Loading...

Aug 3, 2025

Hair Color Treatments for Greying Hair

For those of you who have colored grey hair, I'm curious about the hair color treatments available in most drugstores. They seem simpler to use than box dyes. It's been many years since I've colored my hair. It's a chestnut brown and my grey is more silver. I don't hate it but the grey is dry and making me feel like I look older than I am. I'm especially interested in the natural brands that are non-permanent. For example Rishiri Kombu sounds like a decent option. Looking forward to your recommendations and experience.

helloalissa

helloalissa

Kanji and design nerd.

6 Answers



  • genkidesu

    on Aug 4

    I'm mainly just here for the recommendations of others, because I'm too scared to dye my own hair yet and always prefer someone else letting me know their positive experiences with products. Not a drug store brand, but I do know that Lush have a range of henna hair dye products if you're looking for a less permanent option: https://www.lush.com/jp/ja/c/henna-hair-dye It's meant to be more gentle on hair, as far as I know.

    0
  • TonetoEdo

    on Aug 6

    Years ago, my friend convinced me to let her colour my hair with non-permanent colour. We were aiming for dark chestnut and I ended up with a slightly purple halo for a few weeks! I'm with genkidesu. If I were to attempt colouring my hair at home, I'd go henna.

    0
  • genkidesu

    on Aug 7

    @TonetoEdo I'm pleasantly surprised with Lush's lineup of henna colors, too. I'd probably need the strawberry blonde option, and I thought it was pretty inclusive to see that option available here in Japan!

    0
  • helloalissa

    on Aug 7

    @genkidesu Henna is an interesting option for sure. From what I've read, it is Not temporary, and it is essentially orange. There are other things like indigo added to make it possible to color hair brown or black. (It's strange to hear that there is a strawberry blonde option as I've also read that it can only be used to make hair a darker color and not go lighter. I guess it depends on your existing color.) In addition, if you end up with a color that isn't what you're going for, salons won't go near fixing it. It's supposedly so permanent that it can't be bleached out and redone. So if you end up trying that, test a small portion of your hair first. Maybe that is good advice for any first time hair color...

    0
  • BigfamJapan

    on Aug 28

    I responded to this yesterday, but the gremlins must have eaten it! I don't have the confidence to dye my hair myself, so I get it done in the hairdresser's. I get a shade lighter than my natural colour so the silver is less obvious when it grows back and so I get away with only colouring it three times a year. Fwiw I "wash" my hair with conditioner and don't use shampoo at all and that makes the silver less dry looking.

    0
  • helloalissa

    on Sep 4

    @BigfamJapan Interesting... about the washing with conditioner. I use shampoo only twice a week and still have dry hair, especially during the humid summer. I have tried a bunch of brands and it doesn't seem to matter. I started to dry my hair with a microfiber towel and I'm not sure if it has made a difference yet. I use natural hair oil (like coconut oil) and still get stray hairs after a while. Maybe I need to try the conditioning hair masks or other products.

    0

Awaiting More Answers

3 Answers

What do you most associate with Fukui Prefecture?

It is "Hometown Day" in Fukui Prefecture today. Whether you have been there or not, what do you most associate with Fukui Prefecture?

BigfamJapan

on Feb 7

5 Answers

Living on Japanese time?

Do you eat with your family at a particular hour? My interactions with neighbours and friends suggest their dinner time is much later than mine. I tend to aim for 7 p.m. Tell us about your dinner hour and the constraints of your work hours, family schedule. Gratuitous pic of summer soba prepared by my Japanese ojisan neighbour.

TonetoEdo

on Feb 5

5 Answers

February joys

February is just around the corner. January brought New Year festivities, wintersweet, tulips, snow, dondoyaki and so much more. What are you looking forward to in February? Be it weather related, traditions, festivals, flowers, seasonal food etc.- what you are looking forward to this February.

BigfamJapan

on Jan 27

3 Answers

What's on your "generic" local manhole?

My local area has some specialty manholes (including some from the Gundam manhole project not too far away!) but the most common "generic" one features mountains and watermelon. Fairly representative of the region, I think! What's on yours?

genkidesu

on Jan 17

8 Answers

Do you have a favorite mascot?

The other day, on "Strawberry Day" I wrote about "Yoshimin", the strawberry mascot of Yoshimi. I thought it might be fun to introduce a few others, so I've just written about "Tokimo" the mascot of Kawagoe. And I plan to introduce a couple of my favorites. It begs the question, do you have a favorite mascot? And how about writing a post on City-cost about your favorite or a local mascot? Pictured "Umerin" who I plan to write about next!

BigfamJapan

on Jan 17

8 Answers

Who is your hero!?

Today, January 16th, is Hero Day. Who is your favorite hero, fictional or otherwise? The first one who comes to my mind for me is a real life person; Mary Robinson, a former president of Ireland (moreover, the first female president), and a former United Nations High Commissioner of Human Rights, among other impressive roles. I had the great pleasure of meeting her in December, a dream come true. I was trying to think about who my favorite fictional hero is. I have not come to conclusion yet! There is such a choice. Do you have one?

BigfamJapan

on Jan 16

4 Answers

Recommendations for next Christmas?

While its somewhat fresh in your mind, what gifts came into your house this Christmas and / or New Year, that you thought were really nice things to receive and / or really good buys, that you think might make a good present for someone else in the future? As you might see in the product reviews, I am going through some of the things I bought for the kids this year and thinking of what I was really happy with. And already thinking of next year!

BigfamJapan

on Jan 11

4 Answers

Growing Mushrooms

Here's for a weird hobby. I just saw a video by an American Youtuber that I plan to watch about growing shiitake mushrooms. From what I've seen, it probably needs a bit of space. There was a local market in Fukuoka Prefecture that had a "mushroom room" where they grew and sold mushrooms like maitake and eringi. I also saw a video of a couple in Paris that built a mushroom growing shower room! The local hardware store sells "seeded" logs and shiitake mushroom growing kits. I have seen the logs around people's homes on occasion. It seems like a very odd, but sustainable hobby. Has anyone tried it, or is anyone interested to try this? I wonder how involved or beginner friendly it is.

helloalissa

on Dec 29

2 Answers

Japanese Christmas songs

Do you like any Japanese Christmas songs? If so, what is your favorite Japanese Christmas song? Or maybe you like the Japanese version of a traditional Christmas carol?

BigfamJapan

on Dec 19

2 Answers

Where do you visit Santa Claus?

Firstly, do you visit Santa Claus each year in Japan? And if so, where? I've been posting places you can meet Santa Claus in various parts of Japan on the blog section. If you are looking for somewhere to meet him this year, you'll find at least 25 places on City-cost.

BigfamJapan

on Dec 11

2 Answers

Did you feel the December 8th earthquake?

There was a large earthquake off the coast of Aomori Prefecture at 11.15 pm on December 8th 2025. We are approximately 700 kilometers from the epicenter, yet we felt it very strongly. Did you feel it and how far away (roughly) are you from the epicenter?

BigfamJapan

on Dec 9

7 Answers

Which airline do you prefer?

If money wasn't an issue, which airline and / or air route do you prefer when traveling to Japan?

BigfamJapan

on Dec 6