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How to cover grey roots at home?

Wondering how to cover stubborn grey hair and touch up your hair colour? Garnier have the tips and tricks you need to avoid becoming a silver bombshell too soon.

Grey hair is completely natural, and for some people, silver strands become a beautiful part of their look. But if you prefer to cover greys or keep your colour looking closer to your natural shade, at-home permanent hair dye can help create a fresh, radiant and natural-looking result.

With the right shade, a careful application and nourishing after-colour care, covering grey hair at home can be simple, effective and easy to fit into your routine.

Before you colour, explore Garnier’s Hair Colour Virtual Try-On to see how different shades could look on you before you commit. Garnier’s virtual try-on tool lets you test shades by uploading a selfie, making it easier to choose a colour with confidence.

Grey hair is a natural part of life, whether it appears in your 20s, 30s, 40s or later. Some people love embracing their silver strands, while others prefer to cover greys and keep their colour looking closer to their natural shade. If that is your goal, the right at-home permanent hair dye can help you achieve soft, radiant and natural-looking grey coverage.

In this guide on how to cover grey hair at home, you will discover:


Why grey hair appears

How to cover grey hair with permanent hair dye at home

How to choose the right shade for your complexion

Expert tips for caring for grey or colour-treated hair


For natural-looking grey coverage, shade choice matters. Choosing a hair dye that works with your natural colour, skin tone and overall look can help your colour appear more blended, flattering and easy to maintain.

Why do we get grey hair?

There are a few reasons why grey hairs start to appear, and for most of us, it is simply part of life. Whether your first silver strands show up early or later on, your hair colour journey is personal, and Garnier is here to help you understand what is happening and how to care for your colour with confidence.

Age and genetics

Grey hair appears when your hair produces less melanin, the natural pigment that gives hair its colour. As melanin production slows down, strands can start to look grey, silver or white.

Genetics also play a big role. If grey hair appeared early in your family, you may notice those first silver strands sooner too. The good news? With the right at-home hair colour, you can help blend or cover greys while keeping your result soft, radiant and natural-looking.


Health and lifestyle factors

Your hair often reflects what is happening in your body. Certain health factors may affect the way your hair looks, feels or changes over time. If you notice sudden greying, hair thinning or a major change in texture, it is best to speak to a healthcare professional for personalised advice.


Diet and nutrient balance

Healthy-looking hair starts with everyday care, and that includes what you put into your body. Nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron and copper help support overall hair health.

A balanced routine, plenty of nourishment and the right hair care can all help your hair feel stronger, softer and more cared for, especially if you colour your greys at home.

Heat styling and chemical treatments

We all love a good blow-dry or a smooth, styled finish, but frequent heat styling, relaxing, perming or chemical treatments can leave hair feeling dry or fragile over time.

While these habits do not directly cause grey hair, they can affect how shiny, smooth and healthy-looking your hair appears. If you are using permanent hair dye to cover greys, follow with nourishing care to help keep your colour looking fresh and your hair feeling soft.

Stress and everyday wellbeing

Stress can affect the body in many ways, including how your hair looks and feels. While grey hair is usually linked to age and genetics, looking after your wellbeing can help support healthier-looking hair overall.

Simple daily habits like getting enough rest, eating a balanced diet and using caring hair products can all help your hair feel more nourished.

What is the best way to cover grey hair at home?

Permanent hair dye is usually the best at-home option for grey hair coverage because it is designed to deposit lasting colour. Garnier Nutrisse Ultra Crème permanent shades are created for at-home colouring and selected shades offer up to 100% grey hair coverage. 

Grey hair can sometimes be more resistant to colour than pigmented hair, so careful application matters. Focus first on the areas where greys are most visible, usually the hairline, parting and temples, then follow the pack instructions for the rest of your application.

Choosing the best hair dye shade for grey hair

How to choose the best hair dye shade for grey hair

When choosing a shade to cover greys, start with your natural hair colour, not only the grey strands. This helps the final result look softer and more natural.

Think about:

Your natural hair colour
Your skin tone
How much grey you want to cover
Whether your hair is blonde, brown, black, red or highlighted
How visible you want regrowth to be
How much maintenance you are comfortable with

If you are unsure, choose a shade close to your current colour. The bigger the change, the more noticeable your roots may be as your hair grows.

Garnier also explains that hair colour numbers help indicate depth and tone. The first number shows how light or dark the shade is, while the second number indicates the reflect, such as natural, warm or cool.


Step 1: Choose your mode to start trying shades on

The best way to test Garnier hair colour is to try before you buy! Trying on any shade is now as easy as using a filter, thanks to our Virtual Try On technology. To get started, you need to select whether to try on live with your phone’s camera or webcam, or if you prefer to upload a selfie. Either works great!

Step 2: Browse to find the shade that suits you

Your virtual hair makeover awaits! Flip through all our shades, compare your favs and find the perfect hair colour for you without committing. Make sure you have good lighting and are using your native browser for the best experience.

Step 3: Shop or share with your friends

Time for the verdict! Save the image to send to your friends or share your new virtual look straight to social media to see their reaction. Don’t forget to add #MyGarnierShade! If you’ve found the perfect shade, you can buy it now with our online retail partners or in store. Worried about how compatible your chosen shade will be for your hair? Try our Color Match quiz to be sure it’s a perfect match.

Your Colour, Your Confidence, Your Way

Grey hair is natural, but how you wear it is completely up to you. Whether you want to cover your roots, refresh your colour or explore a new shade, Garnier makes at-home hair colour feel simple, nourishing and accessible. With the right permanent hair dye, expert application tips and caring after-colour routine, you can enjoy radiant-looking colour and hair that feels beautifully cared for.

FAQ

  • The best way to cover grey roots is to use a permanent hair dye close to your natural shade and apply it to the roots first. Always follow the pack instructions and complete an allergy alert test 48 hours before colouring.
  • Yes, permanent hair dye is generally the best at-home option for grey coverage. Garnier Nutrisse permanent shades are designed for at-home colouring, with selected shades offering up to 100% grey hair coverage.
  • For a natural-looking result, stay close to your original colour. If you are unsure between two shades, a slightly lighter shade can often look softer and make regrowth less noticeable.
  • Grey hair has less pigment and can sometimes have a different texture, which may make it harder for colour to grip evenly. Careful application and the right permanent shade can help improve coverage.
  • Yes. If only your roots are grey, you can focus on a root touch-up or apply permanent colour mainly to the regrowth area, depending on the product instructions.
  • This depends on how quickly your hair grows and how visible your greys are. Many people refresh their roots every few weeks, but always follow product guidance and avoid colouring too frequently if your hair feels dry or fragile.