How to dye white hair (various methods) + covering white hair in front of the head

As we age, our hair color also changes. As soon as the first gray hair appears, you have a choice: you can show it proudly or dye it regularly. This article is for those who decide to Dyeing white hair We have prepared it ourselves. Whether you want to hide a few pesky gray hairs or need to hide a significant amount of gray hair, it’s important to understand the ins and outs of coloring gray hair. Read all the tricks of dyeing white hair as well as the problems related to it in the rest of this article.

First of all, it is better to know that the following points are general recommendations. The characteristics of each hair are different and the method of dyeing white hair may be different. So, if you are not sure that you can dye your white hair well, we recommend that you leave your hair dyeing to professionals.

Why do hair turn white?

The cause of white hair is the gradual loss of pigment that is formed by melanocytes. As we age, the melanocytes stop working, they don’t produce any pigment, and colorless hair begins to appear. These are the gray or white hairs. In fact, there is no gray hair! The gray appearance is the result of the combination of dark and white hair.

However, this change is not only related to the color, the structure of the hair also changes, which affects the bleaching process. Over time, hair follicles produce less oil, so gray hair becomes thicker, drier, and more flexible, and as a result, coloring gray hair often becomes more difficult. But dyeing white hair is worth it! Today’s modern and advanced colors can play with hair texture and achieve the best results.

What is the best hair color for white hair?

Today, there are many ways to dye hair. But women with more gray hair often face unsuccessful results. The biggest problem is that some white hairs are not dyed at all and gray hairs are not covered well. The reason is simple, not every hair color covers 100% gray hair. Actually, only two types of dyes are suitable for hair dyeing: semi-permanent dyes and permanent dyes. You can find out which one is more suitable for you based on the two parameters of the gray percentage and the type of coverage (coverability).

First, you must determine the percentage of gray hair; So to speak, see how many gray (white) hairs you have. Gray percentage represents the ratio between dark hair and colorless hair. This percentage not only determines what type and color is suitable for your hair, but also determines how to dye it. In general, if the percentage of gray is more than 20%, special attention should be paid to coloring white hair. It should also be noted that each color has a different transparency or shade. Finally, you need to determine what color result you want to achieve and what color your hair will be.

To cover 100% of gray hair, it is recommended to use permanent colors, especially warm colors.

The best products to dye white hair

There are various products for coloring white hair, which we will introduce and review each one below.

1. Temporary hair color for white hair

This type of product can only be used as a quick aid to cover the first signs of gray. Like Schwarzkopf’s hair color spray that colors hair in a fraction of a second. The effect of this product usually remains until the next wash. You can also use a variety of colored shampoos to cover the first gray hairs. This product contains natural pigments that gently color white hair while eliminating thinning. We have explained in another article What is coloring shampoo?.

2. Semi-permanent hair color for white hair

Semi-permanent and permanent hair colors usually cover 30-70% of gray hair. They are suitable for all types of gray hair, but if you don’t want full coverage, they are often used to cover the first gray hairs. Semi-permanent hair color allows your natural hair color to remain as it is, while coloring the few gray hairs that blend in with the color and look like a bright highlight in your hair.

The result is a natural, multi-dimensional and brilliant hair color. Another advantage of using semi-permanent hair dye to color white hair is that the color washes off gradually, so you won’t have to worry about regrowth. However, these dyes can only be used to darken your hair, as they are not strong enough to lighten your hair.

3. Permanent hair color for white hair

If you want 100% full gray coverage, permanent hair colors are ideal. In cases where you have 50% gray hair or more, it is recommended to use this type of color to dye white hair. Permanent hair color contains more ammonia and opens the hair cuticle allowing the color to penetrate deeper into the hair. This allows you to cover gray strands better and longer.

Permanent hair color does not fade with washing like semi-permanent hair color. However, due to the regrowth of the hair roots, it needs frequent renewal. Most permanent colors offer 100% gray coverage, but there are exceptions. Therefore, it is recommended to always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. In addition, the quality of each brand of permanent hair color is different from another.

