More than changing from strawberry blonde to grey, it’s the growing-out process that we are all afraid of.
And God forbid that awful demarcation line between the colored hair and the roots.
So, in this post, I’ll discuss how to transition dyed strawberry blonde hair to grey smoothly so that you can look fabulous while transitioning and it’s not awkward.
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1. Grow at least 2 inches of roots
Let your roots grow to about 2 inches to understand the color of gray hair you have and how much gray hair you actually have.
You cannot make an informed decision about your hair or even color it properly or transition smoothly before you know what you’re working with.
2 inches of roots will take about 3-4 months to grow.
You can use temporary root touch up like this just to hide your grays while you are growing out your roots.
2. Get a pixie cut (this is optional)
If you want something fresh and you want to add more layers to your hair and make it look fluffier and more voluminous, this is a great option.
My mom did this when she wanted to go grey from colored hair and she looked so sharp and smooth.
Ask your hairstylist to give you a couple of layers so that you can help your greys blend in smoothly with your strawberry-blonde hair.
3. Add highlights and lowlights
This means adding sections of grey color to your hair.
It’s a wonderful way to sparse your hair with the grey area so that it blends in with your strawberry blonde hair.
You will need to go to a salon and get a professional to do this because based on the type of grey hair you have and the tone of your strawberry blonde hair, they will accordingly add a grey that suits you.
This is best done by a professional.
If you have dyed hair, they will simply lift the color and reapply a grey color that suits you.
I do recommend doing this at a salon, but you can do this at a home if you’re savvy with hair color and are keen on experimenting yourself.
4. Lift the color yourself
If you want to lift the strawberry blonde dye yourself and see what your greys look like then you can try lifting the color yourself using a color remover or DDL.
The color remover doesn’t touch any natural hair pigments, it simply breaks down the dyes inside your hair shaft so you don’t have to worry about it damaging your natural grey hair color.
It only reacts with the chemical dyes in your hair.
Here are a few ways to remove the color:
1. Remove the red dye using a color-stripping product
If you have used a red direct dye, then you can use a color stripping product like DDL aka a Direct Dye Lifter.
It shrinks the color molecules so that they can easily be washed away and you will find that your hair color is lightened. This does not use bleach or ammonia so it’s safe and won’t damage your hair.
I suggest the Extra Oops Color Remover to help you remove the red dye from your hair.
It has aloe vera extracts and soy proteins to provide conditioning for your hair and doesn’t dry the hair. It comes with gloves and the directions are very easy to follow.
You just have to mix the formula, apply it on your hair generously covering all your hair strands for 20 minutes, and then rinse it off for another 20 minutes.
The only con is that it does have an unpleasant smell but it does the job of removing the red dye quite well.
It will not remove your original hair color – it only affects dyed hair.
2. Use coconut oil
This method will fade the color, not remove it entirely.
But if you want something natural, then this is definitely something you can try.
First, apply coconut oil to your hair and leave it in for at least 2 hours. The coconut oil will get absorbed into your hair and mix with the color molecules, loosening the color molecules.
Then soak your hair in shampoo and apply a plastic cap like this over it before warming it with a hairdryer.
The shampoo will help open the cuticles and the coconut oil and color molecules will come out when you rinse with the shampoo.
This method will definitely dry out your hair but if you don’t have funds to buy other products, then you can give this a shot. It’s safe and you’re not using any ammonia or bleach.
3. Baking Soda + Shampoo
Baking Soda is a fantastic product that can also remove harsh smells from hair. But it can also fade the red color dye from your hair.
Simply mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda with a clarifying shampoo like this and apply it on your hair for 20 minutes before washing it off.
Don’t use more than 2 tablespoons of baking soda because it is incredibly alkaline (it has a high pH) and will dry your hair.
The aim is to remove the red dye out of your hair without drying it heavily.
4. Use Vitamin C and Baking Soda
In this method, you’re going to want to use a small bowl and add:
- 5 vitamin C tablets (crushed)
- 2 tablespoons of clarifying shampoo
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
Mix well and apply it to your hair for 30-45 minutes – nothing more.
Wash it off normally afterward.
While doing this, if you feel your scalp is burning or itching in any way, immediately wash it off. Vitamin C doesn’t agree with many people and can even cause burning and blisters on the scalp.
Vitamin C removes the color molecules from the dye but it also dries the hair and makes it vulnerable to breakage.
You will want to use caution while using this method.
I highly recommend this as your last resort.
It will fade the red color to pink and you can slowly blend it with your greys.
5. Dye your hair fully grey
This is an option you can try if you really want to embrace your grey hair.
This will make the transition from dyed strawberry blonde hair to grey even faster.
So, all you will have to do is lift the strawberry blonde dye using the methods mentioned above and then dye those sections grey.
You can use a simple box dye like this at home.
These are some of the best ways to transition dyed strawberry blonde hair to grey.
