The Ultimate Guide to Hair Color For Men

Even if they don’t talk about it, a lot of men color their hair and there’s nothing weird about it. Hair color for men can be used to boost natural color, cover grays, add dimension or to give you an entirely new shade. With so many different colors, products and terms to choose from and keep up with, the entire process can seem a bit daunting and it’s easy to feel like an outsider. 

So, read on as we share our top ten hair color tips for men, including hair color ideas and the best hair dye for men to help you boost your color. Consider this your guide to everything you need to know about men’s hair color.

Is It Okay for Men to Dye Their Hair?

Hair dye isn’t reserved for women and anyone who wants to color their hair can — that includes men. Coloring your hair can be a fun, expressive way to update your look and anyone that wants to experiment with hair color should. Whether you’re craving a big change or just want to add a little dimension to your hair, hair dye is the perfect tool to do so. Check out our best tips on the topic of men’s hair color, below.

1. Don’t Obsess Over Labels

The truth is, men can color their hair with the same products women use and that also applies to shampoo and conditioner and other styling products. The only difference is you might need less product to coat your entire head of hair if you rock a short hairstyle like a quiff or a buzzcut.

Editor’s tip: There is one exception to this rule and it applies to facial hair. While we totally approve of dyeing your beard or your brows, you shouldn’t use the same products you use for the hair on your head. Instead, you’ll always want to opt for hair dye that’s formulated for your beard and other facial hair because it will be gentler on your skin.

2. Decide If You Want to Cover Grays

If you want to cover grays, an easy solution is to cover them with hair dye that’s closest to your natural color. To cover gray hair at home, we recommend the L'Oréal Paris Men Expert One-Twist Hair Color. This ammonia-free hair dye (that’s specifically made with men in mind) works in as little as five minutes, blends grays with a no-mess formula and lasts up to six weeks. 

When it comes to picking your shade, if you’re in between two colors, go with the lighter one as it’s meant to naturally blend grays with the rest of your hair versus completely covering them. 

You can also opt for the L’Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Triple Protection Hair Color, one of the best hair dyes for men that offers total gray coverage (even on stubborn grays) in a variety of blonde, brown, red and black shades to help you find your perfect match.

3. Or, Rock Your Grays

If you want to embrace going gray, blending them in with your natural shade for a salt and pepper hair color is a great way to go. To achieve this look, highlights are a great hair color technique that can help to give your grays a seamless blend. You can head to a professional colorist or opt for an at-home alternative like the L’Oréal Paris Frost & Design, which is easy to use and the style needs less maintenance than coloring your entire head of hair. 

This highlighting kit features a time-saving formula and a fuss-free, pull-through cap that lets you select the exact strands of hair you want to highlight.

4. Try a Silver Shade

There’s power in rocking a whole head of silver hair — it’s handsome, distinguishing and eye-catching. It’s easy to see why so many intentionally opt for silver hair. To just get the look at home, we like the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color in Silver. Every color in the Féria line is custom-blended by L'Oréal Paris master colorists and comes with a specially-formulated conditioner to seal and smooth hair.

Once you embrace the silver fox look, make sure your shampoo and conditioner can support your new style. The L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Shampoo and the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Brass Toning Purple Conditioner are great options for color-treated silver hair as they help to banish unwanted brassy tones while keeping your hair moisturized. 

A consistent hair care routine with the right products can help to keep your hair looking and feeling its best which is especially important since silver hair (natural or colored) can be especially dry and become dull.

5. Give Natural-Looking Highlights a Try

When done the right way and with a light touch, highlights can offer a flattering refresh for any hair color, not just grays. To add depth and dimension to your strands, try the L’Oréal Paris Couleur Experte. 

Using the fingertip applicator, focus the formula only on the tips of your hair and around your temples, where the sun naturally hits your face. This way, you avoid frosted tips that rival early 2000s boy bands and instead look like you just spend a lot of time at the beach or in the sun.

6. Go for a Bold Hue

If you’re an adventurous type that wants to switch it up, going bold with your hair color is the best way to make a statement. Keep in mind, if you’re starting with dark hair, you’ll likely need to bleach your hair first. We like the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Bleach because it creates the perfect base for more vibrant colors and the instructions make it easy to do at home. Constant bleaching can damage your hair but if you rock a shorter hair style, it’s one less thing to worry about.

Once you have a lightened base, you can use the L’Oréal Paris Féria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Permanent Hair Color to rock an entirely new shade. If you aren’t sure just yet, temporary hair color is a great option and allows you to experiment before committing to a color. 

Our picks include the L'Oréal Paris Colorista Semi-Permanent Hair Color which fades in four to ten washes and the L’Oréal Paris Colorista Hair Makeup Temporary 1-Day Hair Color Spray which washes out with shampoo session.

7. Switch to Hair Care Products Made for Color-Treated Hair

Choosing to embrace a new hair color comes with the responsibility of caring for your colored strands and that means using sulfate-free products that are formulated for color-treated hair. To keep your color looking fresh, we recommend the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Color Care Bond Strengthening Shampoo and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Bond Strengthening Conditioner. This cleansing duo is safe for color-treated hair and helps to strengthen hair inside and out by reinforcing weak hair bonds.

To boost shine while preserving hair color, try the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Shampoo, pH Balanced and the L’Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Glossing Conditioner, pH Balanced. This glossing duo cleanses without stripping color, leaving hair silky, soft and smooth with a glossy finish that lasts.

8. Preserve Color and Moisture With a Hair Mask

Everyone can enjoy some pampering from time to time, especially when you have colored strands. Since coloring your hair can be damaging, (mainly if you sport a longer hairstyle) it’s really important to give back to your strands with a hydrating hair mask. Once a week, switch out your conditioner for a hair mask like the L'Oréal Paris EverPure Sulfate-Free Signature Masque, Color Care Hair Mask. This mask works to restore smoothness and provide intense hydration for color-treated, damaged hair.

9. Embrace Root Touch-Up Products

Unless you opt for a low-maintenance hair color technique like balayage highlights, you’ll need to retouch your hair color fairly often. If you notice your roots growing in but don’t have time for a refresh, there’s an easy solution known as root touch-up products. For a quick fix, we recommend the L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Precision Pen, a temporary root cover-up that’s perfect for masking scattered grays. It’s super slim and can fit anywhere from your pocket to your travel bag, so you can take it with you no matter where you're headed.

Another quick option with application in less than ten minutes and complete gray coverage is the L’Oréal Paris Magic Root Root Rescue 10 Minute Root Hair Coloring Kit. It’s perfect for regrowth of three weeks or less and the quick precision applicator makes for easy touch-ups.

10. Switch up Your Hairstyle

Don’t feel boxed into sticking with one change at a time. If you just updated your hair color, it’s not a bad idea to complement it with a new hairstyle or haircut, too. If you have longer hair, try a shorter style like a voluminous quiff or a fade. If hair gel is your go-to, try reaching for pomade like the L’Oréal Paris Studio Line Overworked Hair Putty to tousle your hair and create a lived-in look that spotlights your new color.

Next: The Best Medium Length Hairstyles For Men

Edited by: Reece Andavolgyi, Photo credit: Chaunte Vaughn