Grey hair is one of the irksome things you face upon aging. It may be caused due to the genetic effect or Vitamin B12 deficiency. Regardless of the reason, you feel discouraged and lose confidence to go out with grey hair. And, then comes the inevitable necessity of hair color shades to cover the greys.
But, with a plethora of color choices in the market and individual hair care needs, we get confused to pick one. Besides, if you are a beginner, then it will be even more daunting. However, we put forward the best hair color shades and their reviews to streamline your search. Still, we insist you consider two important factors to get a favorable deal.
Appropriate Formula – Based on the greyness level, you need a distinctive formula of hair color. If your hair is 50% grey, you need a semi-permanent hair color. And, if it is greyer by more than 50%, you require a permanent hair color.
Color Closer to Your Natural Hair – As you color your hair, it should look natural. So, it’s good to choose 1 or 2 shades that are closer to the original hair color. And, the light or bright shades you pick should be in sync with the innate locks.
Beyond these, you have to check for even other factors when buying the hair color shade to cover your greys. We have put them in the ‘Buying Guide’ at the end of the product reviews.
Best Hair Color Shades to Cover Grey in 2023
| Hair Color | Item Form | Color | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revlon Colorsilk Permanent Hair Color | Gel | 05 Ultra Light Ash Blonde | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| John Frieda Precision Foam Color Kit | Foam | Medium Natural Brown 5N | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| L'Oreal Paris Excellence Creme Permanent Hair Color | Cream | 8G medium golden blonde | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Clairol Nice'n Easy Permanent Hair Color | Cream | 116A Natural Light Golden Brown | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| WELLA Color Charm Demi Permanent Hair Color | Cream | Wella Color Charm Demi 1N Black | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Schwarzkopf Color Ultime Permanent Hair Color | Cream | 5.29 vintage red | CHECK ON AMAZON |
| Agebeautiful Liqui-Creme 9Rc Light Strawberry Blonde | Cream | Light Strawberry blonde | CHECK ON AMAZON |
Best Hair Color Shades to Cover Grey Reviews
1. Revlon Colorsilk Permanent Hair Color
Revlon is one of the leading brands when it comes to hair color products. The manufacturer understands that it is not possible for people to always visit a parlor to touch up their greys. This is why they have introduced the permanent at home hair dye.
This formula is free of ammonia. The hair color is filled with the goodness of keratin as well as silk amino acid. Both these ingredients present in the hair color improves the quality of your hair after the color treatment. Your stubborn grey hair disappears as the color penetrates through your hair. You will notice that the color makes your hair shinier and silkier.
Revlon has used the 3D Color Gel technology. The liquid gel does not drip and makes the product easy to use. It takes about 25 minutes to apply this hair color, depending on the hair length. And the color can last up to 52 weeks following post hair color maintenance tips. This technology helps you achieve vivid natural-looking hair color from the roots to the tips.
It does not have any harsh or unpleasant smell. You have the opportunity to choose your shade among the 41 different color options you get.
Product Information:
Brand: Revlon
Item form: Gel
Color: 05 Ultra Light Ash Blonde
Item weight: 6.67 ounces
Pros:
- Permanent hair color kit developed along with salon experts.
- Can be applied at home.
- Uses 3D color gel technology.
- The hair color is multidimensional and radiant.
Cons:
- Some people developed allergic reactions after using the product. This is why it is advised to conduct patch tests before using the product.
2. John Frieda Precision Foam Color Kit
John Frieda has developed a hair color that will give your hair the attention it needs. The brand has developed a hair color product that allows you to color your greys at home easily. The product spreads quickly through your hair. This hair color covers the roots, hairline, as well as the back of your head.
It is a permanent hair color that penetrates into your hair shaft and gives you salon-like results. Unlike gel or cream, the color comes as foam with a non-drip formula which makes it spread quickly from the roots to the tips. The foam precisely reaches those portions of your hair which you feel are difficult to reach.
The results are visible after every time you color your hair at home. The application is really easy and mess-free. John Frieda Precision hair color can last up to 5 weeks. For some, it lasted for only two weeks. Use a color protectant shampoo to make it last longer.
