the mumsnet HOME HAIR DYE review thread...,

[lucykate]

there seem to be so many people asking about home hair dye thought this might be a useful thing to start. post here with your normal hair colour, brand and shade you are using and also with the result good or bad. i will have multiple posts coming as have used so many different ones in the search for my ideal shade, but will start with...,

L'OREAL EXCELL 10, shade 7.13 dark frosted blonde

normal hair colour - dark blond with a smattering of grey

outcome - bit on the light side and also a bit too red for me, was disappointed, won't use again.

ilove, i got them in 'savers' , a discount toiletry shop , i saw they also had them in 'bodycare' but not as many shades and I think you can buy online via Lloyd's pharmacy.. I was doing a bit of research last night thanks to this thread
i have found it impossible to get a semi permanent colour that is anywhere near red enough or plum enough

Great idea for a thread! I'll add mine now and then go back and read for recommendations.

Naturally I'm a very dark brown with lots of white silver.

Loreal Excell 10 -the Natural Dark Brown was too dark, verging on black. The Chocolate one was much nicer but neither of them covered my grey very well. Even straight after dying I could see which were the white hairs. It also faded quickly to reveal the white'grey hairs.

Boots Botanics -I used this a couple of years ago and actually wrote to Boots as I was so disappointed with the results that I thought I'd maybe got one from a dodgy batch. Seems not. Once again coverage of grey/white was v bad.

Schwarzkopf Live Colour XXL I've used this for the last 6 or so years and love it. I use Red Passion and it gives my dark brown hair a lovely shiny colour, which is exactly the same as the example on the box.

this is it although I get mine from Home Bargains or Savers, for about £3.50.

You put it on to dry hair, which I find easier than wet because I'm able to see or feel where I've missed. Leave it on for 30 mins, rinse, use the fab conditioner that comes in the box and jobs done!

It does fade, reds are notorious for it, but rather than going dull, it actually goes brighter but just isn't as rich as when it first goes on. I tend to redye every 6 weeks, but that's more because my roots look bad by then!

I've also used Cyber Purple which is lovely as well, but made my hair look almost black when the light wasn't on it.

Lulumaam have you thought about trying one of these? It is permanent though, rather than semi.

i'm not a fan of colours that need applying to wet/damp hair, much prefer ones that go onto dry hair.

I always apply to dry hair no matter what the instructions say (what a rebel ).

It's messy enough without having to apply it to wet - sorry 'towel-dried' hair.

Naturally: long auburn growing out highlights with smattering of grey.

Wanted a colour as near as my own to even out my hair as the highlights now start about 7cm from roots.

Used excel10 in Golden blone 8.3 - I chose it because it looked the right shade and it promised to cover grey.

Result: hmm, well I should have bought two packs, I used the brush/comb type thing that came with it and by the time I'd applied it to my hairline there wasn't enough to cover all the rest of my hair not matter how much I massaged it. Therefore it hasn't entirely done what I'd hoped as the ends are still lighter. The greys are not covered at all.

Also, what I don't get is why I have a brown/black tinge to my roots.

Wont use it again, can I cover it?

housewife - i found the excell 10 to be pretty rubbish too, colour wasn't good and it didn't cover grey, and i don't have that much grey so it's hardly a difficult thing for it to manage.

mrsmeow I have considered those, but i always worry that the permanent dyes are more damaging and my hair does get a bit frazzeld as i straighten it every day.. i do use serum and deep conditioner etc, but do get dry ends..

the red passion looks v similar to the copper red country colours one i am going to try later

ooh i will add mine as i always use the same dye!

natural colour: dark red, no grey.

used: feria french roast golden brown.

ok, so not a radical departure but it tones down the red in my hair a lot, leaving auburn highlights, very easy to put on (love the gloves, proper rubber gloves in little container) just squidge mix into palm and rub into hair (do need 2 packs if you have thick/long hair) dont need to leave it on any longer than instructed (with other dyes i have to leave an hour before the red is covered) and lasts well. after conditioner is fab. i keep it for longer than the 6 washes (way more than that in the tube) and wish they sold it seperately. hair is shiney and silky, no tangles. i redo every 12w, partly to cover roots, partly because its faded by then, but still the best home dye ive ever used.

