I've tried to go back and find the answer to this question to no avail. I am 33 and have been dying my hair since I was 18 when I started going gray. I was recently diagnosed hypothyroid so that explains why I started going gray so early. Here also lies the problem. I have been losing alot of hair so I need to be as gentle as possible with it. I use Nioxin and it seems to be doing great, but my gray is all over the place. My roots are so bad and it makes me look old. I forgot to mention that my hair is dark brown. That makes the gray even more noticable. Not only do I have to deal with this horrendous weight gain from my thyroid, but now this. I am due for dying any day now, but decided to let it grow out. I guess my question is, should I hilite it instead and how do I get this old dye off of my hair without hurting it further? I feel like if I could get all of the gray to shine through, it might look good to have it hilited a silver color or dark blonde something. I have no idea...please help me. Thank you!

Well, I am a natural medium blonde and am 43. I have highlited my hair off and on for years. But since I started getting a few grays here and there the highliting desn't seem to "take" as well. I have always done it myself with an at home kit...I think if you read the box most of them say "doesn't cover gray" so...as I get grayer in the coming years I may have to resort to coloring first and then highliting over the color.

You really can't remove the old color without further damaging your hair. You will have to strip off the old dye, but even then you won't be back to your original color as the stripper strips out all color both dyed and natural.

So I just let it grow out? It looks so bad. I use a level 2 hair color which supposedly washes off in 28 shampoos, but it is so dark on the ends and the gray is all at the top. Don't really know from here what to do with it. Any ideas?

Cut off as much as you can and let it grow out, if you want to go back to your natural color.

But I'm only 33. There has to be some alternative to dying every month.

I have used Nioxin and it is a good product. I have to say it helped slow down and even restore some new hair growth in my temple area. As for hair coloring why not try to use a "natural one" like a Henna from a health store? I have never used one but I have to think they are easier on your hair. I was at my local nutrition store yesterday and happend to glance at them. The box said it covered gray. Ya never know, it may be worth a try.