3 Seamless Ways to Get Rid of Gray Hair
Are you on a quest to get rid of gray hair? Then you have not one but three foolproof options to choose from, giving you varying levels of gray hair coverage, from soft blending to full camouflage. So, whether you're disguising those very first little white hairs or tackling a large patch of stubborn gray strands, we've got the salon solution you've been looking for.
Let's decode your gray coverage...
3 Ways to Get Rid of Gray Hair
1. Blend Away First Grays with Up to 70% Coverage
Perfect for targeting those very first grays or achieving a soft, blended look, Color Touch Plus delivers up to 70% coverage in a range of rich, radiant shades. The demi-permanent formula also guarantees true-to-tone vibrancy and shine, no matter your hair's condition, thanks to the built-in Metal Purifier that neutralizes metals lurking in your hair. Try it when you want rich, natural-looking coverage with gentle regrowth and no harsh demarcation lines. It's great for all-over transformations, as well as toning highlights or adding a root shadow.
2. Camouflage White Hair with Up to 100% Coverage
Image Credit: @kai_sohn
If you have a full head of gray hairs or you want a stronger camouflage for silver strays, look to our permanent hair color formulas, Koleston Perfect and Illumina Color. They each give you up to 100% gray coverage, but come with their own unique finishes, delivering truly bespoke results.
Illumina Color is your pick when you want radiant, youthful, 100% natural-looking color, as it plays up your natural tone for hair that's luminous in every light. Your hair colorist can custom-blend a shade that matches your original hair color for undetectable camouflage, or they can mix up a new, trending hue with all the shine and dimension of a natural shade.
Or, if you want stronger color intensity, request Koleston Perfect. It's the first and only professional hair color that combines uncompromised performance with Metal Purifier and ME+ Dye Technology. The result: true-to-tone color and protection against damage. Plus, it offers boundless shade possibilities, whether you love pastels, rainbow brights, or natural hair colors with a vibrant glow.
3. Keep Gray Roots Hidden with Koleston Xpress
Whether you're targeting gray roots through virgin hair or touching up color-treated hair, Koleston Xpress gives you targeted, speedy and natural-looking results. Your colorist applies it directly onto regrowth for up to 100% gray coverage, and it develops in 10 minutes.
Yes, just 10 minutes.
So, in less than the space of a lunch break, your silver strands will have disappeared, replaced by seamless, undetectable coverage that mimics your natural color. No blocky, matte finish; it enhances the highs and lows in your hair, so no one but you has to know you've colored your roots.
Ready to Book Your Gray Coverage?
Find your nearest Wella Professionals salon to get your ideal level of gray coverage, teamed with the glossy, healthy-looking shade you've been dreaming of.
What's the Best Solution for Stubborn Grays?
Permanent hair colors are your best pick for tackling those stubborn grays, so Koleston Perfect or Illumina will be your go-to color products. Your salon colorist may paint these resistant sections first, so your chosen shade has longer to develop, and they may also suggest you sit under a hood, as the heat can intensify your color.
How Often Will I Need to Touch Up Gray Coverage?
This all depends on the level of gray you're dealing with and how fast your hair tends to grow, but as a rule of thumb, we recommend touch-up color appointments every 6-8 weeks. You don't have to go for an entire head of color every time; if you simply want to target the regrowth, ask your colorist to use Koleston Xpress. This speedy root touch-up vanquishes grays in just 10 minutes.
What Color Cancels Out Gray Hair?
You can use any color to cover gray hair, from copper reds to golden blonde tones, but if soft regrowth is your goal, consider working a shade that's similar in tone to silver hair. Cooler, lighter shades, like an ash or mushroom blonde, will blend easily with grays, so when your roots grow through, the patches of gray won't stand out as much.
If you already have blonde hair, your colorist may be able to skip the pre-lightening phase, and immediately start toning your hair with a mushroom or ash blonde hue. But if you have dark hair, your colorist will need to lift your hair before toning with an ashy shade. BlondorPlex is perfect for this, as it gives you up to nine levels of lift and up to 97% less breakage¹. The reduction in breakage is key, as the hair shaft becomes more delicate as we get older, meaning it needs extra care to stay strong and healthy.
Can You Reverse Gray Hair?
No, you can't reverse gray or white hair. Once the graying process starts, it can't be stopped due to changes happening deep within your hair follicles. As hair follicles age, melanocyte stem cells – also known as melanin-producing cells – start to decline, causing your hair to lose its pigment and turn white. You can't revive or replace these melanin-producing cells, meaning silver strands will always grow silver. Your solution is to embrace the change or embrace hair color.
How Can I Permanently Remove Gray Hair?
There's no permanent way of removing gray hair. Once melanin production has dropped, white strands will always grow through with a gray tint, even if you pluck them (which is not recommended). But you can enjoy a long-lasting solution with a permanent hair color, like Koleston Perfect or Koleston Xpress, which will give you up to 100% coverage in a range of beautifully rich shades. From blonde to red to brown tones, any color is possible. You can even work this season's hottest trends – from copper bronze to rose gold hair – with grays under wraps.
How Should I Care for Hair After Getting Rid of Grays?
Regular touch-ups are key to maintaining gray hair coverage, so don't forget to book in regular appointments every 6-8 weeks. Then, in between, work on building up hair health, so your color-treated hair appears rich and glossy. These are the salon-approved steps our pros recommend:
Nourish with a Color-Safe Shampoo
Perfect for all hair types – from oily hair to dry hair – ULTIMATE REPAIR Shampoo delivers deep nourishment from root to tip. Its gentle, luxurious lather rinses away pollutants and impurities, so you're left with clean hair that's never stripped. Just fresh, balanced and ready for the next nourishing steps.
Treat Lengths to Deep Conditioner
Conditioners and hair masks are healthy hair essentials that restore the moisture we lose over time, so reach for rich, creamy formulas that offer intense nourishment. ULTIMATE REPAIR Conditioner is smooth and sumptuous, packed with skincare-inspired ingredients to repair your hair from the inside out. AHA cares for the inner cortex, while Omega-9 replenishes the outer layer. Apply it through the mid-lengths and ends of clean, damp hair, then rinse thoroughly. Dial up the moisture once per week by swapping in ULTIMATE REPAIR Mask for hair that's 6x easier to detangle².
Repair Hair Damage in 90 Seconds
As we enjoy the privilege of getting older, our hair becomes drier and more vulnerable to damage. So, future-proof it with a leave-in treatment that promises deep repair, like ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue. The weightless mist repairs hair damage in 90 seconds³ when misted through clean, damp strands, so you have a quick, easy solution that fits into your regimen seamlessly. Not only will it target existing stress, but it will prevent future damage too, so your hair continues to look and feel more youthful.
Looking for more tips on hiding silver strays? Discover our complete gray coverage guides, with tips on the techniques and products that seamlessly disguise every last white hair.
¹ When using Wellaplex N°2 with Blondorplex, versus Blondorplex alone.
² Vs. non-conditioning Shampoo.
³ When using ULTIMATE REPAIR Miracle Hair Rescue.