Grey root coverage

[DianeCherry]

I've tried so many different hair dyes during lockdown(s) but none of them completely cover my grey roots. I have at least 50% gray and I am really fed up of waiting patiently for the additional time needed to cover "stubborn greys" but find that I can still see them. Salon dyes cover them completely.

Anyone else have this problem? Has anyone found a dye that works?

It is the reason I am going to see what mine looks like now natural.

Even salon dyes aren't cutting it on the pure white bits.

On the plus side - I might have really strong, shiny hair after going through this!

Good for you @PaulHollywoodsLowHangingFruit but I don't think I could hold my nerve for that. My hair is below shoulder length and dark auburn (other than the roots obviously) and it would take years to grow out

Are you leaving it on long enough? I leave it on my roots for 40 mins then wash off (I don't cover the rest of my hair as I'm trying to retain the last of my highlights), and it works well.

Maybe it's the shade, maybe it's the length of time you're leaving it....

I do follow the instructions for "stubborn gray coverage" but it just doesn't cover, I've tried Age Defy, Clairol root touch up, Nice & Easy. None work. Can you leave it on too long?

I hear you Diane - really tough to do with long hair.

You could try Majirel- that is the best professional one I have come across. Good swatches online - dark auburn should be around 4.45.

I use the permanent hair dye they sell in Poundland, Derma V10 I think? I've only used black and dark brown but it does cover. I leave it on for 30 mins as directed. I just do the roots and use the whole box. It grows out enough to annoy me in about 3 weeks but that would be the case with any.

I never found a box dye strong enough. When you see people with interesting red hair it will usually because they're trying to cover with a Box dye.

I stopped bothering because of time spent, and money spent. It's hard at first and I did use the temp sprays sometimes. Now I like being gray and silver

Could you go a bit lighter all over? Might make the greys less noticeable.

Agree with pp about considering going lighter all over. My natural hair colour is/was very very dark brown but as I got older, the greys really stood out. Now my hair is a much softer brown (I’m actually using a dark blonde box dye during lockdown) and the regrowth is much less noticeable.

Thanks all. Going lighter is def an option though I think I'd need to consult a hairdresser first.

I have started to use e salon on line. If you dont like the colour or there is any issue they re adjust and give you the colour for free. They also sell re fresh colour to add to the ends in addition to the root cover. Its quite strong. Also , used to.order from sallys a prof supplier to.the beauty trade which the public can buy from . They have shops and on line. They also sell great little brushes to apply the dye, mixing bowla and the peeoxide needed ro mix in with the dye . Its much better than box dyes and salons do use the same dyes.

Thanks @Whatnow100, I've seen the esalon ads so thanks for the recommendation. I've also seen the Sally website and though it's a bit complicated to navigate I'll have a look there as well

I use salon colour - Wella - which I mix with peroxide. My hairdresser told me which shades to buy from Sally's, so I realise that's not much help just now, but I have a base colour, a tone colour, and the peroxide, which I mix all up together. I bought a set with a tint bowl, brush, and tail-comb, but using a soup bowl would be fine.

I tend to do 20 minutes on roots, comb through to the mid-length for another ten, then through to the ends for the last ten - 40 minutes in total.

I'm sitting here with Majirel on my roots now. I switched from box dye about 5 years ago. There's no comparison really, I'm naturally dark brown and I could never find a box dye that didn't give me an orange glow!

If you search in the MN archives there are posts about Majirel and how to choose the right shades. That's where I started. Lots of shade charts online to guide you.

The one thing I'd say is always go lighter than you think you should. I'm dark brown which you'd think would be 5 but that would be black for me, I use 6 which is described as 'light brown' but really is medium/dark brown. This seems to apply no matter which brand you use.

Once you've done it the first time it's very easy, and you can mix up as much or little as you need to do root touch ups, etc

Thanks all! Lots to try, thanks for the ideas

I think there are plenty of.hairdressers on here that cd help also . Basically its normally the shade u want with a 6 % peroxcide . The box of colour tells you the ratio of colour to.peroxcide to.mix with the colour. Eg 1 to one .. one to one and a half. .
If you have a lot of grey i get the impression that you need to include some base colour too. .
So if your base colour is say a dark blond . .. you choose a base colour for that such as a say 7 base colour . then you add the tone .. such as a 7. With a tone colour added.if you just want a base colour , just use that. .dont add a tone. Am sure a hairdresser will come along .
So say if you are a dark blond base 7. You can just put 7 on . If you are a base 7 but also want a colour then u chose a mix of a base 7 and another colour with 7 in it .. so.you are at colour level 7 but with tones of your choice. For eg i was once a 7 . I wanted red so i mixed base 7 . The neutral base . .. with 7.44
The first number is the colour level ( that matches yr base) and then the 44 is the red toned so that you get base / colour level/ of 7 then you are adding tone ie colour of.your choice that base . Its like a basic cake mix with added .. u need the basic.. then you add the spefics.the tone. That image works for me to work out the colour .