Embracing Your Grey

At Architeqt Color Bar we pride ourselves in having our fingers on the pulse of any trend that finds its way into the mainstream. From money pieces to baby lights, block coloring to root smudges, we are always working on our craft to bring your hair color visions to life.

Most recently, though, we’ve been seeing a new trend that has been gaining popularity since the pandemic: the grey transition.

You’ve probably started seeing these women more now than ever—proudly stepping out into the world with grey roots that they committed to growing out during lockdown.

More and more, we find clients requesting different services to embrace their natural grey—whether it be a subtle highlight service to blend out their newly discovered grey hair or doing a full transition color correction so they can move away from the ritual of regularly coloring their hair altogether.

Whether you’re new to the grey game or a veteran of the 4-week root touch-up looking to go “au naturel,” we’re here to break down a few different grey blending options so you can find the right one to help achieve your grey hair color goals.

Demi Permanent

You’ve probably heard this term before but maybe don’t quite know what a Demi permanent color really is.

Demi’s (also sometimes referred to as “semi”) are colors that color the hair using little to no ammonia. Because of their minimal-to-no ammonia content, this color doesn’t deposit as deep into the hair shaft as a permanent color, making it an excellent option if you have very minimal grey hair and are looking to blend it without covering it completely.

This color is very conditioning, with a translucent finish that will leave your hair with high shine, sheer coverage, and no visible line of demarcation as your hair grows in—making it a great option for anyone new to coloring their hair.

If you’re under 50% grey and don’t want to commit to being in the salon every 4–5 weeks, this option might be for you. Demi colors typically last 6–8 weeks depending on how often you shampoo your hair and take approximately 20–30 minutes total in the salon.

These colors can also be customized to enhance your hair’s natural undertones as well as tone down any natural brassiness you may notice. At a starting price point of $50+, this is also a more economical option for clients who are good candidates for this service.

Babylights / Highlight Blending

Maybe you’ve been doing a Demi for a few years and you notice you’ve moved into the “above 50% grey” category but you still want to be as low maintenance as possible.

Or maybe you’ve been coloring your hair with permanent color and want to move away from the upkeep of a single process root touch-up and embrace your natural grey dimension. For these clients, we might recommend a Babylight or Highlight blending service.

This technique uses subtle highlight placements to break up pre-existing lines of demarcation to blend your grey roots to ends. It is recommended for clients who are over 50% but under 75% grey.

These clients might find they’re more white/grey around their front hairline, part, and crown but have more of their natural color in the back of their head. By following the hair’s natural grey pattern with a soft highlight, we’re able to diffuse any pre-existing color by adding a dimensional grey-toned highlight roots to ends.

Maintenance: Ideally, a cool-toned gloss every few months as needed, depending on how dark your existing color is. Clients with darker Demi permanent or permanent color may require more work to safely lighten the hair to the desired level.

• For this reason, we always recommend an in-person consultation with one of our grey specialists.

At a starting price point of $150–$180 for a partial or full highlight, this service is moderately priced and can usually be maintained with highlights twice a year or occasional glosses as your natural grey grows in.

 Full Grey Transition

If you’re over 75% grey and tired of coming in every 3–5 weeks for a touch-up, you may be a good candidate for a full grey transition.

** Important: This is considered a full color correction and depends heavily on your hair’s color history.

• If you’ve used black or very dark box color, Madison Reed/eColor services, or ANY henna, you are not a candidate. These products are nearly impossible to remove safely and often cause chemical reactions.
• Transparency is key—we need to know every detail of your color history to maintain the integrity of your hair.

If your hair is free of box dye, henna, or Overtone, and you’re ready to take the plunge, this may be the right choice!

These services are meticulous and labor-intensive, often taking 7+ hours and sometimes multiple sessions. Pricing is done at an hourly rate due to the time and detail involved.

Why we recommend waiting 3 months: Growing your natural grey for a minimum of 3 months allows us to follow your hair’s natural grey pattern and ensures you truly love the way you look before committing.

Maintenance: Typically, a light gloss refresh every 6–10 weeks. Otherwise, you’re free from the cycle of root touch-ups!

Not Ready Yet?

Maybe you’re not ready to take the plunge and you still love the ritual of the monthly salon experience. If that’s the case, our Color Bar Membership Program might be perfect for you.

We offer 3 different membership packages tailored to your hair color needs. Each tier includes added perks such as:

• At-home root touch-up kits for when you can’t make it in
• Discounts on professional products
• Complimentary conditioning treatments
• And more!

To learn more about our membership programs or schedule a consultation with one of our colorists, fill out our online consultation form or contact either of our Ardmore or Rittenhouse locations.