How to Cover Grey Hair at the Root When You're Blonde

Are you looking to cover grey roots on blonde hair?

In this blog we are going to show you how you can get professional results first time.

The first step is to assess what your base color is and how much grey hair you have.

Both these things are important to know.

What's your client's base color at the root?

Dark base, blonde ends. You need to bleach the roots before doing anything else.

Let's deal with the base color first.

The base color can be anything from level 3 (dark brown) to level 10 (extra light blonde).

If your (or your client's) base color is dark, and the rest of the hair is blonde, you will need to lift that hair first before you do anything else.

This applies if the client's hair is dark blonde level 6. It still means you have to lift that area by 4 levels to get it to blonde.

And of course it also applies when. your client's hair is dark brown level 4. That's a 6 level lift you need to achieve before you do anything else.

If you don't lift the root area, you will get a mis-match between root and the lengths.

Choose these images and compare with your or your client's hair to assess how much you are going to need to lift her hair by.

How much grey hair does your client have?

It's also important to understand how much grey hair your client has.

The root is the best place to assess this,

First, because it is new growth. So it reflects the latest situation.

Also, because it is uncolored. So you can assess more clearly.

It is important to assess this because the higher the percentage of white hair, the longer you will need to process the hair for.

Is it 20% grey hair? Or 50% grey hair? Or 75% grey hair?

For 75% grey hair we would probably want to add 10 minutes of processing time to make sure that the pigments penetrate really well.

Choosing the right color.

For covering grey hair and going blonde, we recommend you use Ugly Duckling Color Gels.

It's an ammonia-free liquid gel range designed to provide the pigments that blonde needs.

So it gives a very natural blonde result.

And it covers a very natural looking grey coverage at the same time.

In just 10 minutes processing time!

Because it's ammonia-free, it's gentle and it smells good.

It's also enriched with Bond Protect. This makes hair stronger and thicker, and typically blonde hair needs that.

It also contains Argan Oil to make the hair feel softer and nicely conditioned.

It's available in 5 shades. From lightest blonde level 10 down to dark blonde level 6.

Be aware when choosing your shade that because it's a grey coverage line, the colors are quite heavily pigmented. 

So if you are are typically a level 9 blonde, you may opt to go a shade lighter, and choose the Color Gel 10N.

You can also combine these colors. So mix 109 with 9N, for example.

Customised Blonde Colors at Your Fingertip

What if you want to cover your grey hair and go pearl blonde? Or silver blonde? Or platinum blonde? Or blue based cold ash blonde?

What you can do is to combine Ugly Duckling Color Gels with other Ugly Duckling toners, either cream based or the liquid gel based Blondify.

Choose any of these toners and combine with your chosen Color Gel. The Color Gel will give you the "base" and cover your grey hair.

The toner will give you those had to get, stunning blonde reflects.

First step: lift the root.

When bleaching the root (and ends) try and produce a consistent, uniform level 9/10. That is the best base for coloring.

Unless your root is already level 8 blonde, you will need to use Brilliant Blondexx Bleach with 20 Vol.

Brilliant Blondexx is a bleach that contains Bond Protect. This means that it is gentle and it can therefore be placed on the root area.

Use the bleach with 20 Vol developer (we would suggest Ugly Duckling Premium developer, which also contains Bond Protect).

Leave on until the hair has reached a very very pale lemon color. We are assuming here that you are looking to get to a true level 10 blonde.

Then rinse with tepid water and towel dry.

Second step: color with Color Gel

Now that your hair at the root is level blonde, choose your preferred shade of Color Gel, mix it with 20 Vol developer and apply.

The processing time is just 10 minutes for most women, but in the case of very strong, resistant grey hair it can be left for up to 20 minutes.

It's ammonia free, so it's very gentle and smells good.

For clients looking for different blonde reflects, they can combine the Color Gel with their preferred toner.

What happens when the hair at the root is pure white?

For women whose base is totally white, for those who are 100% grey in other words, pre-soaking the hair with 20 Vol developer before applying color is a good idea.

Apply, leave 10 minutes, then rinse off with water. Then color.

This technique softens the hair cuticle, and will allowing the ammonia-free Color Gels to saturate completely and deliver vibrant, consistent coverage all over.

Some Pro Tips

Brilliant Blonde Shampoo is a good idea after coloration. It will keep yellow away and make blonde hair extra white.

- Because Color Gel is very strongly pigmented, consider taking a shade lighter than you would normally take. Or combining two shades. eg 109 and 9N.

- Remember to really saturate the hair really well. It should be really drenched in color.

- Once the roots are almost fully developed, extend your product all the way to the ends. Tis will ensure that you refresh the lengths and ensure a seamless, even color from roots to ends.

- Don't be stingy with product. The more product you use, the better results you will get.

- Do the above and you will get a great result.

- Use good quality hair care. We would suggest Brilliant Blonde Purple Shampoo & Maque to keep the hair yellow-free.

- You should also use Brilliant Blondexx Shampoo and Mask to strengthen blonde hair and keep it soft and in good condition,