to think home dye kits are just as good as going to the hairdressers?

[papayasareyum]

I've always spent about £90 for a cut and colour and been happy with the results. The last time I came out and was chatting to a school mum who said she always dyes her own hair at home. Not highlights, just a mid reddish brown semi permanent dye kit. Her hair does always look lovely.
Can home dye jobs look as good and if so, can you recommend a nice mid brown colour?! When I think how much I'm spending at the hairdresser, it makes me cringe!

[BennyTheBall]

As IF Holly doodah dyes her own hair! Or Davina for that matter.

I do a bit of both.

I am plagued with grey roots, thanks to my 'grey from a teenager' genes. I sometimes home dye just the roots, but go regularly to the hairdresser for a pro job. But it's blimmin expensive (£150 )

[LosingTheWillToSkate]

I prefer a hairdresser by far, but can't always afford to spend 4 hours getting my hair done. When I can't I use a John Frieda one.

[Piemernator]

I did go to the hairdresser but have become allergic to dye. If anyone has any pointers to a anything gentle and the results they got please write here. Myhair is streaky silver people say I'm lucky and that it looks like deliberate silver highlights but I hate it.

[1stWorldProblems]

I think it's fine to use home dyes but it looks better if you can get someone else to do the roots bit - my DH does mine (since the hairdresser I had from age 5-30 retired). Another person doing it will give you more even coverage, which will look more professional. I get all my dye, brushes, etc from Sally's Hair Supplies as you don't have to be a hairdresser to shop there. I do have a block colour - I don't think I'd expect DH to attempt highlights with no training.

[50ShadesOfEarlGrey]

My hairdresser gave me the following tips:
Fo brunette hair then go a shade or two lighter than you think you want, otherwise you tend to come out looking like a old emo! (Not her words, she was much more diplomatic)

Also, if you have a lot of colour in your hair already, then when you get to the point of putting colour on the ends don't leave it on as long as the instructions say. Naturally your hair is lighter at the ends as its older hair, and if you want a natural look then you need to replicate this.

My hair, done at home , looks great for 3 weeks, but then the grey comes through, but it does the same if I go to the hairdresser!

[blowmybarnacles]

I pre-treat my grey with Hydrogen Peroxide, it opens the cuticles
and the hair grabs the colour better. It has to be 9% 30 vols though.
I also use SLS free shampoo, that stops the colour being leeched when washing.
Doing both these things keeps my colour for longer.

I read about these things on mumsnet!!

[ILostItInTheEarlyNineties]

Most dyes, even the dark shades contain hydrogen peroxide nowadays for that reason Barnacles so you might be able to skip your bleaching first, but if it works for you don't let me stop you.

[OldManJenkins]

Yes they are only sometimes because it's cheaper they use a red Base which can make your hair warmer but now a days there are cool/frosted/ash tones which take that out.
You can also just go Sally's and buy the colour from the hairdressers yourself.

I went into a hairdressers they charged me 25 for a toner in Sally's ithe cost 10
And it only stayed for 2 weeks!

[SirChenjin]

I dye my hair at home - I've got a lot of grey coming through, so it would be a trip to the hairdressers every 4 weeks and I don't have the time or the money.

I use Vidal Sassoon's mid cool blonde which is brilliant, takes away the red tones that I tend to get with both home and hairdresser dyes and then use a purple shampoo. The last 2 hairdressers have complimented me on the colour and have been surprised when I tell them it's out of a box (either that or they are being polite!).

Obviously can't do highlights at home, but at around £80-100 for the base colour plus high/lowlights I'll live with that.

[VimFuego101]

I do mine at home (DH applies it for me). I put Vaseline around my hairline/ ears to stop the dye staining my skin, and have a black towel so none of the other towels get ruined. Wipe the bathroom floor over straight away to catch any drips. It comes out just as good as the hairdressers. I've been doing the same color for years though, I wouldn't change colors without getting it professionally done.