If you have a short hair, how do you colour it?

[EwanHoozami]

I've just had a luvverly short crop. I've finally managed to cut out all the horrid dark high-street box dye. I'm left with hair that is 30% grey and 70% sewer rat. Not exactly enhancing the cut.

People often suggest highlights for greylings but as my hair is so short <a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&rlz=1C1CHMR_enGB331GB331&biw=1280&bih=687&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=z2yXEZbuT52ADM:&imgrefurl=www.short-hairstyles.com/short/s5.htm&docid=zhKjH6PoItztOM&imgurl=www.short-hairstyles.com/zoom/s5.jpg&w=334&h=393&ei=XiFSUJbhKYGw0QWin4HoAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1033&vpy=134&dur=4098&hovh=244&hovw=207&tx=153&ty=102&sig=111610377253966086857&page=1&tbnh=154&tbnw=131&start=0&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0,i:94" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">maybe a touch shorter than this lass I'm worried highlights will look odd. You know that 'spotty' look you sometimes see?

So if you dye a short hairstyle, what do you do? is it really high maintenance?

AHAHAHAAhaaa. I am assuming you have more than one short hair.

I don't know but I have patches of white hairs coming through. My hair doesn't take dye easily and then it washes out quickly - even permanent ones.
So I leave it and in the summer it was ok as my hair bleaches a little in the sun. But now winter is coming I don't think it's going to look right.

So... bumping for me too! :)

I think unless you want to go au naturel, an all over colour is best. I used to have a short crop and one advantage was the hair was never old enough to get in poor condition, and anything that doesn't work grows out fast. What about all over platinum blonde? Pillar box red?

I have short hair, and I still colour it. I just don't use a terribly dark colour - so go for a shade lighter than I'm after, iyswim?

I just dye it with a normal hair dye (last one I used was Clairol Perfect 10, and the colour was the best it's ever been).

It depends what colour you want. If you want a significantly lighter colour, than your own hair, then yes - it will show quicker.

I don't have to dye mine very often, probably once every 11 - 12 weeks (may have to be longer this time, as I've just had my ears re-pierced). My hair is quite grey now, but still the colour lasts.

I disagree with the comments about highlights if your hair is grey. The 'theory' behind this, is as you age & your hair beomes grey, you become paler too, so lighter or highlighted hair is supposed to be more flattering than the colour of your youth.

Last year I had my hair highlighted as I was pregnant (I was 41, and couldn't go for 9 months with grey hair - highlighting seemed a safer option). The lighter colour didn't suit me, at all - I look younger with darker hair.

Whilst highlights should last longer than 'block' colour, and fade more evenly, I do think you will have roots showing quite quickly. A colour closer to your natural colour will give you more mileage.

Ewan, no advice here but the title has made me laugh out loud!!!

I get it coloured professionally, he paints two different colours on freehand, lighter on top and darker underneath. I am 80% grey and only 36

Go a good few shades lighter. I've gone from dark brown to dark blonde, and it's made the world of difference.

I have v resistant greys too, and have switched to sulfate-free shampoo (Green People is my fav). It's really helped my colour to last longer, and improved the texture.

Ooh thanks everyone.

Am wavering between going to a posh salon and getting the two-tone done really well a la ceeveebee, or saying 'sod it' and getting a pack of nice n'easy a couple of shades lighter and bunging it on at home.

finances are telling me to do it at home, but am worried about going brassy or orangey.

<a class="break-all" href="http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&rlz=1C1CHMR_enGB331GB331&biw=1280&bih=687&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=ESi5FEYliAVnHM:&imgrefurl=www.seducingwithstyle.com/style-101/mens-hair-styles-101/&docid=0tROvr767c_OXM&imgurl=www.seducingwithstyle.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Latest-Men-Hairstyles-blonde-highlights.jpg&w=490&h=500&ei=L9xSUIXcFKSs0QXZpIG4Ag&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=1018&vpy=4&dur=3682&hovh=227&hovw=222&tx=155&ty=84&sig=111610377253966086857&page=2&tbnh=144&tbnw=148&start=21&ndsp=27&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:21,i:160" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">I have visions of ending up like this

Ha, looks like mine did in the 80s!
I tend to go to Headmasters when they have their half price colour sale which they do every few months. Or on Tuesdays when it's 30% off
www.headmasters.com/special-offers/treat-me-tuesday

Don't use Nice n easy! They are almost 2 shades darker than the box. I have had nightmare growing/bleaching it out. I'm using L'Oreal lately and liking a lot, more natural tonal look. Try waay lighter.. You can always go darker next time if you want to

I have mine done by my friend who is a mobile hairdresser, with 'mates rates' so it doesn't cost me a fortune but is professionally done - is it worth asking round all your friends who have nice looking hair to see if any of them have a mobile hairdresser they would recommend ? Really cuts down the cost.
I have 2 diff colours of highlight put on mine - it avoids the 'roots' look of a whole colour as it starts to grow out, and the grey blends in a bit better with other ligther places on my head.