Options for covering gray

[Anonymous]

I've never had any color treatment on my hair, but now at age 40, I find myself with more and more gray hairs each day. It's still not that apparent to the outside observer (it's mostly underneath, when I lift my hair up), but it's starting to bother me. I would really rather not start a regimen of getting it professionally colored (although I do have a stylist that I like who would probably do a decent job), mostly because of the expense and time-commitment. What are my other options? Do I just buy a OTC box in a color I like (I have medium brown hair with some natural lighter highlights), or are there rinses that cover just the gray? For OTC treatments, can anyone recommend a brand?

[Anonymous]

I'd go as long as you can without coloring. In my experience, and I'm sure it varies by hair type, only the permanent color actually covers gray. Gray is very resistant to coloring because it's structurally different from other hair. Sometimes the box colors tell you to leave it on the gray an extra 10 minutes.

I use L'oreal Natural Match for medium blond hair, which gives me natural results. I'm naturally medium-dark blond, now with about 10% gray. But box colors damage your hair, no matter how careful you are to touch up roots only. And in the case of blond color, at least, the color gets lighter as the weeks go by, either because of the sun or hairdryer or repeated dyeing, I'm not sure.

Professional color is best, but pricey.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. I guess I will put it off a little longer since it's not THAT bad yet, and then bite the bullet and go the professional route.

[Anonymous]

After several years of coloring my own hair, I finally let it go back to natural. I have dark brown hair, and no matter what brand I used the color always ended up turning orangy. Even the "natural match" one that claims it won't turn brassy. So as my hair grew out, the roots were dark but the rest of my hair got lighter brown. Also, if you keep dying your hair over and over with permanent color at home, I think it starts getting a really fake look to it, at least darker hair does. It starts looking flat and has no highlights. I loved Feria because I thought it never looked flat, but it didn't cover gray very well. My gray would be gone for about 1 week, and then it would wear off.

If I ever start dying it again, I'm going to the pros. I would like to start coloring again, since I have a lot of gray, and I think people are going to think I'm the grandma of my 4 month old.

[Anonymous]

Natural Instincts is semi permanent and works great if you don't have a lot of gray. Buy one shade lighter than your true hair color. It won't lighten your hair since it has very low levels of peroxide but it will make the gray look like highlites,