color suggestion for gray hair

Any hair color can work for gray. If you're tired of the dark color, using Vanish is the best step. It's super gentle and works by shrinking color molecules so that they simply slip out of the hair. You have to literally "scrub" the color out. And you must use heat and at least a 10% peroxide afterward. It's best if you wait 2-7 days before recoloring. It's also important to use a shade(s) that are at least 2 shades lighter than you want to go since Vanish makes hair much more porous and it will grab color more quickly. You will also need to reduce the processing time to 1/3 of what directions call for. It may take more than one application of Vanish to completely remove the old color. Once that's done, you need to take into account the underlying pigment in your hair. Your hair will probably be a red/orange color after Vanish. You will need to cancel out these tones if you decide you want to go lighter.

All over bleaching is tricky and there are many tips and tricks to help you do that. You would have to pm me for more info though. Since you will already be dealing with the red underlying pigment (dark hair is full of it) why not consider going all out red. You could go a few levels lighter than your natural color, adding pure red pigment to the brown. You will definitely need to add a neutral shade (which are intended for gray coverage only) to completely cover the gray. Without the neutral (which will not change the final shade) the gray hair will not pick up the color. Neutrals work in mysterious ways and I'm not sure quite how they work, I just know that this is true. I'm about 50% gray on top and I've tried leaving the neutral out of my formula and the result has been no gray coverage at all. Just FYI.

Since the underlying pigment in dark hair is so strong, if you decide not to do red, you must include shades that are both blue and green. The blue will cancel out the orange, and the green will neutralize the red. Otherwise, your color will be very brassy. I can give you the name of a great salon color line you can buy online, but you must email or pm me. Only salon color is strong enough to overcome the strong undertones in dark hair. Those undertones will be apparent once you use Vanish and completely remove the old color.

You sound like someone who enjoys experimenting with color and so do I. I have been just about every color possible and I have done it all myself. Years ago I had a cosmetology license but I gave it up to take another route. Days when I am fed up with my current job, I wonder about what might have been. Just let me know if you have questions.

I know email/text often reads wrong....your answers are great and helpful, so I don't mean to disregard them, but my question is not about the process.

I know about bleaching and toning, I know that using a violet/blue based toner will help cancel the yellow. I have used Vanish several times. I have done my daughters' hair also.

My question is about whether I should bother or not. I'll explain more, and I probably already know the answer, but want some second opinions.

My hair is naturally dark, so when my roots grow in, they show a lot. I am wondering if I should lighten up so that they aren't as noticeable. This is why I am considering bleaching or going light. However, I am sure my whole family will agree that I look better with dark hair, or red, and they won't like it light.

To add to it, I always have part of my hair a funky color; pink, purple, blue, even rainbow. However, the funky colors do not like to stick to gray, so I have to reapply every 2 weeks or so, even after bleaching that section...though some colors last longer.

I can't imagine, at this point, NOT having some funky color in it.

Here is a web album of my ever-changing hair. Hopefully it works. There is one photo of my partially bleached hair before applying color.

My hair is also much longer now than most of these pictures.

https://picasaweb.google.com/107898847803999537783/HairChameleon?authuser=0&feat=directlink