Semi permanent hair dye that does fade/wash out

[freddy45]

I haven't coloured my hair for a few years now. Would say I'm 25-30% grey with the rest light brown.

I love the grey but hate the brown. I started colouring my hair at 15 and didn't stop til I was 40 as I've always hated it. I am not grey enough for it to make an impact so I just look washed out and mousy.

But I don't want to get back into the roots/dye cycle. I don't want the upkeep of highlights. My hair is really porous. I have tried those coloured shampoos you can get in Superdrug but they either made no difference or left roots.

Any ideas? I just feel so washed out and drab.

Have you tried Olia? I have to leave it for twice as long as they say to get it to take but it fades gradually without the white line.

Bit worried by that one as it says permanent. I hear good things about colourista but I think they are all funky colours. I want brightening but not that much!

Castings or Nice and Easy.
They are semi permanent and fade gradually. They will probably have some effect on your natural colour but you don't get the stark root contrast that you get with the permanent dye.

With the dyes I mentioned, make sure that the pack says how long it lasts - something like lasts up to 24 shampoos.

Shampoo will make it fade so don't repeat lather, and try to not to shampoo it every day.

I make up a hair dying tea from a tiny bit of turmeric, camomile tea, redbush tea and instant coffee. I saturate clean dry hair with it and comb through. I do this each time I wash my hair however it doesn't fade completely after a wash. It turns my pretty much steely grey hair blonde giving golden lights to the white and darker hair. It is cheap, easy and effective. No chemical allergy worries and no roots.

I'll have to try that one. Thanks.

I used to use Nice and Easy semi-permanent and it never faded for me.
When I decided to stop colouring I hate to use those colour remover products (which make it a bit auburn-y for a while) then I just had to use root powder for a while and finally go full badger to grow it out !

I even contacted the manufacturer to ask why the colour that was meant to last 24 washes never faded and the one that was meant to last 8 washes just didn't do anything.
Their convoluted answer was that my hair was too porous for the 24-wash colour and, at the same time, not porous enough for the 8-wash colour !!!

Mike, yes, I would really recommend it.

The turmeric is a very powerful stain and gives golden tones. Too much can make your hair yellow. I only use a pinch about the size of half a small finger nail in a full teapot.

The redbush tea gives red tones and counteracts too much yellow. I use two teabags for a teapot.

The camomile gives golden tones but is much milder than the turmeric. I use 6 teabags in the teapot.

The coffee gives brown tones. I use half a teaspoon in the teapot.

I brew the teapot full until it is cool enough to pour over my hair. I would recommend strand testing first. I leave the rinse in my hair and dry. So a strand test is quick and easy. Just wet a strand of your hair with the tea and dry. If you like it chuck the rest on and style as desired.

My tea fades a little bit after one wash but not so you'd really notice very much. I could happily leave dying it for a wash. I think it would eventually wash out, though because I do notice slight fade after a wash. I just don't give it the chance because it is so cheap and easy to do!

I prefer it to bought semi permanents. The colour of them was never completely even for me. Often to solid and dark. My tea shows natural highlights and variations through for me, just gold toned hence makes my hair blonde rather than my now natural grey.

Do I wash my hair, let it dry and then apply the tea?

Yes, Mike. I made the decision to put the hair dyeing tea on dry hair because it is easier to ensure an even saturation.

Thanks tree