The Best Ways to Get Back to Your Natural Hair Color, Explained and Illustrated

There is no quick fix when it comes to going back to natural hair color after bleaching, but with a good plan and some inspiration images, you’ll be on the right path. Read on for the modern methods to go back to your natural hair color with all these stunning before and after images and helpful tips.

Re-Dyeing Bleached Hair Your Natural Tone

If you’re worried that growing out dyed hair is just going to take too long, redyeing your hair with a tone that’s as close as possible to your original color can be the quickest fix. In essence, it’s a bit of a smoke and mirrors approach, as your hair is still technically dyed, it’s just a more natural shade. One of the biggest bonuses of this approach is that as it starts to grow out, the distinction between your natural and dyed hair will be hardly visible.

If you’d like to get your natural hair color back this way, it’s best to consult a professional stylist first and let them pick the right product for you. Such caution is needed because each dye and natural hair have their own levels and underlying pigments, mixing which can sometimes produce unexpected results. For example, you cannot beautifully color bleached hair brown without filling hair with red pigment first. Without this step, the color can turn greenish or muddy.

@eunicekimhair

@hairby_emery

@hairbylisamathews

@modestspotcarrillo

@andyhairdresser

@sarabotsfordhair

Getting a Reverse Balayage

Another great step is asking your colorist to tone down your blonde balayage with lowlights. Hand-painted hues will help the natural color showing through in your roots blend seamlessly into the rest of your colored hair. If you’re looking for how to get back to your natural color or at least make you bleached hairstyle much more low-maintenance, this could be the best approach. These before and after examples prove how stunning these transitional looks can be.

@del_moon_hair

@lisaclarkhair__

@modestspotcarrillo

@lisaclarkhair__

@xo.farhana.balayage

@un.rooted

@avethehairfixerupper

Going Back from Black Hair

Transitioning from black hair dye back to your natural hair color can be a long journey. Since black dye often penetrates deeply into the hair shaft, it can be challenging to remove it completely without causing damage. One approach is to gradually lighten the hair with the help of a professional colorist, using techniques like color stripping or bleaching followed by toning to achieve a more natural shade.

@aclemmhair

@jenndidthat__

@diana.levelten

Transitioning From and To Red Hair

Whether you want to get back to your natural red hair or transition to natural blonde or brown shades after dyeing hair red, you need to follow the same processes as with other colors. If your current shade is lighter and want to get a rich brown or red brown shade, remember to fill it with red pigment first.

If your current color is darker than you want it to be, start by stripping the color to fade it a bit, then tone your hair the desired transitional shade. If you want to step back from reddish tones, choose hair dyes with ash, cool undertones and blue toners to counteract warmth and brassiness.

@beautyby.mirandaa

@lib_george

@alyssamikaylaaa

Going Back to Your Natural Gray Hair

Transitioning to gray hair can be a challenging journey for many women who have spent years covering it with hair dyes. Growing out gray hair requires patience and commitment, as the process can take time and may involve noticeable color variations during the transition period.

Adding highlights and lowlights can help blend the natural gray with the dyed hair, creating a soft, more gradual transition. This technique adds depth and dimension to the hair, resulting in a flattering appearance as the gray hair continues to grow out.

@dianastyless_

@hairbydomd

@suzycolorist

Growing Colored Hair Out and a Big Chop

If you refuse to dye your hair ever again, be brave and go for it. Take inspiration from celebrities like Drew Barrymore, Ciara, and even Beyoncé, who have all rocked grown out roots at some point.

Shampoos and conditioners that deposit color can help you tone bleached ends and keep your hair in good condition. There might also be times when you’d prefer to cover your roots, and there are options to do just that. Root concealers are a temporary solution, but they’re completely effective, and come in a variety of shades.

Regular trims will help a lot too. You need to keep hair fresh, especially over-processed ends. This way, you’ll find time passes quicker, and your hair will look better during the transition too. And if you are not afraid of getting rid of dyed hair the quickest way, going for a big chop will do just that. The shorther you new cut is, the less time it will take to grow out your natural hair color. Alternatively, let your roots grow at least two inches and then head for the salon for a trendy pixie cut.

@salsalhair

As you can see, you can’t go back to your natural hair color after permanent dye overnight. On the other hand, the journey back to the roots may introduce you to some stunning transitional styles and new cuts, so why not enjoy the experience and change!

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