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IN TERMS OF grooming, there are plenty of universal experiences men face as they age. For example, head hair will likely begin to thin as both ear and nose hair explode in thickness and prevalence (not to mention, a sudden influx of bags beneath the eyes). However, few physical developments are more intertwined with aging than the rapid appearance of gray hair. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with gray hair—heck, George Clooney’s made a career out of his. But for those of us who lack Clooney’s jawline or simply prefer our previously natural color, dyes are the perfect solution.
Best Dyes for Gray Hair
We’re not talking neons, Slim Shady bleach, or anything else funky you might find in Pete Davidson’s vanity. Instead, these are hair dyes uniquely formulated for graying and meant to return you to your previously natural color.
According to celebrity barber Chaz Hazlitt, these hair dyes are specifically designed with more pigment and a stronger formula to cover gray strands. "Since gray hair has less melanin, it’s harder for regular dyes to work effectively. These dyes are also made to open the hair cuticle better, so the color can go deeper and last longer. This makes them ideal for dealing with the unique challenges of coloring gray hair," he says.
That said, anybody who’s ever tried dying their hair before knows that it can still be pretty complicated, especially when it comes to which product to use. To find the best option for you and your unique hair, we’ve put together a guide of everything to look for in a men’s hair dye for gray hair.
What to Consider
Permanent or Semi-Permanent
When choosing a hair dye, deciding between a permanent or semi-permanent (also commonly referred to as demi-permanent) option will be your first task. In general, which you go with will ultimately come down to whether you’re hoping to blend your gray or fully cover them.
"I prefer permanent hair color because it provides long-lasting results and requires less frequent touch-ups," Hazlitt says before explaining that the major difference between the two is that semi-permanent dyes tend to fade and wash out much quicker while permanent hair color penetrates deeper into the hair shaft to ensure a more durable and vibrant finish. "This makes it ideal for covering grays or achieving a consistent color over time."
That said, if you’re looking to blend color with grays for a natural look, semi-permanent will be your best bet. As celebrity hair colorist Jeremy Tardo explains, gray hair is actually unpigmented (or colorless) hair—hence why if you pluck one individual gray, it’ll look mostly white. Hair merely looks gray because pigmented hairs mixed with unpigmented ones create the illusion of a silver color, and to effectively blend you won’t want to do anything as extreme as a permanent dye. "Unpigmented hair doesn’t accept color as easily as pigmented hair, so when coloring gray hair, we use mostly demi-permanent color for blending gray or permanent color for full coverage," Tardo adds.
Color
Of course, when you’re coloring your hair it’s also probably important to consider the, you know, color. For attacking grays, Tardo recommends fighting the urge to do anything drastic and sticking to what’s most familiar. "The goal should be to get the color as close to your natural hair color as possible. Choose a hair color that's similar to the color that your hair was before the graying," he says. Tardo also notes that your unique features will almost always work best with colors that are tonally similar to your own original hair color.
Clyde Haygood, celebrity hairstylist and Pura D’or partner, agrees that it's best to stick to what is closest to your natural tone, however, not before adding one minor caveat. "That is except if you have really dark or black hair. Black hair dye can look harsh, especially against aging skin, so try going a shade or two lighter."
Ingredients
Every specialist we spoke to agreed that you should look for non-toxic products that do not include large (or any) amounts of ammonia in their list of ingredients. "The last thing you want to do is cause any irritation to your scalp," Haygood says. For a completely natural dye, he adds to opt for products with no chemical additives whatsoever. When it comes to ingredients you should zero in on, Haygood points to nourishing mixes with things like aloe vera, protein, vitamin E or olive oil, as these will help add moisture to the scalp, strengthen hair, and add shine.
Application
When dying hair, especially at home, the application method will be crucial to your success. Most options you'll find will be creams or gels, which feature thicker formulas, typically used for full-head color applications. The downside to these versions is they can often lead to dripping or a full-blown mess, so it's best to proceed with patience and caution.
Some of these will also include combs or brushes to aid application, while others will require you to use your hands (gloved, of course). However, if you've never dyed your hair before, look for a foam application, as it'll offer a much easier process with minimal cleanup—though they're generally less strong. Of course, all of these can be either permanent or semi-permanent.
How We Selected
For the past year, Men’s Health grooming writers and editors—with varying levels of grays—put a number of hair dyes to the test. We also enlisted the counsel of a panel of professional hair stylists, hair colorists, and dermatologists for what ingredients to look for in a hair dye when treating grays and which products they prefer or recommend to clients. Experts, including our Grooming Commerce Editor Sean Zucker, considered these, as well as top-rated hair dyes at retailers we trust, to determine the hair dyes for men with gray hair worth purchasing. Below are the seven best based on these criteria.
Pros
The cheapest option on this list
Includes scalp soothing ingredients like vitamin E and olive oil to reduce irritation
Easy and quick application
Cons
No option for red hair
Online shopping can be difficult to navigate
Just for Men has been a leader in hair dye for graying dudes for years, so we weren't too surprised to find our testers gave it the top rating—especially after chatting with the pros. "Just for Men has been the ‘go-to’ for men’s hair coloring for a very long time," Haygood says, noting its overall effectiveness and wide range of color options. "Plus, it works fast to cover grays, in as little as 5-10 minutes! It does this by mainly coating the cuticle or outside of the hair with pigment, which can fade with time to give you a washed-out brassy look."
