Root colour for grey hair: how often should you do it?
Root colour for grey hair: how many weeks between touch-ups, how to cover grey regrowth properly and keep your colour even. Practical salon advice.
Grey hair rarely arrives evenly. It shows up first along the parting, at the temples and around the face, exactly where everyone looks. Root colour for grey hair treats only that regrowth, so you do not have to recolour your whole head every time. Here is how to know when to book, how often to come back, and how to keep the colour even between appointments, whether you live in Aïn Sebaâ or elsewhere in Casablanca.
Why colour only the roots?
Hair grows roughly one centimetre a month. After a few weeks a light band appears at the base while the lengths keep their shade. Pulling colour through the full length every time is a common mistake: pigment builds up on the ends, the colour turns darker and flat, and the hair gets weaker.
A root touch-up places the product on the new growth only, overlapping by a few millimetres so there is no visible line. The benefits:
- the lengths stay brighter because they are not overloaded with pigment;
- less stress on the scalp and the hair fibre;
- less product and a shorter appointment;
- you can refresh the lengths only now and then, when they have faded.
Root colour for grey hair: how many weeks between touch-ups?
There is no single rule. The right rhythm depends on how much grey you have, how far your colour is from your natural base, and how much regrowth you are happy to see.
A few scattered greys
If the grey is sparse and mixed into your natural colour, regrowth stays discreet. A touch-up every 6 to 8 weeks is often enough.
Lots of grey at the front
When the temples and parting are very white, the line shows quickly, especially under dark brown or black. Plan for every 3 to 4 weeks.
Dark colour over a greying base
The stronger the contrast between your colour and the regrowth, the more often you need to come back. Deep brown over grey usually means every 4 weeks.
Light or warm blonde shades
A shade close to the colour of grey hair makes regrowth softer. You can usually stretch to 6 or 8 weeks.
Avoid the opposite extreme: redoing roots before 3 weeks means overlapping colour on hair that is already coloured, which darkens it and can sensitise the scalp.
How to cover grey hair properly
Grey hair has lost its pigment and its surface can be more closed, especially at the temples. A few principles make the difference:
- The right shade. To cover grey, the colourist often mixes a natural base into the chosen tone. Very ashy or very light shades cover less well on their own.
- Full processing time. On resistant greys, cutting the time short leaves a see-through result.
- Application order. Start with the whitest areas, parting, hairline and temples, in fine sections.
- A calm scalp. Come with hair that was not washed the same day, and skip scrubs or irritating products the day before.
If you have used henna in recent months, say so before the appointment. It can change how colour takes, and your colourist needs to adapt.
With or without ammonia for regrowth?
Classic colour covers grey very well and lasts. Ammonia-free colour is gentler, better tolerated by sensitive scalps and has a milder smell. The trade-off: on very resistant greys, coverage may be a little less complete and the colour can fade sooner.
Either way, manufacturers require an allergy patch test 48 hours before every colour, even with a product you have used before. If you notice itching, redness or any scalp problem, see a dermatologist. If you are pregnant, ask your doctor before colouring.
Making colour last between touch-ups
- Wait about 48 hours before the first wash.
- Use a gentle shampoo for coloured hair and lukewarm rather than hot water.
- Protect your hair from the sun, especially in summer, with a hat or a protective spray.
- Before an event, a root touch-up powder or spray hides regrowth for the day.
- Move your parting or try a zigzag part: the line is less noticeable.
- Keep the lengths in good condition with a treatment so the colour stays glossy.
Root colour at Chicas
At Chicas Beauty & Spa in Aïn Sebaâ, a Root colour takes about 90 minutes, against about 120 minutes for a full Colour or Ammonia-free colour; the choice depends on your scalp and how much grey needs covering. If you would rather blend grey than hide it, Highlights or Balayage give softer regrowth, and our highlights vs balayage comparison explains the difference. A Hydrating treatment or the RP hair treatment looks after the lengths, and you can preview a new shade on your own photo in the online colour Studio.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a root colour last?
The colour itself holds, but regrowth usually becomes visible after 3 to 6 weeks, depending on how much grey you have and the contrast with your shade.
Can highlights hide grey hair?
They do not cover it, they blend it. Highlights work well when grey is scattered and you want more time between appointments.
Do I need a patch test before every root colour?
Yes. Manufacturers require a patch test 48 hours before every colour, even if you have used the same product before.
Can I combine root colour with a hair treatment?
Yes, and it is a good idea: colour on the regrowth, then a treatment on the lengths to keep them soft.
Is your regrowth starting to show? Book online or message us on WhatsApp.