The Best Techniques for Coloring Gray Hair.

The Best Techniques for Coloring Gray Hair. What Every Stylist Should Know

How to fully cover gray strands while keeping a natural look. Professional coloring techniques for gray hair

To find the right approach to coloring gray hair, it’s important to understand how the structure of strands changes as pigment disappears. This knowledge helps in choosing the right technique, professional products, and post-color care. In this guide, you’ll learn how to achieve an even, long-lasting color result that looks vibrant yet natural.

How Coloring Gray Hair Differs

The silver shade appears when the hair loses pigment produced by melanocytes. This change affects not only the color but also the texture, which requires a different approach to coloring. Gray hair becomes coarser and less elastic. That’s why, at the first signs of gray, it’s recommended to use professional products enriched with natural nourishing elements. Consistent care will improve the overall condition of the hair, making future lightening and coloring easier.

Why Gray Hair Is Harder to Cover. Preparing for Color

Gray strands tend to be drier and more porous, which makes it harder for pigment to lock into the hair. To ensure better color fixation, the hair and scalp should be hydrated before the procedure. Right before coloring, professionals often use an equalizer spray. It smooths the hair surface, helping the color distribute more evenly.

Coloring Gray Hair on Dark and Light Shades

When choosing a technique to cover gray hair, one of the most important factors is the natural hair color.

Covering silver strands on naturally dark hair can be challenging, especially when the gray is bright white. A more complex but highly effective option is multi-tonal coloring with highlights and lowlights. This way, new gray growth at the roots will blend more seamlessly and create less contrast with the lengths.

For a full-coverage, single-color look, it’s best to choose a shade one to two levels lighter than your natural tone. This reduces the contrast between gray strands and the dyed hair. Permanent color works well for complete coverage, while semi-permanent coloring often delivers a softer, more natural effect.

On blonde hair, masking gray is much easier. Lower-percentage oxidizers are usually sufficient, which helps preserve the integrity of the hair structure. To keep the color vibrant for longer, it’s better to use shades with higher pigment concentration, as this maintains depth in both light and darker tones. Within the core CRYSTAL palette, these are the shades marked with a double digit after the tone level. For example: natural tones from 4/00 to 9/00, ash tones 6/11–9/11, and brown shades 4/77–7/77.

In addition, we’ve developed a dedicated CRYSTAL+ palette specifically for gray hair, featuring a collection of both natural and trendy shades.

Aftercare for Colored Gray Hair

Right after coloring, trimming the ends is a good idea to refresh the overall look. Use gentle shampoos designed specifically for colored or lightened hair. To preserve the richness of your shade, add heat-protection products to your routine, as they shield hair from UV damage and styling tools.

The easiest way to achieve the best gray coverage is with professional-grade color and guidance from an experienced stylist. With the right post-color care, your hair will keep its vibrant tone and healthy appearance for much longer.