We've rounded up the best at-home hair dye according to recommendations from you and a few of our own too. These great products might well make a home-dyer convert out of you and, as a result, save yourself some cash.
Whether you're using something to cover your greys, touching up your not-so-blonde roots or are going for a bold new colour, we've got you covered (literally). And we've also included top Mumsnet user tips to avoid a scenario like that of the bright orange hair (unless that's what you're going for of course!).
Have a hair dye brand you swear by that's not on our list? Be sure to tell us about it on the thread below and let us know if you found this article useful.
Best permanent hair dye: Garnier Olia Hair Dye Permanent
'Oil-powered' Garnier Olia is a popular hair dye mainly due to the fact that it seems to improve the condition of your hair, rather than the opposite, like some dyes. Despite being less chemical than other hair dye brands, it still seems to really do the job. The brand also boasts 'a unique sensorial application with optimal scalp comfort' and indeed some women with scalp issues have said it helps with them too. The range has over 30 shades and is ammonia-free (meaning it doesn't smell as strong as other dyes).
What Mumsnet users say
"I always use Olia as it's oil-based which is good for my scalp psoriasis. I've never had problems with it - I leave the conditioner on for as long as possible…overnight if I can. I dyed it yesterday and the texture of my hair is better than before - almost like having a hair mask on!"
"I love Olia. It always leaves my hair silky. That said, I only ever weigh out and mix up a third of the ingredients each time as I only need my roots doing (mid/dark brown hair, a few inches past shoulder-length, with a little grey coming through). So I get three treatments out of one box."
"I find it lasts as well as any other, harsher colourant."
RRP: From £7
Best temporary hair dye: Superdrug Colour Effects
If you're after a low-commitment, budget option, the Colour Effects Superdrug hair dye range may well be for you. It is more of a subtle look than other brands, but still gets nice results - and as a Mumsnet user recommends, you can use it to build your colour. You can also use it on already-dyed hair to boost the colour and stop fading. And at that price, you might as well give it a go.
What Mumsnet users say
"I swear by this from Superdrug. It's wash-in, wash-out so not damaging at all, and you can build the colour. It doesn't cover grey but it does tone them out. It's really cheap too and I can get four full applications on my just-below-shoulders hair, far more if I just use it as shampoo, but I apply all over and leave for an hour."
RRP: £2
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Best natural hair dye: Lush Henna Hair Colour
Lush's combination of red henna (not black henna which can cause allergic reactions) and Fair Trade organic cocoa butter results in a treatment which is safe and good for your hair, giving it a glossy glow.
There is also a bespoke quality to using red henna - Lush says: "A henna treatment will develop differently depending on the individual tones unique to your hair, creating your own personal shade." Which could be a delight for some and an unwelcome surprise for others who want to know exactly what they're going for.
We're not going to lie, it is a bit faffy to apply, and it doesn't smell great (see Mumsnet user tip below: add coffee to the mix to make it smell better). However, that is the price you pay for a more natural product. But your hair (and the environment) will thank you.
What Mumsnet users say
"God it's amazing. Been using box dyes for ages to cover the greys in my brown hair. My hair was in terrible condition, dry, thinning, breaking off etc. Tried the reddy-brown Lush henna, it's a gorgeous colour and has left it really glossy. My hair hasn't been this shiny all over since I was in my 20s."
"I've used many types of henna but the Lush is the best. It really varnishes so well. Smells utterly foul but that fades"
RRP: £13/325g
How to use henna hair dye
Lush has a good step-by-step article on how to use their henna hair dye. We'd thought we'd also round-up some tried-and-tested tips from Mumsnet users too:
"If you wrap it in clingfilm it makes the colour redder."
"Mix strawberries/coffee or something in for a nicer scent"
"Grate the bar first, then add boiling water and keep the bowl in a sink of hot water. Also, as this cools, the lumps tend to fall as you’re still doing the rest of your head, so put something down on the floor!"
"Put Vaseline around your hairline and ears."
"Only use henna if you plan to do it long term as you cannot use any other home dye until it completely grows out."
If you like the sound of henna but want something a little easier to use, you could try The Henna Guys (from £15/100g) which has good reviews on Amazon.
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Best hair dye service: eSalon
eSalon is a customised online service designed to get customers the perfect hair colour for them. Described not unlike a matchmaking service, they promise: "An eSalon colour expert will review your profile and blend a formula for your hair and colour goals" and that they'll "even adjust your shade anytime to ensure your colour happiness". While they're at it, perhaps we can ask them for help with our life goals too…? But in all seriousness, the hair dye (and other products they offer) do hold up to these claims, with quite a few Mumsnetters raving about the eSalon experience.
Signing up to a 'colour plan' gets you a 20% discount and you can adjust the frequency of these instalments. So like any subscription service, do remember to cancel it if you're not in the market for regular hair colour.
What Mumsnet users say
"Another vote for eSalon. Worked out the colour I wanted by using their website to get as near to the colour my hairdresser uses. It came in a bottle with my name on it, along with a brush to use with the dye. They also provided a little sachet of skin protector to use around my hairline to ensure the dye didn't take to my skin and a sachet of stain remover…The result was fab!"
"I've used them twice now, and I’ve been really impressed with the quality. Also love their shampoo and conditioner, smell and texture is so much nicer than usual box dyes. Just be careful you don't accidentally sign up for the subscription, they do it quite stealthily."
RRP: From £14 (see below)
How much does eSalon cost?
