Why is my hair dye coming up so dark?

[ChubRubTub]

I've been colouring my own grey regrowth during lockdown, using vol 20 developer and 5A mixed with 5NN. When I have it done in the salon it's a nice ash/chocolate brown. It's coming up much darker at home.

My hairdresser let me know the correct ratio. I've used digital scales to weigh it out. I'm leaving it on the same time as well, but it's still coming up really dark. To make things worse, it's not covering the fine hair around the front very well either.

What am I doing wrong?!

Thanks!

Is it the same product? Same brand?
That sounds like a semi-permanent supermarket dye. Comes out much darker and doesn't cover all greys.

I use Inoa and it's a nice ashy brown and cover every single hair. Just make sure to choose the .0 ones, they don't have any red in them.

No, it's professional permanent hair colour / developer. Exactly the same as my hairdresser uses.

I'm using the Igora Royal 6.0 and 6.5 with 20 developer and it's coming out the sam as when my hairdresser does it. I don't think I put enough product round my hairline the first time. I think I was too worried about it staining. I used more next time and it's fine. Did you check the tube had the same colour as the box described?

Thanks. Good point- I just checked and the colour is the same on the tube.

I think you're probably right about the hairline. I'll put more on next time.

Maybe I'm leaving it on too long? It takes me longer to apply, so maybe it's that.

Ask your hairdresser for their thoughts?

I don’t have the exact same service as you as I get root tints to lighten my brunette hair (no grey). But when I get my hair done, he puts the colour on my roots first, than drags it down later on so roots process for the longest. He also does the top of my head first, with the hair at the nape of my neck being the final section to be coloured. (It looks even after.)

You could try something similar, as I’ve heard grey can be stubborn to take dye so might benefit from extra processing.

You possibly are leaving it on for too long if it takes you a while to fully apply it. You can start timing from the moment you start, and when you reach the full application time for the first section just wash it off immediately. You can continue to apply the dye to the remaining sections and wash them separately.