The best white hair coloring in the UK 2023

If you too are dreading the appearance of white hair, you should know that the market offers a wide range of colorings (powder, gel, felt-tip, etc.) to mask it. Permanent, semi-permanent or temporary for a quick touch-up, they will effectively camouflage your gray hair while preserving your hair capital. But which product to choose? Read this guide to learn more.

Garnier Olia permanent hair color (diamond black) 1
9/10

Editor's Choice

Garnier Olia permanent hair color (diamond black)

The best white hair color in 2021

Want to completely cover your white hair with a product that's less harsh on your hair? Garnier will leave your hair with a soft floral scent and a radiant look.

8,72 £ on Amazon

Olia is a permanent hair color with 60% natural flower oil and a very pleasant scent. With your well-being in mind, Garnier has made sure its product is easy to apply and ammonia-free, without skimping on quality. It even comes with an after-coloring treatment. All in all, applying Olia to your hair won't take you more than an hour. For some people, 20 minutes was enough time for the product to soak into their hair.

By opting for this range of coloring, your hair will be intensely nourished and will gain in flexibility. You can also be as fancy as you want with no less than 30 shades offered by Garnier Olia. Unlike most permanent hair coloring products on the market, this one doesn't have a drying effect on your hair. On the contrary, with each coloring, your hair will become silkier and shinier.

Centifolia Plant extracts 2
9/10

Inexpensive

Centifolia Plant extracts

The best entry-level white hair color in 2021

This 100% plant-based mixture will effectively cover your white hair if it represents less than 20% of your total hair. After each coloring, your hair is soft and shiny, with a nice caramel glow.

11,43 £ on Amazon

Suitable for all hair types, Centifolia Caramel Chestnut Henna is formulated with 100% natural ingredients. It is a mixture of indigo powders, henna and walnut stain harvested by hand and dried in a natural way. When applied to the hair, this multi-faceted mixture rejuvenates the hair pigment and provides chestnut brown tones combined with soft caramel tones.

In addition to coloring the hair naturally, henna gives it volume, shine and strength. This makes it an excellent choice for people with particularly fine hair. For a beautiful result, apply it strand by strand on unwashed hair preferably. For information, for several uses, 50 g of this powder will be enough for short hair, and 100 to 150 g for long to medium-long hair.

L'Oreal Homme Cover 5'. 3
9/10

Top of the line

L'Oreal Homme Cover 5'.

The best high-end white hair color in 2021

With L'Oréal Cover 5, mask your gray hair for a natural, even look in just 5 minutes. Using Incell technology, this coloring gel works deep down to further strengthen the hair fiber.

23,12 £ on Amazon

L'Oréal Cover 5 No. 6 is an ammonia-free hair color with incell technology. This technology strengthens the internal structure of your hair while cleverly concealing your gray hair. This product provides natural and harmonious results without any unwanted effects. L'Oréal has designed it to blend unnoticeably, the gray hair and your entire head of hair. The application of this coloring gel will take only 5 minutes of your time. This is very convenient and economical for gentlemen who don't have time to go to a salon to dye their hair.

Apart from that, the brand delivers its product with a Sleek Tint brush that makes it easy to apply and blend the colors. Unlike other hair coloring products on the market, Cover 5 Gel Haircolor does not fully cover white hair. It actually creates a harmonious blend between white and your natural hair color for a more authentic look.

Khadi Haircolor 4
9/10

A great choice

Khadi Haircolor

Natural and non-aggressive

Thanks to its 100% natural and vegetable formula, Khadi exerts its powerful coloring action on each hair to ensure excellent coverage of white hair and strengthen the hair fiber for a soft and silky finish.

11,52 £ on Amazon

Khadi's hair coloring brings a beautiful natural shade of medium brown to the hair. The results you get will depend mostly on your natural hair color. The shades range from bright, warm brown to a deep medium brown. By applying this coloring product made from plant-based ingredients, you will give yourself beautiful, well-cared-for hair, enhanced by beautiful, intense highlights.

