Having professional hair dye but topping up roots myself?

[TweeBee]

Hi,
wondering if this is a total no no and / or would offend a hairdresser?
I started going grey quite early and initially had a hairdresser dye my hair but my DC were young at the time and on my days off I was busy with them so it was difficult to make appointments. I now dye my hair at home. The greys are apparent after 3 weeks so I alternate a full dye with the Nice and Easy root touch up dye (not the kind that you just paint on like a mascara brush). DC are now both in school full time and I’m thinking I’m not great at doing it myself and probably missing loads at the back so thinking of going to the hairdresser again. However although I have more time to myself it still feels too much to go to the hairdressers every 3 weeks!
Would a hairdresser think it was awful if I went there every 6 weeks and did the root touch up myself in between?
TBH I don’t mind if colours aren’t an exact match and so on, I just want to hide those pesky greys!
Thanks

I buy the stuff the hairdresser uses and top up in between appointments.

I would ask the hairdresser for the formula she uses on your hair as box dyes can contain ingredients that might react with the stuff she'll use. But yes, I'd say that was fine to do yourself.

My hair is now all white (it used to be naturally very dark brown) and I'd been having it dyed mid-brown at the hairdresser's. I'm 64. The roots need to be done every 3 weeks now, so for the last month, I've been using some root touch-up stuff. Like you, OP, I can't do the back properly. I succumbed and went to the hairdresser last week, who put in lots of blonde highlights, which have blended in well with the rest of my hair. He suggested I have regular highlights, a lighter blonde each time, so that eventually, my hair will be 100% my own (white) colour.

I do this OP, I put on a semi permanent in between getting my highlights done professionally. It works fine and my hairdresser doesn't care, as I don't use a permanent dye so the bleach lifts fine in my highlights.

I would say don't bother using the shop bought stuff, it's quite harsh. As cathyandclaire says, try sourcing a professional brand like Wella Colour Touch Plus online. It ends up being cheaper with less waste.
Or ask the hairdresser what brand and the exact shade they are using is and match that. You should get it on amazon or similar.

Thanks all. I’ll treat myself then!
If I do buy the professional stuff for in between, can I just make up a small amount at a time? I like the Clairol root touch up because it’s just enough for the roots so I don’t waste any.

Yes, that's why I like it - you just measure out what you need and there's no waste. Although if the Clairol root touch up suits you then use that. It depends on how dark you want your hair, but just be careful when using an at home permanent colour, as you may end up with a grow out line, and it might affect the colour that the hairdresser puts on over it.

You ideally want one that will fade out a bit after a few weeks, which is why I usually go for a demi-permanent, or you could try a semi permanent.

I buy Wella Colour Touch Plus (which gives good grey coverage) in the 60g tube, plus I bought a large bottle of developer (make sure you get the correct one that matches) and I mix it up as I need it. I also bought a small plastic bowl and application brush. I just do my roots every few weeks to keep me going between getting my highlights, but it ends up blending in nicely as a lowlight.

I told my hairdresser and he's fine with it.

I use Root Touch Up; usually 2 x packets at once to cover liberally. I leave on for an extra 5 minutes (as you can). Sometimes I use 2 different shades mixed in a big pot.

I decided I wasn't going to do it again and just use hairdresser, because I find the back bit so hard to cover but I was desperate to get mine done for an event and did the other day. I've got thin hair, especially at the front, and find that the grey roots make it look terrible.