The formula includes keratin, olive oil, and vitamin E, all of which help soothe the scalp and strengthen hair health. Not to mention, we found it offers full coverage of gray hair while still maintaining a natural look. This is in no small part due to it being one of the few semi-permanent options on this list that is designed for full coverage and not just blending—though, it will require slightly more upkeep than a permanent dye as a result. But seeing as Just for Men also doubles as the best budget option, we found the trade-off to be well-worth it, and still cheaper in the long run than many others.
The only real downside to this product is that it can be mildly confusing when searching for your hair color, as most online retailers (like Amazon) break it down by categories across multiple links and it's not available directly through Just for Men. To make navigating this easier, just click on which of these best describes your hair color: Black, light brown, medium brown, and dark brown. This is ultimately a positive, albeit somewhat annoying, because after you click your color, each then has at least three variations for added accuracy.
Read More: Best Hair Dyes for Men
Permanent or Semi-Permanent | Semi-Permanent |
---|---|
Color | Black, light brown, medium brown, dark brown |
Key Ingredients | Keratin, olive oil, vitamin E |
Application | Gel, hands |
Pros
Coverage can last between 6 and 8 weeks
Simple application
Wide-range of color options
Cons
More expensive than similar options
Another favorite of Haygood (and ours) is this dye from Simpler that truly lives up to its name offering an uncomplicated and effective solution to graying. "This has been my new favorite that I suggest to my male clients," Haygood confirms. With a wide-spreading cream and easy-to-use brush, we found the application of Simpler to be a breeze.
Plus, its clean and nonirritating ingredients make it perfect for those with sensitive scalps. "It has a less harsh formula for those who are sensitive so is gentler on skin and the color range seems to give the most natural results without fading," Haygood explains. Not to mention, it's possibly the longest-lasting permanent hair dye we've tried with many of our testers gaining up to two months between treatments.
Read More: Best Anti-Dandruff Shampoos
Permanent or Semi-Permanent | Permanent |
---|---|
Color | Blond, brown black, dark brown, ginger, light brown, medium brown, natural black |
Key Ingredients | Aloe vera, meadowfoam seed oil, coconut oil, jojoba esters |
Application | Cream, comb |
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Pros
Formulated for both head and facial hair
Easy to apply
Super quick process, works in under ten minutes
Long lasting, up to six weeks according to our testing
Cons
Limited options, only black and dark brown available
Contains ammonia
Look, if your head hair is starting to gray, in all likelihood your beard is next (or already gray). When it comes to dying both head and facial hair, Pacinos is the best we've found. But don't just take our word for it, ask the professionals. "I highly recommend Pacinos Signature Line Hair Color for its ease of use and professional-quality results. The formula is simple to mix and apply, making it perfect for achieving clean, vibrant finishes," Hazlitt says.
Beard dying is even more difficult to nail the natural aesthetic, but our testers found Pacinos never made their facial hair look brassy or artificial. As Hazlitt puts it, "Whether you’re touching up roots, covering grays, or enhancing natural tones, Pacino’s delivers consistent and lasting results. It’s a reliable choice for both beginners and seasoned professionals."
Permanent or Semi-Permanent | Permanent |
---|---|
Color | Black, dark brown |
Key Ingredients | Glycerin |
Application | Cream, brush |
Pros
Under $20
Leaves a more natural look
Ideal option for blending grays
Cons
Formula includes trace amounts of ammonia
Generally not strong enough for full coverage
If you want to own your grays and are just looking to blend them in a more uniform fashion, this will be your best bet. We tried this one after Tardo recommended it, and the results did not disappoint, leaving our hair looking naturally distinguished with more evenly distributed grays. Schwarzkopf Igora Royal Absolutes is uniquely effective at blending grays because it uses violet or blue-based pigments to neutralize yellow or brassy undertones, creating a cooler, more organic-looking tone. Still, its formula is also designed to smooth and refine gray hair to achieve a seamless look.
Read More: Best Shampoos for Thinning Hair
Permanent or Semi-Permanent | Semi-Permanent |
---|---|
Color | Gray, white, silver, red, copper, beige, light blonde, dark blonde |
Key Ingredients | Glycerin, pigment tonal refiners |
Application | Cream, hands |
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Pros
Stellar auburn hair option
Formulated for head and facial hair
Works in under 10 minutes
100 percent vegan
Cons
Some testers found it slightly drying
If you're a natural redhead, the low number of options on this list (and the market overall) has likely already jumped out to you. But fear not my fellow Irishmen and Scots, Cleverman has the perfect option for you. The auburn color here was by far rated the best dye for our ginger testers. Plus, it's one of the gentler options on this list thanks to its ingredients backed by a slew of natural oils. That being said, Cleverman is semi-permanent, which makes it great for blending but will require more frequent upkeep for those looking for full coverage of grays.
