topic Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color? in Beauty

Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

PilatesLover — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:16:59 GMT

I had a chat with my hairdresser about postponing my appointment again due to lockdowns where I live. I asked her what brand of hair color I should use to tide me over until I see her again, which might not be until July or even later at this point.

She told me none of them are good and I should just use the wash out root touch up spray.

So bottom line, are the boxed home use brands really all that much worse than salon color? I can understand her wanting to protect her business but I also am very unhappy with my hair right now.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

Shelbelle — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:23:06 GMT

I use Revlon Colorsilk for the last 23 years, works for me , no ammonia and permanent. Under $3 at Walmart!!

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

QueenDanceALot — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 16:32:30 GMT

@PilatesLover

A good colorist will mix a custom color for you. You can't do that with boxed color. I started thinking about doing just my roots but remember how that went when I used to do that myself. Not nearly as good as what my colorist does.

I am using a wash out root spray right now. Not ideal, but I've done the box color thing and it's just not as good as what my stylist can do.

JMHO.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

Katcat1 — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:23:43 GMT

@PilatesLover When I colored my hair I used Natural Instincts by Clairol. It does not contain ammonia and is gentle on the hair. I had used ammonia hair color at one time and the Natural Instincts lasted the same amount of time as far as gray coming thru. Natural Insincts colors your hair but does not change the color like permanent color. Your hair stylist told you that home color is bad because she wants your business. I no longer color my hair but by using the Natural Instincts my hair is not damaged and dry.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

Icegoddess — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:27:14 GMT

Not worse, just different which makes it more difficult for her to correct once you go back to her.

I did see a segment on Live with Kelly & Ryan with her hairdresser saying if you use anything besides the sprays or powders he recommended one of those root touch-up kits.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

Grouchomarx — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:30:53 GMT

I color my own hair for many years, probably 20. I have had it done at times in the salon and the salon does not produce better results than the box. In fact every hairdresser I've had in the past 5 years has given me unsolicited compliments on my color. I just don't see what the big deal is to color at home unless you have a complicated color such as red, or are dealing with multi colors like highlights or baliage. For reference my hair is now mostly gray and I dye it blonde. My natural color was a light brown/dark blonde.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

millieshops — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:31:24 GMT

@PilatesLoverI much prefer my hair when I have it colored professionally - like the color better, like the evenness of the application better, etc.

I'm sure some of my preference is based on my kind of hair as well as my own skill (or lack of) in applying boxed color. Further, I know that once I color at home, it's that much more difficult for my colorist to get me back to exactly what I like and what they like.

So, I will go back to my professional ASAP, but in the meantime I use L'Oreal's Preference and I know I look far better than I would going natural. Just wish I could do nearly as well doing my own trimming and/or cutting.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

Shanus — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:33:54 GMT

@PilatesLover When I colored my hair, the difficulty was the colors on the boxes or little "loops of hair" are never the same as it turns out on your hair. It's lighter on the roots...virgin hair and maybe grey compared to the rest. If you get it on the rest of your hair, it builds up getting darker and ends up different than root color. The 2nd time, you get a third color, the older roots you did once and now new virgin roots taking color differently again. Add in the fade factor? I'd stay w/ a root touch up only and let the pros do what they know how to match.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

Krimpette — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:38:59 GMT

I have been using Loreal Excellence for many, many years. I've always gotten compliments on my hair color.....mostly because folks thought I had it colored at a salon. However, during this crisis, I'm leaning towards not coloring it again until I can get it cut. I'm curious to see what my gray looks like. My beautician has always said my gray is not going to be pretty, like my mother's was!

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

grandma2pkmh — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:44:15 GMT

@PilatesLover I've always colored my own hair. The product that works best for me is Garnier Nutrisse. The hairdressor that cuts my hair always compliments me on the color and texture, says she couldn't do a better job for me.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

Alison Wonderland — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:47:32 GMT

@QueenDanceALot wrote:
@PilatesLover

A good colorist will mix a custom color for you. You can't do that with boxed color. I started thinking about doing just my roots but remember how that went when I used to do that myself. Not nearly as good as why my colorist does.

I am using a wash out root spray right now. Not ideal, but I've done the box color thing and it's just not as good as what my stylist can do.

JMHO.

I've mixed my own box color from the store with no issues. I just made sure I worked with formulas from the exact same line.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

Alison Wonderland — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:55:16 GMT

I've been coloring my hair for over 20 years now. I spent most of that time using drugstore color and a few years ago I made the change to professional color from a beauty supply store.

