by Marlin Bressi

Created on: January 07, 2013

Permanent hair dye is a great way to cover a full head of gray hair, but what if you only have a few strands of gray that you wish to cover?  Fortunately, there are several different coloring options, regardless of the amount of gray you wish to cover.  This article will show you different ways to cover gray- without having to use an ammonia-based permanent dye.

First, you have to decide how much of the gray you wish to cover, because this will determine which product you will need to use.  Some people want 100% coverage of their gray hair, while others want to "blend away" the gray for a more natural look. 

Gray blending is an ideal choice for the person who wants to color their gray hair with a dye that will fade gradually.  For this, nothing beats a demi-permanent dye.  Demi-permanent dyes will gradually fade after 6 to 8 weeks, unlike permanent dyes which will eventually leave you with "roots" that will be visible.  Demi-permanent dyes cannot be used to lighten hair color since they are usually ammonia-free.  This allows you to apply the dye to the entire head in one application without drastically altering the appearance of your regular hair.  When using a demi-permanent dye, it is important to read the manufacturer's directions.  Not all demi-permanent dyes are capable of covering gray, and some are designed to be applied to damp hair, while others are intended to be applied to dry hair.

Another option is a semi-permanent dye.  While permanent dyes have an alkaline pH, semi-permanent dyes have an acidic pH, which makes it quite healthy for the hair.  Permanent dyes will gradually fade from the hair between 4 and 6 weeks (although frequent shampooing will make the color fade faster).  Semi-permanent dyes generally do not have the ability to provide 100% gray coverage, but are an ideal way to cover some of the gray.  This is a good option if your goal is to reduce the appearance of gray hair in a subtle manner without making your hair look as if it had been colored.  Because of the subtle effect of semi-permanent dyes, this is ideal for men and mature women.

Finally, there are temporary dyes.  These dyes will completely conceal gray, but will only last until the hair is shampooed.  Although these products only provide a temporary fix, these dyes are terrific for those who wish to target a few strands of gray hair.  Root touch-up products, typically applied with a mascara wand, are a form of temporary hair color.  Liquid rinses, such as Roux Fanciful, are another form of temporary hair color.  There are also colored hair powders which are sprinkled onto the hair in order to impart color and cover gray.  All of these products fall into the "temporary dye" category because the color can be removed by shampooing the hair.

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