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

[PavlovtheCat]

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).

[AgathaF]

I used Lush henna - 1 cube of noir and 2 cubes of marron mixed. Covers my grey pretty well and lasts around 4 weeks. I used to use hair dye, but found it just didn't cover properly and it was started to look quite unnatural and sort of coated, so I changed to this about 18 months ago. My hair is in the best condition it's ever been in too. It's here.

[ClaraDeLaNoche]

news.sky.com/story/1087419/grey-hair-treatment-discovered-by-scientists

Could be some time though. I like to imagine L'oreal having a crisis meeting and considering a hit man on pesky scientists.

[PavlovtheCat]

What?! They can reverse it? Count me in for any trials relating to that! Yey! Bet the process costs a fortune, it must, otherwise all the hair dye companies would go bust wouldn't they?!

[kerstina]

I have not seen that on the news would be fab ! Can you tell us anymore ?

[ClaraDeLaNoche]

Pavlov, I am the same. Nothing I bought in the high street could match my hairdressers stuff. Until she told me the name and code of the colour she uses so I buy it online with peroxide and every two weeks I do a touch up. It means I can last 6 weeks before a full do at the hairdressers. So much better coverage than Nice n Easy etc.

Did you see in the news they think they have found a cure that can reverse grey hair?

[PavlovtheCat]

Oh, just saw sunny superdrug one at 99p! yey! love that too! I prefer a flat brown, as really, I am not after a 'dyed' look, just want it to look like my own hair colour, which is quite a flat dark brown, so that could be good!

[PavlovtheCat]

oh I like the sound of that one! the problem I had with dark brown, which is my natural colour, or mid to dark really (eyebrows and lashes are naturally v dark, shade darker than my natural hair, might have profile photo, not sure if I took it down, but dark brown is my preferred colour too) is that when I went to have it lightened, my hair had taken it so well (after a few colours) that it was pretty much 'black so could not be lightened, had to be stripped completely, which was horrid and expensive.

So, if a dark brown that only involved the roots being done and I can do that relatively easily, well that along with the crayon could be just the thing for me. I am going to re-do it tomorrow if I am not too tired after work as the roots are just too pale on this colour, it's fucking awful. my crown looks like I am going bald it's so light compared to the rest especially in the sun.

[cocolepew]

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.

[cocolepew]

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.

[SunnyUpNorth]

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?

[PavlovtheCat]

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!

[bonzo77]

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.

[cocolepew]

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.

[Mrsrobertduvall]

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!!!!!!!

[PavlovtheCat]

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.

[FoxPass]

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

[Deathwatchbeetle]

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

[kerstina]

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

[Deathwatchbeetle]

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!

[PavlovtheCat]

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 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

[cocolepew]

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.

[chartreuse]

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!

[amazingface]

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.

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 :)

[PavlovtheCat]

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

[chartreuse]

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.