How to dye grey roots and refresh your hair colour at home

By Lauren C. Created on November 12, 2025.

All hair is the same - said no person, ever. Hence why we’re so set on learning what works best for us. We want to know which products, techniques, tools and tricks will get the best glossy greatness and colour vibrancy out of our own unique hair. And trust us, a bit of personal hair knowledge about how to cover grey roots at home, how to dye roots at home, and how to colour roots at home really can make all the difference.

But here’s something we hadn’t considered before. Whether curly, straight, thick or fine, natural blonde, coloured brunette, redhead or other, the hair at our roots isn’t the same as the lengths. Yep, that’s right, we’re talking about different hair, on the same head.

It makes perfect sense really. Especially for those of us with long hair whose lengths have seen years of weather changes, heat styling, brushing, and the rest. Our roots however? Not so much. And our colouring habits need to reflect that.

How to manage grey roots?

First-time hair colourers have less rules to regard. That’s because their hair is only being hit with one, fresh layer of colour. However, hair that’s already seen an at-home colour kit or two is a slightly different story. Josh recommends the easiest way to colour roots at home is by packing the dye onto the roots first, then only drawing it through lengths for the final 5-10 minutes of the total processing time. (This is also helpful for anyone wondering how long to leave hair dye in for grey hair—the answer varies, but the roots almost always need the full development time.)

It’s a rule that works well for hair that's one colour all over.

But, what about those with balayage, grown-out highlights, or what Josh calls ‘environmental colour’—hair that lightens towards the ends, as it would in the sun. For them, pulling a darker ‘root colour’ through the lengths wouldn’t be advised, unless you want to switch from ombre to all-over. But is there a way to preserve lightened ends? And what are we supposed to do when it comes to root-to-tip greys?

To find out, we cover four hair colour scenarios. From grey regrowth, to protecting your balayage, preventing colour buildup and more—let’s find out how to colour roots and refresh lengths at home, the right way for your own unique hair.

How to colour grey roots at home?

Whether black, brown or even red, when hair leans towards the dark side, touching up grey regrowth can be a straightforward task. If, that is, you’ve got the correct colour, and the right technique. For permanent colour kits, Josh advises you, “Match the colour swatch on the box to your roots, not your ends."

As for technique, follow Josh as he guides us through the at-home colour process in this how-to video.

Thoroughly brush your hair first. “The less tangles, the less messy the process,” says Josh.
Pop on your protective gloves, then apply the barrier cream around your hairline.
Cover your shoulders with a dark towel to catch any drips.
Mix all of A (Your expert colour) into B (Colour activator) “and make sure you give it a really good shake so it mixes in really well,” says Josh.
To apply the colour, Josh says to “Start really low, just above your ear and work from the hairline towards the back. Then give the product a good rub into the roots.”
To catch any stubborn greys, “Do little dots all the way along your hairline, and then rub the colour in.”
“It’s really hard to colour the back of your own hair,” Josh admits, “but one tip is to start at the top of your head, and work backwards.”
Try to apply in small sections for an even finish and to make sure all regrowth is coloured.
Wait 20 minutes for the roots to process (again answering how long to leave hair dye in for grey hair—20 minutes minimum for roots), then it’s time to refresh your ends.
Apply the leftover colour through the lengths for the final 10 minutes.
Rinse, shampoo, and apply the deep conditioning treatment.

“The result is brilliantly covered grey hairs at the root, and the shine and tone on the ends is really amazing after the colour refresh,” Josh reveals.

How to cover root-to-tip greys at home?

Nothing’s more telling of home-coloured hair than a block-colour finish, says Josh. “Hair has natural tonal differences, with highs and lows throughout.” This is why he designed the Shade Shot system—to create a multi-tonal, dimensional finish.

Champagne or Chestnut adds warmth, while Icy or Smoky add cool depth.

With the right combo, you can get a professional, soft, blended finish at home.

Is it better to go lighter or darker to cover grey hair?

For the best grey coverage, Josh recommends choosing a shade close to your natural root colour (that’s the colour between the greys). Never stray more than two shades from this.

If you want a dramatic change—lighter or darker—visit a salon. You’ll also need to keep up with more frequent root touch-ups.

How to cover grey roots on highlighted hair at home?

If your regrowth is darker than your blonde lengths, you’ll need lifting power—and that’s where at-home kits rarely succeed, Josh warns. Bleached blondes should leave root lifting to the pros.

But you can maintain your tone at home using glosses. These semi-permanent masks boost shine, enhance tone, and refresh colour without altering root shade.

For blending dark roots between salon visits, use: