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Style & Beauty

ARGH. Bad Day Made Worse by dye NOT COVERING MY FUCKING GREY

32 replies

PavlovtheCat · 02/05/2013 18:36

Sorry for shouting.

Ok, actually I'm not sorry. Fed up. Grr.

I have a huge amount of grey/white at the front of my hairline, and right through my parting. It is so fucking stubborn it just won't take colour very well. I have just dyed my hair a mid brown, and did the roots first,left it on for ages before just running through the rest of it, and it's still at least one shade lighter than the rest of my hair, maybe even more.

At the moment it's not horrendous as my hair is cut deliberately to hide the roots growing out too quickly, but fuck me it's really shit not being able to cover it. if the wind catches it, there is that almost flourescent brown at the roots.

Any ideas? I have tried various brands, have tried using peroxide on the roots first to make it more porous. I know salon is best, but really 1) I can't ever find the time to make it to the salon for 2 hours every 4 weeks b) I can't always get there due to health reasons and b) it's bloody expensive.

Before you suggest just going grey gracefully, not a fucking chance. I already walk stooped like an old woman due to back problems, I am not going grey as well just yet (and anyway, I still have a large amount of my own colour too so it will still look fucking stupid unless I get it dyed grey, then I might as well get it dyed brown or whatever).

OP posts:
ImTooHecsyForYourParty · 02/05/2013 18:38


Grin

What about using a darker shade just on the grey?

or going blonde?

My grandma started doing hers blonde when she went grey, it took better than a darker colour.
BunnyLebowski · 02/05/2013 18:41

I have dark hair and horribly stubborn greys.

I use Nice N Easy permanent and leave it on for a very long time. So long, in fact, that I got a telling off from a hairdresser on here.

It works though. Lasts about 2 weeks before they start emerging again.

I'm only 32 Sad

chartreuse · 02/05/2013 18:49

I feel your pain, I need to do mine every 2 weeks to keep on top of it, such a nuissance. I find Nice & Easy the only one that covers the grey all the different L'Oreal ones I've tried have been useless.

Aveda Black Malva conditioner is good too, it is colour depositing. I leave it on for 30 mins on the weeks I don't dye.

My best tip is Revlon Roux Tween Time, get it on ebay or amazon, it's like a crayon you use to 'colour in' the grey.

PavlovtheCat · 02/05/2013 19:04

chartreuse i could kiss you. Of course, I absolutely will not as this is mumsnet. But, if I were on a different forum I so would give you a big kiss I haven't tried Nice n Easy, will give it a go. The one that worked closest is the John Frieda mouse, lovelt rich colour too, but still a shade too light and a slight red tint meant it was flourescent orange after a few days, and I could not get the colour applied close enough to just roots the second/third time so that I avoided colour build up (relatively short hair so was hard ti divide hair into sections to get to roots).

I am going to check out the crayon thingy! What is the Aveda Black Mava Conditioner? Does it add colour?

ImtooHecsy I have gone blonde. HAHAHAHA! so, I don't appear to have the right natural hair colour for blonde. Not sure what the official term is for straw yellow but that's the colour it goes. I had it stripped from dark brown to yellow. I paid a LOT of money. It went horribly wrong. And I have very dark eyebrows. I had wanted to be peroxide blonde as thought that would look good with the eyebrows, but, no, it didn't work out scarred.

I am even happy to go red, or dark orange, or something outlandish, but the roots get me every time. I just don't want fucking GREY!

I did think about lightening my hair completely then adding another colour, but can't do that each time.

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 02/05/2013 19:04

This one I just tried was L'Oreal too. Fucking waste of time.

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 02/05/2013 19:05

and it stinks of peroxide perfumey stuff. Bleurgh.

OP posts:
PavlovtheCat · 02/05/2013 19:10

It's a tenner! Shock or thereabouts for the Revlon Roux Tween Time! none on ebay in UK so international seller, including delivery (and a million years). Or amazon and just under a tenner!

How long does it last, the crayon?

OP posts:
chartreuse · 02/05/2013 20:00

Grin

The crayon lasts years, well worth a tenner. I bought 2 a couple of years ago, still going strong.

The Aveda is purple, it counteracts the orange in brown hair dye. I use N&E 118 or 116 (slightly lighter) but both have an orange tinge on me especially after a couple of washes which the Aveda diminishes. It is expensive but worth it too.

Another weapon in my arsenal is Batiste dry shampoo in brunette, it spray paints on the brown, good for roots!

It is a full time job keeping the grey away but I'm not giving in yet.

PavlovtheCat · 02/05/2013 20:31

oh I am going to look out for that too then! thank you!

