How to choose the best hair color to dye your hair?

In our previous posts, we have discussed the various types of hair colors or dyes available in the market. Many questions come in mind while choosing a hair color from market. In this post, we have tried to answer some of the common queries. Hope it helps you to choose the best available color according your needs.

In commonly spoken language, people use the words ‘hair dye’ & ‘hair color’ interchangeably. But, are hair colors and dyes the same? Are dyes stronger than colors? Do they work differently? If you wish to know the difference, do read our article: What’s the difference between hair color & hair dye?

I have gray hair, how to a choose hair color to cover them?

If you have 40-100% gray hair, you should use permanent hair color. Permanent hair color effectively cover up to 100% gray hair. So these are usually the first choice to effectively cover large percentage of gray hair. These dyes strip off the natural color of hair and deposit new color in hair shaft. The new color deposited is permanent and does not wane off by shampooing. Redyeing is only required to cover new growths. Common examples of permanent hair color in Indian market are Garnier colour naturals permanent hair colour, Loreal excellence creme hair colour, and Revlon ColorSilk.
If you want to blend a few grays (up to 30%-40%) or you wish a slight enhancement of your natural hair color, you may use demi-permanent color. This is perhaps the second choice for covering gray hair. Demi permanent hair color are more gentle to hair as compared to permanent hair color. These can be used in people with fragile hair to cover a few grays. Common examples of Demi permanent hair color in Indian market include Loreal casting creme gloss, and Garnier Nutrisse hair color.

To know the difference between permanent, demi-permanent, and semi-permanent hair dyes, read our article: The different types of hair dyes

Henna or Mehndi can also be used to cover a few gray hair. As a herbal preparation, henna is less damaging to hair as compared to chemical dyes.
Semi-permanent dyes are less efficient in covering gray hair. These are chemically milder than permanent or demi-permanent dyes. These are used to cover a few grays in damaged and fragile hair. Example includes Garnier Herbashine.

Henna (mehndi) it is considered safe to colour gray hair as compared to synthetic dyes. Read our post to know more about the uses, benefits and disadvantages of henna as a hair colouring agent.: Henna (‘mehndi’) as a hair dye

How to choose a shade of hair color?

You should choose a hair color within three shades of your natural hair color.
If in any doubt, go for a bit lighter shade than your natural hair color. As most of the box colors turn out a bit darker on application than what is mentioned on label, so it is always better to choose a shade that looks a bit lighter to get desired colour.
To make sure you’ve chosen the right shade, before applying it on your entire head, you can try it out on a small strand of hair behind ear. Then, check the results in natural light.
For a significant change in hair color, permanent hair color are used, as these strip off your natural hair colour and deposit new colour.
For coloring hair with lighter shades, permanent hair dyes or bleaches are used. Lightening your hair more than three shades requires higher volumes of peroxide, which causes more hair damage.

How to decide hair color according to my skin tone?

Shades of brown, black, burgundy and red usually look good on Indian skin tones.
The best colour suitable for you is usually chosen according to your skin tone and undertone.
Skin’s undertone is the color underneath the surface of your skin. If your skin gets easily burnt in sun or your wrist veins appear bluish on natural light, you have cool undertone. If your skin gets tanned easily or your wrist veins appear greenish on natural light, you have warm undertone.
Brown color is available in multiple shades. If you have a warm skin undertone, you will look best in chocolate browns and ash browns. For cool skin undertone, mahogany and walnut brown are the best.
Burgundy is a beautiful color that would look good on yellow, olive, pale,dusky or dark complexion.
Many Indians use black color to cover their grays. But this is not a perfect choice as colouring your hair black would give an artificial, haggard or stark look, making your features hard. So it is always preferred to use dark brown hair color instead.
Golden color looks great on fair skin with cool undertones. This color is not very well suited for Indian skin tones but is a favourite among many girls. One way to wear this color is to use it as streaks or highlights.
Red color too comes in lot of shades. If you are fair, then you can try light red or copper red. Olive skin toned girls will look best with blue based reds which are darker.

How to get started?

You should follow the manufacturer’s instructions before dyeing hair. Most dyes require mixing of serval components before application and each product might be slightly different in terms of how it should be mixed and used. So it is very important to follow the recommended procedure step by step.

What is patch test? How is it done?

Patch testing is generally done to see whether a particular substance is causing allergic skin irritation. A patch test is required in most products containing PPD, as this is one of the commonest allergens.

To know more about PPD & the various types of hair dyes, read our article: The different types of hair dyes

The test should be carried out 48 hours prior to application of hair colour. On a clean area just below elbow or forearm, the dye mix is applied with cotton swab and allowed to dry. If arash, redness, burning or itching or any other discomfort arises on the area within 48 hours, the patient is allergic to ingredients present in dye. In such case, person should not use that hair colour or related products.

I have allergy to PPD-containing dyes? What should I choose?

If you are have allergy to particular hair colour, you might be allergic to most other hair colours containing the same ingredient.

In case of allergy to para dyes, you have limited options for colouring hair. In such case,the safest option would be metallic dyes or henna.

About
Latest Posts

Follow me

Dr Monika Misra

Consultant cosmetologist at Dermacosm clinic

Dr Monika Misra is a consultant cosmetologist at Dermacosm clinic. She possesses more than 5 years of experience in dermatosurgical procedures, chemical peels, microneedling, and radiofrequency.