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Original poster

Is there a hair dye that actually covers grey?!

15 replies

SirRaymondClench · 09/04/2014 14:04

Just did my hair with John Frieda before I go on my holidays and once I dried it, the greys are still fucking there!! Angry
This isn't the first time this has happened (tried loads of different brands) but it boils my piss that the one thing I need it to do, it hasn't done!
Rant over, I am now accepting recommendations Grin

OP posts:
LizardBreath · 09/04/2014 14:13

Same for me too. Have you tried the root touch up one? I find that does actually work for a bit. I think I have to bite the bullet and go to hairdressers. Have you ever had it professionally coloured? I have avoided thus far!

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 09/04/2014 14:21

Loreal excellence. Leave it in for as long as recommended. Works for me every time.

JollyMarie79 · 09/04/2014 14:28

The live colours are very good

NorbertDentressangle · 09/04/2014 14:29

I have the same problem but I think that's partly because I only use the temporary (24 washes??) dyes.

Is there a semi-permanent that is better than others does anyone know?

I used to use the permanent ones but had the same problem as you SirClench but also disliked the harsh streak of grey roots that appeared as my hair grew and the harsh colour the build up of dyes created.

bonzo77 · 09/04/2014 14:34

Clairol nice n easy. Use at least one shade lighter and leave in for 10-15 minutes longer than it says. Or just stop dying it like I have

WildThong · 09/04/2014 15:01

Good thread here

janesnowdon1 · 09/04/2014 15:41

second vote for nice and easy. Leave on for 45 minutes on rots then rest for 15 minutes - it does work. I get roots starting to grow after 3 weeks.

SunnyUpNorth · 09/04/2014 16:04

I used to use loreal excellence but stopped using it as I got really had colour build up with it and I also think it dried my hair out, but if I remember, it was quite good at coverin greys.

I've been having it done at a salon for a few years now as the grey spread and I was worried about getting good coverage at the back etc.

However I recently needed to dye my hair and didn't have time to get to the salon so I picked one up in Tesco and it was amazing, I was very impressed. I think it was Clairol and I think it was called something like Perfect 10. It was really easy to apply and covered the greys completely in 10 mins which I didn't think it would do. I will look it up in a min to see if I can do a link.

The other thing that I liked was that I got a dark brown one and it didn't have that reddish/auburn glow that so many of the brown dyes have. It was just a nice shiney dark brown, but not too dark.

I didn't particularly like the conditioner that came with it, it was a bit too rich for me. It also seemed to take a good while to rinse out properly, but then I suppose if it only needs 10 mins on you can spare the extra rinsing time.

I would def recommend it and use it again.

SunnyUpNorth · 09/04/2014 16:05

Perfect 100

SunnyUpNorth · 09/04/2014 16:05

Sorry perfect 10, not 100!

Flibbertyjibbet · 09/04/2014 18:01

I started finding greys at 18 so am somewhat of an expert...

Have tried everything but just keep coming back to Nice n easy. As others have said, put it on the roots for 30 - 45 mins or so, then the rest for 15 mins. Its also the only colour range where the reddish and auburn tones don't wash straight out of my greys. I am that awful seethrough white at the front, shading to a dirty dark grey at the back, but the nice n easy light auburn covers it all really nicely, and people who've known me a long time are often surprised that its dyed now, it just looks like the colour god gave me (and took away too bloody early!!!!).

You need to leave it on longer on grey/white hairs. They have lost their own pigment so don't have the required whatever it is to hold pigment. Therefore you have to slap it on and leave it a long time for maximum absorbtion.

Yes it fades and I have to do it every 3 weeks, but compared to what I paid in a salon and how long that didn't last, nice n easy is fab.

BTW I empty the containers into a bowl, mix, then apply with a proper tinting brush as I make partings all over my head. Then the 2nd lot I put all over the head later on. Using a tinting brush makes all the difference for build up. My sister uses 'the mix it in bottle and slap it all over my head' technique and has shocking buildup.

LondonNinja · 09/04/2014 18:57

Can I ask what the symptoms of colour buildup are, please?

Flibbertyjibbet · 09/04/2014 23:24

The hair near the scalp looks lighter while the ends are much darker and dull looking. If you colour every 3 weeks like I have to, the new growth has one layer of dye on and the rest has more from each time it gets dyed. Not such an issue with very grey hair though as grey hairs dont hold colour as well.
Colour build up is a sure way for everyone to know its dyed.

Original poster
SirRaymondClench · 10/04/2014 07:41

I've used permanents for ages because I didn't think semi's would do the trick. When I could afford getting my hair coloured in a salon they would always use semi and it would have all washed out in 2 weeks. Shock I wash my hair every day though so maybe that's a factor.
Considering how expensive that was too i figured I'd do it myself at home.
Flibberty do you mean put the nice and easy on for an hour in total?
I need an ash brown because I personally hate the brassy red tones my hair gets when it washes out.
I might have to get a proper brush and do what you suggested because I really can't afford salon colouring at the moment.

OP posts:
LondonNinja · 10/04/2014 22:01

Thanks, flibberty.

I think I have that...

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