Removing hair color to go grey can be tricky. It can harness all your patience. It can come with challenges regarding the right products to remove hair dye and keep your locks safe and healthy. 

But if you’re thinking about it, if you’re ready to go natural, you have plenty of options. At home, at the salon, inside yourself. 

Here’s what we’re talking about:

Table of Contents: 

• The pros and cons of removing hair color to go naturally grey
• The pros of going grey
• The cons of going grey
• How to make your transition easier
• What to expect based on your hair color
• Transition to grey hair with lowlights and highlights
• Mixed hues and ash grey help
• Go grey naturally
• You can transition to grey hair at the salon
• Get a layered haircut and let your hair tones blend
• Tips for removing hair color to go grey: try them at home!
• How to take care of transitioning hair

The pros and cons of removing hair color to go naturally grey

Going back to your natural color when you have grey hair is quite the process! We’re accepting ourselves more and loving ourselves more. 

Without shame and unapologetically, so we want to go back to our roots. And when it comes to hair dying, the roots seem to be the problem. 

That transitioning time when hair has many colors and hues, and we think we are so imperfect. 

When will it end? In weeks? In months? 

The process is different for us all. But we do have options. For any hair type. And any personality type. 

The pros of going grey

After the transition phase, it’s less hassle. No more dye, no more endless visits to the salon every six to 8 weeks. You’ll save more money in the process too. Letting go of hair dye, you let go of chemicals that affect your hair, health, and the environment. 

Last but not least, you will feel more relaxed, more authentic, more empowered, and self-accepting.

The cons of going grey

We won’t lie. It can get uncomfortable. 

Social norms and the internal pressure of looking perfect may challenge your emotional resources. But that’s only during the transition phase. 

After your hair goes past that stage, it will have highlights and lowlights, just like a natural, empowering balayage. 

So, here is how to ride the transition dragon easier.

How to make your transition easier

If you’re looking for a chemical treatment that will reduce the transition time, you’ll find some suggestions below. If you’re looking for a natural method, we have those as well. But first...

What to expect based on your hair color

If your hair is lighter (blonde), it will be easy to go to grey hair. The differences will be less noticeable.

If you are a brunette or have darker hair, the journey can be tougher. 

Your locks will have extreme, contrasting tones. Darker hair can end up with many colors and hues as you go grey. 

Calico hair makes many women back down on the transition phase.

Transition to grey hair with lowlights and highlights

Your natural hair color will not be an issue. But that demarcation line, where the colored hair stops and the natural one begins, is what makes women back down. 

If you’re not going for the big chop and you’re letting your hair grow naturally but don’t deal well with the frustration of having “in-between hair,” you can try adding some color. 

Lowlights and highlights paired well with your natural color can soften the transition. And they require minimal maintenance. 

Extra info: the demarcation line lasts about three to four months.

Mixed hues and ash grey help

If you don’t want to wait and worry about how your roots will look like, try a silver shampoo to add some color. 

A toner with a silver hue or some ash gray can create the impression of balayage. If you don’t mind doing this while you let your natural grey hair grow underneath, it’s a friendly method to transition. 

If your ashy grey strands go brassy, use a purple shampoo.

Go grey naturally

How can you cover grey hair without dying it? 

Try the natural method: arm yourself with patience and wait it out.

If you can pass the threshold of your silver roots showing, it gets easier. That’s how you avoid any extra damage done to your strands. 

Extra info: in about two years, you’ll have your grey hair all grown up and naturally looking.

You can transition to grey hair at the salon

If you can’t let go of dyed hair just yet, a couple of salon methods can help. Talk to your colorist to blend in some highlights and lowlights or grey ribbons of hair. 

That way, when your grey roots start showing, they will perfectly blend in with the rest of your strands. If you choose such a treatment, make sure to prepare your hair in advance. 

A natural hair mask with nourishing ingredients will decrease the odds of hair damage or breakage. 

Get a layered haircut and let your hair tones blend

For an easier, stylish gray hair transition, try a layered cut. 

Layering coupled with some highlights and lowlights can make the transition as smooth as possible.

Tips for removing hair color to go grey: try them at home!

How to remove permanent hair dye from grey hair? 

If you don’t want to try aggressive approaches, if you’re tired of putting harsh chemicals on your tresses, choose an alternative method. 

How do you naturally remove hair dye at home? 

We’re pretty sure you have some of these ingredients at home!

Use vitamin C

Mixing high-quality Vitamin C tablets with your shampoo, or better yet, dandruff-shampoo, will help remove the dye and create an evened-out shade of hair. 

You need to mix ten teaspoons of vitamin C powder in about 40 ml of shampoo. After that, apply the mixture of your hair and leave it for at least half an hour, two hours tops. 

Rinse and make sure to moisturize deeply. It's more effective within days from your dye. Make sure not to use this method more than once a month!

Add baking soda to your shampoo

Can you remove hair color to go grey using baking soda?

Using a 1:1 ratio of shampoo and baking soda can help dilute the dye. You need to leave the mixture on your hair for a couple of minutes and thoroughly rinse with hot water. 

Don’t forget to moisturize!  

Splurge on apple cider vinegar

How does apple cider vinegar remove hair color? 

Vinegar, and especially raw apple cider vinegar, has dissolving effects on hair dye. Create a concoction of equal parts vinegar and water and apply the liquid to your tresses. Cover with a shower cap. Leave it on for at least 20 minutes and rinse.

How about Epsom salt and baking soda?

You can clear-colored hair with semi-permanent dye with this mixture. Make a bath with Epsom salt and bikinis soda and soak your hair in it.

The shampoo method: dandruff shampoo and clarifying shampoo remove hair dye

You can always try home methods to remove the pigment from your hair. While they can create some damage, they are friendlier than salon interventions. 

But if you want the minimum damage for your tresses, channel your patience and use an anti-dandruff shampoo. It can help remove hair dye and make the wait shorter. 

Extra info: dandruff shampoo eliminates lighter dyes. Clarifying shampoo is the best choice for darker coloring.

How to take care of transitioning hair

Grey shades and those silver highlights can make your strand even sexier. While grey hair can be soft, healthy, luscious, and glossy, transition hair can become coarse, dull, and lose shine. 

But there are ways to tackle that!

Grey hair can be coarse: so always moisturize!

Grey, transitioning hair can be coarse, especially if you try some of the methods presented above to remove dye from your hair. 

That is why deep conditioning treatments are vital to keeping your locks healthy, hydrated, and shiny. 

Leave-in conditioners will also give your coarse tresses a rejuvenation, making them smooth, soft, and luscious. 

Onion is a great natural remedy for grey hair, as it contains high levels of sulfur and other antioxidants which are known to promote hair growth and reduce grey hair.

Transitioning grey hair is porous and less shiny, so use natural products!

Transitioning hair and grey hair tend to be more porous. Natural conditioning treatments are the perfect non-aggressive ways to care for it. Your grey hair can gain volume, shine, and bounce with the proper conditioner.

Notice that we did not suggest any of the damaging solutions to your hair. While many stylists recommend a full bleach or color removal if you have healthy hair, we always prefer a gentle approach.

 If you decide to remove your hair color with stripping or chemical treatments, prepare your tresses with extra nourishment and take good care of them after the procedures. 

Hair oil will revitalize the strands, prevent frizz and breakage, and add shine, protecting the hair.

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