How Do I Cover Gray While Using a Semi-Permanent Hair Color?

Cover up your gray at home with semi-permanent color.

Unwanted gray hair is a common problem. Nothing says, "aging" like graying hair. Both men and women take steps to cover up pesky gray with hair coloring. Semi-permanent hair color is a type of dye that stains the hair shaft to coat gray strands. This is a temporary solution that washes out after six or eight shampoos. Semi-permanent hair color conditions well and gives you the freedom to test different tones until you find the color that is right for you.

Things You'll Need

• Semi-permanent hair color
• Plastic hair comb
• Small (1-inch wide) paintbrush
• Mixing bowl
• Thin, protective gloves
• Towel
• Timer
• Shampoo
• Conditioner

Instructions

1. Put on thin, protective gloves. Most hair color packaging includes them. Mix the semi-permanent color according to the directions on the package.

2. Place a towel over your shoulders when you are ready to apply the color. A towel protects your skin and clothing from contact with the hair dye, which can stain.

3. Comb your hair and be sure there are no tangles. Make a part down the middle of your hair. Comb back a small section of hair in the front near your forehead and brush the hair color onto your roots with a small paintbrush.

4. Continue sectioning your hair with your comb and brushing the semi-permanent color in until the gray is covered. Your sections should be thin and wide. As you complete one section, flip the hair over and move down from the center of your head.

5. Review your hair in the mirror to verify all the gray on the front, back and sides is covered.

6. Set a timer and allow the semi-permanent color to sit in your hair for the specified amount of time.

7. Wash the color out in the shower or sink with shampoo, then condition. Wait for your hair to dry before assessing how well your gray hairs are covered by the semi-permanent color.

Tips & Warnings

• Depending on how fast your hair grows and the gray comes in, you may need to recolor your hair with semi-permanent color every four to six weeks.

• Semi-permanent hair color is more appropriate for covering small areas of gray for shorter spans of time. If you have a lot of gray to cover and need the gray covered for a longer duration, consider using permanent hair color, which lasts longer and is more effective for covering gray than semi-permanent products.

References

• The Hair Styler; Hair Color; June 2009
• Temporary Hair Dye Info: Application Process