Best At-Home Hair Dye: Hair Color Kits and Box Dye

Table Of Content

• Other tips and tricks from our stylist experts:
• How to Dye Your Hair at Home
• Clairol Nice'n Easy Permanent Hair Dye
• Best Blonde Hair Dye Options for Gorgeous At-Home Color
• STYLE EDIT Root Concealer Touch Up Spray
• #3: Schwarzkopf Keratin Color Permanent Hair Color Cream, 6.0 Delicate Praline Delicate Praline 1 Count

While it may seem easy to slap on some dye and wait for it to do its magic, coloring your own hair requires more attention. For starters, you need to assess the condition of your hair, decide which shade is best for you, and find the right formula—and that's before you even start the coloring process. If your hair color could use a refresh but you don't want to, you know, severely damage your hair in the process, you might want to opt for this at-home formula. It's infused with keratin, a protein that works to strengthen hair's protective cuticle, to prevent breakage and split ends.

Other tips and tricks from our stylist experts:

Read on to learn more about how you can successfully color your hair at home. Though dyeing your hair from the comfort of your own bathroom might be possible, some stylists suggest you practice brutal honesty about your coloring comfort level. Cash Lawless, a celebrity stylist, suggests talking to your regular colorist to make sure you have someone to advise you throughout the process.

How to Dye Your Hair at Home

Using the end of your tail comb (or the tip of the bottle if you don’t have a comb), take a ¼- to ½-inch horizontal section, then flip it over to the other side of your head. Apply color to the new growth section of your roots, continuing this process down your head until you get to your ear. We asked them each to recommend their favorite brands, too, so you can revive your color between appointments or try your hand at an at-home color as safely as possible. With over 25 shades to choose from, there's something for every tone and color and the no-drip formula makes for a mess-free application.

Clairol Nice'n Easy Permanent Hair Dye

While this kit is a great option for many people, it may not provide enough product for those with long or thick hair. Additionally, some users have reported difficulty using the brush included with the kit, which can make application more challenging. Some days you just run out of time to wash your hair, but that doesn't mean it has to look greasy.

Best Blonde Hair Dye Options for Gorgeous At-Home Color

The foam formula makes it easy to apply and distribute evenly throughout the hair. Plus, the Choco Brown color provides a nice, rich hue that looks natural and vibrant. This product is perfect for those who are looking for a natural and gentle way to color their hair without compromising on the quality of the results.

The 12 Best Ammonia-Free Hair Dyes of 2024 - InStyle

The 12 Best Ammonia-Free Hair Dyes of 2024.

Posted: Fri, 05 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Some stylists are also offering video consultations, or they can help you over the phone or by email. “If you absolutely have to use at-home color, only apply to the roots and never pull the color through your ends,” warns Farella-LoCastro. Many at-home hair dye formulas can “dry out the hair leaving it frizzy and dull,” she explains.

Overall, Revlon Color Effects Frost & Glow Highlights is a great choice for anyone looking to create salon-worthy highlights at home. A good hair dryer dries hair quickly, can tamp down frizz better than any styling product, and depending on your dexterity, can also help straighten or curl your hair. No matter how many curling wands or straighteners you have in your arsenal, you need to have a quality blow dryer in the mix as well. Out of all the heat styling tools you can use on your hair, the curling iron is the one that requires the most practice, particularly to see what type of curl and look you like. However, the results you can achieve are just as reliant upon the type of curling iron you choose. Whether you have fine hair, thick hair, or something that falls in-between, these are the best curling irons.

STYLE EDIT Root Concealer Touch Up Spray

This box hair dye has the texture of thick, rich foam, so spreading it through the hair is incredibly easy. It doesn’t drip or make a mess, so it’s one of the more user-friendly options on this list. At-home hair color products come in different application methods, including creams, gels, and foams.

