As we get older, many of us start to see those first grays popping up. While some embrace the salt and pepper look, others prefer to cover up the grays and maintain a more youthful hair color. If you’re looking to camouflage your gray hairs, picking the right hair color product is crucial.
Schwarzkopf offers a wide range of permanent and semi-permanent hair colors designed specifically to cover grays. But with so many options to choose from, how do you know which one is best for you?
In this article, we’ll walk you through the key factors to consider when choosing a Schwarzkopf hair color for gray hair. We’ll overview their top gray coverage lines, compare formulas and shades, and provide tips for getting the best results.
How Does Hair Color Work on Gray Hair?
Before we dive into Schwarzkopf specifics, let’s do a quick overview of how hair color works to cover gray hairs.
When you color your hair, the color molecules are small enough to penetrate the hair cuticle and deposit or remove pigment from the underlying cortex. Gray hair has lost the melanin pigment that gives hair its color.
Permanent and demi-permanent hair colors use developer creams with ammonia or ethanolamines to open the cuticle so dye can penetrate the cortex. The developer helps activate the color molecules to deposit or remove pigment.
Semi-permanent hair colors work a bit differently. Since they don’t contain developer, the dye molecules are too large to penetrate the cortex. Instead, semi-permanents coat the outside of the hair with a stain that washes out over several weeks.
For covering grays, permanent coloring is considered best since it deposits pigment directly into the hair shaft for longer-lasting coverage.
Schwarzkopf’s Best Gray Coverage Lines
Schwarzkopf manufactures several excellent permanent and semi-permanent lines designed specifically for concealing gray hair:
- Schwarzkopf Simply Color: A permanent cream formula with built-in gray coverage
- Schwarzkopf IGORA Royal: A permanent cream formula with premium gray coverage
- Schwarzkopf Color Ultime: A permanent liquid gel formula with ultra conditioning
- Schwarzkopf Bayalage Hair Color: Subtle, balayage-style gray coverage
- Schwarzkopf Color Mask: A conditioning semi-permanent gray root touch-up
Below we’ll explore these top gray coverage lines in more detail.
Schwarzkopf Simply Color
Schwarzkopf Simply Color is a permament cream hair color designed for hassle-free gray coverage at home. It contains caring oils and provitamin B5 to condition hair while coloring. Key benefits:
- Uses Advanced Color Creme technology to provide rich, luminous color
- ContainsOmegaCare and guarana extract to strengthen and protect hair
- Non-drip cream formula applies easily for full gray coverage
- Lasts up to 8 weeks on hair grown out 1/2 inch
- Ammonia-free; less irritating odor during processing
With Simply Color, there’s no need to pre-color hair or use a separate tube of gray coverage enhancer. Gray blending is built into each shade.
Schwarzkopf IGORA Royal
IGORA Royal is Schwarzkopf’s premier salon-quality permanent hair color. It uses a high concentration of Dynamic Blondetech and Cold Brown pigments to provide superior gray coverage and color depth.
- Uses anti-fading Complex Soy4+ and Repair Inside technology
- Dynamic Blondetech and Cold Brown pigments ensure vibrant, natural-looking color
- Non-drip cream for easy application; no pre-color needed
- Free of ammonia and perfume; ideally tolerated even by sensitive scalps
- 100% gray coverage even on coarse, resistant grays
With IGORA’s high pigment load, you can achieve total gray coverage in a single step. It’s an excellent choice for anyone needing to cover a significant amount of gray.
Schwarzkopf Color Ultime
Schwarzkopf Color Ultime uses a liquid gel formula powered by nourishing orchid extract and macadamia oil for ultra conditioning, shiny hair. Benefits include:
- Ultra-reflective, luminous color from liquid gel technology
- Orchid extract and macadamia oil for silky, shimmering results
- Silk proteins help strengthen and repair hair structure
- No ammonia; ideal for sensitive scalps
- Fragrance-free formula
The Ultime gel formula provides non-drip application and evenly saturates every strand for seamless gray coverage. It’s great for anyone seeking hair strengthening while coloring.
Schwarzkopf Blondme Bayalage Hair Color
If you’re looking for subtle, natural-looking gray blending rather than complete coverage, Schwarzkopf Blondme Bayalage offers a balayage highlighting technique to gently blend away grays. Benefits include:
- Balayage-inspired rolls and strips for natural sun-kissed highlights
- Easy to use no-drip pre-filled click pen applicators
- Includes bond-building ActiBond technology to reinforce hair during lightening
- Gentle cream developer suitable for fragile hair
- Can lightly blend out up to 25% gray hairs
The Bayalage kits allow you to paint on subtle highlights around your face to help gray hairs blend seamlessly into your natural hair color.
Schwarzkopf Color Mask
If you’re not ready to fully commit to permanent color, Schwarzkopf Color Mask provides temporary gray coverage between salon appointments. Benefits include:
- Semi-permanent gel-crème formula washes out gradually
- Nourishing formula with coconut oil smoothes and conditions
- Easy no-mix, no-drip applicator
- Lasts up to 10 shampoos
- Can cover up to 25% gray hair
Color Mask is great for keeping gray roots looking fresh post-salon. It can nicely tide you over until your next color appointment.
