What is a good brand (and shade) of hair dye?

February 26, 2008 3:44 PM

What is a good brand (and shade) of hair dye?

I'm looking for something that is a nice auburn shade and will NOT get that unnatural-looking pinky purple undertone that shows up in direct sunlight. Semi-permanent or permanent is fine. I've had bad luck with a couple of different colors where they looked perfect on the box, but once on my hair they looked I I'd soaked in a vat of red wine or something.

I have medium-dark ash brown hair naturally with about 15-20% grey. I definitely do not want to look like my color came from a bottle.

posted by Addlepated to clothing, beauty, & fashion (17 comments total)

I like the new Nice 'N Easy. It takes care of my gray and doesn't end up looking all one color--somehow it lets the natural highlights come through. But I am a dark blond, so take that into account. If your hair is naturally ash, stick with the ash, cool, or at least neutral tones, or you will get a haircolor that doesn't match your skin tone, and that makes a big difference in looking natural and not bottled.
posted by wafaa at 3:56 PM on February 26, 2008

I use L'oreal, the kind with the highlighter kit included. I've used others (Clairol is good too), and the key is to always go with a browner auburn than the one that looks pretty on the box. It will look brown or dull red brown on the box but good on your head. If you get the highlighter kit, be very sparing on the highlights and only leave them on for 10 minutes to avoid brass.

After all I've tried, I always go back to L'oreal. Not only do they have the best and longest-lasting colors, they have a generous amount of color, the best gloves and the best conditioner.

In the winter, I go with a brown or browny-auburn shade near my own natural color and in the spring and summer, I use a bit lighter shade. I've also done the pinky shades for fun -- they work great with the right outfits.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 3:57 PM on February 26, 2008

I definitely do not want to look like my color came from a bottle.

If that's the case, you have to go to a salon, really.
posted by tristeza at 4:03 PM on February 26, 2008

I can't speak to the auburn-ness, because it is HARD to get a red drugstore dye that doesn't show up as "Boy That's Burgundy," so I haven't ventured near the reds in ages. Red is probably best left to the salon.

Personally, I've used Garnier 100% Color and L'Oreal Perfect Match in recent years, both in brown shades, and liked them both.

Here are Makeup Alley's top picks for haircolor - if the ratings don't help you, the message board might, since most of their reviews aren't grouped by shade. The best-rated haircolor there is Naturcolor, available at Whole Foods - I'm not sure if any of those colors are what you're looking for, but the "golden series" shades look like the best bet.
posted by Metroid Baby at 4:08 PM on February 26, 2008 [1 favorite]

I'm about to try henna for the first time -- I'm getting the Lush brown stuff. It sounds like it's a little more work but apparently usually successful, and as a bonus, less gross chemicals in your beauty routine. I picked this shade as opposed to their redder henna products because I don't like the "Boy That's Burgundy" (LOL Metroid Baby) thing either. It says LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME I DYED MY HAIRS!!!!!!1!!!!
posted by theredpen at 4:22 PM on February 26, 2008

I mean fewer gross chemicals.
posted by theredpen at 4:27 PM on February 26, 2008

When I don't care if it looks like it's from a bottle I use Feria or Garnier, but when I need it to look like normal, untreated hair I've had awesome success from L'Oreal Natural Match. It really does look like unbottled haircolor. This is coming from someone who goes from blue to black to pink to platinum to eggplant and back.
posted by pieoverdone at 5:06 PM on February 26, 2008

My stylist uses L'Oreal Richesse (semipermanent, Brown #5), and it grabs onto my 30%gray hair really well. Also, it doesn't fade nearly as fast as other semi-permanent dyes, and leaves my hair nice and glossy. Richesse is a salon brand, but I can get it and the developer easily on eBay. You use it just like any drugstore brand, except you have to measure out the developer from a tall bottle. I suggest you go to a salon, get your hair colored -- and then once you know that a particular brand is good, buy some and use it yourself.
posted by wryly at 5:17 PM on February 26, 2008

I was always a L'Oreal girl but took a chance on the new Nice n Easy Grey Solution and was very happy with it. My hair is mostly grey now, but the coverage is comparable to L'Oreal and the color is not brassy. Cheaper, too.
posted by readery at 5:35 PM on February 26, 2008

I'm devoted fake redhead (with natural mousey medium ash brown hair) who had my hair colored auburn in a salon for years. Last year, I decided to save some money for a vacation by coloring my hair from a box for a while. I use L'Oreal Superior Preference in 6R Light Auburn and it's quite nice with my very fair skin. I actually like a slightly darker shade (4R Dark Auburn), but they nearly always turn out just a smidge purplish for my taste, even when I had them done professionally. From time to I use Couleur Experte (with the highligh kit) in Cherry Cordial (the coordinating color to the 6R) and it generally turns out really well too.
posted by mostlymartha at 6:26 PM on February 26, 2008

Thank you, everyone! I have been doing an experiment to see how long I can stand the grey. I've lasted several months, but now it's time. I had previously been going to a stylist and she originally had an excellent dark copper with highlights, but a couple of times she's goofed and pinkified my hair, and I figure for that price I can do my own experimentation.
posted by Addlepated at 6:58 PM on February 26, 2008

henna's going to dry out your hair. forget it.

if you don't want it to look like it's fake, you really do need to go to a (clearly different) salon. (although i should add that i did mine for years -- it looked fake -- and now go to a salon and it still looks fake, but a higher level of fake. i like fake!)
posted by sdn at 7:27 PM on February 26, 2008

You need to mix a natural blond or neutral blond with your fashion shade to add some color to the gray.this prevents the gray from showing the base of the fashion shade. If 30% of your hair is gray then 30% of the color you apply should be natural neutral blond at the same level.
posted by hortense at 8:43 PM on February 26, 2008 [1 favorite]

I also use L'Oreal Natural Match (not for the pink in my profile, calm down.) and am suddenly quite loyal to it.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:20 PM on February 26, 2008

I'm very pleased with Loreal Superior Preference and I use 5-1/2 AM Medium Copper Brown. There are only two problems to begin with:

1. It stains the skin VERY quickly. If you don't notice a spot, it'll be stained, but only for a couple of days. If you're very careful, this won't be an issue. I have thick long hair, so there is no avoiding it for me, but that's not a problem for everyone. One thing I've learned to help that, is to rub a thin layer of conditioner in trouble spots to help prevent it.

2. It does have a pinkish look to begin with, but after a week that goes away.

That second reason might be something you're afraid of, however that's just the first overall coloring session. When you touch up, you don't really see that for some reason. I guess because it's not on all over the head for as long.

Because I've used a reddish color for many years (and various products), I've come to realize one very important thing. Anything with the word Auburn in it is going to give you a pink look, so avoid it like the plague.
posted by magnoliasouth at 6:04 AM on February 27, 2008

The cure for pink is a capful of gold in the formula, or a color correcting gold shampoo.
posted by hortense at 9:54 AM on February 27, 2008

Quick update - I realized that I had some color in my cabinet and took Magnoliasouth's advice to stick away from anything with "auburn" in the name. I used Clairol Hydrience Caribbean Caramel (#41 I think) and it gave me a nice dark reddish brown. A little darker than I wanted, but no pink tones. When it comes time to do roots, I'll try some of the excellent suggestions from the thread. Thanks again for all the help!
posted by Addlepated at 2:23 PM on February 29, 2008