Coloring your gray hair? What Does Gray Hair Fade Into?

You have probably gone through a plethora of colors and want to try something new on your hair. Or is it that your hair strands are already starting to go gray, and you want to color them gray permanently to get the process over with? After all, if you rely on gray hair dye, you at least have more control over the color of your hair and the style than the natural gray you usually get. 

If you have never tried the gray hair tone before, though, you most likely have no idea what color your hair will turn once your hair starts to fade. Nor do you have a good idea of how to take care of it to delay the fading. Well, we have all the answers to your question regarding the topic today. 

1. Depends on the Time

If you dye your hair gray, permanent or not, it’s bound to fade sooner or later. Some shades of gray have a shorter lifespan than others. If your tone of gray is light, say silver, it is likely to fade quicker than if you had a more in-depth, charcoal color.

If you buy the right hair dye, when your hair color does start to fade, it might take a more delightful exit than others. For example, Got2b Metallic Permanent Hair Color stays on the gray range towards the end; it only becomes lighter than when you first applied it. If the hair dye isn’t good enough, the gray tone can turn into a green or yellow that’s quite unflattering. 

2. Skip the Shampooing

This is obvious, but the more you wash and shampoo your hair, the faster your gray hair will fade. So, try to shampoo as little as you can. Most people can go about shampooing only once a week. Especially if you live in a generally cold area, it shouldn’t be a problem. 

If you live somewhere where the temperature is mostly warm, while the urge to shampoo might be stronger, we still recommend delaying it for a bit. If it gets annoying, we recommend using a good dry shampoo that will keep the grease out of your hair. Something like L'oreal Serie Expert Magnesium Silver might be precisely what you are looking for in this case. It has received a high satisfaction rate from customers and has the backing of a large brand. 

When you are shampooing, the water should be as fresh as you can stand to use. Heat, in general, isn’t good for your hair, and if you have dyed your hair on top of that, not only is it likely to make your hair brittle, your hair color most definitely will fade quicker due to the abuse. Some stylists recommend using handheld showerheads if it’s too hard. Instead of the bathtub, hook it on your sink faucet. This way, you won’t have to go through the trouble of a cold shower. 

3. A bit of Purple

Other than sticking to dry shampoos when you are washing your hair, it is generally recommended to use a purple shampoo about once a week. If it is of the right kind, you can even use it twice a week. We highly recommend Joico Color Balance Purple Shampoo for this. One of the best in the market, it not only protects the fading color but also makes sure your hair retains its shiny quality. The shampoo also has ingredients such as Bio-Advanced Peptide Complex, which is a blend of identical hair keratins that work to repair your hair from the inside. 

Other than purple and dry shampoo, stick to shampoos that are free of sulfate. Even better if those shampoos are made precisely to take care of dyed hair. Herbal Essences Color Me Happy Shampoo is one of the best in this regard. It uses natural ingredients, which is a must if you don’t want your dyed hair to be exposed to harsh chemicals. It has a delicate pH balance and while we have said not to shampoo daily, if there is a shampoo we feel comfortable recommending for daily use, it is this one. It also has a lovely rose fragrance which you might find attractive. 

The shampoo can be combined with the wonderful Pureology Hydrate Moisturizing Conditioner. It’s another sulfate-free product that will moisturize and hydrate your hair. It’s quite suited for all hair types, but especially if you have thick hair. It protects your hair color and even enhances it. 

4. Hair Color Style

Are you not comfortable with the idea of going completely gray? Maybe you can start by taking baby steps. You can try out individual gray hairstyles, figure out how to take care of your newly dyed hair, and how to stop it from fading. Once you have gotten the hang of it, and know that gray does suit you, you can try the full gray look. 

For different gray hairstyles, you can try something like applying only some silver highlights and then use a cool toner on it. The result might be a fresh overall hair color. If your hair is on the dark side, maybe you can try a smokey, rick gray over it. Gray also has shades like silver, where you can turn it into a more funky, pastel color. The options are endless. For toner, you can use Wella Blonder Permanent Liquid Toner. 

Don’t let your beautiful gray hair fade into an ugly yellow or green! You did not go through all that trouble of dyeing your hair for it to end up rough and frizzy. Take good care of it and stick to using the best quality shampoo and conditioner. While it can get expensive, it is worth it for the beautiful shades of gray you can play with.