How to cover stubborn grey hair?

Author: Audie Gislason II  |  Last update: Tuesday, June 17, 2025

10 Tricks to Help You Color Resistant Gray Hair
  1. Use a Permanent Color. ...
  2. Add a Dose of Pure Naturals. ...
  3. Choose the Right Developer. ...
  4. Saturate Stubborn Silver Strays. ...
  5. Start With the Most Resistant Patches. ...
  6. Develop Color Under Heat. ...
  7. Get Inspired by Formulas. ...
  8. Blend Away Grays with Highlights.

How do you cover stubborn gray hair?

To help cover your greys, you can try an additive like Ardell Grey Magic to your color. Another thing you can try is pre-softening. Use a little of the actual hair color on your stubborn greys and then mix your color with developer and apply as usual.

What to do if hair dye doesn't cover grey hair?

You can try using a semi permanent dye or color depositing conditioner like arctic fox, overtone, punky color etc because they don't cover grays. They might darken them a little bit but they will not cover them.

What is the best hair dye to cover stubborn gray hair?

Vogue's Favorite Hair Dyes for Gray Hair:
  • Best for Damaged Hair: Revlon ColorSilk Beautiful Color Hair Color, $32.
  • Best for Light Hair: Clairol Nice 'N Easy Permanent Hair Color, $8.
  • Best Temporary Color: Oribe Airbrush Root Touch-Up Spray, $36.
  • Best for Dark Hair: Schwarzkopf Keratin Color Bond Enforcing System, $12.

Why is my grey hair not covering?

Hair Structure: Grey hair tends to be coarser and drier than pigmented hair. The texture can affect how well the dye penetrates the hair shaft. Porosity: Grey hair can be less porous than colored hair, which means it may not absorb dye as effectively. This can lead to uneven color or a quicker fade.

How to Color Stubborn Gray Hair

What do you do when grey hair won't hold color?

10 Tricks to Help You Color Resistant Gray Hair
  1. Use a Permanent Color. ...
  2. Add a Dose of Pure Naturals. ...
  3. Choose the Right Developer. ...
  4. Saturate Stubborn Silver Strays. ...
  5. Start With the Most Resistant Patches. ...
  6. Develop Color Under Heat. ...
  7. Get Inspired by Formulas. ...
  8. Blend Away Grays with Highlights.

How do I make my grey hair less noticeable?

6 Different Ways to Hide Your Gray Hair
  1. 1) Balayage. Balayage involves hand-painting color onto the hair in a sweeping motion to create a natural, sun-kissed effect. ...
  2. 2) Highlights. ...
  3. 3) Balayage Highlights. ...
  4. 4) Lived-in Colour. ...
  5. 5) Foiliyage. ...
  6. 6) Babylights.

Is it better to go darker or lighter with grey hair?

Is it better to go lighter or darker to cover grey hair? As for your permanent colour kit choice, for the best grey coverage, Josh recommends choosing a shade close to your natural root colour (that's the colour between the greys.) "Make sure to never stray more than two shades away from this,” says Josh.

How long to leave hair color on stubborn gray hair?

increase the hair color's processing time

When dealing with stubborn grays, try leaving the color in for 40 to 45 minutes. The extra processing time can help! Be sure to set your timer once you've finished your full application. Rinsing out your color too soon may cause uneven color or only partial coverage.

What hair color covers gray the longest?

Neutral shades like soft blonde, mushroom brown, light copper, and caramel blonde balayage are the easiest to blend gray into (and maintain over time without wanting to shave your hair off). Plus, Cosgrove points out that it's easy to overwhelm your face with color.

What colors should you avoid with gray 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.

Is there a way to cover gray hair without dye?

Root sprays and root powders offer a quick and temporary way to cover up gray hairs: simply choose a shade that matches your natural color and apply to the roots. They're both great options for those moments when new gray growth just barely starts to appear or you need a quick fix between dye jobs.

What cancels out gray hair color?

Cool shades like ash blonde and mushroom brown are among the best hair colors to hide grays, since the cool tones won't clash with your silvery streaks.

What can I do about unruly grey hair?

How To Stop Gray Hair From Sticking Up
  1. Use a gentle shampoo and a nourishing conditioner. ...
  2. Don't pluck or tweeze. ...
  3. Avoid harsh hair accessories. ...
  4. Use products made for gray hair. ...
  5. Consider the scalp's pH balance. ...
  6. Treat wet hair with care. ...
  7. Put down the heat-styling tools. ...
  8. Try hair masks and oils.

Why is gray hair so difficult to color?

Sometimes it is because the hair has been coated with silicone that is not water soluble. However, MOST of the time it is because grey hair is extremely hard hair. It has many more layers of cuticle than pigmented hair, and those cuticle layers or very tightly packed down.

What is the healthiest way to cover grey hair?

Using natural ways to cover grey hair can make it look good and help nourish it. You can try remedies like coffee and chamomile tea. These options provide different shades and support healthy hair. Give these gentle choices a try instead of chemical dyes.

Why is my hair dye not covering my greys?

Pigment loss occurs naturally in hair as we age. Along with the changes in pigmentation, grey hairs can also undergo structural changes Grey hair is often also coarser. The outer cuticle layer of greys can be more tightly packed and layered, making them resistant to colour absorption.

Which hair dye is best for stubborn grey hair?

Permanent Hair Color for 100% Gray Coverage
  • 3063. Modena Brown - 5.5NNN. ...
  • 854. Parma Black - 2.5NNN. ...
  • 1307. Dosolo Brown - 5.5NNA. ...
  • 1710. Sondrio Brown - 6.5NNA. ...
  • 1322. Umbria Light Brown - 7.5NNA. ...
  • 2350. Novara Light Brown - 6.5NNN. ...
  • 1194. Lusia Dark Blonde - 8.5NNA. ...
  • 174. Bellagio Medium Blonde - 9.5NNA.

How to color stubborn grey hair at home?

Our top tips for coloring resistant gray hair
  1. prepare your hair for coloring. ...
  2. find a product that provides up to 100% coverage of gray hair. ...
  3. use natural shades for best results. ...
  4. let your color develop longer. ...
  5. reduce the developer. ...
  6. know how much neutral tone to use. ...
  7. drop your color choice for root touch ups.

How do celebrities cover their grey hair?

How to Hide Gray Hair With Hair Dye. If you only have a few grays coming through, celebrity hairstylist Rita Hazan recommends "camouflaging" the gray with some strategic highlights. "You can blend your grays into lighter highlights," Hazan tells POPSUGAR. "I would say those cover 10 to 15 percent of grays."

How do brunettes go grey gracefully?

“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 ...

What is grey blending?

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.

How to hide grey hair without dying?

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.

How can I wear grey hair without looking old?

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.

How to cover grey hair professionally?

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.

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