Why is the root of my hair lighter?

Author: Selena Schiller Jr.  |  Last update: Thursday, April 10, 2025

Hot or glowing root colour is usually caused by miscalculations in the formula painted on when using a permanent dye to go lighter or brighter. It's one of the most common mistakes I see Hairdressers making at all levels of experience.

Why is my hair lighter at the root?

Comments Section your roots will lighten faster than the rest of your hair due to the heat coming from your scalp. always do your roots last. your stylist probably used a lower contraction developer on the roots and a higher concentration on the rest of the hair which is why she did the roots first.

Why is there a white bulb at the root of my hair?

The white stuff look like bulb at the end of your hair are plugs/hair root. Which are made of sebum and other organic materials. It holds your hair inside the follicle. When it is the time to shed,the follicle releases the plug and it falls out.

Should root touch up be lighter or darker?

For new hair regrowths, it is better to touch up the roots. Because if you colour through from roots to ends, the hair becomes successively darker, with the ends being darkest. If you have never coloured before, colour from roots to ends long as selected shades are not 2 shades lighter than your natural shades.

Why is my hair lighter at the bottom?

There's a couple of possibilities. The ends have been exposed to the most sunlight, so there could be some natural lightening occuring. They ends are also most likely the most damaged, so they may be split or broken off which can make them look lighter.

Hot Roots Part 2, Another Cause And What To Do About Them...

How to fix lighter roots?

As for those lighter roots? A root touch-up kit (you can use one with permanent color—or temporary dye) will help deepen the shade until it's time to color again in six or so weeks.

What is it called when your hair is lighter at the bottom?

In the hair color world, ombré is a dramatic, two-toned hair color effect that is typically darker at the top and lighter on the bottom. Often the dark, top section is your natural hair color shade, and the bottom section is lightened with hair lightener and then toned to the desired hair color result.

Do roots lighten faster than ends?

Working through each section, saturate the mid-lengths and ends of your hair with your bleach mixture. Once you've worked through each section, it's time for the roots! The heat from your scalp accelerates the bleaching process, causing your roots to lift lighter, faster.

What do hot roots look like?

Hot roots – orange or yellow tones right around your scalp that are lighter than the rest of your hair – are the worst of the worst. Beyond not looking great, they can be difficult to fix. Unfortunately, hot roots are a common result for most people when lightening their hair for the first time.

What happens if you put grey hair dye on brown hair?

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.

How to tell if hair loss is from stress?

No Visible Pattern. With stress-related shedding, hair falls out evenly all over your scalp instead of in a defined pattern. You'll likely notice more hairs than usual coming out while shampooing, combing, or on your pillow, clothing, and bathroom floor.

What does it mean when the root of your hair is white?

Is it normal to have hair loss with white roots? Hair loss with white roots can be common for many people, especially as they age. So, yes, it's completely normal. White roots usually indicate that the hair is in the telogen phase, which we will talk about later.

How to know if hair follicles are dead?

So dead hair follicles can look like a smooth, bald patch of skin or like a scar. A trichologist may be able to get a better view of your follicles by using a microscope or other trichological tools.

Why are my roots lighter than the rest of my hair after bleaching?

The lightening process exposes natural warmth in your hair, which can contribute to a lighter, brassier colour result at your roots.

What is a root smudge?

ROOT SMUDGE/shadow

Root shadowing is a low-maintenance hair color technique in which a darker shade is applied directly to the roots giving a soft, seamless contrast. It's a great way to refresh your look and give your hair color depth and dimension.

Why is my hair black at root and white at tip?

So, if you notice black hair roots, it's because your melanocytes have been producing melanin normally. Interestingly, melanin production can restart after a period of dormancy, which can lead to a strand of hair that's white or gray on the tip and black closer to the root.

Why did my roots come out lighter?

This results in hot roots, when the natural hair closest to the scalp reacts to the light hair color more quickly than the rest of your hair and your roots lighten while the already-colored hair doesn't. Not exactly the look you're going for.

What do good roots look like?

Signs of healthy roots include: White or tan color with fleshy white tips. Firm, plump texture.

What does heat fried hair look like?

You may also experience a change in texture, and your hair might not cooperate as it once did. Damaged hair becomes brittle and breaks easily. Your hair might look dull and dry, and the appearance of split ends is more noticeable. It can also be challenging to get your hair to lie flat.

How do salons fix hot roots?

Here, the stylist strategically applies a darker shade at the roots, typically blending seamlessly into the lighter mid-lengths and ends. This technique offers several benefits: Low-Maintenance: Shadow roots minimize the need for frequent touch-ups.

Should you touch up highlights or roots first?

Apply color to your roots first. Hair that's been previously colored is porous and soaks up color easily, but new growth requires more processing time. Leave color on your roots for the full time and only process ends for half the required time. It'll give you a nice even color from root to tip.

Should I wash my hair before dying it?

In general, it's recommended to wash your hair a day or two before your dye session rather than immediately before it. Skipping a day allows for oils to build up on your scalp, which, in turn, helps protect against irritation that can be caused by hair dye.

Why are parts of my hair lighter?

Exposure to Sunlight: The ends of your hair have been exposed to the sun and other environmental elements for a longer period than the roots, leading to natural lightening. Age: As we age, hair follicles produce less melanin, the pigment that gives hair its color, leading to lighter hair, especially at the ends.

What is dehydration hair?

Dehydrated hair is hair that produces enough sebum (oil), but lacks water. This may be due to external aggressions that have contributed to the evaporation of water, such as exposure to the sun or excessive heat. It tends to look dull and fluffy, feel rough, lack luster, be prone to frizz and sensitive to humidity.

What is ashen hair?

Whether blonde or brunette, ash hair colour has undertones of grey (hence the name), green, blue and violet. Ash hair colour is on the cool side of the colour spectrum, meaning that it does not contain many red or orange tones.

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