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Favorite box hair dye?

Aquamarine

Veteran

What is your favorite box hair dye? First world problem for sure, but trying to plan ahead in case my salon—and others—close (my hairdresser is in a high-risk group, too). I’m probably 80% grey and have transitioned to a lighter mid-brown permanent color from a dark brunette recently, so I have needed toner to keep the color from turning red, if it matters. I’d just touch up the roots.

Any tips on how to pick the correct color also appreciated.

This post feels so surreal...but everything is changing so fast, daily it seems, in my state.

General

16 replies

Latest reply was from Cardiff girl

kkards

Veteran

i've never done my own dye. i was wondering what i was going to do about my appointment this weekend, but the county just made the decision for me. maybe this will make me decide to "go grey", or maybe i'll just have roots that annoy me for 3-6 weeks, only time will tell.

April

Veteran

Mine has always been something from L'Oreal. First it was their Feria line, then as my gray got more dominant, I went with their Excellence line because it's supposedly the best at covering gray.

RobinF

Veteran

Before I decided to grow out my gray I colored my own hair. I really liked the Vidal Sassoon line but it got hard to find so I'm not sure if it is still available anywhere, I had to buy it on Amazon. I also liked Clairol Age Defy. I liked these because they didn't seem to damage my hair. When I was younger I used Color Silk (super cheap) and it was very damaging.

Bijou

Veteran

It may be worth giving your hairdresser a call to see if she/he can give you a take home pack of your colour "just in case". I have travelled and my hairdresser kindly sold me the colour and instructions for another stylist - it worked out perfectly.

For my colour, I plan (if things get worse and I have to cancel my appointment) to get a toner from my hairdresser. So not the usual blonde streaks that I get (as that would be too hard for me to manage) but at least a toner I would apply it all over and it helps to minimise the regrowth and any brassy tones.

Feeling happy about how your hair looks and not feeling like every day is a bad hair day helps to stay positive. You have raised a good point.

Anonymous

I'm using this one, originally found at Whole Foods but also on Amazon, but I have very little grey. I bought a dark brown too and did the underlayer (where needed) with that, and the top layer (where needed) with this one. Only mixed about a third of the color for each instead of tossing so much unused color.

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Jeanne M

I've been using Naturcolor (https://naturcolor.com) for close to 15 years now (also at Whole Foods, though harder to find these days). I have significant grey/white, and it covers easily and without damage. The color is variegated, not flat, and their after-color wash and conditioner leave your hair beautifully shiny and full of body.

I rarely need a whole bottle, but what you don't mix with the activator can be safely stored. A tiny bottle lasts me 3 applications for shoulder-length hair. I order several boxes at a time, by telephone from California, and they ship quickly.

Jenava

(website)

Veteran

I used Madison Reed between salon visits before i stopped color completely. I liked the color a lot. I used Root Reboot Trevi 5C.

hereforthecake

I use Loreal Excellence. Except for about a year, I've been colouring my hair since I was 13! I use Loreal Excellence for the last few years and find it covers grey well, with very little damage.

madeline

Veteran

I have used Naturtint also. It doesn’t seem to dry out my hair as much as other box hair dyes. When you are choosing colors, be aware that as we age, darker colors can be too harsh.
Even if your hair color was very dark as a young person, you may need a lighter tint when you cover the gray.

Aquamarine

Veteran

These are great suggestions, Fabbers! Thanks so much. Lots to think about.

Bijou, I am feeling very stressed these days (as I am sure many of you are), and I agree self-care may help.

rachylou

Veteran

I just got an email from my salon because they’re shutting down. The shutdown is gonna be hard on them - they directly asked for continued support. Anyways, they offered to ship touch-up and other hair products by mail... maybe your salon would do the same.

Aquamarine

Veteran

Rachy, my hairdresser texted me this morning saying they’re considering shutting down, as I feared. Thinking about your suggestion and Bijou’s, I’m guessing they won’t offer. It’s a very small chain (3 salons in 3 area towns) but each salon must have 20 hairdressers. Guessing it would be chaos for them to do this for all the customers.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I hadn’t thought about this but you are right,it’s going to be an issue.Not sure what I can do about it though,maybe I am going to find out just how grey I am!

Roberta

Veteran

Ha, my stylist just texted her clients to let us know she was shutting down for two weeks. Her last sentence was "Please, please, don't panic and box dye your own hair!" I laughed out loud. I'm going to have a serious stripe.

kkards

Veteran

Roberta...yes to the stripe....at this point its the least of my worries.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I have bought a home highlighting kit.l used to do this as a cash strapped teenager but it will be a different ball game with the greys to cover now!I figured that I could just do my parting and a few at my temples if I got desperate plus it will be entertainment in the long months that now stretch ahead.