Fine hair will be particularly enhanced thanks to the volumizing action of the product. It is very easy to use: just follow the instructions carefully. Before each coloring, clean your hair carefully with a silicone-free shampoo such as Khadi Hibiscus for example. The darker the color you want, the longer the application time. You can also concoct your own color mix by mixing this medium brown powder with other hair colors of the same brand.

Buying guide • November 2023

Best white hair coloring

Any specific needs?

The best white hair color in 2021

The best entry-level white hair color in 2021

The best high-end white hair color in 2021

Natural and non-aggressive

Your guide : Samuel

Rate this buying guide :
0/50 votes

By rating this buying guide, you are helping us to reward our best writers. Thank you!

Comparison table of the best white hair coloring

The best Inexpensive Top of the line Excellent
Garnier Olia permanent hair color (diamond black) 5
9/10
Centifolia Plant extracts 6
9/10
L'Oreal Homme Cover 5'. 7
9/10
Khadi Haircolor 8
9/10
OUR SELECTION
Garnier Olia permanent hair color (diamond black)
Centifolia Plant extracts
L'Oreal Homme Cover 5'.
Khadi Haircolor
Want to completely cover your white hair with a product that's less harsh on your hair? Garnier will leave your hair with a soft floral scent and a radiant look.
This 100% plant-based mixture will effectively cover your white hair if it represents less than 20% of your total hair. After each coloring, your hair is soft and shiny, with a nice caramel glow.
With L'Oréal Cover 5, mask your gray hair for a natural, even look in just 5 minutes. Using Incell technology, this coloring gel works deep down to further strengthen the hair fiber.
Thanks to its 100% natural and vegetable formula, Khadi exerts its powerful coloring action on each hair to ensure excellent coverage of white hair and strengthen the hair fiber for a soft and silky finish.
Quantity
260 g
250 g
50 ml
100 g
Format
Cream
Powder
Gel
Powder
Ingredients
60% oil and ammonia free
100% vegetable powder
Ammonia-free Incell Skin Care Substance
100% plant-based ingredients
Final color
Black Diamond
Shiny hair with soft caramel highlights
Dark Blonde
Brown
Type of coloring
Permanent
Semi-permanent
Permanent
Permanent

Help us improve this table:
Report an error, request the addition of a feature to the table, or suggest another product. Thank you for your kindness!

Buying guide - white hair coloring

Primary Item (H2)Sub Item 1 (H3)

Why can you trust us?

Why you can trust us
Our mission
How to support us
We do NOT accept any sponsored posts or advertising.

We spend thousands of hours each year studying the major specialized websites, analyzing products of hundreds of brands and reading user feedback to advise you on the best products.

Our mission is to simplify your purchasing decisions.

We are a product review company with a single mission: to simplify your buying decisions. Our research and testing helps millions of people every year find the best products for their personal needs and budget.

We are a small team of geeks and enthusiasts.

To support us you can: use our links to make your purchases (which often earns us a small commission), share our articles on social networks, or recommend our site on your blog. Thanks in advance for your support!

How to choose your white hair coloring

Find the white hair colour that will bring out your natural beauty, taking into account the following few criteria.

#1 - The percentage of white hair

Before you can think about coloring your entire head of hair, you must first estimate the percentage of white hair you have. This will lead you to the type of product you should buy. Between 10% and 50% gray hair, you can use a semi-permanent hair color that fades after each shampoo. Between 60% and 100% white hair, opt for a permanent hair color, choose a formula that guarantees 100% gray coverage and long-lasting hair color.

#2 - The color of your eyes

You have every right to dare an original hair color. But if you're going for a more natural look, your eye color will give you a clue as to which color to go for. If you have dark or brown eyes, brown or red hair color will bring out your look more. If your eyes are blue or green, blonde or red will create a mesmerizing combination. But be careful with cold highlights, especially if you have a very light complexion. Instead, warm up your complexion with caramel or a touch of gold, but sparingly. When in doubt, opt for a color with ashy highlights.

