A vocational counselor advised me that one thing I should do to make a positive impression on an interviewer is to dye my hair, which is dark brown but has more and more gray hairs here and there. (I’m 51.) So I bought a container of Grecian Formula for this purpose, and I plan to use it next week.
What I want to know from the Teeming Graying Millions is: What has been your experience with dyeing your hair?
Well, I’m not a vocational counselor, but why would you want to work for anyone who has a problem with your being 51?
As for the dye, if I were a man and wanted to dye my hair, I would use one of the hair dyes that are marketed to women. There are a lot more choices. I’ve always had the feeling that Grecian formula only exists because men wouldn’t be caught dead buying something used primarily by women.
Since you’ve already got it though, I’ll let more experienced voices advise on that particular brand.
Suppose the man claimed (truthfully or not) that he was buying it for his wife/girlfriend/mother/daughter? 
(I’ve known some women who started graying before the age of 20)
My sister the hairdresser says NO Grecian formula. Apparently, it’s not very reliable and is impossible to get rid of. She advises (of course) that you see a pro, as grey hair is harder to color. Coloring your hair is ok, as long as you remember that it will need to be redone frequently, as your hair grows.
Just my opinion, but if your eyebrows and facial hair are also going grey, it will just look silly. Also, if it doesn’t look natural, it could end up looking really bad.
I bleached my hair for the first time last year - the other guys on my oil rig were a bit taked aback, but I had lots of fun - and it hides the grey
cher3 asked: “Well, I’m not a vocational counselor, but why would you want to work for anyone who has a problem with your being 51?”
Unfortunately, cher3, it’s called corporate life. In the US at least, men in their 50s find it exceedingly difficult to find full-time, permanent jobs (unless they are hired at the executive level). Many potential employers would rather pay half as much for a person half that age… then take the time to train and groom these young people. A person in his 50s, on the other hand, might work 10 years (15 tops) before retiring. It’s just the general tendency in business. It’s nothing personal. [of course it’s kind of silly when these days most people don’t stay at one company that long…]
This goes well beyond just plain discrimination based on older looks – it has to do with preconceived notions of what an older person can contribute to a job (“it’s harder to train an old dog new tricks – may bring bad work habits, may not know enough technology, etc. etc. etc.”), rolled into bean-counting justifications for payroll cost and training cost, compared to perceived length of potential employment.
dougie_monty – Grecian Formula is cheap, but there are many hair color products marketed for men if you need to save money. If you can afford it, go to a hair salon and get it done right (and at the same time, get your hair professionally styled – not just a barber hair cut). A confident, professional, tailored look does a lot towards giving a good impression to your potential employers. To that end I hope you have a good interview suit, too.
I dyed my hair for nearly twenty years. Not because of gray. I was thirteen, my mom decided to highlight my hair and it didn’t work. The pattern is set.
I know nothing about grecian formula. However, dying your hair is very easy. Picking a haircolor can be more complex than choosing a new car. My natural hair color is Betty Crocker brown. I’ve been every color between Copper Penny Red to light brown with champagne highlights ( which matched my wedding dress in a tasteful way, not that you can tell with the Black and White Photography, but I digress.) Everyone has thought my natural color was auburn because it looked so good on me.
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Never go to severe outside of your hair color. Usually one or two shades up or down from what you are will not draw undue attention.
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There are the temporary hair colors out there that wash out in 8-12 washings. These are nice for the timid, but not the huge selection compared to the permanent colors.
Ask other women standing in a daze in the hair color section what would they recommend. Tell them it is for your wife or even your son. I’ve given sage advice to lots of young girls standing like deer caught in headlights in that row.
For the life of me I cannot recall which brand I preferred before I stopped. I just know the color was Radiant Brown.(Which is one step up from Golden Hamster Brown.) I liked the way it left my hair.
I did not care for Hydrience. Dried my hair out.
Just my two bits.
However, Cher3’s comment of why would you want to work for anyone who has a problem with your being 51 really struck home. You have to want to change your hair.
I highlight mine, so I am no help, probably. My mom dyes hers and hates Nice N’ Easy. She has occasional outbreaks of psoriasis and she says it irritates it. I used “Just for Men” haircolor on my dad and I still think the womens stuff is better. Just folloe Shirley Ujest’s advice - stay close to the natural.
The Grecian Formula didn’t work; my gray hairs stayed gray. 
So I went to a local department store, where I’ve had my hair cut for more than ten years, and had them do a dye job. It’s excellent–it cost about $43 and looks it. My hair hasn’t looked this dark since the mind 70s. Now if I could only find some weight-loss program I can stick with…
Great work Dougie!!
I have naturally red/gold hair that apparently most people would give their right arm for but it an absolute horror to dye. I definately found that the only way to go to get a professional look is [surprise surprise] to get it done professionally.
I am glad you like the result and best of luck on the job stakes!!
Thanx