“As someone in their 50s, I must color my hair every three weeks to avoid the sparkle of gray hair,” says pro hairstylist and salon owner Wendy Burns. “I sympathize with my clients who just can’t do that kind of salon maintenance due to cost or time restrictions.” Enter the best hair color for older women—if you so choose to cover your silver strands.
Though somewhat daunting to a rookie, at-home hair color can be relatively simple (and categorically convenient) once you’ve mastered a few key steps. But for those with aging hair, some specialized considerations apply. For instance?
“Always make sure you have more color than you think you need,” Burns says. “Gray hair can be resistant to color, so you want to make sure all of your hair is saturated when you apply your color.”
It’s also important to consider the formula, as aging hair benefits from moisturizing ingredients that can restore lost luster and manageability. And finally, think of home color as a complement to—and not a replacement for—your regular salon visits. “Don’t be afraid to ask [a pro’s] advice on how to maintain your look at home,” Burns says. “As a stylist, I would rather see you a few times a year with great-looking hair than have you struggle and do any damage.” Below, a few at-home color options the pros actually recommend.
In This Story
Best Color-Depositing Shampoo: Celeb Luxury Gem Lites Colorwash
Best Permanent Color: L’Oréal Paris Excellence Crème Permanent Hair Color
Best Semi-Permanent Color: Clairol Beautiful Collection Moisturizing Color
Best Touch-Up Spray: TRESemmé Root Touch Up Temporary Hair Color
Best Root Color: Schwarzkopf Keratin Root 10 Min Root Color Revitalizer