#3 - Your skin tone

Always make sure the color you choose enhances your complexion. To help you choose the shades that best suit your skin tone. If you have a warm complexion, opt for shades of blonde and brown, like golden blonde or caramel brown. On the other hand, if you have a fair complexion, turn to an icy blonde or dark brown.

#4 - The composition

Make sure the product you choose is free of PPD (p-Phenylenediamine), ammonia (and its derivatives), and endocrine disruptors like resorcinol for example. Prefer natural powdered hair dyes such as henna. However, be aware that henna contains metallic salts. To this end, when you choose a vegetable powder to mask your white hair, make sure that it meets impeccable ethics.

#5 - The shade

Natural henna can very well bend to your desires and to all fantasies. To this end, various variants of this natural dye can be mixed to create a whole palette of colors. So, you can create your own mix.

#6 - Your sensitivities

If you have a scalp or hair rather sensitive, turn to a natural coloring. If you have a sensitive scalp or hair, turn to a natural hair color. This one has to be repeated several times, but it won't harm your hair's health or cause allergies. If you are considering permanent hair coloring but are allergic to peroxide or ammonia, some hair coloring products contain substitutes for these two substances. However, they are not as effective as they could be.

Some natural anti gray hair formulas

  • Indigo and Henna: Indigo powder, commonly known as neel, is a natural dye used since ancient times to color hair. It creates a bluish black color. Mixed with henna, the mixture can cover gray areas while giving the hair a darker color.
  • Coconutoil: a mixture of coconut oil and lemon juice can naturally darken hair for a while.
  • Black tea: Black tea helps prevent the appearance of gray hair. You can use it when rinsing your hair, as a conditioner, as a shampoo or as a mask. So take an infusion of black tea (about 200 ml) and use it as a leave-in conditioner on your hair. You can also soak black tea leaves for 2 hours in warm water and grind them into a smooth paste. Mix it with lemon juice and apply the mixture as a hair mask. Leave on for 40 minutes before rinsing.

Preparation before coloring

Three days before coloring, do not wash your hair. The sebum produced by the scalp during this time will protect your hair fiber from the aggression of the coloring products. On the other hand, if you have applied silicone-rich hair products to your hair, wash your hair thoroughly before coloring so that it can absorb the highlights and pigments.

Afraid of tingling after rinsing?

Some people with particularly sensitive scalps may experience tingling from coloring after rinsing. To prevent this, take a handful of coarse salt and add it to your shampoo. This mixture will absorb the residue left by the coloring. Once your hair is clean, apply a nourishing mask that will moisturize your hair dried out by the salt.

Bleaching

This is a chemical process that uses hydrogen peroxide to lighten hair by more than two shades. To have beautiful, shiny hair, bleaching must be followed by coloring, as it contributes to the yellowing of the hair.

Vegetable/natural hair coloring

Suitable for all hair types and colors, vegetable coloring is a natural solution that allows you to dye your hair without damaging it. Even after a few shampoos, its effects remain visible. Both ecological and healthier for the hair fiber, it preserves the natural shade of the hair without opening its scales, and lasts as long as chemical dyes. The plants that make up the vegetable dye also have beneficial effects on your hair, keep your roots intact, and do not expose you to allergies. However, the action of the vegetable dye is only superficial. As it only acts on the surface, it is impossible to go from brown to blond or vice versa. The same applies to colorations with highlights or tone on tone.

The different types of white hair coloring

The market offers different types and formats of white hair coloring to meet different needs. In spray, felt, gel, cream,... here they are with their advantages and disadvantages to make you discover their usefulness.

Powders

Powdered dye products are yet to be prepared. Many people much prefer them to ready-to-use formulas due to the fact that powder is safer to the touch compared to peroxide or other chemical based dyes.

