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

Author: Prof. Lenna Ortiz  |  Last update: Wednesday, May 14, 2025

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.

What is the best color for stubborn gray hair?

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).

How do you cover up stubborn grey 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 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.

What hair dye covers grey the longest?

L'Oreal Excellence Crème Resistant Gray hair color has patented 'Gray Seeking Dyes' that penetrate gray hair to deliver extra concentrated, long-lasting color that ensures coverage of the most resistant gray hair.

What Hair Color Is Good for Stubborn Grey Hair? : Mane Street

Which type of hair color can cover 100% of gray hair?

Light Blonde

Ultra Light Cool Blonde or Ultra Light Natural Blonde will do the trick.

Why doesn't my hair dye cover grey?

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.

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 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.

Why is hair dye not taking to my roots?

Similar to the orangey issue above, when your regrowth ends up a shade lighter than the rest of your hair, it is typically because virgin hair reacts differently to dye than previously colored strands. The latter is more porous than regrowth and thus quicker to absorb color molecules.

How do celebrities cover grey hair?

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.

How to dye stubborn grey hair at home?

Tips for covering grey hair
  1. Be clear about your desired results. ...
  2. Consider using balayage to cover grey hair. ...
  3. Consider using highlights to cover greys. ...
  4. Opt for dyes formulated for grey hair. ...
  5. Choose your lighting carefully. ...
  6. Deeply condition and hydrate your hair before dyeing it. ...
  7. Go darker on the roots. ...
  8. Start slow and layer up.

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.

What hair dye do professionals use?

Wella products are trusted by experts all over the world, whether it's their Koleston Perfect range for rich, vibrant colors or the Illumina Colour series for brilliant results. Redken is well-known for its cutting-edge hair color processes and wide selection of colors.

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.

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 are hair dyes not recommended for grey hair?

According to hair biology experts and styling experts alike, grey hair is more resistant to color than younger hair because of its texture. The relative lack of natural oils in the hair compared to younger hair make it a rougher surface that tends to reject the color being applied, especially around the roots.

What is the best color to hide grey hair?

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.

Why is my hair color not covering my gray?

Gray hair tends to be resistant and typically takes longer to grab hold of the hair. Since there is no pigment, there is no need to lift. You just need to open the cuticle enough to deposit the color. If you feel you can get full coverage using a 10 or 15 volume then by all means use a lower volume.

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.

What does nn mean on hair dye?

For best gray coverage, use NN (Intense Neutral). NN shades are extra pigment packed to eliminate the most resistant grays.

How to cover very stubborn gray hair?

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.

Is Clairol root touch up permanent?

Our selection of root touch-up products is available in a variety of shades in permanent and temporary formulas. Our products provide long-lasting color and are easy to use at home, with clear instructions for a seamless application.

How often should you dye your hair to cover gray?

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.

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