Semi-Permanent Hair Dye for Grey Hair: Does it Work?

PSA: different hair colours deliver different levels of grey coverage, meaning not every at-home hair colour is going to camouflage silver strands. So, if you're thinking about using a semi-permanent hair dye for grey hair, make sure you read the tips below first. We've got everything you need to know to tick off your hair goals... 

Hold up – what is a semi-permanent hair colour?

Good question. Semi-permanent dye is pretty much what it sounds like: a hair dye that lasts longer than temporary sprays and powders but doesn't hang around forever. It's also free of ammonia, which means that unlike permanent colours, it doesn't open up the hair cuticle and deposit pigments inside the strand – instead, it lays just under the hair cuticles that are already slightly lifted from daily wear.

Plus, you don't have to mix semi-permanent colour with a developer; the shades come ready to apply right out of the bottle so you can easily get the colour of dreams. So, it's low on mess, high on speed and zero on damage. It also gives either an ultra-natural colour result, enhancing your existing texture and tone or can provide brilliant fun colours on pre-lightened hair. The dream.

So, can semi-permanent dye cover up grey hair?

This is the question you came for, right? And the answer is yes and no. Semi-permanent hair dyes will lightly blend rather than cover grey hair. So, you won’t get the same intensity you'd find in a permanent hair dye, like Clairol Nice'n Easy, but the result is ultra natural-looking if you want a sheer result. Think softly blended and beautiful. Try Clairol Natural Instincts, which is the perfect non-commitment gray coverage hair dye for blurring visible greys.

What semi-permanent dye should I use to soften greys?

If you’re looking for a hair dye for grey hair that blurs and softens visible greys, Natural Instincts is your go-to, packed with conditioning coconut oil and aloe. It provides rich, glossy colour that gradually washes away, and the easy-to-follow instructions help achieve beautiful results. Plus, it comes in a range of shades from natural hair colours for blondes, brunettes and redheads, to bold hair colours like Dark Burgundy and Dark Rose Gold Blonde. Like we said, it's not going to cover up those silver strands, but it will give a blended finish that you can bump up with the Root Touch-Up collection. (But more on that below!)

How long does a semi-permanent hair dye last?

All semi-permanent hair dyes are different, but if it's Natural Instincts you're using, you can expect to enjoy high-shine and rich colour that lasts up to 28 shampoos. And because it's so quick to apply (it only takes up to 20 minutes to develop!), touching it up is easy. As soon as your dream hue fades, restore your head of glossy colour with a quick 15-minute touch-up.

How to apply Natural Instincts

No matter if you're low on time, Natural Instincts offers ultra-speedy semi-permanent results. Follow the steps below for rich, glossy and radiant colour.

1. Apply your semi-permanent hair dye

Squeeze the contents of the product labelled tube 1 into bottle 2 and shake until fully blended. Then apply your Natural Instincts shade in sections onto dry hair ensuring all strands are saturated from root to tip. If you’ve dyed your hair within the past 3 months, apply the colour mixture onto the area of new growth only.

2. Leave to develop

After the dye has been evenly distributed, leave the mixture on for 15 minutes and let develop for an extra 5 minutes (Total application time: 20 minutes). The longer you leave it on, the more the colour will pop.

3. Rinse your hair and glow

Once your semi-permanent hair dye has developed, rinse it out thoroughly with lukewarm water. Follow up with a quarter-size amount of Colour Treat Conditioner and leave on for two minutes before rinsing for a glossy shine.

Expert tip: Remember when using a semi-permanent dye to always perform a skin allergy test 48 hours prior to each use, even when the product has been used before. Simply apply a small amount of the product to a clean area of skin inside the elbow. Leave undisturbed for 45 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water, dry gently and leave the test area undisturbed for 48 hours. If there are any signs of rash, redness, swelling burning, itching or similar effects, the product must not be applied. If any of those signs occur within the 45-minute time period, rinse immediately.

3 tips to boost grey coverage

So you've got your semi-permanent dye on, but you've decided you want to bump up grey coverage. No problem! These quick and easy-to-use hair products will keep those silver hairs under wraps...

1. Apply a permanent hair dye just on the roots

If you love the sheer finish of a semi-permanent dye on the lengths but you also want to hide grey regrowth, try teaming Natural Instincts all over with Root Touch-Up By Nice‘n Easy on the root area. It’s a permanent hair dye that disguises grey roots and white hair in just 10 minutes, with a precise applicator brush that lets you ‘spot treat’ the strands your semi-permanent dye doesn't cover. This way, you reap the zero damage, conditioning benefits of Natural Instincts through the lengths, but silver strays are also camouflaged for up to three weeks. Just remember to choose a shade that closely matches your natural colour if you’ve never dyed your hair before.

2. Combine semi-permanent dye with a grey root spray

Prefer a temporary hair dye on the roots? Enter the Root Touch-Up Spray, which works a little like a tinted dry shampoo to instantly disguise even the most stubborn grey hairs. You’ve got a range of easy-to-blend shades to choose from, so whether you’ve got blonde hair, brown hair or black hair, there’s a spray-on solution for you. Simply mist through regrowth and go.

Looking for more tips to disguise silver roots? Discover our complete guide on the best types of hair dye for covering grey hair.