Guide
Covering grey hair
Permanent colour hides grey most fully, and it is what we use for grey, roots included. Grey hairs have little or no pigment, so they lack the contrast against the scalp that dark hairs give, and more scalp can show even when no hair has been lost. Covering the grey with a colour darker than the scalp brings that contrast back.
What happens at a colour visit, including grey coverage, is on our hair colour page.
Why does grey make the scalp show?
Dark hairs stand out against the scalp and shield it from view. Grey hairs let light through or bounce it back, so they blend in with the scalp and shield it less. The effect is strongest in dark hair on a lighter scalp, and most visible at the parting, the crown and the front hairline. Grey can make hair look thinner than it is, and colouring the grey can be enough when that look is the worry.
What covers grey best?
Permanent colour forms inside each hair. Semi-permanent and demi-permanent colour sit less deep in the hair than permanent colour and cover less of the grey. How to look after the colour in strong sun and with frequent washing is in our guide to colour treated hair care.
Why do the roots show grey again?
After permanent colour, the grey that shows 10 to 15 days later is new hair growing in. The hair that was covered stays covered. Healthy hair grows about 1.3 cm a month, or half an inch. A root touch-up puts colour on the new growth only.
What plucking does to grey
A plucked grey hair grows back grey. Plucking can also thin the hair.
Which fits your hair
If grey shows only at the roots of hair you have already coloured, that is new growth, and a root touch-up covers it. If your scalp shows at the parting and the grey runs through dark hair, the grey can be part of what you see, and covering it is the part we can help with. If your hair feels thinner too, or the parting keeps widening, a doctor can check whether hair is being lost.
If you’d like to come in, you can book here.