Haircolor Help -- Covering Roots

[Anonymous]

I'm tired of spending $$$ and wasting time at the salon covering my roots. My hair grows fast and is thick. I have tried Clairol's Root Touch Up kit twice with poor results. Is there a better brand? What am I doing wrong? The first time I left it on for exactly 10 minutes based on the box instructions not wanting to go too dark, and the second time I left it on for 20 and used two kits instead of one to make sure I had enough dye to saturate. It just barely tinted the gray hair. I have dark brown hair btw.

[Anonymous]

Get some tubes of color and developer from a beauty supply store. Mix a bit according to the directions and apply to your roots. I use Wella brand.

[Anonymous]

Loreal Excellence Creme. Made specifically for grey hair. I buy it on Amazon in a 3 pack. I use medium brown 5 or 5AB. It's best for coloring greys.

I use it every 3-4 weeks. I also leave it on for 45 minutes to as much as 60 minutes if that doesn't work. Works very well, only about $10-12 a box. For my dark brown hair, medium brown is the way to go.

[Anonymous]

Huh, I use whatever is on sale at the drugstore and I've never had a problem. I've definitely used Clairol's Root Touch Up kit. I also have very thick curly dark brown hair (I'm mixed black/white) and I always use two kits so that I have enough. Maybe I'm just not that particular about it? I sometimes get the color too dark and it doesn't match exactly.

[Anonymous]

What about accepting that gray/silver is a hair color and let your hair be natural? Hair color doesn't define our age or vitality. Letting go of the pressure to color every 4-6 weeks is extremely liberating.

[Anonymous]

I do esalon for my roots. Leave on for 35 min. About $30 a month for me but saves time and money.

[Anonymous]

I use the Ion brand of color and developer from Sally's. Be sure to pickup the plastic mixing bowl and brush applicator. I mix according to directions.

[Anonymous]

I also use Wella and a developer that I buy on Amazon. Much better quality and extremely affordable. Buy a hair dye mixing kit, too.

[Anonymous]

L'Oreal Preference. I have blonde/red hair and I and use it every 4 weeks like clockwork. I leave it on for 40 min and even cut it in half so I can mix the rest next month and save $5. It is a very natural colour- and is the same as my lengths. I figured I'd try it and bite the bullet/get it done professionally if it looked bad but it is really good! $30 a year makes me feel better about the time I waste having to do this every month.

[Anonymous]

I use the $9 Revlon Touch Up kit every 6 weeks. It covers my gray roots and blends with my dark brown hair. I have used it for years. My salon colorist recommended for using in between full coloring. I'm surprised it doesn't work for you.

[Anonymous]

I will try all these things. Maybe my hair isn't clean enough when I dye it? I thought you weren't supposed to dye hair that has just been washed so I usually wait 2 days. But maybe it is preventing the dye from working.

I noticed my temples are still white and I put a lot of dye on that hair to cover it, which didn't take.

[Anonymous]

Adding on, do you usually pick a color lighter than your natural hair? So for dark brown, would you pick medium brown?

[Anonymous]

I use the Clairol root touch-up with good results, but I have to leave it on for 45 minutes (dark blonde).

[Anonymous]

I have Selma Hayek or Julia Louis Dreyfus dark brown hair and I use the medium brown. Works great. Dark brown (4) is usually too dark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will try all these things. Maybe my hair isn't clean enough when I dye it? I thought you weren't supposed to dye hair that has just been washed so I usually wait 2 days. But maybe it is preventing the dye from working.

I noticed my temples are still white and I put a lot of dye on that hair to cover it, which didn't take.

I have curly hair that I only wash 1x a week. I have never had a problem getting the dye to deposit. You may want to leave it on for longer than the box directions indicate. I leave my color on at least 45 minutes.