Hair dye that stays on greys

[MrsCravensworth]

I’m 45 and if I didn’t dye my hair, it would be almost completely white. I am not having white hair for anyone, please don’t try to convince me to try it, if I live until 100, I will still be dying it brown!

I’ve tried all the big brands, but I always have a good 2/3 inches of white showing 3-4 weeks in, so it’s not just roots, it’s not staying on the white.

I could never dream of going to a hairdresser- I could probably save up for one professional dye, but I wouldn’t ever have a hope of going regularly. I have my hair cut at the hairdresser down the road for £10, once or twice a year.

I wash my hair about 3 times a week, and I use the shampoo and conditioner that’s £1 in Aldi. I can’t justify spending any of our limited shopping budget on shampoo.

I always look shit and it’s getting me down. My hair will look okay for a few weeks (I mean, it’s never okay, it’s a bad home dye job), and then I look like I going bald, with the white temples which seem to appear over night and I can only afford to buy dye every other month, 6 weeks at a push.

Am I just doomed to have shit hair due to lack of money, or can anyone recommend a dye?

During lockdown when I couldn’t get to the hairdressers, I ordered online from
https://www.esalon.co.uk/

Excellent coverage.

Have you considered gradually going lighter than brown so the regrowth isn't as obvious? I'm white under my blonde dyes but I used to have dark brown hair. I had to go lighter eventually (in my 30s and I'm now 70!). I have mine done professionally with 3 to 4 different blonde shades as highlights but the roots start showing within a few weeks. My hairdresser says that white hair can be very resistant to holding colour.

Just had a look £22! I pay about £6 on Amazon.

Yeah, I think I’m doomed to looking shit, I don’t have £22 for hairdye.

Shampoo matters when your hair is dyed. I don't know which you are using but lots can strip the hair. The clarifying ones, head and shoulders too. This might be why the dye isn't holding on the rest of your hair as it's being stripped.

It’s hard to do at home. I did try but lighter brown just goes coppery and awful.

I used a colour remover once and it was just patchy and shit.

I’m half Indian, so lighter colours don’t suit me.

I use the cheapest shit aldi do, but it’s part of our weekly shopping budget for all the family. I can’t go spending money on separate shampoos, there just isn’t the money to do it.

I think I’ve answered my own question anyway. Doomed! Maybe I’ll just buy a hat.

Have you tried this? It comes in a range of shades - I use it sometimes and it's not bad! https://www.superdrug.com/hair/hair-colourants/root-touch-up/loreal-paris-magic-retouch-dark-brown-root-touch-up/p/624181

You do need to invest in some better shampoo. It doesn't have to be horribly expensive but £1 shampoos are going to strip your hair of dye very quickly.

Can anyone recommend one? I don’t know where to start.

We are broke at the moment, I really don’t have the money to spend on shampoo. But being broke and looking and therefore feeling like shit is a brutal combo so I could have a look, but like I said, I’m clueless.

Can you go blond instead of brown? It would blend in better with the regrowth. My mum used to have brown hair. When she went grey she started getting it coloured blond. It looks really good on her. It’s what I plan to do when I’m older. My mum did it gradually.

It really wouldn’t suit me! My skin is too dark.

You need a colour-protecting shampoo.

I will have a look.

Superdrugs semi permanent hair dye range works out at £2.50 a box as the 2for and 3for offers stack. Order in multiples of 6. Apply to dry hair not wet and leave on for approx 1 HR and it acts as a permanent dye.

If your dyes cheaper you can apply more regularly and avoid the dreaded roots.

You do need to have enough money to order 6 at once though and then pick up in store. Or order more to qualify for free shipping

OP I’m a very light skinned Indian wh lives alone and is on a tight budget. I have thin but very fast growing hair so 2 weeks in you can clearly see bright white hair around my temple contrasting very obviously with my dark brown hair. So, the little trick I personally have done for the last decade with no adverse effects for me anyway is as follows. I buy Clairol Root Touch Up (Dark Brown) box dye approx £6 and instead as advised of mixing the entire tube and solution together and using in one go, I just mix a little of each and apply to the bits as they show. I find the product doesn’t go off and after opening easily keeps for about 2 months or so. So this way I’ve eeked out a £6 box for two months. Obviously the amount you personally stretch this out depends on the density, length etc of your hair but this for me is a very budget friendly way of dealing with my whites. Hope this helps!

Thank you, this is a great tip!

I always put dye on dry hair and leave it for longer than it says. I wash my hair a couple of days before I dye it and don’t use conditioner- was told to do that years ago by a hairdresser.

Thank you so much!

I haven’t - but it’s so odd. It seems practically overnight that I have an inch band of white appear.

You're half Indian.? You have those genetics not helping. I'm pakistani and am the same as you. Dye doesn't hold. I do go to get it professionally done, use root touch up spray in between, non sls shampoo and glaze colour once a week.

Yeah, I have met a lots of Indian and Pakistani women with the same issue! So many of us seem to go wirey white.

I really can’t afford to get it professionally done, I wish I could.

Two of my Asian friends (in our 40s) have fabulous beige coloured hair now. Like a “bronde” shade. One calls it “milky tea”. Would that work on your colouring? It would make regrows leas glaring and be kinder to your face as you age.

Lots of the brands do “colour safe” shampoos for £3-6, some of them big bottles. Have a look on Amazon.

could you look to see if any local salons or colleges are looking for models?

God knows how I’d do that myself though. I started having to dye my hair a decade ago so there’s a lot of dark brown on there.

That’s a good shout, I’ll google what’s around. A student would have a field day with the mess on top of my head.

Like an elvive one, doesn’t cost a fortune.
Probably goes further than a £1 bottle.

Cheap shampoos and definitely head and shoulders rip out the colour, definitely