How to Grow Out Gray Hair, Stage by Stage

Growing out dyed hair to your natural gray takes as long as it takes to replace the dyed length, because permanent dye does not wash out. Cleveland Clinic says scalp hair grows 4 to 6 inches a year, so each inch of dyed hair takes 2 to 3 months to grow out. The timeline depends mostly on how long your hair is and how short you are willing to cut it.

This page is part of our guide to caring for gray hair. It covers why the process takes the time it does, what each stage looks like, and the choices you have along the way.

Why dyed hair has to grow out

Permanent hair dye works inside the hair. A 2015 review in the International Journal of Trichology explains that its color is permanent. The white roots that show 10 to 15 days after coloring are new growth, not dye washing out. That is why the review says roots need a touch-up after 15 to 30 days, applied only to the new growth.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) agrees that permanent and semi-permanent synthetic dyes last the longest, while natural colors such as henna fade more quickly. So if you have used permanent color for years, that color stays in the hair you already have. You can cut it off, all at once or a little at a time, or you can lighten it, which has costs of its own (see the options below). Our page on permanent, demi and semi-permanent dye explains how each type works.

How fast the gray comes in

Cleveland Clinic gives two ways to think about growth. One of its articles says scalp hair grows 4 to 6 inches a year, which is 10.2 to 15.2 centimeters. Its page on the hair follicle says hair grows about 1 centimeter a month.

Research on single hairs gives similar figures. In a 2004 study in the European Journal of Dermatology, white hairs grew 0.38 millimeters a day and pigmented hairs 0.35 millimeters a day. Over 30 days, that is 11.4 and 10.5 millimeters. Growth also varies from person to person. A 2016 study of 2,249 young adults from 24 ethnic groups found that hair growth differed by scalp area, sex and geographic origin. On average, African hair grew more slowly in that study and Asian hair faster.

Not every hair grows at the same moment. Cleveland Clinic notes that about 80 percent of your hair is actively growing at any time. The AAD describes the rest of the cycle: a hair may be resting without getting any longer, or falling out. A resting hair does not get longer, so not every root grows out at the same pace.

The stages

The timing below uses the Cleveland Clinic rate of 4 to 6 inches a year. Your own pace may be a little faster or slower.

Stage	Gray at the roots	What you see	Common choices
First 3 months	1 to 1.5 inches	The sharpest contrast between gray roots and dyed hair	Root spray or powder for short-term cover; highlights or lowlights to blur the line
Around 6 months	2 to 3 inches	Two clear colors; the gray may feel different from the dyed ends	A shorter cut, or trims every few weeks
Around 12 months	4 to 6 inches	Enough gray for a short cut; longer hair is still two-tone	Cut to the gray, or keep trimming
The last cut	Your chosen length	Only the last dyed ends remain	Cut them off

The first months are usually the hardest, because the line is easy to see and very little gray has grown yet.

Options that make the change easier

Option	What it does	Trade-off
One short cut	Removes most of the dyed hair at once	A big change in length
Regular trims	Removes the oldest dyed ends a little at a time	Two colors for longer
Highlights or lowlights	Blurs the line between gray and dyed hair	Salon time, cost, and one more chemical treatment
Demi-permanent color	Fades after 10 to 15 shampoos or sooner, according to the 2015 review	Needs repeating while the gray grows
Root spray or powder	Covers the root line for a short time	Must be applied again
Lightening the old color with bleach	Makes the dyed lengths closer to the gray	Bleach can weaken hair and lead to breakage

A few notes on these choices:

• Blending. Highlights and lowlights are covered in our guide to gray blending and lowlights. They add a chemical service, and the AAD suggests having only one chemical service at a time.
• Demi-permanent color. The 2015 review also says demi-permanent color covers gray less fully than permanent dye because it reaches only the cuticle. During a grow-out, that softer result can help.
• Short-term cover. For events, see root touch-up products.
• Bleach. The same review lists bleach among the chemical treatments that can weaken hair and increase friction between hairs, leading to breakage.

Trims help whichever path you choose. In a Cleveland Clinic article, dermatologist Wilma Bergfeld says regular trims keep hair from breaking.

Caring for two textures at once

For months, you will have two kinds of hair: new gray at the roots and older dyed hair at the ends. They may not behave the same way. A 2011 study in the International Journal of Cosmetic Science found that in many people, gray hairs differed from pigmented hairs, including small differences in how they take up and lose water. Across the whole group, the differences were few. Our page on why gray hair feels different explains the research.

A few habits help both parts:

• Condition after every shampoo. The AAD recommends it, and repeats the advice for hair that has been colored.
• Keep heat low. The AAD suggests the lowest heat setting and using hot tools once a week or less. Heat can also yellow white hair; our page on styling gray hair explains how to style with less of it.
• Watch for yellow. New gray can pick up a yellow cast. A toning shampoo can help, and Healthline notes it is safe on color-treated hair when used correctly. See yellowing and purple shampoo for how to use one.

For a longer look at timing by hair length, read how long growing out gray hair takes. If you are thinking about a new cut for the change, our editors' view on haircuts that work with gray hair may help.

When to see a doctor

Graying that arrives slowly with age is normal. Sudden or patchy graying, or graying with other symptoms, is a reason to see a doctor. The AAD notes that some underlying conditions, such as a vitamin deficiency, can affect hair color. If you are stopping dye because your scalp reacted to it, know that the AAD says some ingredients in longer-lasting dyes may irritate the scalp or cause skin allergies. Our page on hair dye allergies and patch tests explains the signs.

We are building LIUMIQ, a gradual color product for gray hair. It is not available yet. Join the waitlist if you would like to hear how the work goes.