Nevertheless, powdered dyes do stain a lot. Therefore, to avoid getting your hands dirty, you'll need to put on a pair of gloves before handling.

Powdered hair coloring products are intended for people who have time to "pamper themselves", and also for all those who want to concoct a personalized hair color. The latter is possible by mixing different henna powders together.

Gels and creams

Colorants in the form of creams and gels have the advantage of being easy to use. For added convenience, some of them require no application time or rinsing. This is very convenient when you want to quickly and effectively cover up your gray hair without necessarily going to a salon.

However, most gel or cream hair colors contain chemicals. Fortunately, some brands prefer natural ingredients that are more respectful of the hair fiber, but whose hold is not as long as with chemical dyes.

These white hair coloring product formats are mostly suitable for non-allergic people who are the kind of people who are rather in a hurry wishing to have on hand, a ready to apply and fast acting coloring.

Sprays

Spray hair coloring is to be sprayed on the hair and is usually not permanent. Usually, these sprays can last until you wash your hair. Since semi-permanent hair color only coats the outside of the hair, it does not weaken the hair in any way.

However, spray hair color is quite fragile, as it is likely to fade with exposure to air. As a result, your hair will need to be sprayed frequently. This can dry out your hair over time. In addition, spray colors tend not to cover gray hair completely and their application method is a bit tricky.

Spray coloring is best suited for people who want a quick hair color without getting their hands dirty. Be careful to protect your face when using the spray.

Felt Pens

Imposing the design of a lipstick, the coloring in felt or stick allows you to make quick touch-ups wherever you go. Lightweight and compact, this ultra-convenient format allows you to travel without hassle. It is precise and easy to apply. This allows you to dye the parts where there is only white hair, while keeping your hair silky and shiny.

On the other hand, if your white hair is on the back of your head, you'll have some difficulty applying your felt hair color, even using a mirror. The felt-tip format also provides good coverage of white hair, but not as good as the spray.

It's for people who want to have a portable coloring product on hand for quick touch-ups without the hassle of a mirror. It's also a great choice for protecting hair and prolonging the hold of one color before moving on to another.

White hair coloring or balayage?

White hair coloring

The idea of adding a little style to your hair can be extremely tempting because it's a relatively painless way to "give" yourself a new look. Dare to color your hair to look dark, light, shaded, or just plain unique. With the many shades offered by cosmetic brands, the possibilities are literally endless. Plus, when your hair color is successful, you look years younger.

What's more, coloring is a well thought-out solution that allows "problem" hair to turn its natural imperfections to its advantage. For example, fine hair will gain volume with color. Dull hair will look darker and more nourished. In short, every hair type will be enhanced.

However, chemical colorings weaken and dry the hair but provide a better long-lasting effect even after several shampoos. As for the vegetable and more natural versions, although they are safe for the hair and health in general, they need to be renewed regularly because they fade over the course of the shampoos.

Scanning

Balayage is a technique that consists of subtly lightening your hair to give it blond highlights that will then mask your white hair. By opting for this coloring technique, you do not have to change your hair color. It is simply a matter of bleaching a few fine strands without touching the roots of the hair. It's all about the lengths and ends.

Balayage is especially perfect for blonde hair because white hair is less visible on this hair color. This makes balayage ultra easy for blondes, thanks to highlights that are one to two shades lighter than the natural color of this hair type. However, it is possible to balayage darker hair. This can be done with a golden, caramel, honey or copper balayage.

The balayage of hair is to be redone once every three months and requires an impeccable hair care routine. The use of dejaunizing shampoos is highly recommended in such a case.

Verdict

In short, if you want to hide your gray hair while keeping your natural hair color, choose coloring. Balayage, on the other hand, does not hide gray hair. This technique only aims to lighten the natural hair color so that the white hair "blends" into the mass. If you're not sure about these two techniques, it's possible to do both a balayage and a coloring for a more natural and beautiful result. Note that you must do it sparingly or you risk damaging your beautiful mane.

