How to Tint Gray Hair: Tricks for Both Dark and Light Hair

Discover the different options you have to tone your gray hair, no matter if you have dark or light hair.

Tinting gray hair is the ideal alternative to show off natural but beautiful gray hair. In particular, this becomes an alternative for those who have a lot of gray hair, which appears due to a deficiency in the production of melanin that isn’t always related to age.

In fact, on social networks, it’s increasingly common to see influencers and public people showing off their gray hair naturally. If you know what we’re talking about, keep reading, because we’re going to tell you how to achieve these incredible results.

How to tint gray hair when you have dark hair

Gray hair in dark hair like black hair is much more noticeable, so it’s necessary to have a good process to tint the hairs and highlight them more strongly. To achieve this there are different alternatives, from chemical products such as dyes, to natural products such as henna or rosemary.

Here we tell you how to dye gray hair in dark hair with more details.

1. Tint dark gray hair with henna

Henna is a pigment extracted from the plant of the same name, which is used to dye the hair and even the skin. It is a natural and economical product that is commercialized in powder form, which is extracted, according to experts, from the leaves of the plant. In addition to dyeing, it helps to protect and moisturize the hair strands.

To achieve this effect, follow the step-by-step instructions that we’re going to give you here:

• Mix three tablespoons of henna powder in a bowl with a tablespoon of lemon juice until you get a smooth, well-mixed paste.
• Apply all over your hair, from the roots to the ends, leaving no space without product.
• When you’re ready, cover your hair with a plastic cap and leave it on for two to three hours.
• After this time, rinse your hair with plenty of lukewarm water until the extra dye is completely removed.

2. Use rosemary to tint gray hair

Rosemary is an aromatic plant with a wide range of uses in the home and in everyday life. According to professional publications, this plant is considered a potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective. Among its many uses, we find that it contributes to pigmenting the hair, prevents hair loss, regulates excess sebum, and the appearance of dandruff. We tell you how to use it to tine gray hair.

• Get five rosemary branches and cut them into small pieces.
• Bring half a liter of water to a boil, add the rosemary pieces, and cover the pot.
• Once the water reaches boiling point, turn it off and let it cool.
• Take a strainer to remove the rosemary branches and let the preparation rest overnight.
• If you want to darken your gray hair, add five drops of rosemary essential oil and a cup of apple cider vinegar to the preparation. In this case, let the preparation rest for another 12 hours.
• When you have the preparation ready, depending on the level of pigmentation you want, apply it from the roots to the ends, after washing your hair.
• After five minutes, rinse with plenty of water.

How to tint light gray hair

One of the advantages that light hair has over gray hair is that it isn’t naturally as noticeable. However, there are fewer options for gray hair coloring, at least when it comes to natural options. Let’s take a look at the alternatives for coloring gray hair in this case!

1. Specialized products to tint gray hair

There are a number of specialized products on the market for hair care and styling. Among them, there are the color-enhancing products, which are so named because they help to maintain the color of gray and color-treated hair.

These products range from shampoos to conditioners, treatments, and masks. Their secondary, but very important, function is to prevent depigmented strands (natural or chemical) from turning yellow. In the specific case of light hair, there are ranges that go from purple shading for extra light hair, to pearl and silver for blond hair.

The proper way to use these products is very basic, consisting of applying shampoo, treatment, and conditioner in sequence. In the case of masks, they should be used less frequently because they could alter the desired tone.

2. A color bath or semi-permanent tone

This is another way to tint gray hair on light hair and, as in the previous case, the specific product depends on the light tone you have as a base or the highlights you want to give your gray hair: gold, ash, iridescent, platinum, gray or violet.

These products can be prepared at home and their effect will fade with each wash, but you can renew it with a new color bath whenever you want. We’ll share the step-by-step guide to shade your gray hair in this way:

• Pour the entire contents of the color bath into a bowl and mix it with the developer liquid it comes with.
• When the mixture is ready, i.e. free of lumps and fully mixed, get ready.
• Separate your hair into four portions, so you can handle it better.
• Put on some gloves and protect your back, face, and clothes, as this product is very pigmenting.
• With your hands or with the help of a brush, apply all over your hair without leaving a single centimeter without product.
• Leave the product to act for 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the level of color you want to obtain.
• Finish by rinsing with plenty of lukewarm water and enjoy your gray hair.

That’s how easy it is to tint gray hair!

Now you know how to tine your gray hair depending on whether you have dark or light hair. It all depends on your choices and expectations of which method you use. In any case, we encourage you to take care of your gray hair to prevent it from turning yellow and dry, so you can show it off with more confidence and peace of mind.