Home Dye or Hair Dye

[BlueStar2021]

Please can someone advise. I have mid to dark brunette hair that is just past shoulder length and is now laced with quite a lot of grey. I’m only early thirties so I don’t want to go grey yet. I’m also autistic so don’t enjoy going to the hairdresser and have low maintenance style for my hair.

I would like my hair to be completely (or close to) its natural colour. If I was to go to the hairdressers approximately how long would this take and how much would it cost? How long would the dye last? What would I need when the roots started to grow out?

Am I better doing it at home with a home dye kit? If I used a permanent dye (both home or salon) would I then carry on using the same colour dye and how often would I need to do it? I’m also a little overwhelmed by all the different dyes.

I would like my hair to look nice and I don’t mind spending money on hairdressers but at the same time would prefer doing it at home if it achieves the same effect.

Thanks for any help/advice.

Do you have any experience of hair dying?

I don’t and not a chance I’d trust myself. But I have a hairdresser who I have been going to for 5 years and I trust with my life!

I spend £160 on half head of highlights if that helps
south east

If you're just doing a block colour, you could probably do it yourself. Maybe go to the hairdressers first and see how they do it.

I used to get a block colour done to cover greys. I did it myself the first time with a home box dye and it was a bit patchy. The next time I went to a hairdresser and watched how they did it - they really worked it into the hair, almost like shampoo, and I realised this is how you stop it being patchy! Obviously very different if you're having something more complicated done though.

I kept getting it done at a salon until I had my DC, went part-time and needed to spend less. I copied how they did it at home with box dyes. Worked fine for me for years and I always got nice comments from the hairdressers when I went it for cuts about the colour.

Once you start you do get stuck in a loop of having to re-do the roots every 6-8 weeks though. I stopped dyeing it altogether now and am embracing the grey, but I'm a bit older than you and happy with that decision.

In term of how long and how much - for a block colour it only needs to be on 20-30mins, so if you're having your hair cut and styled too I'd imagine you'd be in the salon for an hour/hour and a half. For full colour you're probably looking at around £40, plus the cost of the wash, cut and blow-dry if you're having that too.

Suggest you try a hairdressers to begin with, there is a technique to it and then intermix it with home dye. Something from esalon can match your hair colour very closely,

But it is something which needs doing every 4-5 weeks, maybe 6. Cost really depends on the hairdresser £80-£150, allow 60/90mins.

My top tip is to choose a shade slightly lighter than you are aiming for as they always seem to come out darker than the box indicates. Plus you can always go darker but going lighter is harder.

The box dyes all have numbers with the higher the number, the darker the colour. Some also have a second number which relates to how warm the colour is. So for example you get ash blonde (cool toned) and golden blonde (warm toned).

I personally think one colour home dyeing is easy. I would never pay a hairdresser for this. The formulas are great the days. With regrowth, the instructions usually say to put it on your roots longer. You do want to be careful you don't build up too much dye on the ends, which will be dryer and take dye more.

I was similar to you in terms of age, hair colour, length (though actually mine was longer) when I began dyeing my hair. I did it myself for over 25 years using L'Oreal Casting Creme Gloss semi-permanent dye. It leaves the hair in great condition and is easy to use. I only stopped because a few years ago I decided to grow out my grey.
That said, I may not be typical as I haven't been to a hairdresser in over 40 years and never liked it when I did. I've always cut and dyed my hair myself.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

My top tip would be find a mobile hairdresser who can come to your home. That way you get the knowledge and reassurance of a professional while also having the safety and familiarity of your own space.

If you do it yourself, try Josh woods, do the light brown, now 6 I think all box dyes come out a little darker, instructions are easy to follow.

i have found it so much better than other hair dryers, nice n easy was ruining my hair, its all shiny and glossy since i moved to josh woods.

@BlueStar2021 try John Frieda Defy Grey shampoo. It is not as harsh as hair dye and I've found it works very well for minimal greys.

If you do decide to dye it. The tip to get it done in a salon once to see the technique is a good one. Though I'm sure there are YouTubes about it. I would go for a semi-permanent.