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?

The only box dye hat covers my grey roots now therearebloodymillionsofthem is the LIVE colour ones. I use the chocolate one and the coverage lasts until i do my next root application (4/5/6 weeks depending on level of laziness)

The best dye for my grey roots is the "age defy" one by nice n easy. Its really very good.

I agree with Loonoonow

I simply can't make a good enough job of it myself because I can't see the back or top of my head. Also, I wear glasses and can't see very well without them, and wouldn't be able to see where I had and hadn't coloured my hair. Thirdly, it would make a mess of the bathroom and towels.

Salon every time for me.

I did my roots at home for years, just a plain mid brown close to my natural original colour. It's easier if it's nothing too adventurous. I use L'oreal excellence colour and mix it in a pot and brush it onto roots like at the salon. Tinting brush is about £2 from Superdrug. I've gone to semi-permanent now so back at the salon as they have convinced me they have a super duper long lasting formulation.

I just went into a Sally shop in Bath and they recommended the developer etc.

They are a few ££ more, but worth every penny in my opinion. I leave it on for a bit longer too.

Still looking for a recommendation to make my mousy brown hair copper.

Still looking for a recommendation to make my mousy brown hair copper

Mousy brown could mean anything. Without a picture, it's hard to advise. I only use professional lines, so can't comment on box dyes but I'd look for a copper that's a similar level (lightness or darkness) to your own hair.

www.google.co.uk/search?q=hair+colour+levels+explained&rlz=1C1AVNG_enGB674GB730&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=YxRx0iqFMKIJ4M%253A%252C46J_bC2od9HHtM%252C_&usg=__CsANEl9NGeTdEo0SMg7ASx-gkJo%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjv8bWLnq_YAhXIxqQKHYt4AC8Q9QEIbTAO#imgrc=YxRx0iqFMKIJ4M:

So, if you're a level 6, go for a copper colour that starts with the number 5 or 6 and has the letters C or the numbers 3 and 4 after. So, a 5/CG or 5/34.

C = Copper. 3 = Yellow tones, 4 = Red tones. It's a universal system used across all hair colourants.

A photo wouldn't help Frequency. I haven't let my hair go back to its mousy brown for years as I've been colouring it for decades so it's a sort of red at the moment and will need colouring again in about a month. The roots will be light brown, but the rest will be a faded red. Hardly any grey.

Gwen I am a natural mousey colour and I have copper hair now but there's no way I'd be able to replicate it at home - every 6 weeks in the salon for me, but it's worth it! I asked for the most vibrant copper they could go while still looking like it could be my real hair colour. Started with a semi -permanent, then went to permanent- my brilliant colourist mixed 2 colours and now uses permanent on the roots and semi permanent on the lengths and it's perfect. Red fades quick so it has to be done regularly. Sorry - maybe someone has a better answer!

IHeart - the problem is that my salon can't do it any more. I take a photo of myself with the colour i want, but they can't do it so I'm thinking I might as well do it 'wrong' myself.
I'd like to try a semi permanent first.

I had root glow with a different colourist at the same salon. Might just be the colourist?

Why can't they do it? Have they told you?

Any decent stylist would let you know why it can't be done and offer alternatives or a way to get you to your desired colour, eventually. Sometimes, things take time i.e if your hair needs to be stripped or lightened before going copper or if it's not in great condition. The salon should be telling you their reasons and giving you ways to rectify it.

If there's a genuine reason why it won't work (and there will be, otherwise they'd take your money and give you what you want) then copper box dyes won't work for the same reason.

They do a colour and then it's just not what I want. I accept that after years of colouring my hair might not be in the best condition to take colour like it should.
When I leave the salon I sometimes say 'It's a bit more/less than I wanted' but I can't usually judge properly there. I have to live with it for a few days and by then I don't feel like calling to complain.
The thing that makes me wonder is that I used to be able to get the colour I wanted. That was in another country and the colourist has left so I'll never get that exact formula back.
If it's not going to be how I want, I suppose it's better to waste under 10 pounds than 40.

Sounds like you need a better colourist.

They should be understanding exactly what you want from the consultation and explaining how to get you there (if it's going to take more than one session). Use photographs to show them what copper shade you want. Copper is a hard colour to master but not impossible.

I've tried more expensive salons and had even worse results :(

Expensive doesn't always mean better.

Have you tried a training salon? They have to do things exactly by the book, as they are teaching. My tutors would have kittens if I didn't spend a good ten minutes giving you a consultation. They then come over and do a second consultation. Plus, it's cheaper, way, way cheaper and colour really isn't something you can drastically fuck-up, hence why box dyes are popular and home bleaching kits aren't so widely used. The salon I train in charges £8 for a quasi colour, so around the same as a box dye.

Be insistent. If they tell you you can't have the copper you want, ask why and make it clear you are prepared to have your hair stripped or lightened if you need to, though that will cost more and will take more than one session.

I use a local beauty school when I want highlights, which I certainly wouldn't try to do myself. I have had good results there. The one near me offers two levels of students; I always go for the more advanced. There is very close oversight by the teachers; it does take longer because every step has to be checked and signed off on by the instructor (or two sometimes). It works out to be about half the price I would pay for color and highlights in my regular somewhat high-end salon, where I still go for cuts (no scrimping on the cut.)

It's easier to get away with if you have dark hair but no box blond can compete with a salon job

Go for a tone on tone one - that's what my hairdresser told me. He's fab.

I'm really not keen on going to get it done by some teenagers. I find the social side of going to the hairdressers bad enough as it is. At least where I go now, they know I don't do small talk and don't try to force me to talk about holidays and stuff.

I really begrudge paying a fortune for colour when I can do it myself at home for £5 ish. I think it does depend on the condition of your hair and whether you’re dark to be honest. I’m very dark and if I go a rich brown or red ish colour it really looks fine to use a box dye. I wouldn’t try and colour my hair lighter myself though!

I've been home dyeing my hair for years! Either I've just been really lucky, or there really is no difference as I literally slap it on, leave it and it looks absolutely fine every time. My hairdresser gets cross with me each time but I reckon he just wants me to pay extortionate prices for him to do it ( it costs a fortune for a cut where I go but I love the place so consider it my only treat) one day I expect things I'll go horribly wrong but for now I will continue getting every singly on offer box 😁

Henna is good for a rich copper colour
Contrary to popular belief, pure henna (either the powder or lush) does not contain metallic salts and can be dyed over (i’ve done it after 2 years as a red head). It is a bit of a faff to apply though, not like a usual box dye but does give you a vibrant natural looking copper