How to Ditch Salon Appointments and Colour Your Hair at Home

Covering grey hair can be an expensive and time-consuming affair.

It's not just the fact that those white hairs seem to grow back so fast that causes trouble; the dry and coarse consistency of the hair follicle can sometimes make hair look frizzy and unruly.

A touch of colour usually counters these common signs of ageing but it comes at a cost. Reaching for a home colour kit is much kinder on the purse strings and also means that you have the added convenience of being able to fit your colour regime around your lifestyle - not spending endless hours in the hairdresser's.

If you've never dyed your hair at home, it can seem a daunting prospect. But if the home hair dye shelf fills you with panic – fret not! We've got some great tips from nice'n easy's Colour Advisor Jonathan Long, to help you master the art of home hair dyeing for the ultimate in at-home grey coverage.

How to care for grey hair

1. Heated products, as well as changes in seasons, can add to the hair's ageing process. This causes unruly frizz and dullness in the hair, making it look damaged and unhealthy.

2. Grey hair, like skin, loses its pigment, so it becomes dry and brittle, lacking in moisture. Ensure to use a deep conditioner on grey hair to fully hydrate thirsty locks. Also use a mixed bristle brush that won't be as harsh on the hair.

3. Use a permanent colour. Permanent colour penetrates grey hair much more effectively, unlike semi-permanent hues that don't absorb colour easily, which means you'll have to dye your hair more regularly. 'Opt for an anti-ageing colourant that works to rejuvenate tired hair, pumping it full of moisture and shine,' recommends Jonathan.

4. Remember that as your hair turns grey, the overall shade of your hair will become lighter so be careful not to opt for harsh, dark tones that could age you even more. Opt for softer, warmer hues, a couple of shades lighter than your original colour, for a sleek, subtle update.

5. Embrace softer hairstyles that frame the face. For example, opt for low side ponytails sitting at the nape of your neck, for a soft flattering look. Pull a few strands of hair out from the ponytail to frame the face to soften the look even more. Josh Wood, dubbed the 'guardian of colour' and with a celebrity client list longer than you can imagine, has designed a range of blending wands to eradicate those unwanted greys as they begin to regrow. Created exclusively for M&S, these non-permanent wands come in seven different shades. Paint onto your roots while wet and see the result for yourself as you dry and style it in. Just like a magic wand.