Hair colour advice please - do I keep it light to hide greys or go for darker which I prefer?

[33goingon64]

I have been getting greys since I was 19 and they got progressively worse during my 20s so by late 20s I dyed hair at home a slightly darker shade than my natural colour. Loved it, suited my skin tone (which is quite pale, green eyes, don't wear make up much). But showed greys badly as the contrast was so strong.

Got hair dyed professionally for my wedding, highlights etc and ended up with a nice blend which looks fine when newly done as long as I wear make up. Trouble is, when it grows out it goes very light and washes me out. Whenever I see photos I hate it and want to go darker again, but will face the same problem with regrowth showing through more.

Just read other thread about dye not sticking to the roots - that's not my problem, just that the regrowth shows through worse against dark colour.

Do I just resign myself to wearing make up all the time or can I afford to go dark again?

Well, I hate roots, whether they are grey (I have a few) or whether its my mousey looking (in comparison anyway) boring hair showing in contrast to the vibrant shiny dyed stuff (and I am auburn and I particularly hate boring roots against red hair, it ruins the effect completely!)

That's the main reason I started doing it myself instead of going to the hairdresser, I like to do them every 3 weeks or so. I apply with a brush and only do the roots, so I'm not over processing my hair or getting colour build up.

I do still go to the hairdresser occasionally for highlights though as that's a skill I don't have.

So you could go dark again, if you are willing to do your roots as often as it takes...

I'm another one who went grey early. Now I'm pretty much all grey, and it's a problem. At the moment I have it done at the hairdressers every 5 weeks. I have blonde highlights on the top, round my parting, and light brown underneath and between the highlights.

The highlights help conceal the grey roots as they come through. I can't say it's a complete answer, because the colour does wash out, despite my best efforts, and it definitely looks a bit washed out when I'm due for the next appointment.

Thanks both. Tatty, I might go down that root (arf arf) but hairdressers always say home dyes are not as good and can damage your hair... Might go for a home job next time and see how much better it looks.

OP I am in the same situation. Can't bear the grays, hate the cost of high lights. my hair dresser says home colours are fine. They are just not the latest technology (maybe last year's or something). It's not the product that is not as good, it's the person applying it! Get a tint brush from the chemist (about £2) and do it with good lighting. I use one of those cups that come with night nurse to measure out 20 ml each of colour and developer (most products come with 60 ml each) then mix in a plastic bowl. So when the dye is on offer I can do my own roots for about £2 a time. Waaaaaaaaaay cheaper than at the salon.