Are box dyes any good for your hair

[Dawny65]

I have grey hair and always go to the hairdressers to have my hair coloured. As you can imagine my roots are pretty bad now. My colleagues (I am only a temp) have been saying get a box dye on it for now & it will be a lot better. We have a dress code & hints are being dropped that my scruffy roots will be frowned upon by male directors. Whilst I agree you should have smart hair for work it's pretty difficult with hairdressers being closed! I absolutely resent being told to use a box dye because male directors frown upon my scruffy roots. They should show more understanding in my opinion. Should I just cave in & conform, or stand my ground? (They have gone past the point of using root touch up spray)

Do the male colleagues get asked to dye their hair??
My grey roots are all on show & yes it is bothering me :( I have bought a box dye but hoping the hairdresser opens before I cave - but it will be my choice not judgement from others.

My hair grows very fast. I have to get my roots done at the hairdressers every four weeks. I've been using the John Frieda foam hair dye over lockdown. I do have to do it once every two weeks as the roots seem to show through much quicker but it still works out cheaper than going to the hairdressers. In summer I wear my (really thick) hair up to stop me getting a sweaty neck so I probably won't go back to the hairdressers until September and get it done professionally again. Happy as I am at the moment.

Box dyes are fine.

So are grey hairs.

Sexism is not ok.

I am desperate to colour my hair but I have only ever had it done for me. I very much doubt I can section my hair like the hairdresser does. I am nervous about doing it wrong or getting colour everywhere (I use a very red hair dye)

Anyone have any tips?

If you do decide to dye your hair have a look at e-salon.co.uk as they tailor the colour to your hair.

I've always used a box dye. I did ask my hairdresser once if I should get it coloured by her when I'm getting it cut and she (very honestly I thought) said that my hair looked fine with the box dye and she couldn't improve it unless I wanted highlights or something like that, so I'd be better saving the money.

For mess, I wear an old dressing gown that I don't mind getting stained and do it over the sink because it wipes off really easily.

Nothing wrong with grey roots. Nothing wrong with dyeing your hair. Lots wrong with sexist comments.

If you do want to dye it, I’ve recently discovered Josh Wood colour and I have to say it’s the best brand I’ve ever used and my hair is sooo shiny. I dye my hair because I like it, not for anyone else.

I dye my hair and have always used box dye; there have been times I have really abused my hair and that hasn't ended well (a colour I disliked after drying, bleaching it all, dying again, for instance) but generally it's fine. It's definitely been good enough for me not to want to pay a professional £60+ when I pay £10 for two boxes of dye!

No one can tell you you have to dye your hair though. Fuck that. I dye my hair because I have loved changing the colours since I was 14 but I also love my greys- they are like crinkly strands of shiny silver, what's not to like- so when I have more greys than not I will definitely be going natural at times.

No way would I risk wrecking my hair with a box dye (because of my own incompetence, not because they're bad) because some moronic director thinks I need to. How is their so well groomed, have they found an "underground haridresser"?

And anyway you might choose to grow your colour out - none of their business.

I think they are fine TBH! I have been using Loreal Age Perfect for the last few years and its fine! I tend to do it every 10 /12 weeks so it doesnt get too dry ,and use a good quality shampoo /conditioner for coloured hair as well .

If you do dye it, as a PP said, make sure you go for a lighter one than you think. They're always a bit darker than they look.

box dyes wreck you hair. I used them for 20 years and the hair I used them on is like straw. Also on occasion the box dyes have turned my hair bright orange for no apparent reason.
My hairdresser has been working on my hair for a while and the regrowth is so much better. I'll never use box dyes again.

I've used box dyes for 30 years and my hair is in great condition.

I've been using Clairol Nice'n'Easy for 20 years and my (long) hair is in good condition.

Your directors are twats though.

Yes, your directors are twats, OP.

That said, they haven't actually said anything, your colleagues have assumed that they will.

@DobbyLovesSocks
Put old towels down on the bathroom floor if it's tiled, then the colour won't soak into the grouting.
Have a loo roll to hand.
Have an old towel to hand.
Have a mirror to hand.
Wear an old top.
Put a line of vaseline near to your hairline and over outer ears.
Brush hair well.
Apply colour in sections, rubbing well in as you go, then the remainder, pour small amounts into palms and smooth over hair, before massaging it all in like you're using shampoo, so that the colour is spread evenly.
Use the loo roll to wipe up any spills as you go.
Use the towel after washing the dye off hair and also use it for the first couple of washes afterwards.
That's how I do it.
Good luck.

I have been using a box colour, my dear hairdresser told me what make & colour no. to buy, she uses the same brand but bought wholesale, not in fancy packaging with the conditioner etc.

@DobbyLovesSocks

I am desperate to colour my hair but I have only ever had it done for me. I very much doubt I can section my hair like the hairdresser does. I am nervous about doing it wrong or getting colour everywhere (I use a very red hair dye)

Anyone have any tips?

I don't really section mine properly, I just squirt it along lines roughly a centimetre apart. It seems to work fine and a hairdresser told me she couldn't tell until she looked closely and the slight colour variations made it look more natural. I am using an auburn dye on my naturally red hair with increasing amounts of grey (I don't know how much grey there is now). As I said above, I've been doing it for 20 years when I first noticed a few grey hairs. The box colour is close to my natural colour and my friends didn't realise until I reached an age when I should have gone grey.

Been using box dyes for 30 years, I get so many compliments on the condition and shine of my hair. Changed the colour completely a couple of weeks ago too! Garnier Olia is really nice.
Also, if someone else is telling you that you have to dye your hair to fit in, ask them why they are discriminating against you. Your body, your choice!

I didn't section mine at all. I just drizzled the dye on via the nozzle into sort of parting lines, then squirted it into my hands and rubbed it on, smoothing it along the lengths.

Not sure about all this faff with towels and stuff. I just sat topless on a chair and used a flannel to wipe off bits that got on my face. Admittedly the flannel is now stained but that doesn't matter.

Then I got in the shower to rinse it out.

My hair seems in very good condition currently. Probably more to do with being washed and styled less during lockdown than to do with the dye. But the dye certainly hasn't damaged it, it made it really shiny.

Women can so grow grey hair out and it’s very on trend right now to have a silver grey bob. Box hair dye will do the trick! Keep in mind if you have long hair you may need two boxes. Put something around your hairline like Vaseline, toothpaste, coconut oil so as to not stain your skin. It’s not so hard, you may find it more cost effective & simple to do at home !

I'm using Josh Wood to gradually go a bit lighter each time. Probably not recommended by him, but i can't handle the contrast between my mid brown hair and my greys when they start gleaming through. I feel my future is blonde, like so many women who are getting older . Anyway, i find it looks much more natural than any of the traditional high street range. Do it for yourself though op, and only if you want to.

I use a box dye, I have very dark brown hair so use a colour one shade lighter and it comes out the same as my natural colour.
I have had no problems doing it myself, however I would never ever do it to conform and if you don't want to do it for you don't do it at all.

@VanGoghsDog that's how I do it. I tried sectioning my hair but couldn't get the hang of it. It seems to work ok and I'm pleased with the colour apart from my little badger stripe that colour doesn't seem to take to!

OP, there's nothing wrong with box dye but only do it for you, not because a bunch of male sexist idiots think you should.

I use box dyes all the time and have done for years my hair is in very good condition

I always go two shades lighter for permanent as it tends to come up darker than on the box

Semi permanent one shade lighter

I often do the roots that takes 10 minutes (I have patches of grey) and then semi permanent a few days later. Semi permanent makes my hair very shiny