Growing out grey hair from a fashion colour

[Bellatrixurstrange69]

Can anyone advise the best way to grow out mousey brown grey hair from vibrant red. Have finally decided I need to embrace my natural colour but don't have £100's to go to professional. TiA

Bellatrix did using the semi permanent make the previously dyed red hair darker did you use on roots as well ? That's what I'm nervous about. I was thinking of using semi on roots if hairdresser doesn't come up with anything else. I'm growing mine out now before its more grey as just couldn't bare cutting it all off!

No, it didn't areleta66! I was pleasantly surprised it covered beautifully no problems. Downside was that it was quite darker than my natural but being a non permanent it will wash out and fade so that's ok. It evened my roots out. I used a superdrug semi-perm. I'll have to reassess as it washes out. My goal was to get it from red to brown then assess grey percentage when roots grow in enough. The semi is a good way to go if you don't mind the temp upkeep until roots come in. Then, like others, I will be chopping the ends off every six weeks to increase roots to dyed ratio ASAP. For special occasions I will use a root cover up like I mentioned up thread so I don't feel too dowdy or like I'm letting myself go too much.

Thanks Bellatrix that sounds good. Was your hair as dark as my dyed hair? I think mine is very porous and soaks up dye. You're right though if it's just a semi will wash out. Am going to hairdresser tomorrow to see what can be done (and how much it will cost !!) Will decide from there. Dyeing it has long been a chore for me and I hate sitting in hairdressers for flipping hours. I just don't enjoy it anymore it's like going to the dentist, something that has to be endured

My hair was redder than your beautiful colour but it was all dye so when I put a semi brown on it it had gone a chocolate colour which is darker than my ash colour but there was no way I would go from the red I was to an ash brown without either stripping it (not gonna happen) or bleaching it first which I wasnt prepared to do unless I absolutely had no other choice. The colour now is a milk chocolate brown colour which is a very good compromise considering I was playing the hair lottery by colouring it again in the first place!!

Chocolate brown sounds nice. I agree with you regarding bleaching and stripping. I just won't be doing either. I'd rather have 2 tone hair! I don't like this colour my hair is a present. It clashes with my skin as I'm fair skinned with a lot of pink tones(I never wear blusher as my cheeks are usually red/pink) I'd had it darker with violet red tones but it just fades brassy. I've tried a colour toning mask to get rid of red tones but my roots looked almost green after as they are so ash toned already. If you've managed to sort it with a semi you know you can always do it again if you're going anywhere special.

I'm going for highlights next week as don't want to go darker now I'm used to being lighter now. I like the lightness that the grey brings, but not the actual greyess. Foils, so no dye on scalp so no patch test required.
£65 inc cut and blow dry.

So as the first stage in growing out my home dye red/brown colour and embracing my natural grey, I had lowlights put in today. It’s broken up the red and blended in the grey roots. Hair is quite dark at the moment but will fade. Had a good couple of inches chopped off as well.

The first couple of photos are ‘after’. The last photo is the ‘before’ pic.

Whilst I was in the hairdressers a woman came in to have her beautiful, grey cropped hair trimmed. She looked amazing. Maybe I’ll go for the chop next time.....

I went cold turkey and it looked pretty rough for a year TBH. But I couldn't be bothered with the expense of doing it with highlights andI hate going to the hairdressers. I got it chopped a lot shorter last week and the old colour is nearly gone.

Greytostay - Your hair looks amazing! Hope mine looks half as good in a year’s time.... Love the cut too.

Jeffingandeffing that looks good does blend it in. I'm planning to do same with low lights. Its good to see what it looks like. Went to hairdressers yesterday and that's what she suggested when I've got bit more regrowth. My main problem is the contrast with very ash brown hair at roots and red toned in rest of my hair like yours. So hopefully ash brown lowlights will help me. I've only got a bit of grey but by time it grows out could be a lot more. Know it will take a while. Greytostay I love that cut and the ombre look on ends. I'm actually jealous that mine isn't more grey and is just mousy brown with grey hairs!

Op thanks so much for that video about growing it out secretly! Maybe finally I will do it now!