4. Special hair color for white and gray hair

The best choice is a special hair color that is specific for coloring white and gray hair. They are usually more capable of covering gray or white hair than classic hair colors and are also designed with the structure of colorless hair in mind. These special hair colors often contain special combinations of nourishing oils, ceramides, etc. Therefore, they take care not only of the color, but also of the quality of your hair.

With these colors, you will be 100% sure that your gray strands will be covered forever. Another advantage is that there is no need to combine them with the original shades (natural hair color). In the past, the disadvantage of this type of hair color was the limited selection of shades and usually only natural colors were available. But today, the variety of this type of hair color for coloring white hair is different and they often offer fashionable shades as well.

5. Special hair color for men

There are also special colors on the market for men who want to cover their gray hair in a natural way. Of course, men can do exactly the same The best brand of hair dye women use, but this type of special colors are much more suitable for them. This type of hair dye does not dye the hair very richly, it just gives it a shade and allows it to gradually return to the natural color of the hair. The more the gray hair coloring program is repeated, the more effective it will be. The best example of special men’s hair color is the L’Oreal brand, which dyes hair in the most natural way possible.

To dye men’s white hair, the same combination of women’s colors can be used; But it should be noted that using specific male formulations is effective in a better and more natural result.

What shade is suitable for dyeing white hair?

Just like choosing a hair color, you should also pay attention when choosing a hair shade. Not all shades can cover 100% of gray strands. The most suitable shades for coloring gray hair are natural shades that can cover 100% of white hair. These shades are usually marked with N or 0 5N, 5NN, Natural, 5, 5.0 or 5.00. All other shades, especially fashionable shades, are less suitable for coloring white hair. The solution is to combine the fashionable shade with the natural shade at the same depth or level of the hair. For example, mix trendy shade number 5 with natural shade number 5. This step changes the color of the hair shade so that the resulting color becomes more uniform and natural.

In general, it is better to use a lighter shade when coloring white hair than a dark one, because dark shades look harsh and unnatural. In addition, with the growth of the hair root, the whiteness of the hair will be more visible. It’s also good to know that gray and bleached hair absorbs cold pigments more easily and repels warm pigments. Therefore, sometimes gray shades can appear on very cold white hair. So it is recommended to use warmer shades.

What oxidant should we use to dye white hair?

In general, 6% oxidant is often used; But if your gray hair is thick, coarse and resistant, sometimes you need to use 9% oxidant. Oxidant 9% penetrates the hair structure better, which means it covers stubborn gray hairs better.

How to dye white hair?

Gray hair is defined by the fact that there are both dark and natural hair and completely colorless (white) hair on the head. Therefore, it is natural that each strand of hair reacts differently to the hair color used. Imagine if you paint a black and white wall blue, what will it look like? In most cases, you will have a light and dark blue wall. That is why it is very difficult to dye white hair and achieve a uniform result.

Hence, coloring gray hair requires a slightly different approach. You should mix more than one shade to get a better result. You will usually find out in the instructions when it is necessary to mix the selected shade with another shade. For this, you need to start with the percentage of gray hair. In some cases, it is even necessary to use two hair colors with different bases before dyeing white hair.

Blending shades to paint white hair

If you’re going for chestnut, golden, or other trendy colors and you have more than 30% gray hair, you’ll most likely need to blend the shades together. As we mentioned in the previous points, for adequate coverage, it is necessary to mix the selected shade with the natural shade in the same base. Natural shades are indicated by N, NN, Natural or as a number ending in zero (5, 5.0, 5.00 or 6.0, 7, 8.00, etc.). We also recommend that you follow the principle of combining warm shades with warm colors and cool shades with cool colors. Remember that each brand may use a different color mixing ratio. The higher the proportion of gray in the hair, the more natural shade should be added.

