Going grey can be a natural part of aging, but some people prefer to cover up their greys or enhance their natural color. Pravana is a professional haircare brand that offers hair color products, including options formulated specifically for grey and silver hair. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how Pravana hair color works on grey hair and provide tips for achieving optimal results.
What is Pravana?
Pravana is a professional salon-quality haircare and hair color brand. Founded in 2003, Pravana aims to provide stylists with innovative hair products and exceptional education.
Some key facts about Pravana:
- Headquartered in Newport Beach, California
- Cruelty-free and vegan formulas
- Free of harsh chemicals like ammonia, parabens, and sulfates
- Used in salons worldwide
- Product lines include hair color, care, styling, and hair removal
Unlike box dyes, Pravana hair colors are only available through professional salons and stylists. This allows Pravana to offer salon-exclusive technologies and utilize professional formulations that would be too tricky for at-home use.
Pravana Hair Color Options
Pravana offers permanent, demi-permanent, and fashion hair color options. Here is an overview of the main Pravana hair color collections:
Permanent Hair Color
- ChromaSilk: Ammonia-free permanent cream hair color featuring silk proteins. Provides 100% gray coverage and rich, vivid color.
- Vivids: Highly pigmented permanent hair color for intense and vibrant fashion shades.
- Nevo: Low ammonia permanent hair color gel with argan oil. For natural-looking results.
Demi-Permanent Hair Color
- ChromaSilk Vivids: Depositing-only demi-permanent hair color. Reinforces and boosts previous Pravana Vivids applications.
- ChromaSilk Clear: Sheer glossing treatment and toner.
Fashion Hair Color
- Neon: Direct dye fashion hair color for bright vivid shades.
- Pastel: Vibrant pastel fashion shades.
- Silver: Designed to neutralize warmth and enhance silver and white hair.
In addition to these collections, Pravana also offers color enhancement and corrective services like hair lighteners and hair color removers.
Does Pravana Work on Grey Hair?
Yes, Pravana hair color is effective at covering grey hair. Here’s how it works:
Permanent Hair Color
Pravana permanent hair colors contain oxidation dye technology. This allows the artificial pigments to penetrate the hair shaft and permanently alter the natural melanin pigment that gives hair its color.
The permanent ChromaSilk, Vivids, and Nevo collections all provide 100% gray coverage when applied correctly. The hair color oxidizes and adheres to both colored hair and grey hair equally. This provides complete and uniform color results.
Demi-Permanent Hair Color
Demi-permanent hair colors do not alter the natural pigment like permanent hair color. However, demi-permanent dyes contain larger pigment molecules that coat the outside of the hair strand.
This allows them to temporarily cover greys. Demi-permanent shades will blend with or enhance the existing grey hair rather than completely cover it. Repeated applications help build coverage.
The ChromaSilk Vivids demi-permanent collection is excellent for refreshing previous Pravana Vivids applications. It helps boost shine and vibrancy as the permanent color fades.
Fashion Hair Color
Pravana’s Neon and Pastel shades are direct dye fashion colors. They provide sheer to medium coverage better suited for pre-lightened hair.
The Pravana Silver collection is specially formulated to neutralize yellow and enhance grey. The blue-violet tones counteract warmth and brighten natural silver, white, and grey shades.
Tips for Using Pravana on Grey Hair
Here are some top tips to maximize your Pravana hair color results on grey hair:
Choose the Right Formula
Consult your stylist to select the right Pravana shade and formula for your base color and level of gray. Permanent hair color will provide the best coverage for significantly grey hair.
Lighten First If Needed
Pravana permanent hair color can be applied directly to natural gray or lightened hair. For dark grey bases, pre-lightening is recommended to achieve vivid results.
Use 10 Volume Developer
In most cases, a 10 volume creme developer is best for grey coverage as it won’t lighten or lift the hair. Higher volumes may over-process grey hair.
Apply Thoroughly
Ensure the product coats every strand, using thin subsections for precise application. This helps prevent any uneven results.
Process Fully
Leave the color on for the full development time recommended for grey hair. Rinse thoroughly only once the time has completed.
Use Color-Protecting Products
Maintain results by using sulfate-free shampoos, cool water, and products like ChromaSilk Silver Shine Toner. Avoid chlorine and heat styling when possible.
How Long Does Pravana Last on Grey Hair?
| Pravana Hair Color Type | Lasts on Grey Hair |
|---|---|
| Permanent | 4-6 weeks |
| Demi-permanent | 4-12 shampoos |
| Fashion | 15-20 shampoos |
The longevity of Pravana hair color depends on the specific formula, shade, and frequency of washes. Permanent hair color lasts the longest on grey hair when applied to lightened hair. Expect demi-permanent and fashion shades to fade more quickly.
Proper maintenance is key for lasting results. Be sure to use sulfate-free color-safe shampoo and conditioning products to get the most wear from your Pravana color.
Before and After Pravana on Grey Hair
It can be helpful to see before and after photos of Pravana hair color on grey hair. Here are some examples of the gray coverage and transformation you can achieve:
Light Silver Gray to Violet
| Before: | After: |
Dark Gray to Copper Brown
| Before: | After: |
Salt and Pepper to Soft Blonde
| Before: | After: |
As you can see, Pravana offers endless possibilities for gray hair transformation. A professional stylist can work with your natural hair to achieve gorgeous results.
How To Care for Pravana Color Treated Grey Hair
Preserving your Pravana hair color results involves proper maintenance. Here are some tips:
- Use sulfate-free, color-safe shampoo and conditioner.
- Wash hair in cool water and limit washing to every 2-3 days.
- Apply a weekly nourishing hair mask or treatment.
- Use leave-in treatments with UV filters before sun exposure.
- Avoid drying elements like pool water, salt water, and chlorine.
- Trim your hair regularly to remove dry ends.
- Limit use of hot styling tools which can cause fading.
It’s also advisable to schedule occasional toner appointments with your colorist to refresh your shade as it fades. Well-cared for Pravana color can last 4-6 weeks on grey hair.
Takeaways
- Pravana permanent, demi-permanent, and fashion hair colors can all effectively cover grey hair when used correctly.
- For the best coverage on significantly grey hair, permanent oxidative formulas are ideal.
- Pre-lightening very dark grey bases first allows the most vibrant results.
- Pravana hair colors transform grey hair with long-lasting, salon-quality results.
- Proper maintenance and aftercare is essential for maximizing the longevity of Pravana color.
In conclusion, Pravana offers high-performance professional hair color ideal for grey coverage. When applied by a skilled colorist, Pravana can refresh and revitalize grey hair with gorgeous, vivid results. Consult with your stylist to see if Pravana is right for your hair.