Why buy a white hair coloring ?

To have more natural shades

Having gray hair can quickly become an asset if you know how to maintain it. It will create a streaky effect as well as light-catching highlights, as long as you choose the right tone level that will breathe new life into your hair style. For this hair transformation to be successful, the color should not differ more than one or two shades from your natural hair color.

To have beautiful hair

With hair coloring, you can play with the optical effect to get a much better looking head of hair. An ingenious solution for hair that is too dull, too oily, too thick or too thin. Dull hair will get more shine from a brighter color. For hair that's too oily, coloring will simply help it absorb excess sebum for a result that's neither too dry nor too oily. Hair that is too thick will appear less voluminous thanks to coloring via a well thought-out color gradient. Finally, coloring certain parts of ultra-fine hair will give it more volume.

To stay young and end the monotony

Wouldn't it be great to change your look from time to time and break the rules without being extravagant? Sometimes you're a blonde, sometimes a brunette, sometimes you go out with a beautiful black hair. In short, coloring allows you to look less monotonous. Your partner will be delighted. When you dare to color your hair, you give your face a youthful look while cleverly hiding your white hair.

To be more attentive to your hair

When you decide to turn to hair coloring, you'll have to be more careful with your hair care, because let's face it, (chemical) coloring weakens the hair fiber. Knowing this, you'll have no choice but to adopt an impeccable hair care routine to maintain your hair capital.

To indulge yourself

Hair is a true symbol of femininity, as it is a woman's most charming asset. Hair coloring allows you to change your look at any time, and to appear unique and stylish. For a woman, to be beautiful is not only to please her partner, but also to please herself in order to feel good about herself.

The best brands of white hair coloring

In our opinion, the best brands of white hair coloring in 2022 are :

Garnier
L’Oréal Paris
Centifolia
Khaadi Naturkosmetik
Schwarzkopf

Garnier is a consumer cosmetics brand of the French cosmetics company founded in 1904 and now owned by the L'Oréal group. It manufactures hair care and skin care products. This brand is very famous, and offers mid to high-end products.

The L'Oréal Paris brand is a beauty care company that combines the latest technologies with the highest quality to offer a wide range of effective and efficient products. This brand created in 1909 is today one of the largest and most famous in the world of cosmetics.

Centifolia is one of the brands for which the cosmetic formulation puts forward the respect and preservation of nature. Created in 1972 by Gilles Guilbaud, the organic brand, based in the west of France has one of the greenest production sites in the world.

Khadi Naturkosmetik is both a brand and an online seller of hair coloring products. Khadi products bring harmony to your body, mind and soul.

The Schwarzkopf brand is a hair cosmetics brand that has represented quality, expertise and innovation for over 120 years. Schwarzkopf stands for innovation, reliability, quality, trust and expertise. These are the foundations on which the company develops and produces its products.

What is the price white hair coloring

The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).

However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.

We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.

Entry-level
3 £ to 8 £
Mid-range
8 £ to 20 £
High-end
more than 20 £
Price range diagram

Tips

Switch from time to time to semi-permanent colouring

Semi-permanent colorations have the advantage of being less aggressive to the hair since they fade with each shampoo. However, they don't cover white hair as well.

Take care of your colored hair

Since coloring products are quite aggressive for your hair, remember to nourish and protect your hair, by adopting a good hair care routine. For this purpose, use specific shampoos and conditioners. For shampoos, choose organic shampoos and sulfate-free shampoos. Don't forget the mask to further strengthen your hair fiber.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet

To better preserve your hair capital, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Drink 1.5 liters of water every day, even a little more if you do a lot of sports or any other activity requiring physical effort. You can also supplement your balanced diet with multivitamin supplements containing Vitamin B12, collagen powder or hair supplements. Collagen, also called will help preserve your youth capital, while food supplements for hair and multivitamins will serve to strengthen your hair weakened by pollution, UV rays from the sun, heating devices, and the ravages of coloring.

