eady to ditch the dye? Whether you’re looking for a lower maintenance color fix, need to repair your hair, or just want to get in touch with your roots, going back to your natural hue is totally doable—but is safely and most successfully accomplished with a little help from your (Society) friends. Here’s our guide to going au naturale—including how best to prepare for a consultation and all of the options available.
Create a plan with a professional
There’s no one solution for transitioning back to your natural color. You’ll need to create a custom plan that works for your hair type, your hair history, and the color you’re hoping to achieve. Set up a consultation and walk your colorist through your hair color journey up to this point. Make sure to bring several photos of the color that you’re hoping to achieve. This part is really important: Be totally honest about why you’re looking to return to your natural shade—whether you’re looking for a low maintenance approach, a different aesthetic, or to give your hair a break from constant lightning and coloring. This way, they can help you build a plan that’s right for you.
Consider a shorter cut
Have long hair? If you want to get back to your natural base color, cutting as much hair as you’re comfortable with will help streamline the process. The shorter you’re willing to cut, the sooner you'll reach your color goal. A pixie cut or chin-length bob looks effortlessly cool, polished, and will help you get closer to your natural hue. (But even a few inches or adding bangs will help.)
Dye to match your natural hue
For some colors (think: a natural brunette who went blonde), it is possible to dye all of your hair to closely resemble your natural shade. But there are a few things to consider. Hair that has been lightened is much more porous and requires special care, so it’s important that you have a salon professional handle this for you (versus a DIY box color kit). It might require several appointments to get the color you’re aiming for. Hair that has been lightened and then dyed dark again can fade, so you’ll want to use color-preserving products, wear a hat or scarf in the sun, and stretch out time between wash days. Remember, even though it matches your natural color, you will still need to treat your hair like colored hair.
Highlight or lowlight to blur your line of growth
If you’re open to a slower transition that eases you into your new (old) look, think about adding highlights or lowlights to blur that solid line of regrowth. As your hair colour grows in, it will blend more naturally—letting you grow it out without adding more dye. Some colorists might suggest highlights or lowlights in addition to dying all of your hair, to help blend any color differences and to add dimension.
Support your hair color transition with products
Whichever route you and your stylist take, be sure to find a hair care product regimen that supports your plan. From how often you shampoo, to the products you use in the shower, to leave-ins and serums, building a tool kit of formulas that sync up with your hair goals will get you the results you want better and faster.
