For best results, use ammonia-free hair color range and lower the chances of hair damage. Additionally, several hair colors are formulated using nourishing oils and other enriching ingredients. These nourishing hair colors help retain the moisture of your hair and maintain its shine and smoothness.
Balayage. Balayage is a French word that translates to "sweeping." It is generally considered a safer coloring technique compared to traditional full-head dyeing or aggressive highlighting methods. The balayage process starts with the hairstylist strategically selecting sections of the hair to apply the color.
Apply petroleum jelly or a similar product along your hairline and ears to prevent staining. Read and follow the instructions provided with the dye to ensure the best results and minimize damage. Use a brush for even application and avoid saturating the hair with too much product at once.
Semi-permanent or natural hair dyes are good options as they minimize damage. Opt for ammonia-free, sulfate-free, and paraben-free formulas, and consider plant-based dyes like henna or herbal hair colors. Shades close to your natural color, like dark brown or black, usually cause less damage compared to lighter colors.
"If you really want to reduce your exposure to harsh ingredients the safest way, color-depositing conditioners and masks are best," Patton said. These dyes don't require a developer, so they're relatively gentle.
The least toxic hair dyes are those free from ammonia, PPD, resorcinol, and other harsh chemicals. Brands focusing on plant-based ingredients and natural colorants are typically the safest options for non-toxic hair dye. However, it's important to read ingredient labels carefully.
Comparing Permanent, Semi-Permanent, and Demi-Permanent Hair Dyes. Permanent hair color has the greatest potential for hair damage due to the chemistry involved and should be done most cautiously.
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).
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.
Certain harsh chemicals in popular box dyes have given many stylists pause. Common concerns include: Ammonia - This mixing agent lifts cuticles to deposit colour but is quite drying over time. Peroxide - High volumes like 30+ developer cause more damage to delicate hair.
Over time, and with repeated colouring sessions, these changes in the structure of your hair will leave it weaker and more prone to breakage. The more hair is dye damaged, the less the colour holds. That's why it's so important to prioritise repair if you colour your hair.
Highlights help disguise grey hair in a more natural way than all-over color. All-over color needs to be touched up more often than highlights because when your hair grows, you'll experience a “demarcation line” that can look harsh against brown or black hair. It's all about blending! No more harsh lines here!
However, if you're coming from a damage perspective, you can expect partial highlights to be the slightly less harmful option to strands. Partial highlights require far less bleach than a full head, but your colorist may still need to use a bit of lightener to create your chosen look.
Pick a lighter hair colour
A lighter colour will then look better. Your hair follicles produce less pigment as you're turning older. If there's no more pigment being produced in the hair follicles, your hair turns pigmentless.
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.
Hydrogen peroxide can damage the hair cuticle, the outer layer of your hair that protects and strengthens your strands. Damage to the cuticle can lead to reduced protection and make your hair vulnerable to breakage. In turn, that has the potential to result in hair loss.
Unlike over-the-counter box dyes, salon dyes are designed to offer rich, long-lasting results while minimizing damage to your hair. As you think about making a change, consider that professional hair dyes are specifically formulated to provide rich, enduring color while nourishing your hair.
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.