Do you have gray hair that you dye?

I have been coloring my hair for more than 30 years. I find that I have to leave the root color on for 45 minutes because it is resistant but it does cover. I go to a salon school every 3 to 4 weeks and have been very pleased with the results. (It isn't organic color it is TIGI)

Yes, I have a hard time getting the color to stick/stay. I use a warm light brown and I understand that the reddish tones fade most quickly. I don’t deal with a scalp irritation problem though. The color on my gray roots seems to fade out after a couple of weeks. I’ve been using the clairol root touch up kit after two weeks and then I also get my hair done at the salon every four weeks. It’s not ideal but haven’t found another solution.

If brassiness is a problem, you might consider a shampoo to reduce that.

Yes. My hair color is dark chestnut brown and I have white/gray hair coming in.

I have noticed that my color doesn't last 6 to 8 weeks, but about 4 before the grey comes in again.

I just suck it up and go every 6 to 8 weeks. It is just how my hair responds to the coloring process.

I've never had that problem. Then again, my stylist doesn't use organic products to my knowledge. For the past 20+ years, I'm in every 5 weeks for base color on my roots (a dark ash blond). She notes before she does that whether I need highlights or lowlights. To get a really natural look with blond hair, it usually takes both high and low lights to do the trick. I get comments on my hair color all the time and people are shocked to find out it's color and not natural.

Honestly, I'd be looking for another hair dresser. It sounds like either she can't figure out what to do with your hair or the organic isn't going to give the coverage you want/need. The fact that she keeps suggesting highlights after coloring comes across as her looking for a quick fix. Highlights aren't going to fix a bad base color.

I had to switch from traditional hair dye due to developing an allergy to PPD. It's a chemical commonly found in most US-based hair dyes, but is banned in most European countries. A developing sensitivity to that may be what's causing your scalp irritation. Be careful. People have been known to go into anaphylactic shock from it. Google it for scary stories.

I have used a line called EcoColors for a couple of years now. It's PPD free. I have been beyond pleased with the results. They make a consumer line, but also a professional line only available to licensed cosmetologists. That's the line my hairdresser orders. I would describe my hair color very similar to yours. I started with blonde tones of the EcoColors, but they were too light. I've now been using "light brown 8N" for about a year and it's perfect -- still leaves plenty of blonde in my hair. The lasting power of it is very good. I go every six weeks. I do sit under a hot dryer with a plastic cap while it's on for best results. Then she combs it through from the roots and I sit a few more minutes just in a chair uncovered before she washes it out.

If you have any questions about EcoColors, I'd be happy to answer based on my experience.

I have dark brown hair with reddish (natural) highlights and stubborn gray which I have colored every four weeks. It is an expense but I have done it for so long that I just add it to the budget as a "necessary" item.

Yes, my gray is stubborn and sometimes difficult to cover.  My stylist is amazing and has learned what I need to make the color "stick", including sitting under the hairdryer for 10-15 minutes with the color on and also really working the color in around my face/ears.

Do I have grey hair? Yes - I discovered my first grey in grade 7.  Do I dye. No - like you I developed a sensitivity to the dye. I stopped dyeing it 9 years ago and it's been the best thing I could ever do for my hair.

I have what my stylist calls metallic highlights. 😁. Seriously it’s grey roots that now need to be colored every 4 weeks.
Have you ever tried an Aveda salon? There products are all natural and wonderful. My greys are really stubborn, but the color holds well. If only it wouldn’t grow an inch a month, I’d be set.

True henna is one thing. But I'll just add to this thread that it was what's called "black henna" that got me in trouble in the first place. On a family cruise, four of went and got temporary 'for fun' henna tattoos while in one of the ports. Turns out the black dye they use for those contains PPD (para-phenylenediamine). I had an anchor tattooed on my upper arm and by that night it was red, hot, and quite irritated. The next morning I awoke to my arm looking as if someone had impressed the tattoo it with a hot branding iron. The skin was inflamed and oozing. Awful.

If you are noticing ANY irritation or sensitivity to hair dye, DO NOT get one of those temporary tattoos. My PSA for today.

My hair is not really gray but practically white. Sigh. But I am no way ready to go gray.

I agree with peasquared and do the same. I go to an Aveeda salon every six weeks. My appointment is tomorrow. I have a landing strip. Whenever I think I'll push out the date a bit, 1) my roots are horrid and 2) I have an event, so it needs to be colored.

I go to an Aveeda salon. Only my roots need to be colored. The gray doesn't show at all in the rest of my hair.

Lisa

My hair started out very white/blonde as a child.  Then as I aged, it turned darker so I started adding highlights.  When the “unpigmented” hair (which is what my stylist called it) finally started coming in, it was more white than grey.  I was going to leave it alone because the white was so similar to my original color but I had an urge one afternoon and used a box of L’Oréal hair dye on it.  It completely covered they grayish bits and the white bits turned a little more yellowish, like a very light blonde color which worked well.  I really like it, especially since the roots are no longer coming in dark, but I kind of wish I had left it alone because I just had my way too long hair all cut off again and I think it would be totally natural with all the dyed hair having been cut off.

I will try to just let the white/grey do its thing now.  If anything, I may get a wild streak one afternoon and decide to color it two more times to use up the two boxes of L’Oréal hair dye in my cupboard and then quit.

I have never reacted with a dye product, either from a salon or boxed to use at home, so you may have different results.  I wouldn’t recommend doing anything to it so soon after a coloring, unless you let your stylist have another go.  I fear doing much more, especially with a regular dye, might burn your hair.

It's just 100% ground up dried henna plant. Body art quality, or BAQ is highly refined pure henna powder. It has a finer sift and mixes up creamier. Not only better for elaborate skin designs, but easier to wash out of hair. All real henna is orange-red. But some crops of henna have a higher lawsone content, the compound in the plant that gives it staining power. High lawsone henna will stain more of a deep rust color, and even getting into a deep cherrywood color with some cooler burgundy tones. I've seen pure henna that stained a very, very deep maroon color, but not quite black. I use one that is about middle of the road between bright orange and burgundy. I get it from hennaforhair.com It has enough stain to completely cover my gray but not enough to give cooler burgundy tones. I used to use one that gave very deep almost purplish tones with multiple layers, but warm tones suit me better, so I switched.

I get my roots done every 4 weeks. I’m probably 80% gray with dark brown hair naturally, so the gray realllllllllly shows as a stripe when I need to go in. My color does not fade as my hair grows out. I have long hair, down to my bra back strap.

I think my avatar pic is from a long time ago when I had more highlights, so don’t look at that lol.

I would find a new stylist, because a good one can get it right. Sounds like yours isn’t taking the time to get it done the way it should be.