How to Cover Gray Hair with Coloring Conditioners

Looking for “full coverage” of your grays with one of our Basics shades?

Because our Coloring Conditioners are semi-permanent formulas, they don’t contain any harsh chemicals, gray coverage is not guaranteed. The cuticle, the outermost layer of every hair strand, can be particularly thick and strong on gray hair. Under a microscope, a hair cuticle looks like a series of interlocking scales. If those scales are tightly closed, then moisture, hair products, and (in this case) hair color will have a hard time soaking in. This is why permanent dye formulas contain heavy alcohols or ammonia to force open the cuticle and guarantee color deposit. But if you’re looking for a non-damaging way to achieve the same results, we’ve got some tips for you!

Depending how often you bleach, heat style, or spend time in the sun, your hair cuticles may already be more “roughed-up” or open and ready to accept semi-permanent color. Not sure how open the cuticle is on your hair? Try a Sample Size Coloring Conditioner and do a quick strand test to see how it takes to your individual hair. It might cover your grays exactly as desired. But if not, here are a few extra steps you can take during the color application process to improve gray coverage.

Rough Up Your Cuticle

How’d that strand test turn out? If your gray strands didn’t pick up much color, your hair’s cuticle may be stubborn. Here are a few ways to open it up: Apply your Coloring Conditioner on clean, preferably blow-dried, dry hair. For extra cuticle-opening power, pre-wash with a clarifying shampoo — we recommend The Fader. The Fader is formulated specifically to open up the hair cuticle. Saturating your strands thoroughly. While your Coloring Conditioner is processing, cover hair with a shower cap and hit it with a blow-dryer on medium heat. Again, the warm environment will ensure your cuticle opens further so hair can soak up as much pigment as possible!

 

Keep Up Your Color Routine

Once you’ve achieved your desired shade, maintenance is key. Use a Daily Conditioner in your preferred shade after every shampoo, and refresh with your Coloring Conditioner at least once a week, or as often as desired or needed, depending on how often you shampoo your hair. For an all-in-one color and maintenance pack, look no further than our Healthy Color Duos! Each bundle contains a full-size Coloring Conditioner and Daily Conditioner in your chosen shade.