It made a BIG difference, especially in my resistant greys. A few months ago, they were out of my regular color and I went with another brand and that also made a big difference, and not in a good way.

Ion Brilliance Color Cream is what I normally use to color my brown hair an auburn shade. Reds always fade more easily, but Ion has kept my hair redder longer. I usually mix two shades to get the shade I like best and have never had an issue. And the Ion really sticks to my grays better than any drugstore brand. The last time I colored I used Wella color and that faded more quickly and practically flew off my grays two weeks after coloring.

What I don't get at home is highlights or lowlights, so if you do that at your salon, you won't get the same look at home.

Ion is available at Sally Beauty.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

VaBelle35 — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:55:53 GMT

I've used natural demi-perm dye on my roots. I have dark brown hair and its short, so my colorist only does my roots because my ends get cut every 4 weeks so I don't have build up issues.

When I used to color my hair myself, I used to use Loreal Excellence and use 2 colors (not mixed together, just applied differently-- darker color on the roots, lighter color on the rest). I always use the main shade and one shade lighter.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

Love my grandkids — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:56:44 GMT

@PilatesLover Sounds like she has an agenda. You might begin to prefer the ease of doing it at home. Hmmm...

I colored my hair for years and my hairdresser said the product I was using was just fine for my needs. She knew I didn't want the hassle of getting it done at the salon, nor the expense.

Just a thought.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

jackthebear — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 14:58:49 GMT

@PilatesLover wrote:
I had a chat with my hairdresser about postponing my appointment again due to lockdowns where I live. I asked her what brand of hair color I should use to tide me over until I see her again, which might not be until July or even later at this point.

She told me none of them are good and I should just use the wash out root touch up spray.

So bottom line, are the boxed home use brands really all that much worse than salon color? I can understand her wanting to protect her business but I also am very unhappy with my hair right now.

she's giving you a line

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

jackthebear — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:02:48 GMT

JMPO

I think the stuff in salons is formulated differently, more pigments, different chemicals etc than what we get in the store.

it's really hard to do your own at home if you have lots of hair etc.

ask me how I know this :-)

so maybe OP's stylist was trying to save her client from being disappointed?

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

ScrapHappy — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:18:44 GMT

@PilatesLover wrote:
I had a chat with my hairdresser about postponing my appointment again due to lockdowns where I live. I asked her what brand of hair color I should use to tide me over until I see her again, which might not be until July or even later at this point.

She told me none of them are good and I should just use the wash out root touch up spray.

So bottom line, are the boxed home use brands really all that much worse than salon color? I can understand her wanting to protect her business but I also am very unhappy with my hair right now.

I use two things: Loreal Magic Root Touch Up in the torquise can and Loreal Root Touch Up. I would only use Loreal Root Touch (in white box) when it would be too long in between going to salon. The spray (Magic Root Touch Up) I'd use to hold me over a little while. Right now I'm still using the Magic Root Touch Up but will breaking open the box soon. I've been doing this for years.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

mac116 — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:30:33 GMT

@Alison Wonderland

I have used Ion from Sally Beauty for several years, and I love it! The color looks as good as when I had it done in my salon. Everyone thinks that I am still getting it "done" monthly when I get my haircut.

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

PilatesLover — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:40:13 GMT

Thank you everyone! I appreciate all of the points raised, pro and con and in between.

♥♥♥♥♥

Re: Is drug store hair color really worse than salon color?

Carmie — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 15:43:57 GMT

Insider information here from a licensed hairdresser who specialized in cutting and color.

Permanent hair color from the box is the same quality as what your hairdresser applies in the salon. What is different might be the colors. Your hairdresser might mix custom colors or do some " add ins" like a drop of green or red or use a different type of peroxide.

My suggestion: buy a box of Excellence in a color that is aclose match to what you want. Colors come in warm or cool shades. Warm colors will be more golden or red.

Get a couple of hair clips. Divide your hair into 4 sections down the middle in both directions and clip it out of the way. Only color the roots. Check color after 20 minutes,,if desired result not achieved...leave on longer. It won't hurt your hair. After about 45 minutes the color goes stale and won't be worth leaving it on longer than that.

For the last 5 minutes, pull the color through to the ends of the hair, so,that your whole head is covered. That will refresh the " old color"

There are videos on YouTube showing you how to apply color by lifting sections with the bottle nozzle. It really is easy...even if doing the back.

Good luck..any questions? get back to me.

I do not recommend semi permanent or a shampoo in hair color.