Product Information:
Brand: John Frieda
Item form: Foam
Color: Medium Natural Brown 5N
Item weight: 8 ounces
Pros:
- Covers your roots, hairline, as well as the back of the head.
- Comes along with a developer and conditioner.
- Has a precision and non-drip formula.
- Locks the tonal richness of the color for a longer period of time.
Cons:
- May require frequent touch-ups.
3. L’Oreal Paris Excellence Creme Permanent Hair Color
If you trust L’Oreal for hair color, this is the best for covering your hair sitting at home. L’oreal Paris Excellence Creme hair color comes with triple-layer protection. It is called Excellence because it covers even your stubborn greys and conditions, seals, and replenishes your hair.
The hair color is prepared with different formulas and styles that make it long-lasting fade-defying. It is a non-drip creme formula that protects your hair before as well as after applying the color. It promises 100% grey coverage with rich radiant hair color which will easily last for 6 weeks.
The hair color product comes along with a hair comb, pre-color treatment, developer, color creme, conditioner, instruction sheet, and gloves. The pre-color treatment is enriched with ceramide and it protects your hair from buildup of color. The conditioner treats your hair weekly with collagens and protects your hair till you again decide to color your hair.
This particular shade is medium golden blonde. You can choose from 14 different shades of blondes. Also, Excellence cream is available in 38 different shades of black, brown, and red.
Product Information:
Brand: L’Oreal
Item form: Cream
Color: 8G medium golden blonde
Item weight: 7.2 ounces
Pros:
- Uses the latest technology and best quality ingredients.
- Comes with triple layer protection.
- Treats your hair before and after applying color.
- Long-lasting and fade-defying color formula.
Cons:
- Smells like chemicals
4. Clairol Nice’n Easy Permanent Hair Color
Clairol brings to you a permanent hair color that covers your greys 100% and gives you a rich vibrant natural hair. The formula of the hair color is created with three different tones and highlights to make it last a long time.
Along with covering your greys, the hair color provides you with complimentary lowlights and highlights to make the color shine even brighter. The long-lasting hair color stays up to 8 weeks after application. It’s available in 50 different shades of brunette, red, blonde, and black. The product is gentle on both your hair and scalp. It protects your hair from getting damaged between color applications.
Clairol hair color comes along with a permanent color cream, a color activator, expert gloves, and a conditioner. The color cream and color activator are to be mixed and applied to your hair in a single step. The conditioner makes your hair soft and protects your hair from damage. It also protects your hair by locking the natural moisture in the hair.
Product Information:
Brand: Clairol
Item form: Cream
Color: 116A Natural Light Golden Brown
Item weight: 10.72 ounces
Pros:
- Gives a natural finish
- The formula is created with three different salon tones and highlights.
- Long-lasting hair color stays up to 8 weeks.
- The conditioner protects your hair from getting damaged.
Cons:
- Messy application.
- Might stain your hands as well.
5. WELLA Color Charm Demi Permanent Hair Color
Wella has introduced a new hair color range called Color Charm and they called it demi-permanent hair color. It’s a multidimensional permanent hair color that is a perfect solution for grey blending.
If you have only a few greys and don’t want 100% grey coverage it’s the Color Charm that makes the perfect choice. It covers your greys up to 50%, refreshes color, and toning. It has a varied range of palettes to choose from which are shades of gold, neutral, red, warm, and as.
Even if you don’t have grey hair you can use Color Charm to simply enhance the gloss and shine of your natural hair. The vibrant hair color is long-lasting and makes your hair soft, bright, and silky.
The formula is fade-resistant and ammonia-free. With each tube of the cream, you can color your hair twice. This makes the product effective as well as economical. The processing time of the color is around 20 minutes. And the color can last up to 24 washes. It is advised to always use the activating lotion when using the demi-permanent color to get the best results.
Product Information:
Brand: Wella
Item form: Cream
Color: Wella Color Charm Demi 1N Black
Item weight: 2 ounce
Pros:
- Excellent for grey blending
- Increases the gloss and shine in your hair by 43%.
- Ammonia-free formula.
- Affordable
Cons:
- The 2-ounce tube is not enough for long hair.
