HOW TO HIDE GREY HAIR WITH HAIR COLOR?
There are different ways to cover grey hair using L'Oréal Paris hair colors with either permanent hair color, temporary hair color or root touch up.
COVER YOUR GREYS WITH A PERMANENT HAIR COLOR
Permanent hair color will cover grey hair for up to 8-9 weeks depending on the technique.
Get a luminous hair color result
With Superior Preference, get a luminous and multi-dimensional hair color thanks to its liquid-gel formula. This permanent hair color will cover 100% of grey hair and its new and improved formula lasts up to 9 weeks.
Cover all your greys
With Excellence Crème, get 100% grey coverage for your hair. The permanent hair dye technique combined with the rich triple care system will cover even the most resistant greys.
Covers greys with an ammonia free hair color
With the Excellence Crème Universal Nudes collection, you can cover 100% of your greys with an ammonia-free formula. Don’t compromise between formula and results, the ammonia free rich triple care system will cover even the most resistant greys.
COVER YOUR GREYS WITH A ROOT TOUCH-UP
If you're looking to touch up your roots, L'Oréal Paris has a range of root touch up solutions.
Temporary Root Touch Up
Magic Root Cover Up is a temporary root touch up spray that washes out completely with 1 shampoo. In 3 seconds, say goodbye to your roots.
Magic Root Precision is a precise & corrective brush that covers greys at the temples temporarily.
Permanent Root Touch Up
Magic Root Permanent covers 100% of grey hair in 10 minutes. The color perfectly matches your hair color, whether at home or in the salon, and lasts up to 4 weeks.
FIND YOUR STYLE!
Find the perfect hair color that matches your desired look with our personalized services.
How Much Grey Are You Covering?
The right grey hair dye depends on how much grey you have and where it shows. If you're seeing your first few strands at the temples or along your part, a root touch-up may be all you need. If grey runs through more of your hair, a permanent formula such as Superior Preference or Excellence Crème gives the most even grey hair coverage from root to tip. Many people combine the two: permanent colour every few weeks, with a quick touch-up when roots start to show.
How to Choose the Best Hair Colour for Grey Hair
The best hair dye for grey hair suits both your natural shade and the look you want. Start with your colour family (blonde, brown, black or red), then pick a shade close to your natural colour. If you're torn between two shades, choose the lighter one: lighter tones blend regrowth more softly as your hair grows, and it's best not to go more than two levels lighter than your natural base. You can preview shades on yourself first with Virtual Try-On.
Covering Grey on Dark Hair
Grey roots stand out most against dark brown and black hair, which is why how to hide grey hair on brunettes is one of the most common questions. Choose a permanent shade that matches your natural brown or black as closely as possible, and keep a root touch-up in the same shade family, such as Magic Root Cover Up in Medium Brown, for the weeks when regrowth starts to show. For more brunette shade ideas, see our guide to brown hair dye.
Permanent, Semi-Permanent or Root Touch-Up?
Each option covers grey differently. Permanent hair colour covers grey for up to 8 to 9 weeks. Magic Root Permanent covers 100% of grey roots in 10 minutes and lasts up to 4 weeks, while Magic Root Cover Up lasts until your next shampoo. Semi-permanent hair colour fades a little with each wash, so it blends and softens grey rather than fully covering it. For a closer look at the difference, read permanent vs. semi-permanent hair dye.
Keep Your Grey Coverage Looking Fresh
Do an allergy alert test 48 hours before every colouring, even if you've used the product before, and follow the processing time in the instructions for the most even result. Between colourings, a sulfate-free shampoo made for colour-treated hair, such as EverPure, helps keep your colour vibrant. If you're thinking about embracing your natural shade instead, read how to enhance your natural grey hair or how to go back to your natural hair colour.
FAQ
What hair dye covers grey hair best?
For full grey coverage, choose a permanent hair dye. Superior Preference provides up to 100% grey coverage with up to 9 weeks of fade-defying colour, and Excellence Crème offers 100% grey coverage designed for even the most resistant greys. Excellence Crème Universal Nudes also covers 100% of greys with an ammonia-free formula.
Is it better to go lighter or darker to cover grey hair?
Lighter is usually the safer choice. If you're between two shades, pick the lighter one: it blends regrowth more naturally as your roots grow in and looks softer against grey. With permanent colour, avoid going more than two levels lighter than your natural base.
How long does permanent hair colour cover grey hair?
Permanent hair colour covers grey hair for up to 8 to 9 weeks, depending on the formula and technique, and Superior Preference lasts up to 9 weeks. As your hair grows, new grey roots appear, so many people use a root touch-up between full colour applications.
Does semi-permanent hair colour cover grey hair?
Semi-permanent colour can blend and soften grey hair, but it fades a little with every wash, so it won't give the same long-lasting coverage as permanent colour. For 100% grey coverage, choose a permanent hair dye. Browse semi-permanent hair colour if you'd like a softer, low-commitment option.
How can I hide grey roots without dyeing my hair?
A temporary root touch-up is the quickest option. Magic Root Cover Up is a spray that instantly covers grey roots and washes out with one shampoo, and Magic Root Precision targets scattered greys at the temples with a precise brush. See more fast-fix hacks to hide grey hair.
Why do my grey roots look lighter after a few washes?
Grey hair can be more resistant to colour, so coverage may look lighter if the dye wasn't left on for the full processing time. Follow the timing in the instructions and choose a formula designed for resistant greys, such as Excellence Crème.
Do I need an allergy test before colouring grey hair?
Yes. Do an allergy alert test 48 hours before every colouring, even if you've used the product before, following the instructions in the box.
