Hair dye salon or box?

[ClaireEclair]

Hello. My hair is pretty grey. Almost all over. I grew out the dye a few years ago but wasn't happy with how it looked so went back to dye. I go to a hair salon and it's £73 for regrowth. I have to get it done every month (the greys start to appear after a week) and I find the whole process expensive and annoying. It only ever looks good the first two weeks really.

I'm thinking of going to box dye instead but are they really as bad as people claim? Is there a range that's better than others?

@ChardonnaysPetDragon I'd donate the conditioner bottles to a local food bank. I'm sure someone would appreciate them.

Do you think? It's clear they come from a kit, and are part of a hair colour box. I don't want to dump my problem on them.

[quote ChardonnaysBeastlyCat]**@ChardonnaysPetDragon I'd donate the conditioner bottles to a local food bank. I'm sure someone would appreciate them.

Do you think? It's clear they come from a kit, and are part of a hair colour box. I don't want to dump my problem on them.[/quote]It's completely fine, they're just conditioner, otherwise just give them away on Facebook marketplace or olio or something like that. You're overthinking this.

Thanks! I'm drowning in the stuff.

I gave all my conditioner to DH's cousin before but now I've got more piled up!

Can I recommend using salon-quality dye at home? I buy Wella Koleston dye usually from Amazon at about £8
www.wella.com/professional/en-UK/hair-color/koleston-perfect/koleston-perfect#/?_k=lqke05
You need to buy the developer separately (big bottle lasts ages) and to decide what level of developer you need - ask your hairdresser or there are tips online. I use 20% developer. Mix it 1:1 with the tube of dye in a squeezy bottle, and off you go.
Advantages: better colour range; standardised shade numbering system helps in picking the right one; seems to fade less quickly than supermarket ones; my hairdresser reckons the professional ones cause less buildup.

So it's not just me. I keep meaning to write to the manufacturer because it's such a waste.

It is! When I used to use Loreal box dye on mine I wound up with a boxful too, so I squeezed them all into an empty body lotion tub and used them up as hair mask. It was not bad! 😀

As for box dyes I agree with PP about buying salon dyes and developer, but I'd also recommend esalon to anyone who has only a few shades to go. It's expensive for a box dye but really good and the customer service is fab IME 😊

Has anyone tried eSalon? I keep looking at them, have never tried them.

It is! When I used to use Loreal box dye on mine I wound up with a boxful too, so I squeezed them all into an empty body lotion tub and used them up as hair mask. It was not bad!

Ha! I have enough for a hair mask on herd of wooly mammoths by now.

Totally depends on whether you are going for blonde or not.

When I was blonde I paid that money for a proper salon, an expensive one too that did not make my hair yellow.

Then one day I popped into Hair Express and they dyed my blonde absolutely awful so I bought a dark brown box colour, took it home, and have not looked back. I now do dark brown and black as those are the colours I like to be. I use permanent but I use a very cheap one, £1 and my greys come through quickly too, though not as quick as yours, that hair growth rate sounds lovely to have!

If you're blonde, you should keep using the salon.

If you're going dark, I suggest using a box and spending more money on a decent shampoo and conditioner instead. Go to TK Max and get a nice one, or get something prestigious. If you buy a set for £40 even it should last you more than a month and your hair will look great.

This is my 15 year box dyed hair.