Saw this thread just before going out to buy hairdye this morning and based on initial chat bought Nice and Easy medium brown. Thought I would share result. Hair is dark brown with reddish undertones and lots of grey on top. Result is okay a bit gingerish round the roots and darker further down.
Left it on for just 25 mins was going to leave for forty mins as pack said to do so if greys are stubborn and mine as stubborn as they come, but after applying came back to this thread and read Nice and Easy horror stories so may have averted a disaster there.
Anyway it covered the greys and looks a sight better than before, how long it lasts I don't know but got some root top up stuff too as on special offer in Boots.

iblf, i know people who swear by nice & easy, but i've only ever had bad experiences with the brand.

i cant use nice and easy. i end up with ginger hair!

Have to say do have gingery roots .

i've onyl had good experiences with nice n easy, semi permanent, the colour is not as red as i like, but it gives good coverage and nice glossy colour BUT i am naturally dark brown and have only the odd grey hair..maybe if you are light haired/ grey /white it goes gingery/reddy than it ought?

if you have a badger you must leave nice n easy on for 45 mins

Sidetracking a little to ask for your experiences and expertise... I have not used a home dye kit before but have been very tempted for many reasons.

Can you go from salon highlights to home dye kits? Any particular brands work better or is it a no-no?

Ta!

i have found it is far better to get someone to help you with the highlights, as it is tricky to get them even yourself.. some kits come with a cap which you pull hair through , and that is really hard to too. most though seem to have a mscara type wand..

some come with an all over colour then you dry hair and add the highlights.. i have used a boots one and a superdrug one and the colour contrast was not good enough for me..

worth a go though

currently got the schwarzkopf copper red on my hair.. will report back shortly as to results

SCHWARZKOPF copper red

i would give this 7 / 10

cheap as chips, easy to apply and the smell is not too bad

went on a tiny bit patchy, prob as i did not dampen my hair first.

colour not as bright red as i had hoped but still redder than any of the other semi permanent colours i've tried. so on that score, thumbs up.. definite red glow and shine under the lights and does look a bit redder than brown.. looks v glossy

will report back again tomorrow when i have washed/conditioned and straightened.

LM... I was thinking more of an all-over-same-colour. How would the highlights affect the way the colour takes and could it be disastrous?

Garnier Nuitrisse Chestnut. I have light brown hair and this is a lovely rich colour and I always get loads of compliments. I would never get it done at the hairdressers again.

used this one yesterday,

SCHWARZKOPF PALETTE, intensive cream colour, shade 500 dark blonde.

is ammonia free so hair is in good condition, shade is a good neutral shade of dark blonde but a bit too dark for me, have washed it 4 times this morning in head & shoulders to lift it a bit, but it's still on the dark side for what is supposed to be a blonde shade. quantity is stingy, it does say in the instructions that you would need 2 packs to colour anything longer than chin length hair, mine is a short bob and i only just managed to cover it all. not sure i would use this one again.

mama, if you have had highlights, teh colour tends to take stronger/brighter on those parts...

I have washed hair a couple of times since dying with teh copper red, and I am pleased. scalp a bit red in areas, which i've not had with other dyes.. but the slight patchiness has gone, the colour seems brighter and 4 people asked me if i'd had my hair done, so i would actually give this more of a thumbs up, hopefully it will last longer than a couple of weeks.. will keep you posted

lucy, i also found the swarzkopf one i used was a bit meagre,i virutally finished the bottle of colour and i have a bob at the mo that is above shoulder length, so would definitely need two packs for thick and/or longer hair but for £2.40 or so, i would be prepared to buy more

phew so far so good lulu- monitored your progress incase anything went wrong with country colours - hope it lasts for you i like to refresh at 4 weeksish but it lasts better on my mum (whivh i resent as her hair is even darker then mine!).

thanks honeydragon.. so pleased you recommended it. i bought the rouge noir, but i think i will stick with this colour for now.. depending on the fade factor