#3: Schwarzkopf Keratin Color Permanent Hair Color Cream, 6.0 Delicate Praline Delicate Praline 1 Count

Shopping for at-home haircolor can be overwhelming when a mere $10 can turn your hair green and leave a trail of tears. Before starting your hair journey, we'll share everything you should know so it's a smooth and trauma-free transition—because no one has time to sob over haircolor. Dyeing hair at home can be intimidating, but our experts shared their top tips for selecting the right product so you can get the best results. Revlon Color Effects Frost & Glow Highlights is a great choice for anyone looking to create salon-inspired highlights at home. Another great feature of the Clairol Nice’n Easy Balayage Permanent Hair Dye is the included CC Colorseal conditioner.

On the downside, some the product smells strong, but since it'll only be in your hair for 10 minutes, it shouldn't be too difficult to get through it. Good Housekeeping chose this as a top pick, writing, "We found the at-home dye offered even coverage, left hair shiny, and was fade-resistant when used to just cover up a bit of gray." For several years now, L'Oréal Paris Excellence Créme Permanent Hair Color has been my go-to product when I want natural-looking hair color.

To avoid patchiness, create a middle part that runs to the back of your head and split the hair into four sections — two in front of the ears and two in back. "Be organized about the application," says Brooke Jordan, head stylist with The Bird House salon in NYC. "People can miss spots, or don't know how to get the back." To prevent this, use clips to create four sections and work through them front to back. Make sure you're comfortable (a pair of these luxe PJs should do the job), have everything you need (we've got you there below), and aren't pressed for time. Now, get into the best insider at-home hair-color tricks and tips for achieving salon-worthy results. When it comes to using your at-home hair dye, you might still have some questions that we have answered below.

"They neutralize unwanted brassy tones for all hair colors, from platinum blonde to dark brown." Another similar option is a color-depositing gloss. Lab testing revealed that the ammonia-free at-home dye offered even coverage, left hair visibly shiny, and was fade-resistant when used to cover up grays. GH Institute Senior Product Analyst Emma Seymour is a fan of trying bold hair colors and recommends this Lime Crime formula, which comes in a large array of vibrant and unique shades. "It was easy to apply and the color showed up on my darker hair color, plus I liked that the jar had a large opening so I could get all of the product out." Some reviewers noted, however, that the color washed out quickly. Just like in the salon, ESalon's professional colorists create a customized hair color just for you and your hair needs, which is then shipped to your door for application at home.

Keep reading for the full breakdown of the 17 best at-home hair colors and dyes that will give you vibrant, shiny, and healthy color, whether you're a strawberry blonde or have ash brown hair. Mild but mighty, this Zotos Professional dye fully camouflaged even stubborn grays and resisted fading better than the rest in Lab assessments. It was the gentlest formulation and comes in a wide array of shades, from icy blondes to deep crimsons and inky blacks.

With the Lime Crime temporary color, which rinses out in one or two washes, I can have my cake and eat it, too. It’s highly buildable, so the more you apply, the more saturated the color is. That said, the more product you use, the more product is in your hair — I recommend hitting it with a brush and blow-dryer to lighten the feel of the product and smooth and blend with the rest of your hair. When I was honey blonde, I relied on the Winter Wheat shade for monthly touch-ups without damaging or risking overprocessing my hair. I found it worked better for longer than when I used purple shampoos, which are drying as it is. This mineral powder latches onto hair to not only cover up your roots but also make them appear thicker.

After 10 years of coloring my own hair, always staying abreast of the latest and greatest in color that I can get my hands on without being a professional, I’d tout myself a pro at DIY hair ventures. I’ve made the mistakes and taken the risks so you hopefully don’t have to. So you've been doing your part by staying home and social distancing (👏👏👏) but now your roots are coming in and you're trying to figure out how to get through these next weeks or months without going into the salon.

If you need a totally gentle hair dye that’s not likely to cause any damage, it’s best to opt for color-depositing semi-permanent dyes. Just note that they can’t do a lot if your hair is naturally dark since they can only coat the hair. It’s like a hybrid between dry shampoo and hair makeup, helping to absorb excess oil while also coloring the roots to hide gray hair. Though it’s technically not a dye, it might still be helpful for anyone dealing with grown-out grays who’s a little nervous about coloring their own hair. The shade range is an essential factor to consider when selecting an at-home hair color. It is crucial to choose a product that offers a wide range of shades to match your desired color.