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 dyed my hair from the age of 13 to my late 39s. I did used to go to the hairdresser's for professional colour. I found that it was standard in my area to pay £200 for a nice colour and cut! I looked fabulous, but it wasn't financially sustainable.

Box dyes are almost as good. I used to use Clairol Nice n Easy but I've seen since giving up the dye that the choice online has exploded, especially in the eco-friendly sector. Even if you choose one of the more expensive box dyes you are quids in compared to going to a salon.

Be very careful protecting your bathroom! (Bitter experience!)

I gave up because the fashion for grey was starting up and I'm an essentially lazy person. My grey is mostly at the front and I have stripes! One colleague used to call me Badger. I claimed it!

I’m blonde with some silver foxes 😆and I use Live colour auburn something….
I hate going to the hairdresser, go around twice a year. I’ve had more compliments using my box dye than paying £175 for a professional.

Sorry moonshine I didn't read your comment properly re 600 quid holidays!! I've just come back from Egypt. Go on love holidays, cheap as chips, mine is 600 cos of single person supplement

Thank you for all your lovely replies, I think I will buy one and do a couple of hidden strands to see what colour turns out like.
Got a hairdressers appointment at end of month definitely going to ask them, as I will still go for it cutting 🙂

How did find it on your own OP? (Sorry but of a derail!) Thinking if taking DD 7 on my own, DH isn’t any fan of pool hols and we love them! Tia

My main issue with getting my colour done at the hairdressers is that I never seem to get the colour I want.

I'm naturally medium brown, with cool toned skin, and it always ends up too light, or too warm. One hairdresser refused to give me a colour any darker than a dark blonde, which is ridiculous.

So at least when I do it myself I get a colour that actually suits me.

John Frieda is easy to use but I find the greys come through again pretty quickly. Nutrisse is really good too.

I absolutely love going on hols on my own been about 12 times on my own! I love it, can do what I want when I want, I primarily go for a rest and sun bathe. I literally sleep, sunbathe, read and eat and repeat!! My idea of a holiday from hell would be going with someone that wants to go walking and site seeing, then they would get mardy if I didn't want to do it, so going alone is the best thing ever. Over the years of holidaying alone, you would be suprised the amount of other solo travellers I've met! Going all inc is easy just walk into the restaurant, not sure if I was to go self catering I would walk into a town alone and walk in to a restaurant like that.

Thanks @CleaningAngel - I used to love doing all those things, now it’s more like play in the pool all day😆still enjoyable though. Good to know you enjoyed yourself and felt safe.

Oh and I go inmpool every half hr to cool down!!!!

Sorry I can't go back to box dye. eas disaster in lockdowns. went running back to my hairdressers as soon as they opened . there is no box dye that covered my grey properly nor blended it in aswell. get mine done every two months and survive in between with coloured dry shampoo and root spray. I am paying more than 600 a year but to me it's worth it.

I go to the hairdresser every 10 weeks or so for cut and colour (highlights and base colour) and use a root touch up in between with a bit of coloured dry shampoo/root spray here and there. My hairdresser advised me on which touch up colour to buy. I’m pushing 50 and definitely not ready to go grey - I’m not full grey yet, going by my roots. I would never trust myself to do highlights and I love it when my hairdresser does it! Personally I think a professional hairdresser is worth their weight in gold. I don’t use city centre salons though - my local one is still under £100 each time. Toni and Guy was over £100 sixteen years ago, so I made the move to a local recommended salon.

I use the same brand that my hairdresser does so I get an exact match. I go to her every 8 weeks and colour myself at 4 weeks. It’s been a game changer!
Just tell your hairdresser that it’s not sustainable and you need a cheaper option. They should give you good advice.
I just colour my roots at the front, it’s not easy to do the back but I’m really only grey at the front anyway.

I’ve been doing my roots at home with L’Oréal preference (I’m dark brown).
it’s mostly ok but I keep missing bits or the grey isn’t fully covered. I also need 2 boxes for all of my hair. I have used the root touch ups but they have stronger developer in and I always miss bits (currently have sat & pepper tuft at front).
I have used esalon but it’s £27 full price which is still quite expensive for me and still have all the mess at home.
my hairdresser would have probably told me what she used but I felt awkward asking.
However tomorrow I’m having it coloured for £15 at the local hairdressing college, hopefully that will turn out well!

I've been box dying mine for ages. Hairdressers - I have had bad experiences - and their dyes never last long, I always came back from a colour with a darker line at my parting which obviously just got worse as hair grew.

I went to a good pro last week for a cut and restyle and he didnt say anything about the colour, which I took as a massive vote of confidence.

I stick to a shade as similar to my natural colour (dark blond) and to what a hairdresser told me ages ago, nothing with the word "gold" or "warm" in it to avoid danger of any red and the need to bleach.

I henna my hair - cheaper than box dyes and it naturally highlights.

As others suggested, go to sallys buy your colour and 1ltr bottle of peroxide there, I’ve used XP & other cheap brands of colour tubes & cheaper peroxide, do not use supermarket box brands, it’ll cost you less in long run buying the proper products from sallys anyway. Get pack of gloves and brush etc while there too. The whole process is easier than you think. YouTube videos will help you ☺️ As for the cheap holidays I’m shocked people are surprised it’s doable. Loveholidays is great for aging interest free instalments too.

Correct me if iam.wrong but don't you need to be a professional hairdresser with a card to prove it to get into Sally's?

I get mine from sally hair and beauty. If you go in they'll recommend a colour. One tube (with developer) lasts me 3-4 goes. All in costs about £20.

I use L’Oreal Excellence and have for years. It is very natural looking, with highlights occurring throughout. I have had many compliments on it and have had people question whether or not I even dye it. My hair texture has been pretty much unaffected, and it’s not dry or brittle.

I use esalon 👍. Really lovely colour and you can ask for tweaks at any time eg more red, darker, lighter. I just order a box every 2/3 months, mix half the developer and colour in a bowl and apply with a brush to the roots. I find it enough. Every now and then they send you a free extra kit to do your lengths.

I use Josh Wood - not cheap but it does the job.

I’ll caveat this with my sister is my hairdresser but she tells me the exact colour and peroxide to use. It isnt a box dye. Its the same professional colour she uses but I can order online.
If you cant afford to go as regular as you need to im sure they would prefer you use the same stuff, rather than a box dye.

I box dyed during lockdown like everyone else and used L'Oréal Preference . Loved the colour but there was always a lot of grey I missed. Is there a specific way of doing it to make sure you cover all the roots? It's what prevents me from dyeing at home.

I was worried I'd wreck the condition of my hair, but in fact it feels much glossier for a while after. Don't remember that from the hairdressers. (Also started in lockdown.)
I go for as close to my original hair colour as possible. It looks quite faded without the dye with a fair few grey strands now. Same as my parents.

I die my own hair at home, and as a treat once a year the hair dresser will die it for me. She’s always very complimentary about my diy jobs at home so it’s worth it for me for the money and time saved!