Permanent or Semi-Permanent | Semi-Permanent |
---|---|
Color | Auburn, black, textured black, textured brown, dark blonde, dark brown, light brown, medium brown, medium blonde |
Key Ingredients | Walnut seed oil, sunflower extract, baobab argan oil |
Application | Gel, comb or brush |
Pros
No mess, easy foam application
Seven color options including auburn
Super lightweight
Cons
Contains ammonia
More expensive than most on this list
If you've never dyed your hair, it can feel like a daunting task to do at home, but the entire process has never been easier thanks to True Sons. Our testers confirm that this hair-dying option is so simple that anyone, regardless of their haircare experience level, will quickly pick it up.
Unlike most hair dyes, which tend to be creams or gels, this version from True Sons is a foam. Simply release the foam into your (ideally gloved) hands, run it evenly through your hair, wait 15 minutes, then rinse it off. Just like that, you'll be rocking younger-looking locks. Plus, the foam material means that there's barely any risk of dripping or mess.
Permanent or Semi-Permanent | Permanent |
---|---|
Color | Dark brown, dirty blonde, brown black, light brown, medium brown, true black, auburn |
Key Ingredients | Ammonia, ethanolamine |
Application | Foam, hands |
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Best Hair Dye for Textured Gray Hair
SoftSheen-Carson Dark and Natural Hair Color for Men
Now 18% Off
Pros
Quick application process
Specifically formulated for textured hair
Under $10
Cons
Limited color options
Formula is easy to overdo
Possibly more than any other hair type, textured hair will require dye specifically formulated for it. We found that SoftSheen-Carson is the best of the bunch that are available. Thanks to an easy and precise application with its no-mix and ammonia-free formula, it effectively covers gray hair while still providing a natural-looking color. Not to mention, it lasts up to six weeks according to our testers.
That being said, regardless of whether hair's textured, fine, curly, thinning, or somewhere in between, it's important to not go overboard when it comes to dying darker shades, which is pretty easy to do with this stuff. Tardo points to making the hair too dark as one of the most common mistakes with home hair coloring on men. "I would personally recommend leaving the color in for a few minutes less than the product suggests. It’s better to have a little of the grey still showing than to have the color look super dark and fake," he advises.
Permanent or Semi-Permanent | Permanent |
---|---|
Color | Jet black, natural black |
Key Ingredients | Aloe vera, honey |
Application | Cream, hands |
Why Do Men Go Gray?
Going gray is primarily caused by a reduction in melanin production, the pigment responsible for hair color. This decrease in melanin results from a natural decline in melanocyte activity, the cells that produce the pigment.
As we age, these melanocytes "become less active, leading to hair that lacks pigment and looks gray, silver or white," according to dermatologist Dr. Morgan Rabach. While this is largely caused by genetics, Dr. Rabach notes there are other factors at play. "We believe the reduction in activity is a mixture of genetics, oxidative stress, and the depletion of the melanocyte stem cells over time."
According to Dr. Rabach, free radicals (aka the unstable molecules that damage your cells and cause graying) can be triggered by a number of non-genetic environmental and lifestyle factors such as pollution, poor diet, stress, UV exposure, and smoking. Beyond that, certain health conditions like autoimmune diseases, thyroid imbalances or a Vitamin B12 deficiency—which plays a role in melanin production—can also speed up the graying process.
Are Hair Dyes for Men Different from Hair Dyes for Women?
The short version? Not really. "There is no difference in hair dye for men and women, the chemical compounds are the same," says Haygood, noting that if anything, the process is just faster for men. "Men’s hair color can develop on the hair in a shorter amount of time because men’s hair is usually shorter and heat from the scalp helps quicken developing time."
Tardo adds that the only real difference is that men’s hair dye is designed to be more subtle than women’s, as the goal for men is typically for a much more natural look, especially if they’re blending. "Much like when natural-looking makeup is put on a man for film or TV, we want them to look great, but as though they aren’t wearing makeup. When we put makeup on women, we typically use more color and the look can be more enhanced. The same theory applies to hair color for men," he explains.
How to Care for Dyed Hair
The process of coloring can be a bit harmful to the scalp and hair, so to maintain its vibrancy and health, Hazlitt recommends using a color-safe shampoo and conditioner to protect against fading, as well as regularly applying hair oil to help keep it moisturized. "This combination will keep your hair looking healthy and your color lasting longer," he says.
Haygood adds that using a purple shampoo will also help your hair from looking artificial after dying. "Once you start coloring, upkeep is imperative to keep color looking fresh. Incorporating a purple shampoo in between coloring can help diminish, unwanted, dull, brassy tones," he explains.
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Meet the Experts
- Chaz Hazlitt, a celebrity barber with clients including Machine Gun Kelly and Woody McClain.
- Clyde Haygood, a celebrity hairstylist and Pura D’or partner.
- Jeremy Tardo, a celebrity hair colorist with clients including Miley Cyrus, Jared Leto and Miranda Kerr.
- Dr. Morgan Rabach, M.D., a New York-based board-certified dermatologist.
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