Hidden highlights on dark hair with gray hair: features, types and photo examples of coloring

Gray hair is not just hair that has been stripped of its coloring agent (and therefore white) but has undergone structural changes compared to the rest.

Therefore, before any type of coloring, you need to consider its features:

• They are stiffer than regular hair, so not every dye will cope with coloring since the pigment penetrates it worse;
• When highlighting, the percentage of gray hair should not exceed 40% of the total amount;
• Usually, gray hair is not uniform in color, so it is necessary to bleach it before highlighting to achieve uniformity.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Highlighting Gray Hair

The main advantage of highlighting compared to full coloring is that the roots grow out unnoticeably against the general background. With the right shade, you can go to the hairdresser for a correction once every six months (depending on the rate of hair growth).

Women note several advantages of highlighting:

1. Gray hair is masked while the natural pigment of the rest is not changed.
2. There is a choice of style and coloring technique.
3. Has minimal impact on hair structure.
4. Does not require such frequent repetition of coloring.
5. Looks good on hair of any length.

The main disadvantage of highlighting is uneven coloring when performing procedures at home independently with the wrong means. Also, when buying paint, you need to pay attention to the composition, as there are contraindications or restrictions.

Highlighting technique

To hide gray hair, you can choose the highlighting technique that will be most effective for this type of hair. In this case, the procedure is carried out with a ratio of gray and natural hair for blondes of 40/60%, and for brunettes of 30/70%. That is, with gray hair more than 40%, this method will not hide, but on the contrary, emphasize gray hair. Therefore, with abundant gray hair, it is better to dye it completely.

Partial coloring techniques are used.

Classical method

The dye is applied evenly along the entire length of the curl. When doing this, you can choose strands of different widths, which will add contrast to the hairstyle, but it will not be enough to hide gray hair. If you need to add more naturalness, then when dyeing, you should highlight the hair with very thin strands.

Zonal

Individual locks are dyed. Initially, these were only the upper strands. But now asymmetrical, root, and diagonal techniques are common. Hidden highlighting is also included in this category. It hides the dyed strands among the main mass of hair. They become visible when the hair is loose or when the hairstyle reveals the colored layer.

Traditional and reverse

The first (traditional) method involves lightening the strands. And the second, on the contrary, involves dyeing them in darker colors.

Normal and gentle

With normal hair coloring, you can change the hair color by the maximum number of tones. For gentle coloring, the color change is typically only up to three tones. It uses ammonia-free dyes with a high content of useful substances. Gentle coloring includes highlighting, in which a few thin strands are colored, and then from the middle or at the ends.

With edging

Only the outer hairline is dyed around the entire circumference of the head. The acceptable width is from 1.5 to 2 cm. The rest of the hair is dyed using classic highlighting. This hairstyle looks very impressive, especially on hair shorter than average, such as a bob or cap.

Types of highlighting

In addition to the variety of techniques, highlighting is also classified by types of coloring. Therefore, before going to the master, it is better to familiarize yourself with them and choose what interests you.

Salt and pepper

During coloring, two contrasting colors are used, which create a smooth transition. It is usually used when there is a lot of gray hair. The disadvantage is the difficulty of choosing the right range that will give the desired effect. Therefore, a professional colorist is needed to perform such a hairstyle.

Coloring

It will help to disguise gray hair for women with any hair color. In this case, several shades of similar colors are selected. The composition is distributed along the entire length of the strand. Most of the hair volume is dyed. It is more difficult to determine the color for black hair.

Shatush

A coloring method that creates the effect of sun-bleached hair. This highlighting is more suitable for dark hair. For fair-haired girls, the coloring result will be almost invisible.

Under gray hair

Applicable for a large percentage of gray hair. For the procedure, a suitable ash shade is selected. At the same time, the range of modern dyes will allow you to choose your shade for any skin type to achieve the best effect.

Balayage

Gives the hair a sun glare. This coloring option adds volume to the hair, as the resulting curls add depth to the natural color and add variety to gray hair. With this technique, the hair is first divided into wide strands. The roots are not affected during coloring. For light hair, only bleach is used. For dark hair, after bleaching, you need to tone it with a suitable shade.

How to choose a shade for highlighting

To select highlighting shades, first of all, pay attention to the current condition of the hair and its natural color.

How to Hide Gray Hair on Dark Hair

Choosing the wrong shade can give a rather contradictory effect. Often women are guided by photos in magazines, but the result of such selection is not always positive. Therefore, it is better to find a colorist who can offer the right spectrum to perform the procedures. Usually, brunettes are advised cold, cognac, and coffee shades. Warm caramel colors are considered suitable for brown-haired women.

Choosing a shade for light hair

There are no color restrictions for them, as the light background goes well with almost any shade. But experts advise not to choose too dark colors, but to take shades two or three tones different from the natural one. For light-blond curls, shades of wheat and platinum will be a winning option. Owners of dark-blond hair are advised shades of copper and gold.

What shades to use for red hair

Such women have the most difficult time choosing a color for highlighting. Usually, the hairdresser chooses caramel or peach tones for light red hair. With the original rich dark red curls, it is better to use copper shades.

What to look for when dyeing gray hair

Before you start highlighting gray hair, it is worth considering several of its features:

• Type of gray hair. Focal – small areas of gray hair among the entire volume. Scattered – gray hair is distributed evenly throughout the hair.
• Cause of graying
• Structural changes in hair
• Features of pigmentation.

There is a classification of gray hair according to its susceptibility to coloring: Glassy (difficult to color): hair is hard and prone to breakage, its surface is very smooth (scales are tightly closed); normal coloring: hard hair of medium thickness; easy coloring – soft and thin hair.

Please note: before highlighting glassy gray hair, an etching procedure can be carried out—opening the scales to increase the absorption of the pigment. The master selects coloring compositions based on the type and amount of gray hair.

Gray Hair Highlighting Technique

A special feature of this type of highlighting is the procedure of additional lightening of the strands before dyeing since their color may be uneven along the entire length and it is necessary to level the base under the dye. If the gray hair is uniform and very pronounced, then this procedure is omitted. The dyeing method is selected depending on the length and quality of the hair. In this case, foil is used.

Step by step instructions:

• Pre-prepared hair (bleached) is divided into four zones: frontal, temporal, occipital, and secured with clips.
• Using a comb with a thin tail, divide the strands into curls up to 2 cm wide. Place strips of foil underneath them.
• The dye is applied evenly to the prepared curls.
• The foil is rolled up, covering the treated hair to create a sauna effect and enhance the effect of the coloring.
• Move on to the next strand and repeat the process.
• After processing the head areas, wait for the time specified in the instructions for the dye. Then remove the foil and rinse the hair thoroughly.
• After washing off the coloring composition, toning is performed, which harmonizes the natural and resulting colors.

Highlighting will help hide gray hair and emphasize the beauty of your hair with the right shade and appropriate technique.