The 4 Best Ways To Grow Out Old Hair Color
If you currently have box dye, want to go back to natural, are trying to go lighter, or have finally decided to embrace your gray, this post is for you! I’m going to talk about the 4 methods that will help you to grow out old hair color and transition into something new. Find out which option will work best for your situation!
Why you may decide to grow out old hair color
- Going back to your natural hair color
- Embracing your natural gray
- Lightening your dark colored hair/box dye
Depending on what your current situation is vs. your goal, there are several different methods to choose from.
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4 Methods to grow out old hair color
- Highlight/lowlight
- Semi permanent color
- Gradually lightening the color at the root
- Bleach and tone corrective service
1. Highlight/lowlight method
Works best for: Embracing gray hair color, lightening your dark colored hair
This option is typically my number one recommendation when aiming to grow out old hair color. When you high/lowlight your hair, it will blend your natural color with your mid lengths and ends. These highlights can be toned down accordingly if you don’t want to have blonde highlights.
When you high/lowlight, you are easing yourself into your new look rather than being shocked at first. I have transitioned several ladies from coloring their hair every 3 weeks to all over natural gray this way.
Depending on your goal, the lowlight (which is a darker colored highlight) should be fairly similar to the color on your mids and ends to start; and it should be lightened at least one shade per session. Each time you have the high/lowlights done, you want to gradually add less and less so that your natural color is taking over.
Depending on your situation, you may not need to add any lowlights to your hair. Sometimes the color will blend nicely with just highlights and you can gradually add less and less. Your stylist will help you find the best option based on your current hair and your goals.
How often does this method need done?
You should try to go longer in-between sessions than normal for this method. This gives you a good transitional blend so that you can grow out your old hair color quicker.
The amount of time you go in-between highlighting sessions is specific for every case. If the color you are trying to grow out is drastically different from your natural, then you’ll need to come in more frequently than if there is only a subtle difference. After several sessions you can gradually come in less and less.
You also don’t have to highlight your entire head every time. Start with the whole head the first time, and then the second time only do the top where it shows. If you pull your hair back often you may want to do a few foils on the sides by your face or underneath. But you can leave the mid layers to grow out on their own since they are typically covered by the rest of your hair.
Ultimately, you should come in no sooner than 8 weeks for this method.
2. Semi/demi permanent color method
Works best for: Going back to natural hair color, Embracing natural gray hair
Using a gloss/semi permanent dye when aiming to grow out old hair color can help to blend in your new growth. This is the most inexpensive way to grow out old hair color (other than not doing anything to it at all of course!).
As it fades out, the hair color will lighten up. Starting with a darker tone will make it last a little longer than the alternative. Each time you do this color service, use a slightly lighter shade. This helps to marry the two tones together and removes the harsh line from your regrowth. This also only needs to be applied to the new growth, and not to the already colored hair.
How often does this method need done?
The only downside is that this color will fade out of the hair and you’ll probably have to do it more consistently. The nice thing is that a gloss or toner is typically a lot less expensive than a regular color service. If you are on a budget, this is the option that I recommend.
Semi permanent colors will last anywhere from 4-8 weeks. After that they will fade back to the original color. I would recommend using a color that matches the ends of your hair or is in-between the ends and your natural color.
3. Gradually lightening the color at the root method
Works best for: Lightening dark colored hair
This is a great option if you aren’t looking to make a drastic change and only want to lighten the color slightly. If you have black colored hair but would like to be brown all over, then this is the way to go.
My suggestion is to try to fade the color as much as possible before this service. I recommend doing this by washing your hair with dawn dish soap and very hot water. Yes dish soap! It’s strong stuff and will fade your color with each wash. You’ll want to follow this with your regular shampoo and conditioner, and I recommend following that with a conditioning treatment afterwards.
When it’s time to touch up your new-growth, you’ll use a shade one level lighter than the one you used previously. Keep going a little lighter each time or every other time until you are at your desired level. This will give you a nice blend between scalp and ends rather than a quicker drastic and more noticeable change.
I don’t recommend this option if you have naturally white or gray hair with a darker brown or black color and are wanting something closer to your natural. This would take FOREVER and you would have too much variance from scalp to ends. Unfortunately for this situation, a darker root look is in right now and not the opposite.
How often does this method need done?
I recommend going a little longer than normal between touch-ups for this method. If you normally come in every 4 weeks, try pushing it to 6 or even 8 weeks instead. This will allow the dark color to fade out before each session for a better blend.
4. Bleach and tone corrective method
Works best for: Embracing gray hair color, lightening your dark colored hair
This is the last method that I suggest to grow out old hair color because it is the most expensive and damaging to your hair. This will get you your full result faster than all of the other options, but it comes at a cost.
This is a corrective color service and prices are typically significantly increased because it is a lot of hard work. I have spent 10+ hours in one day doing one of these services.
If you choose to do this method, make sure that you are seeing a skilled hair stylist. Don’t try to skimp and save money by going to someone cheaper. Your hair can be severely damaged and you likely wouldn’t end up with a color you are happy with.
When this method is done, the color you are trying to remove is stripped from your hair with color removers and bleach. Once the hair is lightened as much as possible that day, it is then toned to remove warmth and to blend with the natural as much as possible.
You WILL go through some stages that are unpleasant. The hair turns red, orange, and yellow before it can take on an ashier tone. Most natural tones are ashy, so you have to get the hair pretty light in order for it to be possible to match. Embrace warm browns, reds, coppers, and caramels until you can get to where you want to be.
How often does this method need done?
This result doesn’t always happen in one session depending on your goal. In fact, this generally takes several sessions over months to years to get to the desired result. This is to maintain the health and integrity of the hair. There is no point in having the hair color you want if you damage it all and it looks like crap anyway. You will be at the salon allll day long and you will spend quite a bit of cash.
It is difficult to match natural hair exactly, and the hair that is colored will fade as you shampoo. You will have to come back in for frequent toners until the hair is most of the way grown out, typically once a month.
The length of time between bleaching sessions will greatly depend on your goals as well as the condition of your hair. You may be able to do them once a month, but others will have to wait several months between bleaching sessions.
Conclusion
Whether you’re trying to go back to your natural color, embrace your grays, or lighten up previously colored hair, you have four main options to choose from.
The first method to grow out your old hair color is to highlight/lowlight your hair. This method works best if your goal is to embrace your grays or lighten dark hair.
The second method is to use semi/demi permanent hair color. This method is best if you’re going back to your natural hair color or embracing your grays.
The third method to grow out old hair color is to gradually lightened the root color. This method works best if your goal is to slightly lighten dark colored hair. Keep in mind this isn’t the best option if you want to go blonde.
And the last method is to bleach and tone. This is the most expensive, time consuming, and damaging of all your options. This method is best if your goal is to go blonde or gray from dark colored hair.
No matter what option you choose, make sure you are caring for your hair throughout the process. Conditioning treatments are a must any time you do color services, ESPECAILLY if they involve bleach.
Check out my post on how to maintain long and healthy hair for tips and the steps you need to take on your own to care for it before, during, and after any of these color services!
If you have any further questions for me on this topic, leave them for me in the comments! And as always, Have A Good Hair Day!
Last updated 11/06/2023
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