6. Schwarzkopf Color Ultime Permanent Hair Color
Schwarzkopf is one of the most trusted brands when it comes to hair colors. Color Ultimate permanent hair color provides brilliant hues of reds sitting at home. It ensures 100% grey coverage with a hair color that is rich, vibrant, and lustrous.
This cream formula is a high-definition mix of pigments that complements the natural pigments of the hair. The product provides you with a great shine to the hair that is bound to garner attention. The long-lasting hair color lasts up to 9 weeks. The product resists against fading by seeping through the roots of the hair.
The color is also enriched with diamond brilliance serum and formulated using the UV technology. This cream as well as the conditioner is designed for all hair types. It treats your hair and makes it lustrous. You can choose from 8 different shades of red.
Product Information:
Brand: Schwarzkopf
Item form: Cream
Color: 5.29 Vintage red
Item weight: 2.08 ounces
Pros:
- Brilliant hues of red
- Enriched with diamond brilliance serum.
- Long-lasting hair color lasts up to 9 weeks.
- Amazing shine
Cons:
- Smells like chemicals
7. Agebeautiful Liqui-Creme 9Rc Light Strawberry Blonde
If you are tired of grey hairs and cannot visit a salon to cover the greys, here is another good choice. This hair color from AGEbeautiful helps you fight all the five problems that are associated with aging hair.
The 5 signs of aging hair are: no manageability, moisture, shine, volume, and color. AGEbeautiful hair color is infused with biotin, keratin peptide, melanin, and silk protein that infuses your aging hair with all the nutrients. It also features a conditioning technology that helps your hair regain all the important components that got lost due to aging.
The hair color product also replenishes your hair. The unique formula of the color allows it to deeply perforate and quickly absorb. This also helps in covering the greys 100%. The beautiful and vibrant hair color is a long-lasting formula that lasts up to eight weeks. It is advised to go for a light shade if this is your first time with the product.
Product Information:
Brand: AGEbeautiful
Item form: Cream
Color: Light Strawberry blonde
Item weight: 3.04 ounces
Pros:
- Fights five problems associated with aging hair.
- Long-lasting formula.
- Infused with melanin, keratin peptide, biotin, and silk protein.
- Conditioning technology replenishes your hair.
Cons:
- A second product, i.e the developer is required to use the product.
Things to Consider When Buying a Hair Color to Cover Your Greys
The market hosts innumerable brands and varieties of hair colors that can cover your grey hair. And, you get vexed and confused to identify which is better and reliable for your hair. But, you can easily grab the right product by keeping in view some important factors.
Appropriate Formula
Before checking for the formula of hair color, you have to determine the percentage of grey hair. And, based on this, you need a semi-permanent or permanent hair color treatment.
If 10% to 50% of your hair is grey, just a semi-permanent or demi-permanent hair color is sufficient. Semi-permanent hair color is the one that dyes your hair for a short-term period. It just involves a dye coating on the surface of the hair shaft instead of fundamentally changing the hair color.
So, if you want to have the coloring for a temporary period, you can go for this semi-permanent dying. However, it gets washed off each time you shower.
Now, coming to the demi-permanent hair color – it also stays on the hair for a limited time, yet the dye stays for a longer time when compared to a semi-permanent treatment. Those who wish to have a refreshing look to their locks, try the latest hair color trend, or desire a darker color, can go for this demi-permanent hair color treatment.
If the percentage of your grey hair is above 50%, you need a permanent hair color. It stays for a long time, and you need not worry if it shades off when showering. But, ensure that the color covers the entire hair 100% without leaving any single strand. However, you have to pick a hair color whose results can be seen for 6-8 weeks.
Natural Hair Color Sync
When choosing a hair color, we advise you to purchase one that suits and syncs with your natural hair. Then, it brings a natural look to your hair. So, you need not have constant touch-ups frequently. Thereby, you can retain it for 6 to 8 weeks, and then you will have a better idea of how the hair reacts to the color too! Based on this, you can decide whether to change the entire color or not.
Moreover, if you have minimum greys, a simple hair color touch-up is sufficient. If not, you have to dye the color properly and frequently as well.
