Is there really much difference between between box dye and salon dye?

[AaronPurrSir]

Just that really. I’ve had my hair exclusively dyed in the salon for the last year after decades of box dyes. I’m really grey and my roots show after about 3 weeks, and I can’t be dealing with the time and expense of salon touch ups every months.

Every hairdresser practically breaks out in hives whenever box dye is mentioned and talk about how “awful” it is. Is it really that bad? Surely there’s very little difference between shop bought and what they use in salons, or do they just make out that there is to get you to keep spending money in the salon?

I use henna products on my hair. I use henna powder (usually darkened with coffee or indigo ) about once every three months and a henna cream dye every three- four weeks or so. The henna gives the best results but is a faff and makes the bathroom resemble a murder scene The cream is easier but lasts less time and doesn't leave my hair as shiny.

Apparently you can't colour your hair with normal dye once you've used henna.

I use box dye (L'Oreal Casting Creme Gloss) with good results. My mum has gorgeous coloured hair and has always done it at home, which encouraged me. The key is choosing the right colour and I do think it must be easier for a good colourist to do that. Having said that I have friends whose colour is done v expensively and time consumingly at salons who don't necessarily get the right colour each time.

I've used box dyes for a decade. The salon costs a bloody fortune and takes too long as I'm blonde and it's long. I don't have either the money or the time.

I use Nice & Easy (the conditioner in it is amazing) and you can always get it on offer. I only do the roots and go down loads of different partings and it's fine. Its definitely all one co!our but you can get away with it when you're blonde and tbh I don't give a shite anyway.

I've decided over the years that most dyes look good when hair is super conditioned and shiny and supple. Even Kate Middleton 's dye job would look cheap if she didn't have it shiny.

Those of you who buy professional dyes, I assume you have to buy a developer too? How do you know which type to buy?

I’m used to buying boxed kits but would like to try something nicer.

I’ve been using boxed dyes for around 25 years. My hairdresser says that the ones I’ve used are great, give good coverage and leave my hair in good condition. There’s no way I could afford salon prices so that’s just as well!

Gwen... I use Garnier Nutrisse vibrant red. I do it for both financial and boredom reasons.

That's actually purple in the photo Rainin. Isn't it too strong?

Can anyone recommend a natural-looking copper for someone with naturally light brown hair, no obvious grey yet?

No, there's no difference.

I work in an industry where looking 'done up' is necessary and people are always amazed that I ever dye my hair. (This always makes me laugh because if I didn't dye it, I would be a mix of mousy dull brown and grey).

I've been box-dying on the cheap for over ten years.

I used to go to a salon regularly but found handing over £120 every month or so just too depressing.

Agree with the PP about technique in applying though, once you get it down to a fine art it's really easy and loads cheaper.

Can be okay for brunettes but home dyed blonde hair invariably looks crap.

When my professional color began to top $200, I went for the $10 box. I got advice from my hairdresser on color selection and technique, and I really like the results I get, especially now that I have some practice and know what I am doing. DH helps me with the back.

So is it obvious it's dyed then?

Well yes, my friends/acquaintances know my hair colour changes pretty much every season.

My point was more that they often think the richness of the colour has been achieved in a salon, rather than by myself...

Has anyone got a recommendation for a good box dye for the grey roots of mid brown hair?

I'm using this at present:

As a natural redhead i have found it impossible to find a box dye the right shade to cover grey. Believe me, i tried! I go to a local salon, get the right colour mixed for me, less chance of colour being discontinued (like box dyes can be) and no mess.

Application is 90 % of it, hair type, length and resistance of the grey coverage needed is the rest. The formulas are pretty much the same - there are no 'secret' ingrediants that are allowed only in pro timts. But we do know what level of developer to use rather than the bog standard one you get in a box. We can vary the colour to match regrowth and you dont get over dyeing.

Well this is timely. I’m sat with a box dye on right now. I’ve been using it since DH lost his job and I couldn’t justify the £80-100 salon visits. It works well for whole head colour but I’d never attempt highlights myself.

