To think I should give up on the salon and dye my own hair?

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Just that really.

Been getting a salob dye to cover greys for nearly a year now. Tried 3 different salons.

My hair is red which I know is hard to do. But AIBU to think that £70 (the going rate where I live) for colour which fades off the grey hairs after 2 washes in mild colour-safe products is just nonsense?

Am starting to think of doing it myself, any recommendations for brands? Shades?

Just to add for the general reader, only ever use something with golden or a warm tone on highlighted hair. Avoid green ash like the plague. That said not many box dyes contain many green ash tones (think khaki) for that reason. Anything labelled "natural" might though. If they say "not recommended" for bleached or highlighted hair you may wish to avoid. Violet ash is more user friendly. The bluey purple tone is often used in toning shampoos for highlighted hair. Mahogany can give quite a purple effect, particularly with lots of brown, as well as a darker result. it can also fade coppery. This is a big bugbear of box dye users which makes them dye again. Sometimes its not mahogany itself but the low level peroxide which lightens their natural colour (even if you are not gingery naturally) to an orangey tone) which is then exposed as the dye washes out. It is these situations a violet ash or even green ash can be useful.

Then people dye again and again to cover the copper tones which leads to a buildup of product which means a hairdresser won't go near them with highlights due to a fear of an orange result. This in time leads to "The Pauline Prescott Effect"

Also known as the "oh, shit" phenomena.

I bloody trained in hairdressing but 25 a few years ago.
Can't remember a thing.

Tatty you're a star!

I'm not on the PC right now but will rustle up a pic asap.

Would like to be a lovely blonde that I can do at home.

My hair is very ashy naturally,some grey.

Did a patch test with 2 tints but neither blonde enough. Don't like too gold or too violety. I am the original goldilocks,it needs to be juuuust right!!

Personally I think you need the hairdresser for red and blonde (am blonde myself and know all about the expense). Ultimately your hair is right there, on your head, possibly the first thing people will notice about you - not something to scrimp on, in my opinion.

I normally go every 6 weeks. I tip well. I can tell them when I'm not happy. Right now,I haven't got the usual funds & got ds at home & can't get to the salon so I need to do my best at doing a home colour.

My natural colour, no dye whatsoever, before I started going grey (only a couple of years ago, sob!)

littlepeas that's what I thought but I have been so disappointed with the results except for once. And I've seen 3 different colourists at different salons. I am on the verge of letting the grey grow in again because I think it's preferable to forking out £££ for something I hate. Hence this thread.

OP. I would buy Majirel 7.34 mixed with 20 volume peroxide.

Get Majirel 7.34 and buy 20 volume (6%) peroxide. Any brand will do (ebay).

Mix 1 tbps with 45 ml (1.5 tbsp.) for roots or 50ml (1 tube) with 75 ml (5 tbsp) for a whole head.

Do not do a whole head if you are already coloured - it wont lift. Instead get a head of highlights and take it from there.

Icelollycraving, you are quite light with a 6 base. I would use 30 volume peroxide (9%) and use Majirel 9.23 and if you are root glow/ginger get a t-section of highlights.

OP you could also try 6.35 with 20 volume, but I'd try the original suggestion first, and use the latter if you suffer "root glow".

I've been looking at koleston 12/89 for professional colour & blonde ultime lxx for ready home dye.

icelolly, if I were you trying to match root to tint I'd go for Majirel 9.12 with 30 volume peroxide. If roots look warm try a violet shampoo and if that doesnt' blend it get a t section of bleach highlights.

I'm a natural redhead but now in my 40s, quite grey post-kids
Have gone back and forth between hairdressers and home dye jobs for years! I've recently discovered Superdrug's own brand reds which are really good and look very natural. I alternate between Fire Red for winter and Mango Blaze (?) for a lighter summer colour. The mango is a gorgeous colour and I get loads of compliments. I'm def more of a ginger/copper rather than a true plum red if that makes sense. The Superdrug colours are really cheap, suitable for vegetarians and not tested on animals. Can highly recommend!