Last Updated on February 6, 2023 by Gaga
This one isn’t your average hair trend. You know, the kind that brings back looks from 2 decades past and recreates them with a modern twist.
Instead, this trending hair color carries more risk with it for a variety of reasons. From the initial decision to do it to the long process, it takes to get there, getting back to your natural grey hair color is no easy task. But it’s not impossible, and the rare value it can add back to your life will make it worth it.
So, what are the steps it takes to get back to your natural grey hair color? They may vary depending on the starting point. For example, the steps of getting back to natural grey after drying black or dark brown vs. blonde will be different. But expect to spend somewhere between 5-10 hours working on this transition.
Transitioning From Dyed Dark Brown Hair to Natural Grey
When the hair has been dyed dark brown or black for a long period of time, it may be necessary to get a color-removing treatment prior to beginning the actual service. Your colorist will know which type to choose and how to apply. Some, like the Malibu C CPR Color Pigment Remover, take 15-45 minutes to process.
The next step is highlighting or bleaching out the old color. Your colorist will usually use foils and paint the bleach only on the areas of the hair that have the dark dye. Depending on how dark the hair this, this may need to be done twice.
Then it will be washed out and a bond-builder applied. The famous @Jackmartincolorist uses the K18 repair system throughout the process to keep the hair healthy.
After the 1st and/or 2nd rounds of bleaching have been completed, your colorist will need to match the color of the bleached hair to the natural grey root color pattern. To do this, they will use toners to get the yellow out and leave the right level of grey/silver to match your own natural grey hair. They may also need to add in some lowlights if the natural grey is salt-and-pepper. 8 hours is an average length of time to complete the full transition from dark brown/black to natural grey.
Transitioning From Dyed Dark Blonde Hair to Natural Grey
Transitioning from dyed blonde hair back to natural grey may take less time than going from dark brown back to grey, but it also depends on the health of the hair and if there are any banding issues.
If the hair is brittle and in poor condition, the colorist may need to use a lower-level developer to lift the dark blonde to a light blonde. Using a low-level developer will take a longer time to process, affecting the overall time of the service.
Once the hair has been lightened with bleach to a level 10, the colorist can then tone it to match the color of the natural grey pattern.
Transitioning From Dyed Red Hair Back to Natural Grey
To go from dyed red hair to a natural grey, a lightener will have to be used to lift out the red color. Red hair color can be stubborn, especially if it’s dark red/auburn. It may take two sessions to extract it all with the lightener.
Then the grey-blending happens when the colorist chooses toners that match the natural grey pattern and applies them to the highlighted hair.
Make sure to use K18 Leave-In Repair Hair Mask after this intensive service. The strength of your hair depends on it!
Going Back to Natural Grey by Growing Out the Hair
If you prefer not to put your hair through the intensive highlighting process it takes to get it back to a natural grey, then you can simply grow it out.
The pros to this are 1. It keeps your hair healthy. 2. Inexpensive. 3. You don’t run the risk of having a mistake made during the massive color process.
But there are some cons. Depending on the length of your hair, it could take years and years to grow it all out if you’re not wanting to lose a lot of length during the cuts. The hair as it grows will have to pass through phases of looking unbalanced. Many women feel compelled to wear hats.
When your gray roots start to appear, you can use temporary gray root concealers for a while to hide them. These products commonly wash out with the next shampoo, so you have to apply them after each wash. As your hair continues to grow, root concealers will be less convenient.
Instead of taking the long route and letting your natural grey grow out while gradually cutting out the color, you can opt to go short and cut all of the color out. This leaves you natural grey in one cut session and lets you sport a lovely short new look.
Maintenance and Color Schedule
The famous @Jackmartincolorist leads in transforming hair back to its original and natural grey state. He recommends getting blending touch-ups 3 times per year to maintain a beautiful grey look. Scheduling your regular color touchups is one of the best ways to experience gorgeous hair year-round.
To keep your natural grey tresses healthy, establish and maintain a foundational routine of care. Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner, a quality oil, and a cream-based heat protectant for best results. Use purple shampoo periodically to neutralize yellow tones.
Also, add in professional-grade glossing treatments to boost shine. Getting these seasonally can make all the difference when keeping your natural grey hair looking shiny and smooth.
Gaga is a blogger and founder of the Softer Hair website. She often says that insomnia is to blame for her first blogging attempts. Being the night owl, she hated the morning alarm. She left her office job and returned to what she loved most - writing.