I am 52. Got grey roots
I use the John freida ( mentioned earlier). No difference IMO
People ask where I get it coloured. ( I do, however get an excellent cut). I use Magic Touch up spray to cover roots ( lasts until next wash...and I completely wet and blow dry my hair each day ...only wash it twice a week, believe me, that stuff lasts).
I have spent the earth on salon colouring...cant see any difference. Btw I'm 52.

Sorry, not sure I made it clear. I'M 52!

ilovesloths Omg you're a life saver! I used to use the clairol foam dye but since it was discontinued I've been using a salon as I find the non foam ones impossible to use. It's £80 per visit and as my hair is just black all over I really haven't seen a difference in salon to when I did it at home. It was a godsend being able to dye it for £6 and have a fringe trim for £4 and be able to just get my length cut when I could afford it. I've ordered some of the frieda foam stuff. Didn't manage to find any other brand that did foam dye until your post so thanks!

Sometimes it's worth paying the salon just to avoid the hassle I think, I'm fine dying it at home when I live somewhere with a powerful shower but currently I'm in a place where the shower isn't powerful and I think it would take hours to get the dye out if if even eventually does come out. Will experiment with it once though.

I think a lot of hairdressers understandably try put you off home dyeing as they're turning money away but for a basic all over colour the only danger seems to be patchiness and missing bits not the quality of the colour. Maybe it's better for your hair in a salon as they only dye the bits that need it instead of putting harsh dye on already dyed hair? Like when I have my roots done they just run the colour down a bit but if I did it at home I'd be doing the whole whack every time.

I wash my hair daily and haven't seen a difference between the speed salon and home dye fades.

But Lemon why would you be doing the whole lot? It's easy to just do the roots at home. You just basically dye partings. You just have to create loads of partings one after the other. I usually have a claw clip handy to get the rest out of the way and keep it dye free. If you dye the whole lot every time it will get very straw like and fragile.

What aunilin said.
It also depends on the dye. Ive had a salon dye that was beautiful but faded after a few weeks and I've never been able to recreate it.

But I use a different colour with a box dye now and it's as good as a salon, and the roots last longer.
Highlights and lowlights always look better salon dyed. And I think bleaching is better done at a salon.

ElspethFlashman I'm rubbish at doing it! And with foam it just goes everywhere. The beauty in foam is being able to just slap it all on, I can't manage to use the other types. Luckily my hair doesn't seem to mind, it's in great condition despise the re dyeing!

Gwen, it comes out a deep auburn on my dark brown with grey hair. It will be brighter on yours I think.

The main difference is the developer and the application. A box dye cannot see your hair, a colourist can. Most box dyes contain a 6% developer, which is the middle of the road kind. There's really no need to use 6% in most cases, although grey, resistant hair is one of the reasons you would use a 6%, for a lot of grey, an even stronger developer might be used.

Application wise, a trained colourist can correct uneven tones in the hair by using one or more colours and also work with the base shade to ensure the right result is achieved, whereas on a box dye, if you're not the right base shade for the colour, it's not going to turn out how you want it.

There's also things we can do to work with ultra resistant grey hair that would be hard to copy at home.

There's no other real difference in the formulas (in most cases, there are some brands to avoid). If you're happy with the results of box dye, crack on with it. Don't try to go lighter at home. Just don't. Stick with the same level colour and things will work out fine 99% of the time.

The only thing I will say is that while Henna is actually quite good for your hair, it limits your options as to what you can do with it afterwards. It contains metallic salts which coat the hair and react badly with most other chemical processes. If you're not sure you want to keep it until it grows out, don't do it. You can't lighten over henna as it reacts with bleach, you can't use perming or straightening lotions over it and I believe some colours react with it too. Most hairdressers won't touch you if you have henna on. Lush Henna blocks, I've been told, don't contain the same ingredients as other henna and can be lightened and coloured over.

Live XXL is also a bit iffy for leaving shit behind on the hair. It's impossible to remove and coats the hair with metallic salts and silicone (that's how the colour goes so vibrant and stays so long, it's welded to the hair shaft with silicone). If you decided you wanted to change it, you'd be hard pressed to find a stylist willing to remove it for you (colour B4 works, ime).

Sun-in and Just For Men are also brands to avoid as they react with other chemical processes you might want in the future. Other than that, box dyes are perfectly fine and no more damaging than salon brands.