Check Your Skin Tone
Even skin tone matters when choosing a hair color shade. Check if it is warm or cool. If it is warm, go for warmer hair colors like golden blondes and caramel browns. And, if you have a cool complexion, you can dye the hair with an icy blond or dark brown.
Be Away from Dark Colors
Usually, dark colors on your hair harden your facial features. Moreover, if there is any mistake, it is easy to cover it with lighter hair color shades. And, also think about the intensity of greyness in your hair when looking for a dark color. If it is less greyish, we suggest you have a brown palette. Even light chestnut or medium brown will be suitable too. If you have more greyish hair than black hair, it’s better to pick a blonde shade.
Eye Color
Does the hair color shade match your eye color? Do not wonder why eye color matters here. But, yes, if you are truly searching for the utmost natural look, you have to consider this. You should choose a hair color shade that matches the eye color. Like how you consider your skin tone, also find if it syncs with the eye.
For instance, if you have blue or green eyes, you can go for red or blonde hair colors. And, if you have dark or brown eyes, you can use chestnut, chocolate brown, or even red. Cool colors work well for people who have a fair complexion. But, at any cost, we suggest you not try peculiar colors like orange.
Ingredients
As you decide to buy hair color, you have to know what it contains. Hair colors, especially the permanent ones, contain color and a developer. While the developer lifts the outer opening of the hair cuticle, the color penetrates inside and imparts the shade.
Any color is composed of some chemical ingredients like ammonia, peroxide, propylene glycol, and many others. The peroxide content level determines the lasting effects of the color. So, firstly determine the lasting time you desire, and then check the amount of peroxides in the product pack when purchasing.
Another common chemical is paraphenylenediamine which enters the hair shaft and colors it completely.
Usually, ammonia is found to enhance the longevity of colors, but too many amounts can be allergic and harmful to you. So, many reputable brands prepare hair color infusions without ammonia.
Say No to Parabens and SLS
Choose a hair color that does not contain parabens and SLS as they are harmful to your hair.
These two synthetic chemicals are found to make your hair dry, brittle, and weak. Ultimately, you will lose the natural shine of your hair. So, avoid colors containing parabens and sulfates. And, we also suggest you choose the sulfate-free and paraben-free hair sprays, shampoos, and conditioners to maintain your hair color as these two chemicals are found to fade away the color. It’s better to use a color-protectant shampoo to maintain a long-lasting effect.
In addition to these two, you should also avoid ingredients like Eugenol (a fragrance that turns out to be toxic), DMDM Hydantoin (a preservative that degrades the immune system), and formaldehyde (a preservative linked with reproductive toxicity) in your hair color.
Hair Type
A hair color suitable for one need not be suitable for another as we have different hair types. The chemical ingredients needed to color the thick, thin, dry, and oily hair will vary. While some of them help to strengthen and smooth the hair, some may even make your dry hair more drier and deadly.
And so, based on your hair type, choose a hair color pack that makes your straight, curly, fine, or thick hair colorful, gorgeous, and healthy as well. Therefore, we suggest you meet your doctor to know what your hair needs. Otherwise, it may affect the porosity, care, and styling too.
Item form – Gel, Foam, Cream
The hair colors come in different forms – gels, foams, and creams. And, this texture is important to consider too. While some like to apply gels, others love the foams or creams. So, you can choose whichever you desire to apply. All of them are easy to apply from the roots to the ends of your hair. The gels and foams come in an anti-drip form pack to let a hassle-free application.
At this point, we suggest you go through any reviews of applying the hair color. While some colors are easy to apply, others would be difficult and messy. They should neither drain off nor stain your hands when applying. Also, you have to check the hair type, when you are choosing the color form.
Nutrients
Do you know that even hair colors have some nutrients to maintain your hair? Yes, some hair colors are infused with keratin, silk amino acids, melanin, and biotin which improve the hair quality after the color treatment.
Smell – Is it Good?
Some hair colors are good to smell while others are harsh, unpleasant, and chemical-like. Those with a pungent and bad odor may make you uncomfortable when applying. So, check the reviews on the smell of any color product before you purchase one.
Pre-color Treatment Required or Not?