OP posts:
amazingface · 02/05/2013 21:37


Oh yes Pavlov I feel your pain, could have written your post. Twice now I've gone lighter in an attempt to disguise greys but it really just doesn't suit me. And urgh those fluorescent orange roots. Angry

But listen, I also have the Tween Time and it's BRILLIANT. Honestly it'll change your life. The only bad thing is that it makes your roots feel a wee bit sticky, but who the fuck cares about that.

chartreuse, brilliant brilliant tip re. the Aveda conditioner, I hadn't heard of it. Where might I purchase such a thing? Please say Boots :)
chartreuse · 02/05/2013 22:39

I get mine from House of Fraser, or an Aveda salon. I found it online here. I use gloves with it as it makes my nails purple. It really makes a big difference to the orange halo!

cocolepew · 02/05/2013 22:46

I bought a hair mascara but the crayon sounds good.
I find that only a very dark brown gives good coverage but dont want to be so dark now.

I'm the same as bunny and leave it on longer, always put it on dry hair even if it says to wash it first. It seems to take better.

PavlovtheCat · 03/05/2013 11:22

coco that's the problem, if I go dark brown, I will have to pay a fortune to strip it if I want to do that again, as dark seems to make my hair black almost, and I don't want dark brown either.

I have bought the crayon from amazon. You will all be responsible if it doesn't work Grin I don't mind sticky, as long as it hides the roots. And I'm going to buy some of that conditioner too. Wow, staying away from Grey is Hard Work!

You lot are pretty special you know. Helping me cover my grey is not something google has been able to easily do

OP posts:
Deathwatchbeetle · 03/05/2013 13:00

I sometimes find that the sides by my ears are still grey and look 'crispy'. But I normally find Nice n easy/Superdrug own/Boots own but also tried ? Garnier Olio??? I kept them on for about 10 mins after they suggested. I always do this! I also tried one (can't remember name) but it was from Savers and was £1 and was perfectly ok!

kerstina · 03/05/2013 13:22

Have you ever tried henna I thought about using it as it is supposed to make the greys look like highlights ?

Deathwatchbeetle · 03/05/2013 13:25

No! Not henna!! It makes grey look orange! You can always tell 'old ladies' that have had Henna done - they look orange!!!

FoxPass · 03/05/2013 13:32

You can get caca noir henna from Lush - the coverage of henna but it's mixed with indigo so it's very dark :)

PavlovtheCat · 04/05/2013 08:47

i always leave them on longer than suggested but only for roots as i get too much build up otherwise. will look at garnier if nice n easy doesn't work.

OP posts:
Mrsrobertduvall · 04/05/2013 08:51

If it makes you feel better, I get my hair coloured every 6 weeks at the salon. I noticed that an area at the sides of my face was getting darker and darker...almost matte black, compared to the warm chestnut elsewhere.
On Thursday I sat for 3 hours in the hairdressers as they tried to lighten it....the first thing didn't work so it had to be lightened using mesh (sp?)and then coloured.
Luckily it looks fine now.
But I paid for that!!!!!!!

cocolepew · 04/05/2013 19:55

I've just discovered a new L'Oreal hair dye that can be reused, so you can put it on your grey bits without using a whole new bottle of hair dye. I haven't tried it but I am stupidy excited. It's £8.99 at Superdrug, £2 cheaper than it will be.

bonzo77 · 04/05/2013 20:05

I have a massive amount of very resistant white hair, but hate it. Absolutely swear by nice n easy. Covers well, doesn't fade. If you mix a third of each bottle in a bowl and apply with a tint brush one packet will do my roots at front and parting 3 times, so about £2 a go. I'll do a full head 2-3 x a year, and in between refresh the colour with loreal casting. It sounds a faff, but much cheaper than a salon, and better grey coverage than a salon has ever managed.

PavlovtheCat · 05/05/2013 09:11

bonzo oh that's a good idea. I have a mixing bowl and a tint brush somewhere around. cocolewpew going to check that one out too at Superdrug.

I am so gonna kick those grey hairs outtta my life!

OP posts:

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SunnyUpNorth · 05/05/2013 12:12

I'm the same Pavlov, it is depressing. Going to the hairdresser every 4 weeks now so it is getting pricey and time consuming. I might try nice m easy.

I recently tried the brunette batiste spray but didn't like it at all, I thought it still looked really powdery. So I tried the superdrug own brand one, which is currently on special at 99 p and it is brilliant. It does make your hair feel slightly like you have a bit of hairspray in it, but it isn't sticky or powdery and you only need a tiny bit. I hate the orange glow alot of brunette dyes have and this is a nice flat brown.

I just looked up that crayon on amazon and another one came up for around £3 with good reviews. Has anyone tried that?

cocolepew · 06/05/2013 10:50

I have the new L'oreal one in now. It's so easy to use, just shake and squeeze, no mixing. It has a 'precision diffuser' so you can spray it straight onto the greys at the side or in your parting. I'll report back on colour and coverage.

cocolepew · 06/05/2013 12:59

God I'm gorgeous

Really good coverage, no greys visible. I panicked a bit over the colour. It goes on white and take a bit longer than usual to show the colour, I thought I'd put too much on but it was ok.

I like to do my hair dark but hate the build up after a few dyes so this is good. I can only do my roots when needed.
It's a lovely colour, I used rich dark chocolate. It had slightly red tones but my greys aren't lighter than the rest of my hair . Good condition as well.

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