• Up to 25% gray hair: use your desired shade or mix the desired shade with the natural shade in a ratio of 2:1 (2 parts fashion + 1 part natural shade).

• 25-50% white hair: we mix a fashionable shade with a natural shade in a ratio of 1:1 (1 part fashionable + 1 part natural shade).

• 50% – 100% white hair: We mix a fashionable shade with a natural shade in a ratio of 1:2 (1 part fashionable + 2 parts natural shade).

If you want to get the best results from coloring your gray hair, you need to pay attention to the hair shade. In general, it is better to use natural shade in your composition.

Teaching how to dye white hair

The method of dyeing white hair is not different from dyeing natural hair. It is recommended to start coloring white hair from the place where there are the most white hair strands or where the hair is resistant. In most cases, you should let the color sit on the hair for as long as possible for the best effect. However, sometimes there may be situations where the color does not develop well. This problem often occurs with very thick and resistant hair. However, skilled stylists can handle this. A pre-pigmentation technique (a method that opens the hair so that the hair color penetrates the hair more easily) may be needed.

Dyeing natural white hair

To dye natural white hair, do the following two steps:

• Step 1: Apply the mixture to the entire length of the hair at a distance of approximately 2 cm from the roots of the hair.
• Step 2: Then apply the remaining mixture to the roots and leave it for some time.

Dyeing the roots of white hair that has already been dyed

But what to do if your white hair is already colored?

• Step 1: Apply the mixture to the roots of the hair.
• Step 2: Wait for a certain amount of time until the hair is dyed.

Tip: The hair shafts do not need to be repainted. However, at the end of the hair color pause period, you can spread the color to a large extent on the shaft as well. Leave it on the hair for a while (about 5 minutes) and rinse. This makes the gap between old and new hair color well covered.

Dyeing long white hair that has already been dyed

To dye your long white hair:

• Step 1: Apply the mixture on the upper half of the hair shaft, about 2 cm from the hair root.
• Step 2: Then immediately apply the same mixture to the roots.
• Step 3: Finally, apply the remaining mixture to the length of the stems and ends that are already dyed.

Tips for dyeing white hair

In the following, we will introduce you to tips about dyeing white hair.

Don’t be stingy in buying hair dye

If more than half of your hair is gray, you should switch to permanent coloring formulas. If you want to not lose color while working, always buy two boxes of color. This way you will start your work with more confidence.

Use nourishing hair color

White hair is hair whose melanocytes produce less melanin. Note that unpigmented hair has a rougher, drier texture and is prone to frizz. As a result, in addition to looking for a formula that guarantees 100% coverage of white hair, choose those that are enriched with oils such as grape seed oil, argan, etc. Today, you can dye your hair and nourish and care for it.

Be sure to do a scalp sensitivity test

At least 24-48 hours before using hair dye, you should check if you are allergic to it or if it will bring you the color you want. For this purpose, it is recommended to test the hair color on a small area of ​​the hair first.

Apply the color to clean hair

Apply hair color on dry and relatively clean hair. It is a myth to recommend using hair dye on dirty hair. Most importantly, make sure there is no residue from styling spray or other ingredients Hairdressing It is not on the hair roots and shafts to ensure the excellent performance of the hair color.

Color hair only if necessary

If your hair color is close to the natural base, you don’t need to apply hair color to all strands. Is your hair color good quality? You only need to color your roots once every four weeks. This is especially true when using bleach. Apply hair color only to the ends of the hair, otherwise there is a risk of breakage.

It is better to dye the roots of your white hair once a month. Try to use the best quality hair color so that in addition to better coverage, it nourishes and hydrates the hair.

last word

Dyeing white hair has important points that you should know more about before doing. If you do not do these tips well, there is a possibility that your hair will not be dyed. Everything you need to know about dyeing white hair is mentioned in this article.

Frequently asked questions about dyeing white hair

In the following, we are going to answer the most common questions about dyeing white hair.