She swapped her role as the tabloid's ‘Girl of the Thrillenium’ for a career as a psychiatrist, and now Melinda Messenger has swapped pin-up blonde for glamorous grey hair. At 55, the former model proudly reveals she’s letting her silver strands grow out, and she’s fully embracing the change.
The former model shot to fame in the late Nineties as a glamour model, switched her focus to presenting as she moved into motherhood, and then fulfilled her childhood dream by qualifying as a psychiatrist in 2015, as well as becoming a reiki master.
This huge life shift has given Melinda plenty of experience in fighting off people’s perceptions of her, so it clearly feels natural to project her authentic self via her hair as well. She reveals she’s found ‘joy’ and a sense of freedom in defying expectations around visible ageing by choosing to be proudly grey.
Sharing her gorgeous, grown-out greys via an Instagram selfie, Melinda posted: ‘I know not everyone wants to embrace the natural colour and I get that. I've had many wobbles, used highlights and toners to try and blend it in, and there are no rules, so whatever feels right for you is ok.’
‘But I am enjoying staying with it and I've found my hair has never felt healthier. And more importantly for me, I found real freedom and joy in just letting myself be. I think that's the greatest benefit.’
‘That and not buying into the conditioning that women are not allowed to age and that beauty is confined to the expectations of those that profit from it.’
There’s nothing wrong with colouring your hair, embracing your grey, changing your mind or doing whatever makes you feel good. And this feels good for me. ✨’
The selfie shows Melinda still with her signature bouncy blow-dry hairstyle but her former blonde curls completely erased. Her roots are now a striking silver and blend through her darker length for a pretty salt and pepper effect.
What makes Melinda's grey hair look so polished?
Melinda's previous blonde colour is helping her transition look seamless, says Andreas Wild, creative stylist at John Frieda. “What makes Melinda’s hair so striking and chic is the natural contrast of her grey, particularly around the hairline, where she has a brilliant, clean pop of white,” Wild says. “Transitioning to grey is often much smoother for blondes than brunettes.”
He explains that Melinda’s lighter lengths blend softly with her natural white, avoiding the more noticeable regrowth line that can appear on darker hair. Her cool, clear silver helps, too: “Natural grey can easily oxidise or turn yellow due to environmental factors, but hers maintains a crisp, bright finish that acts like a natural frame for her face.”
He adds that Melinda’s silver will continue to evolve as it grows out. “Because she hasn’t touched or artificially coloured her grey, her hair will develop naturally into a richer, fuller silver palette. As more of her natural pigment shifts to white, the contrast will soften into a uniform, luminous silver-grey. It’s a very low-maintenance, organic transition, with no artificial dye to grow out or lift.”
How to enhance grey hair as it grows out
To keep grey hair looking bright and healthy, Wild recommends paying attention to both tone and condition. “Because grey hair lacks pigment, it is far more susceptible to picking up brassiness or yellowing from heat tools, UV exposure, and tap water minerals.” He suggests using a purple shampoo or neutralising treatment every few washes to keep white strands crisp and cool. Grey hair can also become coarser and drier, so regular conditioning masks and lightweight glossing treatments can help keep the cuticle smooth and reflective.