First order is £14, and then following orders are £23. Set up a plan (subscription) to get 20% off your order, which you can cancel at any time.
More info on pricing on their website
Best grey cover hair dye: L'Oréal Majirel
Majirel is a popular topic on Mumsnet: either for those who swear by it or those who want to know what the fuss is about (scroll down for numerous thread links on it, cheers @middleager!). L'Oréal boasts 'perfect coverage of up to 100% white hair'. Bold claims indeed. But it does seem to get results. The formula is also enriched with Incell and Ionene G, which strengthen the hair fibre. What is needed is a bit of mixing on your part with developer (you can use a [[https://www.superdrug.com/Hair/Hair-Colourants/Hair-Lightener/Bblonde-Cream-Peroxide-40-Vol-12%25-Lightner/p/42293
cream peroxide]] and preferably some mixing equipment). 1 part Majirel to 1.5 parts peroxide. Mumsnetters report that it’s reasonably easy to do.
Note: L'Oréal does recommend a colour consultation - or 'diagnosis - in salon first. However, while this is not possible, there are lots of images and tips online, and the products are available via Amazon and also Sally Beauty.
RRP: From £10
What Mumsnet users say
"I have bought mine from eBay or Amazon. You mix it with cream peroxide 20 vol (which you can buy huge bottles of), ratio of 1 part Majirel to 1.5 parts peroxide - so if you use 10ml of Majirel you need 15 ml of the peroxide. Other stuff you need to order is a plastic tint bowl and brush and gloves. For light brown with no red you are looking at 6.1 or 6.2. Use Google swatches to get a clearer idea. I am not a hairdresser but have used this stuff loads and it is much better than any box dye in terms of coverage and hair condition afterwards."
"I love it - so easy to use - no dripping and no dark splashes when rinsing it out. Excellent coverage too on my increasing number of persistent greys. Highly recommended if you have an all-over colour"
Best hair dye for blonde hair: Nice 'n Easy Crème
Like Olia, Clairol is also oil-infused and good for conditioning your hair. Nice 'n Easy comes in more of a range of colours (over 20 types of blonde alone), so great for those 'Ultra Light Natural Beach Blonde' types among you.
What Mumsnet users say
"Clairol Nice 'n Easy... I've tried a couple of others and they make my hair feel like dental floss, whereas this leaves my hair soft and in good condition."
RRP: £6.50
Best hair toner: Josh Wood Colour Shade Shots
Hair toner is especially good for hair that has had strong chemical bleaching and can help get rid of the 'brassy' colour, adding (surprisingly) tone - especially to lighter hair.
The Wood Colour range is much lauded in general, for being free of PPD (paraphenylenediamine, an irritant), and for its great results. But these 'Shade Shots' get a particularly good rep for giving hair a 'modern, multi-dimensional' look.
Note: Josh Wood Colour do recommend use alongside the brand's Permanent Colour range
What Mumsnet users say
"I found an amazing product and it worked a treat. Josh Wood colour shot toner in 'cool me down'. There's another one (name I can't remember) but they are basically blue and lilac toners which you mix with his conditioner. I used both colours mixed together as I had both yellow and red tones in my hair, and the whole lot has been neutralised to a lovely cool toned ash blonde and brown"
"Josh Wood for darker hair as it is PPD-free. The product is well-designed and easy to use (even including a wipe to remove any staining) and there is a great customer support offer that can be accessed from the informative website. You can also buy toners to customise box shades by making them cooler or warmer."
RRP: £5
Hair dye FAQs
How to use hair dye
The hair dye brands listed above should have clear instructions on the box on how to apply the product. But since when does seemingly following instructions always prevent disaster (flatpack furniture, we're looking at you)? Here are some (mostly) foolproof tips from Mumsnet users:
"I think if you're a hair-dye virgin choose something close to your own colour. Also, bear in mind that dyed hair fades and lightens over time."
"Permanent colour will cover grey best. It can dry your hair out a bit so add a deep conditioner to your routine."
"If any gets on your skin, baby wipes are your friend."
"Make sure you have either old towels, or an old top that you can use when dying. It will get everywhere! And if you get it on paintwork, wipe it off immediately or it will dye that too!"
What is the best shampoo to keep hair colour from fading?
While no shampoo will stop your colour from going completely, specifically colour-safe products can help prevent fading too quickly - especially compared to normal shampoos containing sulphates that will wear it down. These are some that Mumsnetters recommend:
Best for blonde hair: Fanola No Yellow Shampoo - "I use Fanola shampoo to keep the colour fresh… The no yellow one is necessary to keep the warmth in check."
Best for red hair: Aussie Colour Mate Shampoo - "The only shampoo and conditioner I've found that preserves red hair!"
Best for moisturising: L'Oréal Hair Expertise Pure Dye Moisture Shampoo -
"This is fantastic. Even my hairdresser has commented on how good the condition of my hair is - I get it coloured/highlighted every five weeks."
Best range of colour protection: John Frieda colour haircare - "John Frieda is really good and leaves your hair smelling divine, you've also got the choice of especially for brunette, blonde, red or coloured and also different hair types/conditions".
Is PPD in hair dye dangerous?
PPD (paraphenylenediamine) is an irritant found in some hair dyes and can result in allergic reactions. The NHS has more advice on PPD (here in relation to black henna, not to be confused with the red henna in Lush products above). Most of the above are PPD-free, but if you're concerned, do check the ingredients. And PPD or not, always do a patch-test
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