Home hair colours - what's the Holy Grail?

[KoalaDownUnder]

Finally accepted that I need to start colouring my own hair, as part of Budget 2017.

Haven't used a box dye in years, and I know new formulas come out regularly. What's the best on the market? I have longish, fine, medium-brown hair - looking for grey coverage and shine.

Thanks in advance!

[Unicorn81]

I use this all the time, foam is so much easier to work with

www.johnfrieda.co.uk/homecolour/precision-foam-colour/

[mizu]

Second this, easy to use.

[GayParee]

I was perfectly happy with nice n easy light ash brown, good coverage and pretty close to natural hair colour.

I would recommend going a shade lighter than you think though, they always come out very dark

[EatSpamAmandaLamb]

I use nice n easy inbetween salon colours for my roots, I need to do my roots every 3 weeks because I have very dark hair that grows quickly. My hairdresser compliments me on it and it looks very natural.

[camtt]

another john frieda, it's easy to use and has decent natural looking colours

[ginorwine]

Can you do just yr roots with the foam one or do you need to apply to whole head to cover roots ?

[Mrsmaudwatts]

Buy the professional stuff online. I use loreal majirel

[GlitterGlue]

I don't find the John Freida foam much good for grey coverage, although it does make my hair very shiny.

[GlitterGlue]

L'Oréal Excellence does give good grey coverage, but is rather less good shine and condition wise.

[Flisstizzy]

Nice & easy gives good stubborn grey coverage. Olia dried my hair out terribly

[EatSpamAmandaLamb]

Yes nice n easy is very good at grey coverage.

[dementedpixie]

I ûse Garnier nutrisse

[KoalaDownUnder]

Thanks for all replies!

Greys are only at the temples/sides, not all the way through. My hairdresser does roots-only every second visit.

My hair is quite fine and porous, though, so am worried that if I do roots only it'll be really obvious?!

[dementedpixie]

You do roots first then apply to the ends for a shorter amount of time e.g. I do 25 minutes on roots then apply to the rest and leave for 10 more minutes

[KoalaDownUnder]

Thanks demented - can't believe I hadn't figured that out !

[JeNeSuisPasVotreMiel]

I find that the mid to dark brown dyes wash out to an orange shade.
I did get a brilliant Vogue dye that didn't do this a few months ago but I think it's been discontinued.
Dangnabbit.

[GlitterGlue]

You need an ash shade to avoid the orange. I find using touch of silver purple shampoo also helps avoid the ginge tinge.

[Knitella]

After reccomendations on here I have started using L'Oréal Majirel (6.0 deep dark blonde which comes out as a natural dark brown - my natural non grey colour). I am SO impressed with it. A lovely natural brown with better brown colour under light (i.e. not the orange reflect you often get), excellent coverage of grey and the colour has stayed beautifully well over the last few weeks.

I have used various box dyes for years on and off - going to the hairdresser at times when I've had more cash. This is by far the best. I'm so pleased!! Thanks S&B!

I purchased from Salons Direct and used the 20 vol L'Oréal oxydant as per instructions. Mega detailed instructions (74 pages covering various L'Oréal prof hair colour ranges) can be found here m.capitalhairandbeauty.co.uk/Downloads/Documents/Majirel_Guide.pdf

It explains colour coding/colour science in more detail than I've seen elsewhere.

I love that I have an extra tube I can use to mix up small quantities of dye for obvious roots between colours. If you use what you buy (the oxydant comes in a large bottle so covers many colour jobs) it is cheaper than box dyes or about the same price as a cheap one.

[JoJoSM2]

Perhaps you could look for a cheaper, mobile hairdresser? It seems a bit harsh to have to diy it...