Has anyone ever found a box dye that's as good as hairdressers'

[ProjectGainsborough]

Just that, really.

Trying to curb my spending, but hair is looking a bit brassy. I need a cool ash brown tone, but am wary as have had quite a few box dye fails, now!

Watching with interest. I always get mine done at the hairdresser, but I had DC3 last week and can't get out just yet and needed a stop-gap. I used the John Frieda foam yesterday and it hasn't covered my (very few) greys

Also need a cool ash brown!

The Daniel Field watercolours are good, and the Simply Hair range which seem pretty identical to me. They have the advantage of not smelling chemically at all, you also don't need to mix different stuff up (just add water to a powder) so it's easy to use half the pack for touching up roots.

Try Nice and Easy. I use Natural Medium Brown. There is a cool tone one but I find it too dark.

I do it at home but buy hairdresser's dyes. Will never go back to supermarket ones. I buy Inoa from Amazon - no red at all in the cool tones!

Nice and easy in light browns seem to come out well (based on the comments received from unsuspecting friends who know me has being very pro going to the hairdressers) , I bought one with no ammonia that washes out over 24 washes, each non permanent colour seems to have a permanent equivalent so once you have tried you can go permanent. It covered the little bit of grey ok too.

Me too! I've been on the hunt for a cool ash brown box dye too.... Hair currantly like a light/med warm brown - I want to get rid of the warmth/red tones - so after previously trying nice n easy light ash brown (24 wash) a couple of months ago, it went quite dark. Yesterday I tried light brown in the same brand & it added red tones! Argh! Beginning to think the only way I can achieve an ash brown is to go darker, which I don't really want! ive wrecked my hair with over-colouring, so don't really want to use a permanent dye. When I use to be very dark brown last year, I used that Vidal Sassoon Salonist - that was quite good. I think they do a neutral light brown, but probably won't be ashy enough! Just need a really ashy brown. 🤔

Buy Majirel online. A light ash brown would be 6.1 or 6.2. Mix 50 mls of Majirel with 75mls of 20 vol cream peroxide. They even do cool cover for those whose hair tends to turn brassy. Use same ratio for smaller amounts on roots etc when they need redoing and use a fine paint brush for accuracy.

I have only found Nice n Easy cool med brown to be cool enough but that can randomly turn black and isn't great on resistant grey hair in my experience. Majirel leaves hair in great condition unlike shop bought dyes which seem to trash hair and wash straight off of grey.

I like Nice and Easy. Several hairdressers have complimented the colour when I have been in for a cut. Not too drying either.

Thanks all. Will do some research based on feedback!

I use salon dyes - bought online or in Sally. I use Wella Colortouch (semi) or Koleston (permanent) and get far better results than I ever have from a box.

I read about this recently, which claims to deliver salon dyes at home but I've not used it so no idea what it's like.

yourcolour.com

Have found the Vidal Sassoon the best for cool tones on dark hair by a mile. The serum you use to dilute when doing the area that is already coloured seems to prevent build-up on lengths.

Another vote for nice n easy!

I use the L'oreal preference 6.21 Opera. Although its a 6 (light brown), it comes out darker, more of a 5. It fabulous though, no red or yellow tones at all, just a really cool brown. I leave it on the roots for 35-40 mins (longer than recommended) to cover the grey, bur the colour holds well - providing I use shampoo/conditioner for colour treated hair.

I agree with crevice that the nice & easy med cool brown can randomly turn black!

I use nice n easy 5c and never had a problem with it going darker. I only ever do roots and then quick refresh through the lengths 10 mins before the end.

I'm interested in using majirel as last time I used nice n easy my roots didn't go as brown as normal.

Can I just use this first time as I do the nice n easy - ie roots only?

Crevicelmp having done some research, I've found loads of MN threads raving about Majirel. Am going to give it a go.

Can you tell me if I've got the right stuff, please? I don't want to stuff it up!

colour

peroxide

I should mention that I am dying out blonde highlights in the lengths. That's probably important...

I do nice and easy but I always buy 2-3 different shades and blend them, so I get just the right colour and it doesn't look like it came out of the box. I stick to either measuring by capfuls or a simple 1/2 of this 1/2 of that, so I can replicate the colour again.

Loreal Preference colours have some with cool tones. I use the dark brown 4.01 Paris but there is also a 6.21 Opera (light brown)
Here www.loreal-paris.co.uk/hair-colour/permanent-hair-colour/recital-preference/6-21-opera

I do find them tricky to get hold of - wish they had a cool tone one in a level 5

I find that light brown box dyes are always too dark so to acheive a light ashy brown colour, I use dark ash blonde dyes.
Dark blonde is essentially a light brown colour and bearing in mind your existing highlights, I think this would be the best option for you.

My favourites are; L'Oreal Casting in dark ash blonde or medium ash blonde and Nice n easy age defy in medium ash blonde.

The colour guides on the back are a vague indicator of the colour you will achieve but they can be very misleading. The dye is always darker than you expect.

I apologise if I'm late to this thread and you have already dyed your hair!

My other tip would be to use an ash toner after dying if you want to cool the shade of your hair and cancel red tones.

Hi project yep that's the stuff however do not put it straight over blonde or it will tinge green. The blonde bits need red introduced first before you go over them with the cool tone. You need to use the same level but with .5 so a 6.5 just over the highlights, leave it a couple of days and then go over it and the rest of your hair with the 6.1 for a good result. Should dodge a khaki bullet that way 😀

If you buy from sallys how do you mix the stuff?

And what parts would you actually buy? To get say a light brown hair dye?

You use a plastic bowl for hair tinting that you can pick up anywhere and use a tint brush. Gloves too.

For light brown you are looking at level 7 or 6 depending on how light. Next if you want it cool toned you want .2 or .3 next to it. .3 is golden and .5 is warm red. .7 and you start getting into purple territory.

Google the shade and you will see a swatch on images which should give you an idea.

Thanks, i have bowls and stuff, but not sure what to buy (mixture wise) I mean i buy a tube of colour and some peroxide?

like one of these
www.capitalhairandbeauty.co.uk/hairdressing/colour-bleach/semi-permanent-colour/loreal-professionnel-diarichesse-50ml.html

or
www.capitalhairandbeauty.co.uk/hairdressing/colour-bleach/permanent-colour/nxt-colour-100ml.html

which one of these?
www.capitalhairandbeauty.co.uk/hairdressing/colour-bleach/peroxide-developer/capital-cream-peroxide-1-litre-10vol-3.html
or
www.capitalhairandbeauty.co.uk/hairdressing/colour-bleach/peroxide-developer/capital-cream-peroxide-1-litre-40vol-12.html

and how do i know?

and then what are the ratios?

I use this Garnier Nutrisse one.

The 'multitonal technology' makes it look like I have actual highlights and I am always asked where I've had it done.