Finding salon quality hair color at home for grey coverage, whats good nowadays?

Posted by Roushdy_Candessa@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 36 comments

Remember how hair dye in the 80s and 90s actually seemed to leave some shine, but lately everything on the drugstore shelves just seems to turn hair into total mess? Ever since that one bad experience i had years ago, I just had to go to salons for fixings. But now I'd like to think there are better options, so I'm finding a reliable salon quality hair color.

Basic box dyes are just a massive disappointment lately, especially with that blinding ammonia smell. What are you all using for these especially dealing with old age, thinning of hair, that checks all the boxes for us?

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SimpleVegetable5715@reddit

Go to Sally’s Beauty Supply, their stuff is much better. I liked the Ion brand and the Clairol on the gold box. Use #20 developer.

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ksgar77@reddit

I use the Ion brand from Sally, too. I recommend getting a shade or two lighter than your natural color so when your roots grow in it’s less noticeable.

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bizzylearning@reddit

I cheat and use a temporary dye - Clairol Beautiful Collection, which you can get at Sally's or Amazon. I don't have the time (or motivation) to go to a salon regularly, but I do wash my hair, anyway, so it's not much extra effort to use this. It lasts about a month at a go for me. If I skip it or miss the schedule, I don't have roots showing, it just slowly fades.

Then, one day, I look in the mirror and think, "Damn, I look tired," and that motivates me to do my hair the next time I wash it.

It leaves my hair soft and shiny, every time. And it's so easy. I've got just-past-shoulder length hair, and one bottle will get me two treatments, so it's running me about $5/mo. to keep it up.

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TobylovesPam@reddit

I just use henna. The ol' colora henna in the blue box. Hasn't changed in 30+ years. My greys are red highlights, the rest is a warm auburn. Looks very natural (I think?!)

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DriveIn73@reddit

I use wella color charm

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itcouldbeworsetbh@reddit

Agebeautiful. You can grab it at Sally’s. It’s made specifically for aging hair.

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mystery_biscotti@reddit

Henna blends, from Portland's Henna Color Lab.

They don't have that chemical smell, and the color bonds with the hair. I like Wine Red mixed with Light Brown. It's a gingerbread color when finished!

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SimpleVegetable5715@reddit

r/henna has some really good information on henna. It’s a very poorly regulated product that can go terribly wrong for some people. That said, I have used henna in my hair for the last 15 years since I became allergic to drug store hair dyes.

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mystery_biscotti@reddit

Oh wow. Yes, thank you for the warning!

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dtoddh@reddit

Grecian Formula does the trick.

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Inkblots2000@reddit

L’Oreal Excellence Creme triple care color. Been using it for years!

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LissaBryan@reddit

I like Dark & Lovely haircolor. It’s formulated for Black women’s hair and it’s super-conditioning.

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demona2002@reddit

I use Goldwell Topchic.

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VanillaHuel@reddit

This is the answer I was looking for: I need to take care of the demarcation atm. 🤔

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S99B88@reddit

L’Oréal Age Preference is great for covering grey. If hair is dark, it helps to pick a lighter shade so the regrowth is less obvious.

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rhionaeschna@reddit

Before I went grey, I used to get Wella Colorcharm from Sally. I did demi to do my roots and vivids on my highlights, but they sell everything.

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sunshine-and-kittens@reddit

I love Sally! So many choices there, and very affordable. I would buy a big bottle of developer and a few boxes of color when they were on sale. Lasted forevvvvvvver!

Luckily now my natural grey is fully grown out and looks INCREDIBLE 😻

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rhionaeschna@reddit

I'm finally fully natural and salt and pepper with a few white streaks. I have no desire to dye my roots again, but I'm really missing my vivids so am going to do some peekaboos with bleach. :)

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GearSlow3796@reddit

I ditched the dye! Love not having the upkeep. Save for some blue or purple I add every now and again.

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syzygialchaos@reddit

This! Stopped during Covid, realized how gray I was, and decided to just roll with it. Found a good colorist to blend it out and tone it, and it’s so much nicer now. No long salon appointments, no tripping every 4 weeks, and healthier hair overall.

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Worth-Pear6484@reddit

I use Revlon colorsilk box dye. I'm cheap though. Lol. Color lasts a good month before I have to dye it again, and it is ammonia-free.

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OldExistential@reddit

I buy the Ion brand hair color and developer from Sally’s and mix it up myself. I blend two colors for a custom color and it gives my gray hairs a nice highlighted effect. It smells but not nearly as badly as box dye and I feel like my hair is healthier than it’s ever been.

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MaligatorMom2@reddit

I’ve had great success with Madison Reed color. The grey coverage is fantastic and the color is free of ammonia, PPD and other additives that some people are allergic to. They have all over color kits and kits just for root touch ups. I normally grab it at Ulta, but you can order direct from them as well.

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ricowoldt@reddit

Seconding Madison Reed. I don’t care for how the included shampoo and conditioner frizzes my hair, but the color is excellent

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LaeliaCatt@reddit

I'll third it. I agree about the shampoo and conditioner. I just use my own color safe products, but I really like the dye. It's reasonably priced and really easy to pause and restart the subscription when you want to.

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Former-Crazy-9224@reddit

I’ll add a 4th for Madison Reed. I will do all over 2-3 times per year and root touch up every 3-4 weeks. Covers the grays well and my hair is very healthy. All other brands I’ve tried left my hair really dry and frizzy.

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saramybearimy@reddit

I like semipermanent color because they're typically super conditioning and the vivid colors I favor are super fun on the grey parts of my hair.

That said, though, I also like my greys and, if it weren't so much upkeep, I would color my whole head grey.

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Lynerd@reddit

I too prefer demipermanent boxed color (Clairol Natural Instincts is my go-to) and I use a color-depositing cool brown shampoo once a week and a blue conditioner to tame the brass. The greys don’t stay colored very long but I don’t mind that, kids these days pay to get tinsel strands installed, I just happen to have it built-in for free

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PeriwinkleWonder@reddit

One of the best things about being this age is having the wisdom to go to a professional to get my hair colored.

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ShoddyHedgehog@reddit

I found Madison Reed did not cover my grey. Even after leaving it on longer that the instructions recommended - I could always see a clear line. I use this: https://www.sallybeauty.com/just-ask-sally/sally-favorites/resistant-grays-6x-light-brown-permanent-creme-hair-color/

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DeCoyAbLe@reddit

I like nice and easy (stay away from ash) and honestly just for men is pretty damn good too.

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Equal_Trash6023@reddit

Everything seems to turn my have a red tint now. I agree 100%.