For anyone who has dyed their hair—be it highlights or a full bleach and tone—going back to your natural colour can be a lengthy (get it?) process. Especially when dealing with the implications of breakage, brassiness and dry hair, it’s *almost* intimidating enough to put you off trying. However, seeing the hairdresser every couple of weeks can not only be damaging to your locks, but seriously drain your bank account.
It’s therefore unsurprising that, this year, swathes of us have gone back to the hair we were born with. After all, going natural is cheaper, lower maintenance and—if the myriad TikTok theories are to be taken as gospel—perhaps the shade that best flatters your features. Plus, grown-out roots have kind of been a trend in their own right… from Kim K’s stark, bleach-to-brown divide, to Margot Robbie’s subtle, blended shadow.
However, that’s not to say they *always* look chic. Growing out your dye job can be a gamble, with the line between looking like an effortless indie icon, and like you desperately need a trip to the salon, being paper thin.
So, in order to help you grow your natural colour out the *right* way, we tapped Naomi Periaho, hair stylist and owner of Daniel’s the Salon, for her top tips.
Related: Six Simple Changes To Keep Your Blonde Fresh Through Summer
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Eliminate any Demarcation Lines
The best way to get your hair looking natural and healthy again is to get rid of those harsh demarcation lines—a dead giveaway you haven’t had a dye job in a hot sec.
Demarcation lines are those that appear when your hair is starting to grow out, aka the contrast between the new hair growth and previously coloured hair. Sometimes these lines can appear thick, ugly and dark—but not to fear, because a root melt is a good solution to this problem!
“A root melt is perfect to soften any colour bands as your natural colour comes through,” Naomi advises. “If you get a permanent colour, transition to a demi permanent to eliminate harsh lines. Using demi permanents will also help those looking to embrace their natural grey hair as it can make the greys look translucent which is amazing when it comes to embracing your natural sparkle!”
Get a Gloss
Another perfect way to get that natural, grown-out root look (à la Margot) is to invest in a quality gloss—it’ll make you shine in any room!
Naomi says: “A gloss will help keep any unwanted tones away during the transition process without making the hair darker. It will also give your hair amazing shine!”
Frequent Haircuts!
We all hate it… But we need them to keep our hair fresh: a trim at the salon.
Getting our hair cut frequently provides multiple benefits as it removes split ends, prevents breakage and promotes scalp circulation which can stimulate healthier hair.
“Hair always looks its best when it feels its best! Regular haircuts will help your hair stay super healthy whilst getting rid of any unwanted colour throughout your ends,” Naomi explains. “If you’re ready for a big change you could opt for a restyle & cut your hair short!”
Highlights
Highlights are another great way to get that soft, grown out look—and it’s less confronting than going full cold turkey on the dye.
“Natural highlights or lowlights are my personal fav! This will help create a softer blend throughout the hair helping to break up any solid colours. It will also help if you’re looking to embrace your greys by going lighter! Depending on the colour you are starting with, sometimes a subtle balayage can help the transition,” Naomi says.
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Colour Filling
If you are wanting to go back to a darker shade—look no further than colour filling.
“If you’re a blonde looking to go back to brunette you will have to get your hair filled before applying a darker colour,” Naomi explains. “This will help ensure your hair doesn’t go green or muddy. I would recommend a consultation with a professional before starting this process.”
Patience
This is the biggest tip of them all, according to Naomi!
“Good things take time & when you decide you are ready to embrace your natural colour you have to trust the process,” she says.
