Demi-Permanent or Semi-Permanent Color You can also try semi-permanent Color Fresh for up to 30% coverage. While a demi-permanent or semi-permanent hair color can be applied to any level of gray, it's often used to camouflage early grays, giving 30-70% coverage.
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO COVER GRAY HAIR? To boil it down, there are essentially two different types of color your colorist will use to cover gray hair—demi-permanent or permanent. Demi-permanent haircolor options, like Redken's Shades EQ Gloss, deliver non-permanent pigment that will gradually fade over time.
Use a Permanent Color
If your client hopes to cover up truly stubborn, color-resistant grays, a permanent color pigment is going to offer the most concentrated result. Try Illumina Color for a multi-dimensional finish and Koleston Perfect for pure and saturated coverage.
Warm honey blonde is a favorite from Wella Professionals for those who want a hair color that looks natural and hides gray hair well. This shade has golden tones that can give your skin a nice glow. It's especially good for people with warmer skin tones.
Darker will always cover gray better .
If you are looking for a low-impact, natural effect then lowlights are a safer way to color grey hair. Your stylist uses foils to apply the color so it doesn't lie directly on your scalp. That means less exposure to chemicals and fewer potential allergic reactions.
“There are many ways that you can transition your hair [to gray],” says Whitney, “including having your hair dyed to match your roots, adding lowlights or highlights to help with the line of demarcation [i.e., the line where your pigment meets the grays], cutting your hair short or simply letting your natural hair ...
The best coloring technique for gray hair ultimately depends on your desired look and how much coverage you want. We suggest opting for an all-over color service to fully mask every gray hair on your head with a uniform shade. However, highlighting may be better if your goal is seamlessly blending your grays.
The outer cuticle layer of greys can be more tightly packed and layered, making them resistant to colour absorption. As a result, it can be more difficult to colour resistant grey hair and to cover visible regrowth.
To address pigment loss in gray hair, Kaeding said, you can use a color depositing shampoo or conditioner for temporary results. Or, for a longer-lasting solution, you can opt for permanent hair color or highlights.
Gray blending is a hair coloring technique that involves blending gray hairs with your base color to help soften the contrast between shades. Typically, the process involves either highlighting your hair or adding lowlights.
Root Touch-Up Powders, Sprays, Tinted Dry Shampoos, Concealer Sticks and Crayons. Root touch-up powders and sprays are some of the easiest and fastest ways to cover grey roots without any commitment. These products deposit temporary color onto your roots, blending seamlessly with your natural hair.
Consider using highlights to cover greys
Another soft and natural-looking option is to embrace and enhance the lightness of your greying strands. In fact, highlights are a great option to cover grey hair, and can blend in warm caramel or golden tones to enhance your hair's natural glow.
Because there are a couple of ways to go about gray blending (more on that later) and depending on how much gray you want to blend, prices may vary. She says that a gloss can be around $150 while doing mini highlights can cost about $200. Check your salon for its pricing before booking that appointment.
How often should I dye my hair to cover grey hair? This depends on how quickly your hair grows, but often is between 4-8 weeks. If you're only just starting to grey, it may not be time to begin permanently colouring your hair.
The Colors to Avoid with Gray Hair
Here are a few to steer clear of: Muddy Neutrals: Beige, taupe, and other muted tones can make your skin look washed out and ashy. Earthy Yellows and Oranges: These warm tones clash with the coolness of gray hair and can make your complexion look sallow.
Generally speaking though, it's best to wait 4-6 weeks before having another color treatment – in most cases, this is enough anyway and reduces the risk of hair damage. There are some exceptions, but in general, it's better to err on the side of caution and wait for this long.
Permanent hair color is a great option for coloring resistant gray hair. And, for best results use Natural (N series) shades. They're the most effective at covering grays evenly because they provide a neutral tone with no added warm or cool pigments.
Semi-permanent: It has no ammonia or developer and deposits dye only to soften gray or boost color, lasting through about six to eight washes. Temporary: This is both ammonia- and developer-free, which means it's the least damaging hair dye.
A more graduated haircut such as the 'lob' – a long bob that sits slightly beneath the jawline at the front – is a great alternative. “The subtle layers will frame the face, making it appear fuller.” Softer styling also creates a youthful effect.
The foil technique lightens the surrounding color to create a natural look but will not completely cover the grey hair completely. This method requires more maintenance with frequent touch-ups to maintain the style.
Colours like butterscotch brown, light auburn and golden brown, or ash brown for those with a cool skin tone, are all versatile brunette shades that aren't too dark and are some of the best hair colours to hide grey.
According to Bellemare, purple shampoo is a great option for those with gray hair as it can help neutralize yellow tones. This brassiness can develop from environmental factors such as pollution, UV exposure, hard water, heat styling and product buildup, says Bellemare.
If your hair is brown, you may need to bleach it more than once before you apply the grey dye. It's important you get your hair as light as possible before you attempt to turn it grey – this will help ensure a more even tone and vibrant, all-over colour.