Sometimes, a pre-color treatment is required for your hair before applying the dye. Moreover, some hair color shades come with pre-treatment packs too to cover your greys. Surf through the internet to know more about the product by viewing its description completely and avail the best ones.
Accessory Items
Some hair color brands offer accessory inclusions like developer, pre-color treatment, color creme, conditioner, comb, and gloves. It’s better to get such ones easing your color treatment right from the application, handling, and maintenance.
Reviews
Reviews are always important to choose any product. And, they give you a better idea of how well a product may be suitable for your hair. You’ll be aware of the hair color applying, smell, color compatibility, price, feasibility, longevity, side effects, and every other minute thing. Why take a risk by neglecting such reviews? Our product reviews given here are genuine and practical as they are gathered after deep research. So, have a glance at them and be fruitful.
Brand Value
Hair color shades from reputed brands are trustworthy as they contain high-quality infusions. They are known to be safe, durable, and effective. The best way to find the brand value is through checking the reviews again. Also, you can consult a hair professional or a hairstylist to pool up the famous brands. Then, you can choose one from them to suit your coloring needs and mask the grey tresses.
Price
We suggest you not compromise on the price of the color product. Hair color shades with premium quality and the best hue will determine the price. And if you go for cheaper ones, you will be left with unnecessary troubles of using low-quality products. Anyhow, even the best hair color shades are available at economical prices.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are trying the coloring for the first time, it is better to go to a professional. A hair care professional and a hairstylist suggest you the right product based on your skin tone and hair color. Also, you can know the correct process of coloring to cover all your shafts.
If you are a frequent user of the color, and you just need to have a touch-up, you can simply do it yourself at home.
The time between every touch-up to cover up our greys depends on the percentage of grey hair you have. If your percentage of grey hair is more than 50%, then it is best to touch-up your hair within four to six weeks of applying hair color. It may seem expensive to some of the people, then you can touch-up your hair color at home. If your percentage of grey hair is less than 50%, then you need to touch-up your hair within eight to ten weeks.
If you are trying to color your hair for the first time, we advise you to go and visit a professional to do the job. A professional would be able to suggest which color will suit your hair as well as which color will go well with your skin tone. A professional would also conduct a strand test to determine if you are allergic to the product or if your hair will get damaged by the hair color. If you have been coloring your hair for quite some time and need a quick touch-up, you can do it by yourself at home.
Permanent hair color treatment is where the color-infused into your hair lasts permanently. And, it uses more peroxides that may damage your hair. Semi-permanent hair color lasts for only a few weeks and shows temporary color effects. So, you can change the color frequently if you want to cover your lesser grey shades. As it does not have peroxides, it is safe to use. This color lasts for up to 8 shampoo washes. A demi-permanent hair color treatment is not permanent but lasts for a bit longer time. And, it is featured with a medium level of peroxides. It retains the color for up to 24 shampoos.
After coloring, just wait for 48 hours to wash your hair with shampoo. Later on, you can shampoo it thrice a week. If you have dark shades of red and brown, we suggest you use shampoo only two times a week. It is also better to use a sulfate-free and color-protectant shampoo.
Yes, hair colors are safe if you choose the suitable ones and apply them as directed. As most of the color shades available today in the market are free from ammonia, parabens, sulfates, and other such compounds, you can choose them trustfully.
If you have more than 50% grey hair, then you have to color it every 4-6 weeks. And if you have less than 50% greys, you’ll need a touch-up within 8 to 10 weeks. Also, it depends on your coloring mode, hair strength, and hair type too. So, better consult a professional before having the hair shades.
Final Word
Annoying greys are the aging signs which we don’t like. However, we can cover the greys and steer away from the aging look of your hair with superb assorted hair color shades. But, it’s often cumbersome to find a suitable color. And if you are stuck in a trial-and-error method to get it, you may waste your time and money, and also leave your hair damaged.
Our product reviews and research-based buying guide are here to help you now. You’ll definitely have a clear understanding of the hair color, what suits you, and even the best products. If you find our reviews helpful in your hair color purchase, do share your experience and comments here. If you are still unaware or confused about any of these, feel free to write to us.