Grey hair has a habit of showing up at the roots just when your colour looked settled. So how often should you actually dye it, and how long does grey coverage really last? Here is a simple schedule that keeps grey covered without over-processing your hair.
How often should you dye your hair to cover grey?
For most people, roots need doing every four to six weeks. That is roughly how long it takes for new growth to become obvious, and it lines up with how fast hair grows, about half an inch a month. If you have a lot of grey or dark hair with a hard regrowth line, you may notice it closer to the four-week mark. If your natural colour is lighter or you have less grey, you can often stretch to six or even eight weeks.
The important part is that you only need to colour the regrowth at the roots each time. Pulling colour through the full length every few weeks is what leads to dryness and damage, so save a full-length refresh for every second or third appointment.
How long to leave dye on to cover grey
Grey hair is more resistant than pigmented hair, so it needs the full development time to take. Follow the timing on your colour, which is usually around 30 to 45 minutes, and do not rinse early. Cutting the time short is one of the most common reasons grey does not cover properly and fades fast. Applying to the roots first, where the grey is most stubborn, gives that section the longest processing time.
How long does grey coverage last?
Permanent colour does not wash out, but it does fade and the grey regrowth still comes through at the roots. That is why the four to six week cycle exists. What you can control is how fresh the colour looks in between. Colour fades faster with frequent washing, hot water, sun and heat styling, so a gentle routine makes each dye last longer. Our guide on how to make hair colour last longer on grey hair goes into this in detail.
How to cover grey between dyes
You do not have to reach for a full colour every time a few greys appear. Root touch-up products cover regrowth instantly and wash out with your next shampoo, which buys you time between appointments and saves your hair from extra colour. A powder or spray like Color Wow Root Cover Up matches to your shade and hides the parting and hairline in seconds. It comes in shades from platinum through to black, so browse the colour keepers range to find your match.
Stick to the four to six week cycle for roots, give the colour its full time to develop, and lean on a root touch-up in between. That combination keeps grey covered and your hair in good condition rather than over-coloured.
