Dying your own hair

[CleaningAngel]

I currently have my hair coloured every 4 weeks, due to grey showing , one month its just the roots, next I have it combed through to mid lengths and ends and roots, it's costing approx £600 a year, which isn't a huge amount, however as iam trying to cut down, I see £600 as a holiday.
Has anyone had success with box dyes? Going grey is NOT an option at 51 iam just not ready to be grey.
My hair is an aurben/chestnut/redish colour, I love the colour and would want it as near as possible, iam worried what is on the box isn't what you get!!
Would it be cheeky to ask my hairdresser advice on the colour name/numbers? Iam not worried about the process of applying it, iam worried about looking like a bright orange aurangatang!!!
Any help/ advice appreciated 🙏

I use professional Schwarzkopf Igora royale from Amazon. You'll need a tube of colour, and a bottle of activator. Also need gloves, a dye brush and bowl.

My hairdresser was happy to tell me the brand/shade of dye I needed to cover my greys at home!

I use Clairol Root Touch Up - I started during lockdown and never looked back - it’s brilliant stuff! I used to spend excruciating amounts of money on root touch ups at a London salon, but would never go back now.

There’s no harm in asking your hairdresser for the shade - they might be more receptive if you also get your hair cut there too. I know I would have got short shrift if I had asked staff at my posh salon, but that’s because they were very anti home dye jobs 😹

Btw: If you buy a home dye kit, do a patch test and a strand test first.

I use root touch up as well, it really is excellent.

Whole head home box dye is another matter. Mine always ends up too dark or too light…

^ this might help. It’s a hairdresser critiquing box dyes positively!

I myself didn’t find box dyes so great. I was trying to do a few blonde streaks/highlights on grey, and I think the colour dye wasn’t strong enough, without me bleaching first. ( I do use Sallys professional beauty shop and as I have a trade card I can get permanent dyes. I bleach a few strands first, then perm dye them ash blonde on top. It worked quite well this time. Nice and subtle. But it’s a risk if you dont know what you’re doing.)

I know a woman my age who just box dyes her grey hair all blonde with box dye and it looks great.

Try doing one strand first to see if you like it?

I’ve had some bad experiences at the hairdressers and only want a bit of colouring - a few highlights - so do it myself. It is a faff though and you have to be careful. I’ve been for a few consultations but haven’t managed to take the plunge as I just don’t trust them 😅! I end up looking like a Spanish matriarch from the 1950s (I’m pale freckled Celtic)

ESalon is great

I use Nice and Easy root touch up as well, I love my hair. I started colouring it myself as soon as we went into the first lockdown.
Twice a year I used Nice and Easy all over colour but only put on my non crown hair for the last 10 minutes as per instructions.
I happened to ask my old hairdresser the for the colour code about six months before lockdown in case one of us moved and I wouldn’t know what colour to ask for.
My colour does look like the box.
I am 55.

I've used box dye since the first lockdown. I've got a lot of grey at my temples, the one I use covers it well to start with but then it does fade after a couple of weeks - but if I washed my hair less that would help. I use garnier 4.3 golden dark brown. I saw a friend recently and we sat under some lights in the pub and she asked me why my hair looked so amazing, full of different tones. Tbh that's another reason for me to use box dyes - I get much more 'tone' that the flat colour from my hairdresser. I know I could have highlights but that's extra money and time I don't have, especially when I get it from a box!!

I use clairol nice and easy

Even though I only do the roots each time I buy the standard box not the root touch up box

Another vote for esalon- they matched my hair colour exactly & I just use it for roots.

Omg I went from having my hair done at a hairdresser to box dyes, and you know what? I like the box dye colour better and my hair is in better condition!

I like l'Oreal but I have tried a few brands, and they have all been good.

I dye my own hair but I’d never use box dyes. I use redken chromatics and mix it myself. I use their 20/6 volume bleach and a combo of 9N and 9Gi - gives a gorgeous honey/wheat blonde colour.
It’s honestly easy to do but you do need to do a bit of research first to know what the colour codes mean. Once you’re familiar with that it’s easy peasy and saves so much money

I agree. After years of professional dying my hair was in far better condition even after first use of box dye. Salon dye left my hair dry and I ended up needing ever more expensive conditioning treatments with every visit as well as Olaplex at home.

I guess the box dye isn’t as strong as the salon stuff, which suits me fine.

I use cheap & cheerful L’Oreal colour protect shampoo & conditioner too, better than the high end products the salons recommend.

Another vote for esalon here.E Salon Home Hair Dye

I’d never think to have my hair dyed at a salon unless it was for highlights/bayalage, something that needs a bit of skill. I don’t have loads of grey though so I’m not testing the box dyes on that particularly.

Go to Sally's they're very helpful.
Also (missing point of thread) where do you go on holiday for £600?

I’ve just started doing my own. I did all over colour the first 2 times as the colour was very grown out. The first time I didn’t quite manage to cover all the greys (very thick hair) as I was also cautious about timings, but second time was better.

I’m using a brown very close to my natural colour though and I just chuck it on as there’s not much can go wrong. Next time I’ll just do the roots as it will be too dark otherwise.

I use either John Frieda or Garnier Olia, both are great for covering my resistant greys .I like the John Frieda best out of the two it's quick to get on and less messy for me .

To those who’ve mentioned root touch ups, can you get them to go dark to lighter? Or can anyone recommend a medium ash blonde box dye? My hair is mousy brown and I’ve lightened it a couple of shades for years, but just lately it’s going far too warm toned and I’m not sure why.

I have no idea how much grey I have , I've never grown it out, but likely more than 60%. I still use L'oreal casting colours which is a semi. I never liked the harsh line that a permanent colour leaves and in your case, you might like the fact it will eventually just wash out if not the colour you want.
I always go much lighter than you want. EG, I'm naturally dark brown, but colour with light brown, otherwise it comes out too dark. You might find their chestnut brown or chilli choc suit the colour you want.

I'm finding that as I get older I need a lighter colour, or else I look like Morticia Addams, and I'm still working out which is the best colour for me.

Instead of buying root touch up boxes I carefully measure out half the contents of a regular hair dye pack on the kitchen electronic scales. Apply and keep the other half for next time. I haven't had any chemical disasters so far.
I agree with the posters who say always go lighter than you want.

If you have just one colour put on, you could DIY. Highlights etc require more skill! The issue will be colour matching, be careful not to go too dark. Do the roots only and start with a semi permanent colour while you gain confidence.

I have had my hair colour messed by 3 salons in a row in the past year so now I do it myself at home.

I have a pixie cut so it is fairly easy.

Plenty cheap all inclusive holidays for £600 just vome back from one !!