The perfect color to conceal them? Ash blond! Thanks to the tones of this color verging on gray, it will perfectly blend in the gray hairs so they cannot be noticed. However, a light base (from blond to chestnut brown) is necessary so your highlights are still harmonious.
Opt for highlights.
If you want to disguise grays while adding dimension to your mane, ask your stylist for highlights.
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.
The easiest way to cover grays is by asking your stylist for an all-over color service.
Colors like butterscotch, 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 colors to hide gray.
For grey hair coverage, we generally recommend that you aim to color slightly lighter than the natural hair color level of your client. In this case we would suggest you go for a color starting in level 6 (Dark Blonde) or 7 (Blonde).
' Yes, highlighting in most cases is more effective in blending grays with the rest of your hair than traditional dyeing. A simple formula: highlights to disguise gray hair are recommended when there's no more than 30% of gray hair if you're brunette or 40% if you're blonde.
Blonde highlights can brighten your natural hair color and help to disguise gray hair with a blended finished look. Blonde highlights can also create depth and interest in your overall hair color by adding brightness to your natural hair color and mixing in the gray hairs so they're less noticeable.
It works on gray hair.
Balayage is a smart solution for gray hair because it allows the colorist to specifically target gray strands without touching the scalp. And, because you don't need to do a single process to cancel out a few grays, it's easier on your hair overall.
Gray blending is a subtle hair color application that oscillates between highlights and balayage. Like a game of chiaroscuro, the colorist will first lighten large sections of hair with a light balayage, then accentuate the effect on a few finer strands to blend in the gray hair naturally present.
So yes, while permanent color may require slightly more frequent trips to the salon because those new grays will be more noticeable once they start to appear, the benefit is that those single process coloring appointments to cover your grays will be short and sweet.
Opt for an all over colour right away when dyeing your hair or transition with highlights for a gradual, natural look. Each time you colour, choose a lighter shade to bring you closer to the grey shade in your hair. Once you're on the road to lighter tones, start washing your hair with a silver shampoo.
Lowlights, which, unlike highlights are actually a few shades darker than your hair, bring out the most natural look versus using brighter traditional highlights, says Michael Canalé, Jennifer Aniston's longtime colorist and creator of hair care line Canalé.
A temporary root concealer spray is the quickest way to help cover gray roots. Try the L'Oréal Paris Magic Root Cover Up, which is available in eight shades. The lightweight, quick-dry spray helps conceal gray roots in just three seconds without any smudging or sticky residue once it dries.
The timing between dyes, according to Lint, is roughly every four to six weeks. If you're stretching that time gap pretty thin, however, there are methods to cover your gray roots in the meantime. "There are lots of products, such as powder or makeup, that cover your gray and then wash out when shampooed," says Lint.
When it comes to gray coverage, balayage and foilyage have several benefits over traditional highlights. Favoring a balayage technique for gray blending services allows you to cover a larger surface area and avoid leaving out as much hair. Doing so leaves the client with a natural and youthful look.
"Highlights are often placed much closer to the scalp and applied in specific sections while the balayage process includes a graduated painting the color onto the hair in random sections," says Rivera. If you are looking to add non-uniform chunks or sweeps of color, balayage is a better option.
Caramel, honey, gold, copper, and strawberry give a healthy brightness that makes us look and feel younger. (Framing your face with lighter shades draws the eye away from any complexion concerns, as well.)
3. Lowlights for Gray Hair. Like highlights, lowlights can also be used to disguise gray hair. In fact, they're perfect for covering gray on brown or red hair for those clients who worry blonde 'lights will look unnatural.
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.
But how to blend gray hair into brown or naturally dark hair seamlessly? Less saturated shades of highlights and dyes can make the gray strands less visible. Butterscotch, light auburn, golden brown, ash brown, and pale brunettes are some of the best shades to conceal them.
That's why so many women love grey balayage, which utilizes hand-painted highlights to achieve a more natural (we're using that word loosely) look. Instead of growing out with a visible line of demarcation, this beautifully applied grey will leave you with ombre ends.