I wanted to find a way to manage my gray hair without using permanent dye. While dye makes my brunette hair look great for about a week, it quickly backfires as my roots grow in, making the gray even more noticeable.
The good news? There are alternatives to dye for minimizing gray hair. I’ve tried two of them and will share my experience. I haven’t used permanent dye since 2020. The bad news? I haven’t found a simple, foolproof way to completely eliminate gray hair without dye. Maybe science will get there one day, but for now, we have to work with what’s available.
One option I tried is Heyhair’s Gray Escape, a daily supplement that claims to reverse gray hair and promote growth. It sounds too good to be true, but after taking it for seven months, I believe it works—mostly. I still have gray hair, but much less than before. At one point, nearly half of my new hair growth was gray. Now, I’d estimate it’s down to about 15%.
I can’t say for sure if my hair is healthier or growing faster because I made other changes to my routine around the same time, like cutting back on heat styling. My hair does seem healthier, but I can’t credit Gray Escape alone for that.
Another product I tested is Hair Mayraki Restore, a gel-like formula that you apply to your roots. It claims to boost melanin production, helping hair regain its natural color. It’s vegan and free of sulfates, parabens, and formaldehyde.
Does it work? Yes, and it works faster than Gray Escape—if you follow the instructions. However, there’s a catch: it stains everything it touches, including your fingernails, pillowcase, and clothes. To avoid a mess, wear gloves, cover nearby surfaces, and use a silk bonnet if applying it before bed.
One interesting thing about Restore is that it doesn’t just affect new hair growth; it also changes the color of existing gray strands. On my hair, it turns them a light auburn shade, which blends in like subtle highlights. I’m not sure how it would work on naturally blonde hair, though.
I started using Hair Mayraki Restore last year while still coloring my hair with Clairol Natural Instincts, a semi-permanent dye. While Restore was effective, the staining and frequent touch-ups were inconvenient. That led me to try Gray Escape, but since it takes months to show results, I continued using Restore in the meantime.
Currently, my gray hair routine includes both products. It’s not the most budget-friendly approach, so if you’re looking for a more affordable option, Clairol Natural Instincts is a solid choice at around $8 on Amazon.
I don’t have anything against natural gray hair—some women look amazing with it. But for me, it didn’t work. My gray came in unevenly, creating a patchy, tabby-cat effect that I wasn’t a fan of.
If you’ve tried any other non-dye solutions for gray hair, I’d love to hear about your experience!