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Hair Color That’s Actually Designed to Cover Gray Hair

by June 29, 2021

Hair Color That’s Actually Designed to Cover Gray Hair

Image by Madison Reed

We are ALL about you feeling like your absolute best and most confident self. This means that we’re totally for embracing your grays if you want. After all, gray hair has been trending for a while now, and natural hair color and complexion is stunning. Most importantly, some women feel their best rocking the silver, and we love that. 

But if you are not yet ready to embrace your grays, we are also all about helping you cover them. Radiant Hair Color is expertly formulated to cover gray hair while keeping your at-home hair-care routine low-maintenance—with the color delivered to your door, on your schedule. (Of course, if you prefer to have your hair done for you, visit a Madison Reed Hair Color Barwith locations nationwide.)Whether pesky grays are popping up or you’re fully gray and ready to go all-in on color, our multi-faceted product line and team of licensed colorists are here to help. 

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Why Is Gray Hair Hard to Cover?

Here’s the thing about gray hair—it can be stubborn. Hard to cover. Resistant to color. Why? Well, as your hair grays, your scalp produces less oil, which makes your hair drier, and it can feel coarser. This combo makes it harder for the hair color to penetrate the hair cuticle, so the grays either don’t get covered initially during the coloring process, or the color fades quickly (no thank you!). But don’t worry—our Madison Reed team of licensed colorists know all about the science of gray hair, and they have taken all these factors into account while formulating hair color shades that are made specifically to give you maximum gray coverage with professional hair color. And with the same hair-loving ingredients found in all Madison Reed products, all of these shades are gentle on your hair while fully covering even the most stubborn grays.

Which Shades Are Best for Gray Coverage? 

We always recommend starting out by taking our Madison Reed Hair Color Quiz. The more you can tell us about what you want, the better we can help—whether you’re seeking rich, dark black hair, a bright blonde shade, or perfectly neutral brown. And no matter what you select, you’ll be able to view our full range of colors and products.  If you need an extra hand, call or chat with our Color Crew You can even book a complimentary virtual Video Color Consultation. Want to see what the shade looks like on you? You can upload your picture or use your phone or computer camera to use our Virtual Try-On Tool.

For gray hair coverage specifically, we offer a range of shades that we call "Knockouts,” both because they are gorgeous and because they “knock out” any gray hair. These shades are ideal for people who are 50-100% gray—but let’s be honest, even small amounts of gray hair can be stubborn. Not sure if your grays are actually stubborn? We get it—it’s not like you can see your gray hair rolling its eyes at you. Read here on how to tell if you have stubborn grays.

No matter what percentage of gray or what hair texture, hair type, or hair length you have, each of these shades delivers a huge dose of deeper, pigmented color without sacrificing tone, depth, shine, or natural dimensionality. Could it get any better? So let's show the shades…

Best Blonde Shade for Resistant Grays

Lusia Blonde 8.5NNA - Dark neutral blonde 

Wavy haired woman showing Lusia blonde hair color example

“I loved that the color neutralized the brassy tones that were in my hair from previous color. The color also covered my stubborn greys.”
-Caroline H.


Best Brunette Shades for Resistant Grays

Umbria Light Brown 7.5NNA - Light neutral brown

Curly haired woman showing Umbria hair color example

“I love the color & it’s truly a match made in heaven. Great coverage on those tough gray roots!”
-Melody C.

Sondrio Brown 6.5NNA - Soft medium neutral brown 

Short hair example of Sondrio Brown Hair color shade

“I absolutely LOVE this color! Perfect for me. I'm almost totally gray and the coverage is great!”
-Diana A.

Novara Light Brown 6.5NNN Light neutral brown 

Straight haired woman showing Novara light brown hair color example

“Colored all my grays and left me with a very pretty & shiny Chocolate Brown color.”
-Anna W.

Zocca Brown 6N - Medium neutral brown

Zocca brown 6N

“The color came out beautiful! A rich, shiny brown that blended my roots and highlights- covered my grays but lets my highlights show through a bit.”
-Sarah E.

Dosolo Brown 5.5NNA - Medium neutral brown

Straight haired woman showing Dosolo medium brown hair color example

“Absolutely gorgeous color. Rich and full of shine and highlights...Great gray coverage. Can’t see a single gray strand...This is a beautiful neutral dark brown that matches my natural color perfectly.”
-Jenn S.

Modena Brown 5.5NNN - True medium neutral brown

Straight haired woman showing Modena Brown hair color example

“Loved the color! Covered grays better than the salon! It smelled great too!”
-Mary B.

Barletta Brown 4.5 NNN - Rich, dark, neutral brown 

Straight haired woman showing Barletta dark neutral brown hair color example

“I really, really like this color. I tend to have brassy reddish undertones and this wiped that out but still looked dimensional. And grays are GONE!”
-Melanie L.

Ravenna Brown 3.5NNN - True, neutral darkest brown 

Curly haired woman showing Ravenna, darkest brown, hair color example

“The color is rich and keeps its shine! As for gray coverage. You aced it. I'm almost all gray and it covered them as if I had went to a professional salon.”
-Madeline G.

Best Black Shade for Resistant Grays

Parma Black 2.5NNA - Soft, true black

Wavy haired woman showing Parma soft true black hair color example

“It was the PERFECT shade. No flat color like boxed hair color. It looks natural and did a great job of covering my gray hair. (I left it on longer like the instructions suggested.) I will be getting a membership!”
-Amy G.

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So there you have it—Radiant Hair Color shades guaranteed to cover your stubborn grays or touch-up some pesky new ones. These permanent hair colors are sure to give you an all-over flawless look and confidence boost to any of your hairstyles. Our fade-defying colors help you stay worry-free for weeks after your original styling. Want tips on how to get great gray coverage during the application process? Check out our Definitive Guide to Coloring Gray Hair. And as always, please do not hesitate toreach out to our Color Crew. This team of licensed colorists is available to help with everything from choosing the best shade for you to how to apply and care for your newly colored hair. 

We are here to help you LOVE your hair. And if you don’t? We’ll do everything we can to fix it. It’s as simple as that. Love your hair. (No gray area there.) 

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