People looking for gray hair coloring products have several options to choose from. Temporary hair dyes will cover the gray without the user needing to commit to a particular shade over the long term. Another option for keeping gray hairs at bay is to consider a semi-permanent hair dye. Permanent color is also available, and this option is for those who are prepared to live with their color choice for some time.
A person who is interested in covering up gray hairs but is not sure if he or she would be happy with a particular shade can choose one of the temporary gray hair coloring products on the market. Designed to coat the surface of the hair shaft, these products wash out over two or three shampoos. This type of hair coloring product can be formulated as a spray, gel or rinse.
The semi-permanent gray hair coloring products penetrate into the hair shaft itself. This choice provides longer-lasting color than the temporary dyes. An individual who chooses this option can expect the artificial color to slowly fade out over between five and 10 shampoos. Someone who is fairly confident they can live with the color they have selected would choose this option to deal with the issue of gray hair.
Permanent hair color products penetrate deeply into the hair shaft. The consumer who wants to use one of these gray hair coloring products will find that the packaging contains two solutions that must be mixed together for the hair dye to work properly. The base for the product may be a liquid or a lotion, and contains hydrogen peroxide. When it is combined with ammonia and colored dye, the resulting mixture can be applied to the hair to change its color and cover up any gray hairs by adding pigment to them. This hair color option will not fade out when the hair is washed.
Men who want to use gray hair coloring products may choose a product that gradually covers the gray over time. These products are called progressive dyes. The person using them can control the amount of gray coverage they get.
The progressive dye works by penetrating the cuticles of the hair. Once the solution reaches the cuticles, it causes them to produce lead sulfide. Since the lead sulfide is a dark color, it causes the hair on the person's head to appear darker. With continued use, more lead sulfide is produced and the gray hair is replaced by darker locks.
