OP, I get my hair dyed at Aveda when I go there for a cut. But in between I dye my hair at home. I just used L'Oreal Excellence Cream box dye tonight and it came out amazing. I got it from Amazon. It's a very easy process. Highly recommended!

Anonymous wrote:I am dark brown hair and over 50% gray. I can't wait to dye anymore- got about 2 inches of regrowth.

Anyone that can recommend a good dye. I have always done Aveda color and have tried to wait it out, but I just can't anymore, it is really bringing me down.

I wish my salon would do pick up color and I would do it myself, but no dice.

Why don’t you ask your colorist for dye to go? That way you can use the dye you usually use. That’s what I did. Curbside pickup.

Anonymous wrote:The trick to getting long-lasting haircolor (especially for covering grays) is to leave the color in for longer than the instructions indicate. If you have stubborn greys at the temple or part line, place the color there first. Wait 10 minute or so, then apply to the rest of your roots, leave on for 45 minutes - 1 hour. Also, I believe that the internet-based haircolor companies are drugstore /sally's quality with some slick marketing. Garnier, Clairol, Loreal, etc do the same job for 1/3 of the price. Also, you can buy Redken / Wella color and developer on Amazon and do your own salon-quality haircolor on the cheap. As long as you don't stray too much from your natural color, DIY single-process is very hard to screw up.

PP, can you recommend a developer available on Amazon? I have dark brown hair and use box color #4 typically.

OP, I'm another fan of Madison Reed. They have a questionnaire and give you some options based on results. Best part is you can actually see the color on. You give them access to your camera and you see how the color looks on one side of your face. I looked daylighy, then indoors and made my decision. Really happy with it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody have a temporary box hair color they recommend? I would like to go back to the salon as soon as it is open but in the interim would like to do a box semi permanent color. My understanding is that permanent box color is really hard to fix once you go down that route but presumably a semi permanent color is easier?

I have been using Wella Colorcharm at home for years. I love it and it is very gentle and long lasting, no peroxide. You can't get it at a drug store, only beauty supply store or Amazon or otherwise online beauty supply stores.

Thank you, I will try it!

Anonymous wrote:Does anybody have a temporary box hair color they recommend? I would like to go back to the salon as soon as it is open but in the interim would like to do a box semi permanent color. My understanding is that permanent box color is really hard to fix once you go down that route but presumably a semi permanent color is easier?

I have been using Wella Colorcharm at home for years. I love it and it is very gentle and long lasting, no peroxide. You can't get it at a drug store, only beauty supply store or Amazon or otherwise online beauty supply stores.

I used Madison Reed. I am super happy with the color and it is the perfect shade. The questionnaire made all the difference in the world and I am glad that I took so much time to carefully consider all the questions because I think that helped. Order the cup from Madison Reed or buy one from Amazon.

One of my daughters actually did the color job. Together we watched Angie of HotAndFlashy on YouTube. We watched the whole video once and then the second time just the part where she shows herself coloring her hair. I cannot tell you how happy I am with the outcome!!! And my daughter is of course thrilled that she didn't dye her mom's hair orange. We used the brush for the color not the squeeze bottle because the brush is how my regular salon colorist does it.

I had procrastinated forever because I didn't want to mess it up so I actually had 2 sets of Madison Reed here (I chose the every 4 week subscription service) when I finally caved. It was one of the best choices I've made during this whole pandemic. I feel so much better now!

Good luck!

Anonymous wrote:NP- what about highlighted hair? Any product recs?

Highlights get a little bit more complicated. It's not rocket science (powder bleach + 30 volume developer, rinse, then tone or color), but there are more variables that could result in a bad result, especially on non-virgin hair. I've done it on myself (used several Youtube balayage tutorials) and it turned out well, but it's a bit hard to apply the bleach to the back of the head. Also beware that dark brown / black hair tends to go red/orange/brassy unless bleached light enough, but that extra bleaching time can result in slightly damaged hair. I have had good luck bleaching highlights to ~4 shades lighter than my natural color and then applying an ash-toned demi-permanent light brown all over as a toner. You really CAN learn almost anything on Youtube.

Regular box color is way easier and less likely to end in disaster.

Does anybody have a temporary box hair color they recommend? I would like to go back to the salon as soon as it is open but in the interim would like to do a box semi permanent color. My understanding is that permanent box color is really hard to fix once you go down that route but presumably a semi permanent color is easier?

NP- what about highlighted hair? Any product recs?

I did Madison Reed last night. I am super impressed with how it turned out. I have some greys at the root line. I left it on for 40 minutes. Seriously considering not returning to the salon for color. Great value for $26.

The trick to getting long-lasting haircolor (especially for covering grays) is to leave the color in for longer than the instructions indicate. If you have stubborn greys at the temple or part line, place the color there first. Wait 10 minute or so, then apply to the rest of your roots, leave on for 45 minutes - 1 hour. Also, I believe that the internet-based haircolor companies are drugstore /sally's quality with some slick marketing. Garnier, Clairol, Loreal, etc do the same job for 1/3 of the price. Also, you can buy Redken / Wella color and developer on Amazon and do your own salon-quality haircolor on the cheap. As long as you don't stray too much from your natural color, DIY single-process is very hard to screw up.

I have done eSalon twice since lockdown. Looks pretty good and has lasted much longer than drugstore.

I really liked how my color turned out using Madison Reed. Only issue is that it didn’t cover my grey enough. Most of mine is concentrated along my part from years of Rogaine. I honestly only left it on for 30 min. Instructions said for stubborn grey keep on 40. I was nervous so washed out too soon. I am definitely going to try it again. A coworker uses all the time and loves it and hers looks great.

I am dark brown hair and over 50% gray. I can't wait to dye anymore- got about 2 inches of regrowth.

Anyone that can recommend a good dye. I have always done Aveda color and have tried to wait it out, but I just can't anymore, it is really bringing me down.

I wish my salon would do pick up color and I would do it myself, but no dice.