Would anyone be able to tell me what hair dye/developer I need to buy with this information?

[Cafog]

Hi, I visit an expensive curl specialist for a curly cut and colour twice a year. She's quite a distance from me , so every couple of months I get just my roots done at a local salon. At 43, and dark brunette the greys are coming through fast, and Im having to reduce the time between visits, as well as the price going up every time I visit it seems, it's just becoming unaffordable.

My curly hairdresser was kind enough to advise on the colour she uses so that I could buy similar at my local salon services and do it myself (cannot order the specific brand she uses) between visits to her. She said the staff there would be able to advise on a comparable colour but they were all super young and didnt seem to be too sure of themselves when I called in today.

Could any wise mumsnetters help me out please?

The brand is O&M
5 WN with a little 6
20% volume (is this the developer?!)

Not keen on box dyes, my curls really do not like them.

Would he so grateful.for any advice on what to buy ie comparable brands and colour.

Thanks so much! X

Look at Wella Koleston Perfect colours, there is an app for you to choose your shade & you can buy the colour & developer on Amazon.

@Nat6999 this is great thanks a million x

If you can order online at salon services I'd go for Matrix in those same shades. Can't remember the loreal tones as not used them for years. Personally wouldn't order from amazon as you don't know if its fake or not x

That's a light warm natural brown, if you are looking at Koleston, you'll need about a 5/4.

Try googling the colour and look at images. I'd say Koleston 5/4 is pretty close, but it of course depends how much 6 she's putting in.

Otherwise google a pic of Koleston colour chart 😊

The app has all the colours & instructions, I would probably buy the colour shade in semi permanent to try first, easier to get rid of if it's too dark or light.

You can usually check the supplier on Amazon, I always buy mine from Amazon, have done for years & always genuine products.

A semi permanent however isn't as good at covering the grey due to the lack of pigments in the hair.

The less pigment in your hair, the less the colour can 'hold on'. The peroxide in the permanent damages the hair follicle allowing the dye to penatrate the hair shaft. A semi of the same shade (although Wella Color Touch doesn't do all the same shades as Koleston, but this one luckily does) may not give a true impression if the hair is particularly coarse grey hair, which curly can be

Forgive me if I'm preaching to the converted, but a colourist of 30years here 🦳 🦱 🦰

Likewise, I've used Amazon when my wholesalers have been out and never had an issue. Ebay is the one to watch not for fake dues, but very out of date dyes that can be seriously oxidised

OP if you have grey roots I would suggest a permanent colour so the colour last longer and maybe going a lighter shade of brown/dark blond so your roots are not so visible.

https://www.haircosmetics.co.uk/products/organic-mineral-hair-colour?variant=51830196961440

it’s an Australian brand so a bit harder to find

20vol is your developer

20 vol (developer) is also known as 6% (in case the developer you buy comes in percentages instead of vol). You’d need 1:1 ratio colour to developer when mixing it.

Hi I'm mid fifties and have recently used Wella Color touch. I used the 4 percent developer and am very pleased with the results. The colour is very natural and my hair is in amazing condition. It has covered the greys. My only advice is to go lighter than the shades on the charts.

Thanks so much everyone. So I went down a rabbit hole last night with your advice and chat gpt( why did I not think of that before?!). Anyhow I've ended up ordering a 5/03 and a 6 plus 20% developer from the Loreal Inoa range (was all set with the Koleston but shades were out of stock). O&M has no ammonia and neither does this range so I thought in the long run it might be better for my dry hair?!

I hope i wont regret it! Really appreciate all the advice wish me luck!

Ooh @BoatHome I missed this, thankyou so much