Choosing a Shade for Your Gray Hair
Now that we’ve covered Schwarzkopf’s best lines for gray coverage, let’s discuss how to pick the right shade.
Choosing a shade ultimately comes down to your base hair color and level of graying. Here are a few tips:
- Match shade to your natural base. Go lighter if over 25% gray.
- Cool shades counteract yellowing grays; warm shades fight ashiness.
- Lighter single-process color is better than darker for grays.
- Add highlights or lowlights to create depth and blend grays.
- Do a strand test to see how color deposits on your hair.
Let’s go over how to select shades for common base hair colors.
Choosing a Color for Blonde Hair
Blonde hair tends to yellow and turn brassy as the gray comes in. Here are shade tips:
- Look for beige or ash tones to neutralize yellowness.
- Stay close to your natural blonde level; avoid going too dark.
- For lighter hair, go up to 2 shades lighter than base.
- Add face-framing highlights around your face.
Examples of good blonde shades for gray hair: Beige Blonde, Ash Blonde, Ultra Light Natural Blonde.
Choosing a Color for Brown Hair
Brown hair can fade and look dull as the grays grow in. Here are brown shade tips:
- Stay within 2 shades of your natural base level.
- Neutral medium golden brown blends well into grays.
- Add warm caramel or honey highlights around your face.
- Not too dark! Avoid going more than 3 shades darker.
Good brown shades for gray hair include: Medium Golden Brown, Neutral Dark Brown, Soft Darkest Brown.
Choosing a Color for Red Hair
Red hair will fade and appear less vibrant with graying. Here are red shade pointers:
- Enhance natural tones with copper, cinnamon or strawberry shades.
- Boost depth and vibrancy by going a touch darker.
- Add warm highlights around your face.
- Use reddish-brown shades as your base color.
Flattering red shades for grays include: Light Auburn, Rich Copper, Intense Red Brown.
Choosing a Color for Black Hair
For jet black or very dark hair, gray roots are especially noticeable. Tips for dark shades:
- Root smudging or shadow roots give a softer look.
- Go slightly lighter; stay within the darkest brown range.
- Avoid true black–choose a blackened brown instead.
- Add warm chocolate highlights around the face.
Good black shades to minimize grays include: Satin Black Brown, Darkest Smoky Brown, Dark Neutral Brown.
How to Get the Best Results Coloring Gray Hair
Once you’ve selected your Schwarzkopf shade, follow these tips when applying it for optimal gray coverage:
- Prep hair: Shampoo and deeply condition hair the day before coloring.
- Do a strand test: Try color on a few strands first to ensure desired results.
- Protect skin and scalp: Apply petroleum jelly on skin and hairline to prevent staining.
- Section hair neatly: Clean sections ensure even saturation from roots through ends.
- Start at roots: Apply color first to regrowth area and grays at roots.
- Use sufficient product: Use enough color; don’t skimp on coverage.
- Time correctly: Leave on for full recommended processing time.
- Rinse thoroughly: Rinse until water runs clear; don’t leave residue.
- Deep condition: Use a hydrating conditioner post-color to re-moisturize.
It’s also smart to purchase an extra tube of color or an on-hand root touch-up kit for quick gray maintenance between full color applications.
Which Schwarzkopf Product is Best for You?
When browsing the overwhelming Schwarzkopf hair color lines, keep these key tips in mind:
- Simply Color offers an easy, one-step permanent cream formula.
- IGORA Royal provides premium salon-strength gray coverage.
- Color Ultime is perfect for double duty color and conditioning.
- Bayalage leaves subtle, natural-looking highlights.
- Color Mask temporarily refreshes roots between salon visits.
Consider factors like your hair’s condition, severity of graying, and how often you want to maintain your color.
Speak with a professional colorist if you need help determining your exact base shade and ideal gray coverage tones.
While covering the grays takes a bit more work, the right Schwarzkopf product can keep your hair looking naturally beautiful. With the range of solutions available, you can find a look that enhances your natural beauty while seamlessly blending away any unwanted gray strands.
Conclusion
When it comes to covering grays, Schwarzkopf offers permanent and semi-permanent color lines to suit every need. Simply Color provides easy at-home gray coverage, while IGORA Royal offers premium salon-quality results. Color Ultime combines gray coverage with hair strengthening and intense conditioning. For subtle highlighting, Bayalage can gently blend grays into your natural color. And Color Mask serves as an ideal temporary root touch-up between colorings.
Take your time selecting the right shade to naturally enhance and blend away grays. With the proper prep, application and aftercare, you can achieve beautiful, natural-looking results.
With the range of high-quality solutions from Schwarzkopf, you can keep your hair looking naturally vibrant, glossy and youthful while seamlessly covering every last gray hair.