dying greys (dark hair) any tips?

[otchayaniye]

i'm wondering if any of you use semi permanents, or other dyes than the perm ones (daniel field, which has peroxide i believe) i use hair salon Majirel plus developer but because my hair is grey at the hairline i see roots very quickly so wonder if its worth all the faff. i don't like the darkness you can get because despite best efforts you are always going to overlay the old dye and get buildup.

Work on getting the darkness of your hair toned down a few degrees.

Get used to having say, mid brown hair rather than black and working with that.

I'd get it done professionally at first, so that you get it right.

As your hair is getting grayer you are fighting an expensive and loosing battle trying to keep your youthful dark hair.

Dark hair doesn't look great with mature skin any way, imo of course.

Work on softening the colour and the roots will be less noticeable.

Sorry if that is not quite answering your question.

erm, i'm not old! been grey since 19! but yes, i realise

Gosh sorry about the old bit. Sorry you feel insulted, I didn't intend that.

I hear you.I've been grey since I was 15!!im naturally dark brown,but probably 90% grey now.ive tried going down the highlights way to make it look less obvious when the roots grow.on me it doesn't look good and ends up looking like straw.
I would now say its a mid brown colour but I have to do the roots every other week.i use a permanent colour as not sure if a semi would cover the grey.i would love to know if there was a way of disguising the regrowth so I could at least extend having to colour that frequently.
I have used bumble and bumble brown powder for emergency and not sure if the brown dry shampoo would have the same effect.
Anyone have anything to add/help?

Op
I have similar issue. I do go to a salon who do my hair amazingly but last time it cost £160!!!!! I nearly passed out.
They put in a root tint, then honey coloured highlights to break up the solid effect, then tone if needed. Then cut & blow dry.
Am in the salon for 3 hours. Only go about 3 times a year so need to colour my own in between times. I buy a root tint in dark blonde ( even though I'm a mid brown)
And cover around hairline, especially ears.
My hair is longish so I think the length & style does hide some of the grey. I guess going grey is a part of life, wish I was blonde though as you can't see the grey then!

not insulted at all! nothing wrong with being old! and yes, yr advice is spot on, thanks

I do mine at home - I have dark brown hair and dye it a medium blonde colour. Not to actually dye my hair blonde, of course, but to give it a natural range of colours. The greys go blonde-ish, but the overall effect is a very warm, golden dark brown colour.

This won't work for everyone, of course. I have olive-y skin with a completely yellow (as opposed to pink) undertone, so it suits me. If you've got cooler colouring with your dark hair then it might not work so well.

Oh, and my greys are far less noticeable now that it's a lighter range of shades, than when I used to maintain the block dark brown colour.

I stick in a blond highlight first, wait a week, and then a mid brown all over, and after a few weeks I put a new lighter shade over all the greys I missed at the hairline and over my ears.

I have quite a lot of variation in overall colour throughout the year - lighter in summer and more reddish highlights in autumn, and darker in winter. I leave the colour in for about 15 /20 mins, not half an hour, as I have fine hair.

I only ever use half of the mixture each time, as the ends are fine, and mix a bit of them up together, and use them separately also for whatever shade I want.

i use garnier belle colour, and I mix them myself. I buy a range of colours in permanent, especially if they're on special in Boots. 6.35, 5.3, 5, and 7.1 for a lighter wash.

If I overdo the brown I go for an ash brown(5 and 5.3) I use 8.1 for 10 mins to lighten the colour.
I find the conditioners are absolutely fab, and my hair is in tip top condition, despite all the colour.
HTH

Semi permeant colours are not destined for grey hair, you can get away with a semi but not if you have more that 10% grey.
If you are grey it is a lot easier to Maintain if you are lighter than darker, also if you are colouring often just do the roots. Ideally your meant to leave 4 weeks between colouring x

watching with interest - have exactly the same problem and have chatted to my hairdresser about lightening my hair from current dark brown (dyed every 6 weeks - looks rubbish for the last 3 weeks due to grey regrowth!) to a mid-brown but feels very scary. Also 6 months pregnant and my mum has frigtened me with stories of bad hair results when preganant.

I'm afraid I have to use the permamant dye rather then semi-permamant and have always gone to a salon - wish I could invite round some of the mumsnetter that have posted

Hope you find the right answer for you - love to hear what you decide to do :)

That sounds good idea Slinking, might try myself. Am very dark brown with grey 'highlights' at the moment.

After years of using semi-permanents, I have switched to Lush henna. It does take longer (needs leaving on for around 3 hours), but the colour is great, it covers grey really well, doesn't fade and I much prefer knowing that I'm not using loads of chemicals on may hair.

my, not may

Sparky don't be alarmed if after washing it out and drying it, it looks ever so slightly lurid around the crown/roots - it calms down beautifully after a couple more washes.

I will definitely have to tweak the process as the greys take more of a hold.