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)

Well you do dye your hair, hence the regrowth, so it really isn't all "bastard male bosses want me to change my hair". They just want you, if at all possible, to look as well groomed as you did before; which for someone with grey hair ( ie hair with no pigment that will easily take another colour) means applying a colour yourself. No risk like pigmented hair; you will literally look the colour on the box.I don't think it's so bad?

(I'm assuming you're grey as you mention touch up sprays in your OP which can only be used on grey hair x

Box dye is fine but tbh I'd be tempted to just go grey now facing that attitude!

Thank you very much for all your advice & tips. I caved in & dyed it, with the help from a member of my family so my hair was evenly covered. To be fair it has turned out fine. I shall be dropping it into conversation at work on Monday that I did it for myself & not to conform to some sexist attitude from any man. I almost rebelled by looking for a punky looking red, but I thought that was a step too far 😂

Yes, do it!
It doesn’t look pretty!!! 😂 and I am not a male director.
I prefer going to the office well groomed (based on your affordability)

I prioritise nails, hair, facial, massage over drinking / eating out ☺️

@Dawny65 YEAH!
( I wouldn’t mention it though, that just calls for trouble)

I only read as far as 'frowned upon by the directors'. F**k the Directors, what the hell have your roots or the lack of them got to do with them?? I've dyed my hair bright pink during lockdown because it cheered me up, had a zoom call with my (fairly sexist and old-fashioned) MD the next day and he didn't so much as bat an eyelid.

(As an additional note, my pink is of course out of a box and it's fine. If YOU want to touch up then go for it, but don't do it for anyone else).

Well done dawny, glad you went for it and it looks good. Can any posters on here reccomend a good blonde dye for dark blonde hair? I've tried a few and they all made my hair ginger! Always use the hairdresser but would like something for the roots right now!

"Box dyes are fine.

So are grey hairs.

Sexism is not ok"

Perfect response

I had been using box dyes for years. I have used different brands over the years,without having issues. Though I did strip the colour out at the beginning of lockdown to my natural colour, apart from the odd white hair and not as red as it was when I was younger. It is in good condition though, so that's all that matters.

@Beautiful3 I've been using Nice n Easy and my hair hasn't gone ginger. I started off with dark blonde but it was too dark for me so I'm now using medium but might have to go to light. Apart from my hair dye resistant badger stripe I'm happy with it

I had a very bad result from using a box dye years ago & it did put me off using them. I understand directors want everyone to look smart & well groomed for the office, but they should show some leniency whilst the salons are shut. It's my hair & I should have the right to choose between a box dye or waiting for the salons to reopen without them disapproving of temporary deep grey roots...

I can't understand why they want you to have hair a certain colour in the office, it's illogical.

But anyway, it wasn't actually the male directors who said anything according to you, it was the people you work with. The directors might not even notice.

I'd say your colleagues are bullies.

It's a good job no one takes any notice of my hair at work! It's very curly and always looks untidy no matter what I do with it. It doesn't stop me from doing my job though

@VanGoghsDog no they havent actually said anything, but a big hint was dropped that I need to smarten it up because they would frown upon it looking such a mess & not trying to do anything about it myself while the salons are shut. That's what i find so annoying, being told to get a box dye while they're shut, whereas a bloke can have his grey hair starting to grow & nobody bats an eyelid.

I started letting my roots grow out just over a year ago, and it’s the most liberating thing I’ve ever done. Hair dye has nothing to do with looking smart and well groomed - a great haircut will do that. It’s nothing to do with letting yourself go - it’s about letting yourself be. Why do your need to hide who you are? Why does anytime need to be ashamed if grey hairs. Everyone over 35 had grey hairs.

Since when did having grey hair (a natural part of the ageing process) have ANYTHING to do with being “smart and well groomed” or a fucking “dress code”?!!??!
Fuck that shit. And fuck the male directors demanding it. Is there a similar rule for them and their grey or baldness?

This has made me irrationally angry.

Box dyes are fine, I’ve used them for years. Hairdressers obviously have a vested interest in people not using them.

If you work in an office is there no way you can work from home?

I normally have my hair coloured at the hairdressers. I got desperate during lockdown and used a box dye. It looks nothing like it does on the box. It came out much darker with red tinges when it's not supposed to be red at all. Been washing it with head and shoulders to lighten it a bit. I also naturally have greasy hair and rely on the hair dye to dry it out a bit. I must be the only one asking my hairdresser to use harsh chemicals to make my hair a bit more normal. I used a box dye and my hair is greasy in the evening after washing it in the morning. So no, I don't think box dyes damage your hair. In my case they have conditioned it too well.

@newmumwithquestions

Box dyes are fine.

So are grey hairs.

Sexism is not ok.

This is a condensed version of what I wanted to say.

If you want to dye it then go for it otherwise as long as it's neat and clean i.e. Work appropriate then that enough!

1. No you do not need to dye your hair for work.

1. You certainly to not need to do for the fucking patriarchy. They can fuck right off.

I've also been using box dyes for about 2 decades. My hair is 100% and I hate it, goes horribly with my skin tone and I can't afford hairdressers.

Thanks @PinkSparklyPussyCat will have a look at those. 🙂