks right. If you are worried about being gradual, that’s the way to do it. I can assure you that it won’t stain your skin or look too uniform. It contains no bleach or ammonia so it doesn’t smell up the bathroom too long, but your family should be told before they guess. And I can tell you that few people at work will notice you’ve dyed your hair. You could probably wear a black Moe of Three Stooges wig and nobody would notice. People really don’t notice that much from day to day. I’ve let my hair lapse until it’s mostly grey, gone back to medium brown and nobody notices. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/7 "2009-07-14T21:01:41Z")
_Everyone_ at my work will know straight off. But then, I work from home and I live alone. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/8 "2009-07-14T22:31:12Z")
> [@Never\_Say\_Dice](#): > > And I can tell you that few people at work will notice you’ve dyed your hair. You could probably wear a black Moe of Three Stooges wig and nobody would notice. People really don’t notice that much from day to day. I’ve let my hair lapse until it’s mostly grey, gone back to medium brown and nobody notices. Maybe they’re oblivious – maybe they’re just tactful. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/9 "2009-07-14T23:42:38Z")
My brother-in-law uses it, but I don’t know the details. I have to bring him boxes of the stuff every time I go, because it’s not sold in Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2009, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/10 "2009-07-14T23:57:11Z")
> [@Never\_Say\_Dice](#): > > And I can tell you that few people at work will notice you’ve dyed your hair. You could probably wear a black Moe of Three Stooges wig and nobody would notice. People really don’t notice that much from day to day. I’ve let my hair lapse until it’s mostly grey, gone back to medium brown and nobody notices. That’s for sure. When I went from blonde back to natural brown my boss asked me if I got new glasses. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/11 "2009-07-15T08:09:52Z")
> [@Never\_Say\_Dice](#): > > I use Just For Men. I buy the palest shade I can and then leave it on longer than they say until the shade looks right. If you are worried about being gradual, that’s the way to do it. > I can assure you that it won’t stain your skin or look too uniform. Yep, that’s the way to do it. Too many guys go out and buy the jet black color and it looks truly horrible - even if you really did once have jet black hair. As you mention - get a lighter color - _no darker than medium brown_ and even that is pushing it. And if you are doing this for the first time, don’t freak out after 8 or 10 minutes when it looks like you have solid black! It washes out and looks just fine. BTW, I started doing this a few years ago when I just had two weird odd spots of gray that stuck out. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/12 "2009-07-15T11:03:55Z")
I’m thinking about trying _Just For Men Touch Of Gray_. It will leave a little gray. I’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/13 "2009-07-15T17:33:22Z")
> [@Never\_Say\_Dice](#): > > And I can tell you that few people at work will notice you’ve dyed your hair. You could probably wear a black Moe of Three Stooges wig and nobody would notice. People really don’t notice that much from day to day. I’ve let my hair lapse until it’s mostly grey, gone back to medium brown and nobody notices. In general, you’re right. However, it’s not a good idea to go from a gray beard one day to one that’s flaming red the next, as one of my wife’s coworkers did. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/14 "2009-07-15T17:37:36Z")
I use **Just For Men** on my beard. Great stuff. If you leave it in for a shorter period than they recommend, it looks a lot more natural. Although my students can tell in an instant, since my beard cycles through colors as the brown grows out and is replaced by gray. Then sometimes I dye it the school colors, just to shake things up a bit. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![IKEHGL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b4bc9f/32.png) [@IKEHGL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IKEHGL)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/15 "2009-07-20T05:23:29Z")
I have used this product for about 9 months. I am not completely satisfied with it because it didn’t really make my hair darker. My hair was very light gray. It took longer to get the final results --8 weeks instead of the 3 they promise. The shade went from very light blond with greenish hues to what it is now: very light brown–gray. I still use it 2-3 times a week. I didn’t want to use Just For Men because it is way too obvious : the sudden change and no mixed gray–not natural. There is no smell to Grecian and you must have patience. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/16 "2009-07-20T11:02:35Z")
Where are you located? I know that outside the US there are different formulas. There is a terrible smell with the Grecian I bought. ---
**Author:** ![IKEHGL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b4bc9f/32.png) [@IKEHGL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IKEHGL)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/17 "2009-08-02T13:20:52Z")
The product was purchased in the US. ---
**Author:** ![kitemaker\_chuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a88e4f/32.png) [@kitemaker\_chuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitemaker_chuck)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/18 "2009-08-02T17:44:51Z")
I used it once. Tasted AWFUL !!! ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/19 "2009-08-02T18:00:05Z")
I tried it once. It changed my hair from brown with a little gray into something with a color resembling the lead in a #2 pencil. I decided I’d just go for the distinguished look. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2009, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683/20 "2009-08-02T18:09:43Z")
I’ve used a product called _Youthhair_ in the past. It’s much cheaper, and seems to work a lot faster and better than Grecian Formula. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-here-use-grecian-formula/502683.md?page=2)