dark hair, dark dye, very grey roots. Advice on how to repeat colour please

[Pavlovthecat]

I have mid-dark brown hair. I have a lot of grey at the sides, from parting down to hear, mostly at the front, softening to the back with just a gentle blend at the back.

I have dyed my hair dark bitter chocolate brown. Love it. But, at the roots, it does not take as dark as the rest. I have only been doing the roots and then freshening up all over for 5-10 mins as the rest of my hair is still very dark. But the roots just do not take.

Is it the dye I am using? I have used the Botanics permanent, mainly because I loved using this when I had less grey hair. But, I am wondering if now I have much more, I need a different brand.

I am worried about not being able to match the colour with this current one, or permanently having roots that are slightly lighter than the rest of my hair.

Mostly, it does not notice, although looks a tiny bit like an old persons colour (imo, I suspect it does not really) as I have lots of hair on one side, but it is a short asymmetrical cut, so the other side it v v v short and it is obvious at the roots, or looks like I am thinning when I am not (although I do have fine hair and not as thick as at the back, not as bad as it looks.

So, for all you experienced ladies, please help me. I have just braved a new hair cut as feeling very low about my appearance, but it needs more.

[Wurg]

is that your new cut on your profile love it, really suits your face.

I'm just lurking for answers as I have the same dye issue. My hairdresser keeps trying to convince me to go lighter with highlights to make the grey less obvious, but I'm not a highlight kinda gal..

[Pavlovthecat]

Hey, thanks, yes it is, forgot I had it up still! What you can't see from the front is the faded colour at the roots (why i put that one up not another one!).

I personally love highlights. Just a couple at the front to soften the grey coming through so i don't have to do it too often, a handful of thin ones amongst the dark. But unfortunately I do not these days have the £100 every 10 weeks to do this. Hence the new dying question

[Pavlovthecat]

but i would only go one or two shades lighter at most. Keep it dark/close to my natural colour.

I had this done a couple of times with the highlights. I will see if I can find a photo of it. It looked nice even when the roots grew out. I managed to go 3 months without needing a dye (or rather, managed to wait that long before realising i needed to go!)

[LapsedPacifist]

Honestly? I would get it sorted out at a salon. I too have dark hair which is "attended" to professionally every 4-6 weeks. I never let the re-growth get so bad that the roots can't be coloured very easily. It's just one of those things I feel isn't worth scrimping on for "une femme d'une certaine age"! Costs me about £40 for a tint and trim, cos I don't pay for a blow-dry when it's finished.



I also go for a more "aubergine" shade instead of the dark bitter chocolate which can look a bit "flat" IMO. It fades nicely within a few days and conceals the white lighter roots better than darkauburn/red brown shades

[HouseOfBamboo]

I think if you're just touching up roots and having this problem, don't even bother doing the 5-10 mins blending bit, just stick to the roots. Should be fine as long as it's a similar colour. Maybe leave on a bit longer than it says.

If you use a colour like the Daniel Field watercolours, you can get two or even three applications out of a pack, as it just involves mixing one powder with water and the powder stores well. So quite cost effective, even if you have to do it every two or three weeks (which is a pain in itself, I know!).

[Pavlovthecat]

lapsed I don't leave it long now. Only did that when paying for someone else to do it. I wait 3-4 weeks most, the reason I am posting this, is because 3 weeks after dying it, it needs doing again, due to regrowth, but the colour is not sticking the about an inch of colour already there. I mean it is, but it is a couple of shades lighter than the rest of my hair, the longer bits that have had colour of 5 times or so.

I would love to go to the salon and get it professionally coloured every 4wks or so. But I cannot afford it. We are living on a single income in the southwest not long after returning to work after maternity leave! luckily DH now has work again but it will take time before I can justify my hair over other priorities (it will get prioritised soon enough though that is for sure!)

Also, I use the bitter chocolate as it is close to my natural hair colour, and my style tbh. Does the 'aubergine' look purple though? I can't bear the thought of a purple rinse at the roots if it does not take!

houseofbamboo so switching brands and changing the colour slightly wont make a hugs difference? It worries me that it will look all wrong. I am not too concerned about cost of the dye, in that it will still be cheaper than the salon by some considerable distance! I might go and check it out.

[Pavlovthecat]

houseofbamboo thing with the roots is, even if I don't touch up the rest, the rest is dark enough that it will still be different - i only touch up the rest to blend in any i have missed so it is not patchy.

least my hair is relatively short so it does not take too long, and if it does all go wrong I could just cut it even shorter!

[didldidi]

I have the same problem, I use Nice n easy mousse in 'light brown' (even though it is really mid brown) I got a groupon offer for a full head of highlights and when I feel my re-growth is nearly all grey I shall go as blonde as I can and leave the grey to grow through less noticeably.

[TattyDevine]

The grey hair is harder to penetrate. It is taking to the body of hair better than virgin hair because it is pourous due to previous colour.

You need to "pre soften" with 20 volume peroxide. This is different to pre lightening. Paint some 20 volume (6%) peroxide on the grey bits and stubborn bits about 5 minutes before you want to colour. Dry it with moderate heat from a hairdryer. Apply dye to your roots as usual. You will find it takes a lot better as the cuticle of the hair will have opened slightly due to the PH of the peroxide.

This is a technique widely used in salons.

Sorry will give more detail and links later but just painted nails cant type!

[TattyDevine]

presoftening

peroxide

[Pavlovthecat]

I think I get that, that is needs to 'pre-soften', but the problem is, it is pretty much impossible to just do the roots in the shorter side. Would it be really bad for my hair if some of the pre-dyed hair from last time was peroxide dyed too? i of course would not cover all my hair with it each time, but how do you stop some of it going on normally dark/natural hair or hair that is already dyed?

didididi I have said that too! next time I can actually afford to go to, and keep up with salon colour, I will go blonde. BUT. I will go 'trashy blonde' as DH calls it, and have it highlighted blonde all over so I get the dark roots to start with! and white blond! I suspect there is only a finite period of time I can do that for before I look mutton but while i still can eh? ...

[TattyDevine]

actually this is 20 vol

[TattyDevine]

Paint it on with a foundation brush, wont hurt previously dyed hair x

[Pavlovthecat]

tatty, you are an absolute star. I could kiss you. just read the link and it seems (ha!) straightforward enough, just time consuming overall with rest of the hair dye!

I am going to do it this weekend!

I have a new hair cut, bought some new make-up, nail varnish I actually like and is good quality. I shall be transformed!!!

[Pavlovthecat]

good idea about the foundation brush, that will be easy to do then. thanks! I feel quite excited now!