Professionally cover Gray hair- To fully cover gray hair first you need to know the percentage of gray you have. It can be 25% 50% 75% and up. Then choose the level you desire. The level just means how dark or light you want your hair to be. For example lets say you want to dye your hair red, you would need to know if you want a dark red, medium red, or light red. The dark, medium, or light is <--- the level. If you have 25 to 45 percent or lower gray hair, you can choose the exact level you wish to dye your hair as long as you use a color with a natural, neutral tone, or any color that reads NN (example- 6/NN this would be a dark natural blonde). If you have over 45% to 70 percent gray hair try aiming one level darker than what you want, if you have over 70 percent gray hair use a color that is two shades darker than the color you want. (example- if you want a light brown color and you have 50% gray, use a medium color). Lets say you have 70 to 80 percent gray hair and you put a straight burgundy reddish color there is a 90 percent chance your hair will wash out Pinkish. For black, darkest brown, and dark brown you do not need to go a shade darker, but any other level you do. Once you have figured out your percentage of gray and the appropriate level, you will need to choose the tones or hues. When it comes to gray hair the tones/hues you need to add to your hair are WARM tones. Like Golden, browns, bronze, naturals, neutrals ect. The tones you must stay away from are Cool tones, like Ashy colors. Always use 20 volume developer. Start at the front hairline and work yourself towards the back of the head. Use 1/8 inch sub sections so that the color can properly be absorbed evenly. Leave the permanent color on for forty to forty five minutes. ALWAYS use permanent color for full coverage. If you want to blend gray you can use a demipermanent or add highlights or low lights.
If you don't care about using professional color and just want to dye your hair with box color then remember to always use a color that reads golden, warm, medium, dark, auburn, copper, all the browns are usually perfect. Stay away from ASH. Make sure to leave the color on for five to ten minutes longer than what the box says. Always start the color application at the front of your hairline, then work your self to the back.
Summary-
Figure out gray percentage-
Figure out the appropriate level- how dark or light you want your hair to be.
Remember under 25% to 45% exact level, over 45% to 70% one level darker, over 70% two levels darker.
Now choose the tone/hue you like- two people can have the same level of hair, but their tones can be different. Example two woman have light blonde hair, but one woman has light GOLDEN blonde and the second woman has light ASH blonde) the golden and ash is the tone, and the level would be light blonde. For gray coverage always use warm tones and natural or neutral tones. Stay away from Cool tones.
Other notes- Use a 20 volume developer. Start application at the front of the hairline towards the back. Leave color for 45 minutes.