Recipe for homemade white hair camouflage

More effective than coffee, cocoa not only effectively hides white hair while making them very dark and shiny, but also limit their appearance. To prepare your homemade hair color, mix three tablespoons of honey with the same amount of cocoa. Then apply this mixture to your dry hair. Wait an hour for the mixture to soak into your hair fiber before rinsing.

The best time to colour your hair

If you're planning to go on vacation, definitely don't rush to dye your hair. The sun and swimming in the sea can make your hair even more fragile. Instead, wait until your vacation is over and then take care of your mane with hair products formulated specifically for colored hair. Before proceeding with permanent hair coloring, first apply a small amount of the colorant behind your ear. If after 24 hours you are not itchy or irritated, color your hair.

FAQ

Which colour for white hair?

You can choose to dye all of your hair white or mask it with the right colour. To help you decide between these two colour options, use the criteria in this guide to help you choose. If you're having trouble deciding, you can always ask a professional for advice on how to choose a colour that suits your skin tone and how much white hair you have as a percentage of your total hair.

How do you get back to white hair after colouring?

To do this, either you turn to a bleaching that will allow you to bring the natural color of your hair closer to that of your white hair, or you arm yourself with patience and wait for the coloring to fade on its own over the course of shampoos. Bleaching is actually a technique that allows you to lighten your hair up to eight shades below its natural colour. You can also bleach your hair with a mixture of equal parts bleach powder and water. Apply the mixture to your hair and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Then rinse and clean your hair with shampoo. Don't forget to nourish and soften your hair with a suitable conditioner.

How to colour your white hair naturally?

To do this, apply a homemade mixture of honey and cocoa to your hair. The application time is one hour. Thanks to this natural colouring product, not only will you make your hair darker and hide your grey hair subtly, but you will also limit its appearance.

How do I stop white hair coloring?

The only thing to do is to be patient and wait for your hair to grow so that you can cut your coloured lengths afterwards. In the meantime, don't neglect hair care and consider stimulating the growth of your hair by using appropriate masks, shampoos and conditioners. If you have long hair, you may want to consider balayage to smooth out the lines between your coloured lengths and your white roots.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
  1. , quechoisir.org
  2. , elle.fr
  3. , aroma-zone.com
  4. , topsante.com
  5. , bibamagazine.fr
  6. , femmeactuelle.fr
  7. , blog.chosen-paris.fr
  8. , madame.lefigaro.fr
  9. , franckprovost-expert.com
  10. , cosmopolitan.fr
  11. , lexpress.fr
  12. , leaf.tv
  13. , schwarzkopf.fr
  14. , loreal-paris.fr
  15. , femmeactuelle.fr
  16. , loreal-paris.fr
  17. , schwarzkopf.fr
  18. , lescouleursdejeanne.fr
  19. , madame.lefigaro.fr
  20. , color-mania.fr
  21. , breizhenne.com
  22. , meilleur-soin.com
  23. , topsante.com
  24. , lajoliemaison.fr
  25. , jeanlouisdavid.com
  26. , coloration-vegetale-avis.com
  27. , femina.fr
  28. , cosmopolitan.fr
  29. , jmesensmieux.com
  30. , jeanlouisdavid.com
  31. , macouleurdecheveux.fr
  32. , radico-coloration.fr
  33. , aufeminin.com
  34. , selectos.eu
  35. , bibamagazine.fr
See more

Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

See more
Our selection
Garnier Olia permanent hair color (diamond black) 9
Garnier Olia permanent hair color (diamond black)
Centifolia Plant extracts 10
Centifolia Plant extracts
L'Oreal Homme Cover 5'. 11
L'Oreal Homme Cover 5'.
Khadi Haircolor 12
Khadi Haircolor

Lecteurs

Every month we help more than 1 000 000 people buy better and smarter.

Copyright © 2022 - Made with by buyingbetter.co.uk

Your reviews and buying guides 0% advertising, 100% independent!