If you have only a few grey hairs, colouring hair at home is easy and economical, but bear in mind that grey hair is the hardest to cover it is not like adding a few highlights to your existing hair, so you'll need a home hair dye that is permanent (permanent doesn't mean forever, though – this is not a dyed and gone ...
Permanent or demi-permanent dyes are better suited for grey hair as they provide longer-lasting coverage compared to semi-permanent dyes. But semi-permanent dyes are better for a quick fix. These can be used to add a pop of colour to your hair. Grey hair tends to be brittle and drier than normal hair.
Brown hair colors for gray hair are the sweet spot for gray coverage if your natural shade is medium blonde to dark brown. They are also ideal if you're gray all over.
The best hair color brands for covering gray hair include Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Creme, Redken EQ Shades, Phytocolor Permanent Hair Color, and ColorSilk Beautiful Color Permanent Hair Color. These brands are known for their ability to provide good coverage for gray hair and offer a range of shades to choose from.
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.
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.
Vogue's Favorite Hair Dyes for Gray Hair:
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. Best Plant-Based Color: Phyto Permanent Hair Color, $18.
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.
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.
It doesn't permanently alter or lighten hair like permanent color, and is a great option if you're looking to cover the first signs of gray, darken your hair, or want to try something new - without the long-term commitment.
If you have more than 20% grey, most colorists recommend permanent color as your best option to fully cover grey hair. Most do-it-yourself box dyes that advertise grey hair coverage are also permanent color. The thing to remember about permanent hair color is that it's a life sentence.
Premature graying may be reversed with vitamin B12 supplementation only if vitamin B12 deficiency is the cause. If you are graying due to other factors, such as genetics, zinc deficiency, and medications, your gray hair cannot be reversed.
On most heads of hair, that would mean getting a good 6-8 weeks between touch-ups – but sometimes, even with permanent dye, colour fade can happen within a few weeks. Why does this happen? Typically, hair dyes are water soluble. When you wash your hair, the dye molecules simply dissolve and your new colour rinses away.
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.
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).
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.
If your client can't seem to keep their gray hair or roots covered for long, it may be time to discontinue using hair dye. Going to the salon every two weeks for treatment is too often, and along with all the damage it can do to their hair, it can also be expensive over time.
Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Permanent Colour
A natural-looking colour that effectively covers grey is what most look for at an at-home hair dye, and you'll find exactly that in this one. There's a wide range of shades to choose from too, from a Honey Blonde, all the way through to Infinite Black.
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.
What is demi-permanent color? Demi-permanent color contains no ammonia and deposits only. It is mixed with a low-volume developer to help open the cuticle and lasts up to 24 shampoos. This type of color is great for blending gray, enhancing natural color, refreshing color, toning highlights, or for corrective work.
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."