Hair color while going gray - advice please

[Anonymous]

I'm really struggling with this stage. I have medium brown hair and had dark blond highlights. The gray started taking over so highlights alone weren't hiding the gray. But there's still a good amount of brown in there.

Ideally, I'd have the brown stay the color it is (while it lasts) and make the gray a blond color -- but that has just made the brown brassy and orangey.

Does anyone have recommendations of what I should be asking my stylist?

Do I really have to do a permanent brown color on my roots, and then get (bleach) highlights? Or is there another option?

(Ideally an option that is nicer to my hair and less time and money -- and going gray is not an option for me at this point).

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Demi permanent color and finding a stylist who specializes in gray blending. Instagram can be a good place to look.

[Anonymous]

The short answer is there is no solution for this. Even Demi color will make your natural brown hair turn brassy, though less.

[Anonymous]

I've just started with a new stylist, and we are a couple of sessions in with demi vs. perm color. So far, I'm really happy with how graceful the grow out/fade has been compared to the harsh line from perm color. The new growth is nowhere near as warm as the old color. The gloss tones down the warmth on the length of my hair but it is going to be a long process to grow it out, but I'm very happy with it so far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've just started with a new stylist, and we are a couple of sessions in with demi vs. perm color. So far, I'm really happy with how graceful the grow out/fade has been compared to the harsh line from perm color. The new growth is nowhere near as warm as the old color. The gloss tones down the warmth on the length of my hair but it is going to be a long process to grow it out, but I'm very happy with it so far.

The Demi color will fade warm and brassy too in time and will need toning. Maybe not as brassy as the permanent, but there is no good way to keep gray hair a medium brown

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've just started with a new stylist, and we are a couple of sessions in with demi vs. perm color. So far, I'm really happy with how graceful the grow out/fade has been compared to the harsh line from perm color. The new growth is nowhere near as warm as the old color. The gloss tones down the warmth on the length of my hair but it is going to be a long process to grow it out, but I'm very happy with it so far.

The Demi color will fade warm and brassy too in time and will need toning. Maybe not as brassy as the permanent, but there is no good way to keep gray hair a medium brown

That’s discouraging. Really??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've just started with a new stylist, and we are a couple of sessions in with demi vs. perm color. So far, I'm really happy with how graceful the grow out/fade has been compared to the harsh line from perm color. The new growth is nowhere near as warm as the old color. The gloss tones down the warmth on the length of my hair but it is going to be a long process to grow it out, but I'm very happy with it so far.

The Demi color will fade warm and brassy too in time and will need toning. Maybe not as brassy as the permanent, but there is no good way to keep gray hair a medium brown

Sure, there is going to be maintenance on any color that we put in our hair, but toning is an easy fix.

[Anonymous]

I have similar hair and I do a demi perm color at home that is a neutral tone dark blonde. I do it once a month and do not get brassy tones except occasionally in the summer due to time in the pool (worth it to me).

The key was going lighter. Instead of a mid brown I accepted that the graying hair was making my hair lighter overall and just accepted blonde. The thing is that using dark blonde with a neutral (so not golden and not ash) tone means that it basically comes out a light brown. But unlike brown hair dye which tends to look unnatural on top of gray hair the dark blonde dye marries the tones in my natural brow and in the incoming grays much better.

After some trial and error this is the one I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KRTL39B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title

Occasionally in the summer I will do this one as my hair gets lighter in the summer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KRTBKDG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image

I know it looks way lighter than the first one but it actually only looks a smidge lighter on my hair. I buy these in bulk and have gotten very good at home application and while they don't absolutely eliminate my grays they soften it considerably and my hair looks healthy and polished. I get compliments on it including from my stylist. And it's much gentler on my hair than trying to dye it brown and highlight it (plus waaaaaaay cheaper).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have similar hair and I do a demi perm color at home that is a neutral tone dark blonde. I do it once a month and do not get brassy tones except occasionally in the summer due to time in the pool (worth it to me).

The key was going lighter. Instead of a mid brown I accepted that the graying hair was making my hair lighter overall and just accepted blonde. The thing is that using dark blonde with a neutral (so not golden and not ash) tone means that it basically comes out a light brown. But unlike brown hair dye which tends to look unnatural on top of gray hair the dark blonde dye marries the tones in my natural brow and in the incoming grays much better.

After some trial and error this is the one I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KRTL39B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title

Occasionally in the summer I will do this one as my hair gets lighter in the summer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KRTBKDG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image

I know it looks way lighter than the first one but it actually only looks a smidge lighter on my hair. I buy these in bulk and have gotten very good at home application and while they don't absolutely eliminate my grays they soften it considerably and my hair looks healthy and polished. I get compliments on it including from my stylist. And it's much gentler on my hair than trying to dye it brown and highlight it (plus waaaaaaay cheaper).


OP here -- this would be so amazing if it works. Do you color all over your hair the first time, and then just do the roots for a while?

[Anonymous]

I went to a stylist who does gray blending; she added a gazillion of highlights and lowlights of various colors. It’s been about 2 months and the gray and brown that’s growing in, is blending. I’ve used a shampoo for colored hair avoided being in the sun, and it still looks non brassy.
Drawback is that it cost me over 500 with a quick cut, before tip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a stylist who does gray blending; she added a gazillion of highlights and lowlights of various colors. It’s been about 2 months and the gray and brown that’s growing in, is blending. I’ve used a shampoo for colored hair avoided being in the sun, and it still looks non brassy.
Drawback is that it cost me over 500 with a quick cut, before tip.

gray blending looks great and you can stretch the time between services. but I think you still end up with over-processed hair because you have to keep on adding highlights and lowlights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have similar hair and I do a demi perm color at home that is a neutral tone dark blonde. I do it once a month and do not get brassy tones except occasionally in the summer due to time in the pool (worth it to me).

The key was going lighter. Instead of a mid brown I accepted that the graying hair was making my hair lighter overall and just accepted blonde. The thing is that using dark blonde with a neutral (so not golden and not ash) tone means that it basically comes out a light brown. But unlike brown hair dye which tends to look unnatural on top of gray hair the dark blonde dye marries the tones in my natural brow and in the incoming grays much better.

After some trial and error this is the one I use: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KRTL39B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title

Occasionally in the summer I will do this one as my hair gets lighter in the summer: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KRTBKDG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image

I know it looks way lighter than the first one but it actually only looks a smidge lighter on my hair. I buy these in bulk and have gotten very good at home application and while they don't absolutely eliminate my grays they soften it considerably and my hair looks healthy and polished. I get compliments on it including from my stylist. And it's much gentler on my hair than trying to dye it brown and highlight it (plus waaaaaaay cheaper).


OP here -- this would be so amazing if it works. Do you color all over your hair the first time, and then just do the roots for a while?

PP here-- I do am all over application each time.

[Anonymous]

I dye at home, and my hair does not look all one color because the grays take the color differently.

My hair leans really brassy so I use an "ultra ash" brown dye, and then purple shampoo to maintain.

[Anonymous]

I use wella color touch demo permanent in a medium brown. I have very dark brown hair. The grays are a bit lighter, but also not gray. It’s been working well for me and never gotten brassy. I’ve had issues with going brassy/reddish in the sun with permanent color, but the demi permanent has actually stopped that from happening with my hair.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to a stylist who does gray blending; she added a gazillion of highlights and lowlights of various colors. It’s been about 2 months and the gray and brown that’s growing in, is blending. I’ve used a shampoo for colored hair avoided being in the sun, and it still looks non brassy.
Drawback is that it cost me over 500 with a quick cut, before tip.

OMG. How often will you need to have this done?